“We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world.” – David Warlick
By the end of the year, I want my students creating English apps and not just using them.
My students come from a lower socio-economic area of rural Virginia.
These are students that do not have as many opportunities to experience new technology as some of their peers who live closer in town and near our local college campus. My students have a passion for learning, and they need the opportunities to develop the 21st century skills that are becoming requisite for academic and career success.
The school(s) I work for, as a I split time between the middle and high school, are fairly small and allow me to really work closer with students to make sure they are mastering the skills they need for all areas of their life. They are a smart and curious bunch who need to visualize what technology can do for them.
My Project
There are many different apps that my students will get the chance to use with this laptop. One of the first major areas I want to incorporate into the classroom is for the students to make their own commercials using iMovie for our persuasive writing unit. I want them to create the script, use the persuasive techniques, then create their movie so that we can display them on the smartboard and see who truly understood and used the techniques to the greatest effect.
Students will also use the apps, such as puppetpals, to create their own lessons to teach the 8th grade material to 6th grade. This allows them to take an active role as educators and allows me to see who has mastered the material. If you can teach it to another person, then you have mastered the concepts.
These are just a few of the ideas I have about how to use this laptop in both my middle and high school classes beginning in the Fall.
Apple has become a major driving force in the world of app development.
New apps for education are coming out almost daily; they can help update curriculum and make content more meaningful to the students that are in our classrooms. This laptop is just the first step to help breathe new life into the English curriculum and to begin exploring the way that technology can enhance our visual and written literacy. My students will begin developing a critical 21st century skill - visual literacy.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Beckner and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.