Tool 9

It is important to tie technology to the objective because the objective is what is being taught.  Technology is a means to get there. We use technology to differentiate instruction and reach all students since all students learn differently.

We should hold students accountable for the stations so we know that they are mastering the objective.   They need to know they are accountable to do the work.  I usually have my students write a reflection at a workstation to reflect on their learning.   I do like Easy Tech.  I went to a training last week about how to use Easy Tech as a workstation.  You can assign interactive websites on easy tech and have the students go to it from one location in easy tech.  You could also have them blog about it or document their reflection in Google Docs.

I visited Interactive and Thinkfinity.  I like that these interactive websites have very specific skill sets.  I could assign students these websites on their Easy Tech account.   This can be differentiated as well because different students need work on different skill sets.  I would have the students write a reflection or blog about their experience on the class website (which could be on a web click on the itouch) or in their green spirals.  In addition, I could have a workstation log where they log what they did.   I have done this before.    At the end of the 9 weeks, I could give a participation grade based on their workstation reflections and logs.  (This further builds in the accountability piece because they are accountable for the work they did in the station).

I explored several apps on the Ipad.  I liked Number Muncher Lite, Flow Math Addition, Factor Factory (0.99) and Mad Math Lite.  Alot of these are great for reinforcing math skills.  There are many other apps that look great but cost money. I hope we get a budget to download some of these that are relevant to our grade level and subject area.  I would have the students use these applications in a workstation.  The station would involve the students working on the itouch in an area of the room either collaboratively or individually.  They are in the station about 15 minutes working on a particular skill that they need reinforcement with.  They are accountable by recording it on their Workstation Log.  

Another way to use the Ipad/itouch is for accessing the class webpage like an app using a weblink.  I think this idea is really cool and I can't wait to try it.   The students can also use the Ipad/itouch when they work on their Math Menu's.  The menus provide choice of activities and they can use the ipad/itouch to accomplish some of these activities and/or do research for the activities.