The Inter“app”tive Classroom Moving beyond “drill and kill” to developing cognitive, language and social skills. Margit Dumitrescu Gabriela Garza Nicole Valois

Who we are … o Nicole Valois o Coordinator of Lower Development (Grades 1 – 3) at American Institute of Monterrey o Margit Dumitrescu o 2 nd Grade Teacher at AIM

Let’s Get Started! o In your group, brainstorm the ways you currently use tablets or smart technology in your classroom o Put a “C” next to the activities that are collaborative and an “I” next to those that are completed individually.

What Experts are Saying… o Over the last 4 to 5 years, technology has evolved from an isolated subject to being integrated into daily activities o Adverse effects of modern technology on the brain o Individual use – drills or games o Diana Ibarra, Neurofeedback director

Take a minute … o Talk to your group about something in the video that challenged your perception or your approach to smart technology and young users.

Technology AND Collaboration o Technology is now an integral part of education o As primary teachers at an international school we began to wonder … o How can we, as teachers, maximize benefits of using technology in the classroom? o How can we ensure that we are using technology in a responsible and meaningful way and that real learning is taking place?

Working memoryLong term memory Making connections Sensory experiences

Inter“app”tive AIM o Over a period of two months we worked with six collaborative apps and we found that: o Language skills improved / vocabulary increased o Better relationships with peers o Ability to work in a group and problem solve o Strengthened creativity and flexibility in thinking o Increased confidence and concentration o Higher-order thinking o Listening / conversation skills

Charades o Promotes: o Team work o Problem solving / Critical thinking skills o Specific vocabulary use o Kinesthetic opportunity for learning

Management o Organize students in groups of 3. o One student must be the “guesser” and the others will give the clues using gestures and movements o Reinforce proper device usage (using two hands, no running, jumping, etc). o Taking turns o Variations: o Use word descriptions instead of actions o Use content words to review (+Custom)

Try it out! o In a group of 3 or 4, choose one person to be the “guesser” o The other participants will be give the clues o Open the app, press “Quick Play” and choose your theme. o Tilt device down to “pass,” tilt device up for a correct guess.

Storylines o Promotes: o Collaborative writing o Interpretive and critical thinking skills o Attention to detail

Management o Make groups of a maximum 6 (at teacher’s discretion) o Choose one person who will start the “chain” o Remind students not to read their message out loud or peeking at other’s messages o Read the story all together when finished o Variations – Using subject content (Science) or Story-retelling

Try it out! o In a group of 5 or 6, choose one person to start the chain o That person will open the app and choose the number of players o Begin with a sentence (maybe the beginning of a story) and then pass your device to the right. o When finished, read your story together

Cookie Doodle o Promotes: o Listening and speaking skills o Clear and specific expression o Critical thinking and problem solving o Team work

Management o Partner activity o Partners need to choose who is the “listener” and who is giving instructions o Remind students that they have to be clear and to listen carefully and ask for clarification o Have them compare cookies before eating! o Switch roles o Variations: Using Educreations, Sketchpad – or forgo the technology and make your own materials!

Bag Game o Promotes o Questioning skills (Language frames) o Critical thinking o Collaboration between all members

Management o Give students guidelines about questions that can be asked o Limit on questions and clues o Variations: o Whole class activity (warm up or wind down) o Can be used as a “may do” with a partner or as a larger group activity

Mad Libs o Promotes: o Problem solving o Collaboration and team work o Grammar Review– parts of speech o Different kinds of texts o Creativity

Management o Groups of 3 or 4 maximum o Encourage students to work together to give ideas and not just pass the device between each other o Save the stories and read them aloud together! o Variations: Have them try to use content words or high frequency words (they’ll have to categorize)

Try it out! o Organize yourselves into groups of 3 o Open the app and choose a title of an article. o Begin activity! o Read your story together when finished.

Popplet Carousel o Promotes: o Problem solving and critical thinking o Team work and social skills (negotiating roles in a team) o Reasoning

Management o 3-4 people in one group o Make sure students understand they move but the device stays on the table o Monitor noise levels and transition movements o Ensure that each group has chosen a different popplet color box o Variations: Can be used for a variety of topics and in many different subjects

Try it out! o Each team will be given a color. o You and your team will have 3 minutes at each “station” to add your contributions to the device at that table.

Any final thoughts …? Thank you!