Article Review #4
Emma Drury
IPAD for Literacy Learning by Amy Hutchinson, Beth Beschorner and Denise Schmitdt-Crawford
I think this is a very interesting article and topic. I know that I have had a lot of interest in the pros and cons of usage of technology such as the iPad in classrooms. I think my problem comes from using it almost exclusively in classrooms or when working with students.
Like the article starts off saying stating that iPads as a use for new modes of reading and writing, which is interesting and a good use of that but I also think that its important to remember that and make sure to still use printed text, as it is still used a lot and a skill students should still be learning.
I can definitely see the great possibilities for learning that come from using different apps on the iPad or other similar devices. I like the applications where they can have more interaction with pictures and with the story then you can with printed texts. And as the article says iPads and tablets let students interact with technology and these programs without having to be in a computer lab or that type of setting which can be off putting to some students.
Overall I really liked the article. I liked how in depth they went into on the activities and talked to the students about how they felt about them. I enjoyed hearing the students talk about how they liked how they could erase things more easier and how they would do/try more things on the iPad then they would have done if they were really using papers and crayons for example.
But what I really also appreciated was that at the end they took some time to say that iPads aren't good for all types of literacy activities and lessons. I think sometimes we get so excited about new technology and new things that we want to use them all the time without really considering if it's the best option for the students. Sometimes it is the best option, if you have the right application/programs and if you understand them. But sometimes it doesn't increase student learning and doesn't help them as much as it advertises it does or we think it might. It's an interesting thing that we will have to deal with as teachers that teachers before us didn't have to. I think I'll probably have to invest more in learning about the different programs that I could use in special education for early childhood, because I tend to try to use things that are low technology and can be easily found in the environment because I'm thinking about working with low income/at risk families which wouldn't have this type of technology. But it still something i'll interact with at some point and should get more involved in.
Overall I really liked the article. I liked how in depth they went into on the activities and talked to the students about how they felt about them. I enjoyed hearing the students talk about how they liked how they could erase things more easier and how they would do/try more things on the iPad then they would have done if they were really using papers and crayons for example.
But what I really also appreciated was that at the end they took some time to say that iPads aren't good for all types of literacy activities and lessons. I think sometimes we get so excited about new technology and new things that we want to use them all the time without really considering if it's the best option for the students. Sometimes it is the best option, if you have the right application/programs and if you understand them. But sometimes it doesn't increase student learning and doesn't help them as much as it advertises it does or we think it might. It's an interesting thing that we will have to deal with as teachers that teachers before us didn't have to. I think I'll probably have to invest more in learning about the different programs that I could use in special education for early childhood, because I tend to try to use things that are low technology and can be easily found in the environment because I'm thinking about working with low income/at risk families which wouldn't have this type of technology. But it still something i'll interact with at some point and should get more involved in.
Emma,
ReplyDeleteI liked how you related the content of the article to what your future career. I agree that we get so excited about the latest technology that we just want to share with everyone and use it all the time. However, as teachers we definitely need to take a step back and really think if the technology will be beneficial to our students and their learning. Teachers need to be educated on technology devices so that we can decide if it is a good choice for our students. When I was reading the article, I was also thinking about students who come from low income families and how iPads could affect them. I think if we had students that could benefit from the iPad like in literacy, then it can definitely be a great learning tool for them. However, I do agree that we shouldn't forget about the importance of printed text and should be a skill that is learned.
I completely agree with you that teachers need to be careful with their use of technology in the classroom. I do not think that iPads or technology in general should completely replace instruction from a teacher. I think it should be an assistive tool that aids in the instruction or understanding for the child. Don't get me wrong, I think that technology is incredibly useful for teachers and students but we should, like you said, not forget about printed text and individualized instruction from a teacher. We do not want to lose that social interaction and let students be glued to their iPads or computers.
ReplyDeleteAfter our talk in class about iPads, we have pretty similar views on there place in the classroom. I think that we can sometimes get swept up in technology and the 'cool' factor, but when we really step back and look at the situation it may not help the child to learn the most. I feel like early childhood education especially needs to be wary, because so much of the learning that takes place is from the social modeling and interaction that an actual person provides.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post-and I definitely agree with what you are saying. I think there are pros and cons to having ipads in the classroom, and it is really important to be aware of both of them. I talked a lot about how great ipads can be in my post but I like that you mentioned how teachers need to be careful with technology in the classroom because there definitely needs to be a balance. Technology is a wonderful thing that can aid students in their learning but it is not something that should replace the teacher.
ReplyDeleteI also liked the article and see ipads as great tools we can use in the classroom. I also think we need to be educated about the apps we are using and learn how to best use them. I like that you made the point about teachers being educated about the devices we use in the classroom so that we can decide if the technology is the best thing for our students. I think we can get excited about new devices and choose to use them because they sound good or exciting to us, but we really must ensure that the choices we make are in our students' best interest. School is for the students and we need to ensure that the tools we use benefit them.
ReplyDeleteI too enjoyed the fact that the articles talked about both the pros and cons of using ipads in the classroom. I feel that sometimes people just focus on the pros of technology and are ignorant to the many cons that come along with it. As a teacher, I feel that you have to be more and more weary of using ipads in the classroom when it comes to older kids. Sometimes they know more than we do about the use of the ipad and then set them up for failure and the potential to expose them to information that we don't want them to have knowledge of. It's our responsibility to have knowledge of the pros and cons.
ReplyDeleteI also like that the article tries to stay somewhat unbiased by giving us pros and cons. It's really important to weigh both sides of something before making a decision. As teachers it become even more important that we look at both pros and cons before implementing something in the classroom because our decisions effect our students and their needs.
ReplyDelete