Tool #9

1. Technology is like a magnet for students. Students' self motivation to work with technology, creating project-based work, and collaboration among students, are just some of the advantages of using technology in the classroom. Technology provides different ways in which students can demonstrate what they understand. We can provide project goals and guidelines/rubrics and students can generate products using different tools. Students can share their final products and they will learn from each other about different ways/tools to create the same product.

2. A the beginning of the year, students need to clearly understand the procedures and routines while they use technology in the classroom. They need to demonstrate responsibility, make the right choices, and monitor their own progress. By holding students accountable, they will focus on their projects/concepts and we will be able to monitor and check if they mastered concepts.

3. I liked the Study Ladder because I can register my students and track the progress of my students. There is a variety of different activities for different subjects and grade levels. Students will be able to practice different concepts, including those concepts below grade level.

The Tutpup is a fun math and spelling educational game where students can compete against other students around the world. I can also create a class account and monitor the progress of my students. Students’ information is confidential and won't be available to other players. They also can log in at home and play games and puzzles.

These are some ways of holding students accountable in their stations: rubrics, open ended questions, provide a choice of links to websites for stations, write or record a reflection to explain what they did/learned.

4. EnVisionMath/fractions have step-by-step videos that help students understand dividing areas into equal parts, using fractions. Each video has a Quick Check and students/teachers can monitor the master of the concept.

Dragon Dictation is an application that students can use to record their thoughts and instantly see the text or email messages. This tool will be very useful when they discuss information, review concepts or brainstorms ideas for writing. I can easily check if small groups are engaged in the activity and provide immediately feedback.

Grammar Jammers has animated songs and rhymes to learn/practice grammar usage and mechanics in a fun way. It includes quizzes for different grammar mechanics. I think this application will benefit 4^th graders since they need to apply these concepts on their revising/ editing and writing tests.

5. There are so many applications and many ways my students can use the iPads in stations. Students can use the iPads to check and record weather information, moon phases, record their own stories, or practice any math skill in a daily basis. Students already have a lot of experience using these devices and I believe they are going to have many suggestions about different ways to use the iPads in learning stations.