Something about me ...in my Learning diary (for MOOC "Creative use of tablets in Schools") by Concetta Carrano

M1.2 Why use tablets? The teacher and student perspective

concettacarrano — 2015-04-15 20:14:43 UTC

The use of the tablet in school activities is an important factor in the renewal of teaching. I teach in a primary school and pupils deal with greater enthusiasm school activities supported by the use of the tablet. I could see a greater focus on the proposed contents and the desire to deepen them in a personal and creative way.

M.1.3 What whole-school challenges do I already face or do I anticipate facing when using tablets?

concettacarrano — 2015-04-18 15:27:05 UTC

I think that the main difficulties arising from digital equipment, which are often limited. Should be able to equip schools with wifi, when it is absent, and expand the number of devices available to pupils. It should also be spread among the teachers a greater awareness of the importance of the tablet in the new learning environment that is now necessary. Our students are constantly using different devices and all this is radically changing the process of teaching and learning. These are for me the new challenges for us teachers.

M.1.4 What classroom challenges do I already face or do I anticipate facing when using tablets?

concettacarrano — 2015-04-20 16:55:12 UTC

I think that the main challenges relate to new pedagogical approaches that underlie the use of the tablet in the school. The tablet should be gradually included in the school context to innovate the process of teaching and learning. It is necessary that a growing number of teachers purchases this awareness, pioneering the use of these devices. And 'neccessario start updating activity of teachers increasingly targeted.

In addition, we must integrate the tablet of everyday teaching, not occasionally. During this school year I have begun to use the tablet to school for a project. Unfortunately, at the school where I teach has no wifi, but the students were willing to take to school their tablet or other devices. Having overcome the initial difficulties, the students are very excited. My advice is to start to use them in the classroom, although there are technical difficulties, because children love to solve minor technical problems, feeling protagonists of the new mode of assimilation of educational content.

M1.5 App for Teaching: Edmodo

concettacarrano — 2015-04-20 16:59:34 UTC

I have not used Edmodo, but I think that I will use soon. It seems to me an interesting platform, intuitive, where students can share materials, act and communicate easily with each other and with the teachers, in a safe and controlled environment.

M.2.1 Learning Scenarios

concettacarrano — 2015-04-24 19:56:23 UTC

I did not know Learning Scenarios, but it seems an interesting tool, which puoò improve lesson planning by teachers and, at the same time, allows pupils to improve the final product, comparing with other pupils. I think I will use it soon!

M.2.3 What kind of content can we create with tablets?

concettacarrano — 2015-04-25 14:23:20 UTC

I realized with the pupils of the fourth class of primary school a few episodes of a broadcast Podcasting. Children chose the topic: sport and sports activities, in school and out of school. Initially, we prepared the registration card (screenplay) containing themes and formats. We used the computer and as Audacity audio recording application. The kids had fun choosing the various roles, alternating in them. It was a wonderful experience of collaboration and sharing.

I like these apps...

concettacarrano — 2015-04-25 14:29:04 UTC

Mural.ly - https://mural.ly/

MindNode - http://mindnode.com/

Duolingo - https://it.duolingo.com/

EduClipper - http://app.educlipper.net/

M.2.2. What kind of content can you produce with your class?

concettacarrano — 2015-04-25 14:44:24 UTC

During a previous school year, I taught Italian in a fifth class of primary school and pupils carried out a project, "A film of colors", which told the production and illustration of descriptive texts: a funny video made with the program Windows Movie Maker outlined the stages of production of descriptive texts showing some examples of the texts they produce.

The project, undertaken with PCs, showed how the use of new technologies better the outcome of the training, by consolidating the disciplinary learning, developing the potential of pupils. Also, the children were able to experience how the use of technology audiovisual communication allows to express feelings and emotions through various codes. This activity media was very important because it has allowed the pupils to develop new creative and collaborative dynamics, also favoring the inclusion of a pupil with disabilities.

2.6 Additional resources

concettacarrano — 2015-04-25 20:23:22 UTC

Favourite apps of the CCL teachers

CCL Learning Story on Content Creation

CCL guide: Learning Story Content Creation + checklist

The Guardian: Tablets in schools: coding, creativity and the importance of teachers

Creating Content with your Tablet (2014) (not free)

M.1.6 Research and newspaper articles on tablet use:

concettacarrano — 2015-04-26 16:37:11 UTC

Pearson Student Mobile Device Survey 2013

BBC News: Tablet computers in 70% of schools

Geo magazine: Lernen mit neuen Medien (German)

NMC: Horizon report on school education

L'impact de l'iPad sur l'apprentissage des élèves (French)

“Using nearpod in elementary guided reading groups”

Tablet vs. Paper: The Effect on Learners' Reading Performance

Naace: the iPad as a tool for edcuation - a case study

Tablets for Schools: Updated report on the use of tablets in Education

White paper on Tablets and apps in school

Introducing Tablets in Schools - The Acer-European Schoolnet Tablet Pilot

M.3 The topic of collaborative learning

concettacarrano — 2015-04-27 14:26:15 UTC

For the collaborative learning it's important to consider :

Roles of studentes and teacher;

Role of tablets;

Organising the process.

