QR Addition- Technology Integration

As a teacher we are being pushed (and pulled) to use technology in the classroom, not just by the teacher, but by the students as well.  So, I've been reflecting on my classroom technology usage.  I have to admit that while I feel very confident about teaching with it, sometimes I just can't let go.  You see, our school got iPads this year.  Each classroom has 2 and then we have 2 carts that have 30 each.  We haven't been able to use those yet, so I am just using my two.  Two for 23 students has been quite challenging and I've been doing some research and training on ways for multiple students to use 1 iPad at the same time.

Strategy 1:  QR Codes
An amazing 4th grade teacher at our school shared these with me on Friday.  I have seen them, but never became completely interested until I learned how it can help my kids and help me at the same time.  She has her students work on various math problems that contain QR Codes.  Then, she lets the kids use the iPads to check their work (evaluate and problem solve). 

I've decided that I am going to try this out this week.  I created my own printable with a 2nd grade concept that the kids have been working on since January, Two-Digit Addition with Regrouping (that's a mouthful).  I will let you know later in the week how this turns out.  Grab this freebie by clicking on the pic below.

  Head on over to Classroom Freebies for more free printables and ideas!

Strategy 2:  Math Slide App
I learned about this app at a recent DoDEA Grant Training for my district.  You can have up to 4 players and they have avrious games in adding, subtracting, place value, etc.  I grabbed the teacher to my left and there we were having a blast trying to win the math game.  Let.me.tell.you...it is so much harder than it looks.  My brain was on turtle mode for most of it.  A problem appears and you have to slide one of the answer choices from a group of numbers to the middle of the screen.  So COOL!  This is what it looks like.

Strategy 3:  Group Research Projects
I attempted this last week.  I had my students work in groups of 4 to research blue whales.  I only had 2 iPads so 2 groups were on the iPads, 2 groups were on the classroom computers, 1 group explored on the one iPad I have, and the last group I tossed my iPhone.  Yep, I sure did!  The group work went very well with the exception that my iPhone's screen was so small that only 1-2 kids could see the screen at a time.  Hmmm...I wonder of I can hook it to my projector for next time?  Anyone out there know the answer?  Let me know, please!

Anyway, the kids had to find 5 facts about blue whales and write them down (reading, writing, science) plus they made a small blue whale and took measurements of various body parts (math).  Integration Central in this 2nd grade classroom...WOAH!  But guess what....I have no pictures to show for it.  I do have student work that I will take pics of tomorrow and repost them here.

Fingers crossed I can pull off all of these strategies this week.  I'll let you know how it goes.  I'm off to make some beef stew from none other than The Pioneer Woman.  Her recipes are a-maz-ing!!!  Have a terrific week!

nearpod

Have you ever heard of "nearpod"?  Since our school received our iPads, we have been training each month on different apps to enhance learning.  Recently, we had a training in "nearpod".  It is an interactive app that allows the teacher to create pdfs on certain concepts and upload them.  Then, you add polls, quizzes, videos, etc.  The teacher begins the presentation and the students log on using a specific code on their iPads.  The interactivity and engagement begins!

I created this one to train our teachers at our school.  Note:  These are only slides and are missing the inetractive quizzes, polls, and videos.  If I could share the nearpod file with you I certainly would.  However, I haven't upgraded to the $10 a month membership yet.

 Poll- Have you ever used nearpod?

 Video: How nearpod works!

 Video-nearpod in the classroom

 Quiz: What have you learned?

For more info about nearpod, click HERE.

I can't wait to start using this with my students!  I'll share some pics and videos soon.

Technology Tuesday - Edmodo & Mimio

I'm back again today bringing you two technology tips.  

1} Edmodo

Funny name, but really cool website.  It is almost exactly like Facebook, but is meant for education.  I learned about this last week in a technology training.  We are using it to communicate to each other about our training for the technology grant our district received.  However, I have set up my own classroom and I can communicate with parents through this about so much.  You can post assignments, quizzes, polls, etc.  This will be a great communication tool this year especially for field trips and assignment due dates.  Plus, the kids will think it is so cool that they can join and be friends with me.

2}Mimio

Our school currently only has 2 Promethean boards and 2-3 Smartboards.  I really, really, really wanted one, so I chose to write a DonorsChoose grant.  I had heard about a Mimio and knew that would be perfect!  It is a small piece that unfolds and sticks on your board.  you connect it to a laptop and projector and !BAM!  you now have an interactive whiteboard.  there is a mouse pointer that you use with it and you have to calibrate it each time you turn on the Mimio.  My students are always engaged and actively involved in learning with it.  So, if you are looking for an alternative this would definitely benefit you.  The price is around $500....not a bad deal at all!  Just make sure you have a projector and a computer to hook up to it.

You can read more about it HERE!

Thanks for stopping by and becoming a blog follower!  Hop on over to Blog Hoppin' for some more great technology tips!

 

iPad Training (STEM GRANT)

It's only 1 week until we meet our new students for "Meet the Teacher" night and I am going crazy!  I was able to get into my classroom Tuesday and Wednesday, but I'm in training for the next 2 days.  Why?  Our school along with a few other schools in the county received a very generous grant to improve technology in our school system through the Department of Defense.  We are so blessed to be the recipient of this grant.  I'm sure our students will be beyond thrilled when they find out!!!

 Each classroom will be enhanced with this...

iPad 3

And this...

Apple TV

And this...

70" flat screen

Today we "created" (USING BLOOM'S, of course) any type of technology driven project to introduce our group to the rest of the teachers at this training.  We created a slide show about our group.  Here's a pic of my group showing our crazy faces since we are just "CRAZY" about our new technology!

{Love these women!!!}

Back to training again tomorrow and (fingers crossed) finishing up my classroom.