iPads in the Middle School Our Middle Schoolers won’t remember a world without the internet, and thanks to the new MS iPad initiative, students are learning how to use apps and online resources to enhance their lessons. The MS has three classroom sets of 16 iPads and each classroom has an AppleTV hooked up, so teachers and students can quickly connect to the screen to share their work. MS teacher Shannon Miller, who has a Master’s in Teaching with
“The kids love them! There is never an uuugh sound when the iPads come out. They don’t know how to use everything, but are very willing to learn and make mistakes.”
Technology, is at the helm of this special program. “The kids love them!” she says. “There is never an uuugh sound when the iPads come out. They don't know how to use everything, but are very willing to learn and make mistakes.”
iPads in the Classroom EAL: ebooks allow students to define and hear words out loud by touching the screen Science: students film their experiments, then watch their film to make further observations English: ‘quadblogging’ with three other classrooms around the world. Students have their work peer-reviewed, which helps them find purpose in their writing Math & History: students create informative videos, teach other students, and review concepts with programs like Explain Everything and iMovie
Every teacher in the MS has the option to integrate iPads into their lessons, and they are used within every department. “Every faculty member has an iPad and attends monthly training sessions about integrating technology into their classrooms,” Shannon says. “Most of our teachers have jumped in and tried them out, though there has been a mix of excitement and hesitation.” Shannon and ES technology guru Tim Venchus often visit classrooms to support teachers during their lessons, help with planning, and master various apps. “This has been helpful with the nervousness about the technology.” But do they work, or is it just a gimmick? “So far, we are seeing more student engagement and enthusiasm about projects,” Shannon says. She hopes to expand the project so that every student has his or her own iPad to take home at night or use in the dorms at night to continue their work. “We feel that we've had enough positive feedback from students and staff to move towards that program next year.”
MS Academic Day Photo Gallery
28 eTASIS
Fall 2013 29