M.3.1 Forming roups for Group Work

concettacarrano — 2015-04-29 09:31:24 UTC

I often use the group work because it involves much pupils. I form groups of 3-4 pupils each, heterogeneous groups by level. The groups are different from time to time according to the aims to be achieved. Within the various groups is important there are pupils who help other children with forms of tutoring. Particular attention should be paid to all the dynamics that allow the inclusion of pupils with disabilities.

M.3.2 Student collaboration with tablets

concettacarrano — 2015-04-30 16:31:32 UTC

I think that to encourage the concentration of pupils ,while working with the tablets, must carefully choose the topics related to the purposes to be achieved. The assets should be interesting and engaging. It is therefore necessary to define the objectives and timetable of the project activities. I try to give each student a particular role within the group, making sure that each student will contribute with their specific expertise to the project. In my opinion, the important thing is to value the contributions of each student, which in this way feels gratified and appreciated.

M.3.3 School-to-school collaboration with tablets

concettacarrano — 2015-04-30 20:13:01 UTC

I have never participated in an eTwinning project, but I hope to make the next school year. I love the dynamic proposed for the conduct of the projects! I think that some of the success factors for a school-school collaboration there are: the careful selection of topics; the ability to increase more and more the motivation of pupils; collaboration among teachers, willing to collaborate and share information and teaching methodologies; an adeguate technological and organitional support; an intense close dialogue between the school and the family.

M.3.5 Apps for collaborative learning

concettacarrano — 2015-04-30 20:13:01 UTC

My favourite apps for collaborative learning are:

Google Drive,

Google Doc,

Dropbox,

Prezi,

Skype,

Movie Maker,

Mindomo,

Wordpress,

Pinterest,

Storify.

concettacarrano — 2015-05-01 18:26:43 UTC

M.4.2. Tablets and Personalisation

concettacarrano — 2015-05-04 17:03:17 UTC

I teach in a primary school where there is still no wifi, but during this school year I tried to use the pupils' tablets with their connection for a project of History. The tablet has changed the ways of pupils' work, because increased opportunities for cooperative learning; pupils have committed more and more to find different solutions to use new apps and to solve small problems to devices. The students familiarized with apps like Google Drive, Google Doc, Dropbox etc., sharing materials, photos, video etc. in the class blog and all this has personalized the learning experience, improving the participation in the activities of pupils with disabilities.

M.4.1. Learning Styles of your Students

concettacarrano — 2015-05-04 19:29:52 UTC

I think that time and patience are needed to know the learning styles of their students.It's important to communicate with them, invite them to describe, offering different activities such as questionnaires, conversations etc. In the present time it is increasingly important to take account of multiple intelligences, the different ways in which pupils learn. My pupils aged 8 to 10 years and have children who prefer the visual knowledge. Soon after, they love to listen and then engage in manual activities, which they like a lot.Learning styles, then, they are many and different from each other; for this we need to individualize and personalize learning as much as possible.

M.4.3 Tablets and special needs

concettacarrano — 2015-05-05 08:46:40 UTC

In my opinion, the ICT and in particular the tablets are very important for the inclusion of students with disabilities, who can contribute to the activities with special and personal ways, that enhance their personal contribution to the group work.

concettacarrano — 2015-05-05 08:52:55 UTC

The use of tablets for learners with special educational needs: interesting videos and links !

concettacarrano — 2015-05-05 08:52:55 UTC

http://tabletascuola.net/editouch/

https://youtu.be/MP2ESWaYOm8

https://youtu.be/kA8c4qGA2fo

http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/71882/1/curtis.pdf

https://youtu.be/Tbb2LY2Xb6w

https://youtu.be/SYBbSLdfb3M

https://youtu.be/TpbUhFC63U0

https://youtu.be/STBs3dBykDE

M.4.4 Flipping the Classroom

concettacarrano — 2015-05-05 09:53:34 UTC

I never tried the flipped classroom, but I am very interested in it and would love to experience it with my pupils. I am convinced that this new way of understanding the lesson would be greeted with enthusiasm by them! First of all, I would mention it to them and then propose them to set me up for this "adventure". It would be exciting for me to prepare the videos, search and make available to pupils materials on the Internet, that they could study in the afternoon. In the morning at school, however, students can be involved in working groups and workshops that enhance their creativity. I think that this new method could be implemented in the classes I teach, and I hope that this will happen soon.

M.4.5 Challenges of the Flipped Classroom

concettacarrano — 2015-05-05 15:07:00 UTC

I think we need a new methodological approach by the teachers involved. Teachers motivated and skilled on the method of the flipped classroom can more easily outline a new process of teaching / learning. At the same time, it is important to increase the students' motivation making for them interesting activities: videos, tutorials, using apps etc. that involve their attention. Of course, at the beginning there will be many challenges ahead, but they will make the most challenging curriculum, open new perspectives in the teaching profession and customizing more and more educational activities,

MY Lesson Plan

concettacarrano — 2015-05-13 10:57:33 UTC

MY Less

concettacarrano — 2015-05-13 10:57:33 UTC

My Lesson Plan

concettacarrano — 2015-05-13 10:57:33 UTC

It's entitled "The origins of Agnone (Italy)".It focuses on the history of the area in which the pupils live, to help them understand the importance of local cultural heritage. Ecco il link: http://v.gd/bsgyod

I hope you enjoy it!