Get BIG results from just a few iPads!

Adam Nidey, 3rd grade teacher at Crestview Elementary. Twitter: @mrnidey Email: nideya@wdmcs.org

Adam Nidey, 3rd grade teacher at Crestview Elementary recently presented “Get BIG results from just a few iPads” at the Nebraska Education Tech Conference (NETA).  The basic premise of the presentation is to address the challenge related to having only a few iPads, but yet a classroom full of students.

Download the complete presentation: (pdf format) Get BIG RESULTS results from just a few iPads!

The three main discussion points from the presentation…

1) Rotations

The key to getting results from just a few iPads is to create a classroom structure where the teacher can meet with each student in a small group setting every day. This is accomplished through rotations, which were demonstrated through the following video…

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The presentation also included his classrooms most used iPad apps, including…

Top apps for practice during literacy rotations…

* Bluster

* Word Monkey

* JibJab Books

Top Apps for creating during literacy rotations…

* ScreenChomp

* Tools4Students

* ToonTastic

* iMovie

* Twitter

* KaBaam!

* UPad

2) Communications

Mr Nidey discussed different ways to use the iPad as a communications tool, including:  specific examples of how to use a classroom twitter account to:

* allow students to share their writing with a larger audience

* allow the class to share information with parents (24 out of 26 parents follow their classroom twitter account)

* connect with other classrooms to share ideas and collaborate, including a recent blogging project where students reviewed writing from students in a classroom in Pennsylvania.

3) Assessments

He discussed many ways to use the iPad for collecting and recording student assessments, including:

* Fluency Checks

* Running Records

* EveryDayMath Assessments

* Word per minute

* Fast Facts

* Comprehension Checks

Getting big results with just a few iPads!

Adam Nidey (@MrNidey on twitter), 3rd grade classroom at Crestview Elementary was recently notified that he’ll be presenting at the Nebraska EdTech Conference (NETA) at the end of April.   His presentation is titled,  “Obtaining BIG RESULTS from just a few iPads” and here’s a draft of the opening video clip for the presentation…

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Here’s some the key ideas for the presentation….

* The key to getting results from just a few iPads is to create a classroom structure where the teacher can meet with each student in a small group setting EVERY day.  This is accomplished by using small group rotations.

* Small group rotations also enable differentiation that is needed in order to meet the needs of each individual learner.

* We’ll discuss strategies for how to build a rotation schedule that maximizes on task time and flexible groups.

* We’ll cover the specific iPad apps we are using during our rotations, including what roles and tasks students are involved in.

* How to maximize student engagement with a limited number of devices.

* How to use word journals and other techniques to monitor student progress.