Literacy for Education

Today's Tablet assignment gave me the opportunity to explore a variety of applications for the iPad. All of these apps were learning based and provided great technology alternatives to the standard paper and pencil work.

1.      From the list given I chose to explore the My Spelling Test and Dictionary applications.

• My Spelling Test offered an alternatives to regular audible paper tests. With the application, the student is able to take the test on his own. The teacher has the possibility to stand by, or the student can complete it without the teacher near. There is a way for the teacher to record his/her voice for the student to be able to hear the given word in order to spell it. What was very cool and would integrate more technology into the classroom is the use of the Smart Board. After the student has taken their test, or could even do the entirety of their test on the smart board. This allows for the student to get an understanding of multiple methods of technology and accomplishes his or her goal of completing the test. I really enjoyed this application and if the opportunity arises to use it I will most definitely take advantage of that. Oh, did I mention it was a FREE app? Bonus points to that!
• Students are rarely even taught nowadays how to find words in a book dictionary. With the ongoing change of technology, students are going to have to be taught most things in the modern way. For example, the importance of spelling and meaning of words is still very important. With that in mind they must be taught in ways that are going along with the modernity of how everything else is taught. The Dictionary app provides users with not only a dictionary, but a thesaurus too. This app offers a word of the day, which could easily be incorporated in a daily classroom activity. This app does a great job of offering the word in a sentence, giving the definition, the origin, and gives the word audibly. I prefer this dictionary application over the Miriam Webster dictionary due to the easiness of operating the app and what all is included in the app. I would definitely use this app in my classroom, also free. Woohoo!

2.  I viewed the Presentation applications listed, but was not a fan of several of them in regards to using them in the classroom. I felt some of them were very complicated and required too much commitment with log ins and accounts. I did really enjoy the Drawing Pad applications however. It was a bit on the lower level, but had parts that could be applied to older students. I can see this app used a lot in a history class to remake propaganda, envision parts of history, create a scene from a battle, and the list goes on. The app offered many different tools such as backgrounds( which can be uploaded from the iPad's pictures), paint, colored pencils, markers, erasers, and crayons. The differences in the materials given really give a cool edge to the overall picture and allows students to get creative with their art. 

3.      If given a tutorial, as provided on the assignment, I think students will be able to handle all three of these story specific apps. I tinkered with the Comic Life and Strip Designer apps. These would be good for students to use in order to formulate stories, sequence of events, create a timeline, and more. Both apps allow for the student to upload or create pictures, conjure up a caption or text, and formulate how the story will look and sound. I like these apps, but I might look for other applications like them, just based on preference.