February+14+Article

Levey, P. (2011). Putting the iPad to Work in Elementary Classrooms. the Journal, []

In this article, it talks about how the teacher used iPads in both a special education and general education classroom. According to the article, this teacher spent a lot of time selecting various apps and activities that she could use in the classroom. Her plan was to let two students have complete access to an iPad 24/7 for an entire trimester and then let other students use them for that amount of time too. The students used iPads in the classroom for numerous projects and assignments. First and second graders were required to make their own online books. Students added photos, pictures and videos to their text. Students also used iPads for assignments such as, research, reading assignments and blogging. For assessment, this article mentioned assessing student’s skills through computerized assessments. Most of the assessments tested the creativity of the students and their critical thinking. Students also had the opportunity to post their work online so that other students and their parents could see their work. At the beginning of the article, it mentioned that originally the teacher was trying to find ways to use the iPad for students who had special needs. The article said that because of the “rich graphics, an intuitive touch screen and lightning-fast processing speed”, the iPad was bringing a new level of engagement to students of different abilities and disabilities.