There is More to iPads in the Classroom Than Apps
In a previous post, Evaluating Apps with Transformative Use of the iPad in Mind, I describe my ambivalence about teacher asking my for the “perfect” app to teach this or that.
I have teachers ask me frequently about app recommendations for different subject areas.
- “What app could I use to teach subtraction?”
- “What app would you recommend for my students to practice writing?”
- “I want to use iPads in my Science class. What app is good for that?”
I usually sigh to myself, when I receive questions like that. While I am not against in suggesting apps ( which I love doing), I am not comfortable with the level of disconnect between the teacher (who knows her/his students best) and the curriculum related skills and objectives and pedagogical relationship that needs to be in place for an app to be a match to use in a classroom or with an individual learner.
In a recent article, titled ” How the iPad Can Transform Classrooms” by Ben Johnson on Edutopia, raises awareness of the difference between using the iPad as a way to teach students versus the iPad as a tool to learn for students.
The lesson planning questions I hope my teachers will learn to ask will change from “How can I teach this content?” to, “How can I get students to learn this content?” I hope they will answer this question with open-ended learning activities rather than saying, “I have an app for that.”
He calls for the paradigm shift in seeing the iPad as a TOOL TO THINK WITH:
Sure there may be some useful apps that help the student gain the skills, knowledge or insight into the subject, and a teacher might want the class to do it together, but focusing solely on the apps, or student control, limits the true potential of the iPad — “a tool to think with.”
images used with permission from Andrea Hernandez @edtechworkshop
In an effort to NOT see only apps and to turn the focus on pedagogy and the iPad as a LEARNING and THINKING tool, I am continuing to try to bring attention to apps THROUGH THE LENS of Bloom’s Taxonomy, Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences and 21st Century Skills and Literacies.
You can download all four images as a pdf.
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iPad apps and Bloom’s Taxonomy
iPad apps and The Digital Learning Farm
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Loved it, Silvia! And will certainly share it with the teachers I work here in Brazil.
Thanks,
Carla
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Thanks for this! I plan on sharing your ideas with my staff.
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