Jorge Dias - Creative Use of Tablets in Schools - European Schoolnet Academy by Jorge Dias

Introducing myself:

profjorge76 — 2015-04-14 23:43:04 UTC

Hello everyone! My name is Jorge Dias and I'm from Viana do Castelo, a beautiful city located in the north of Portugal.

I am a teacher of mathematics and natural sciences in Agrupamento de Escolas de Freixo, in Ponte de Lima district.

I am currently working with students of 5th and 6th grade.

This is my city...

profjorge76 — 2015-04-15 00:05:06 UTC

Republic Square in Viana do Castelo

This is my school

profjorge76 — 2015-04-15 00:06:48 UTC

Agrupamento de Escolas de Freixo

profjorge76 — 2015-04-15 00:17:32 UTC

Module 1. What is my main reason for using or wanting to use tablets in my classroom?

profjorge76 — 2015-04-16 22:02:48 UTC

Most, if not all of the students are heavy users of technological devices such as computers, smartphones or tablets. In order to make the most motivating classes, teachers should be aware of this interest shown by the students and try to integrate it into daily teaching practices. If modern school does not consider the interests and motivations of students, adjusting the curriculum approach to the use of new tools and implementing new strategies, the probability of creating discouraged or frustrated individuals is very large.

Module 1. What whole-school challenges do I already face or do I anticipate facing when using tablets?

profjorge76 — 2015-04-16 22:32:16 UTC

The main challenge of public schools in Portugal is the lack of sufficient budget to ensure all needs in material terms. To work around this situation, teachers and school leaders have to improvise and innovate. It is the practice of my school to join contests and / or projects that allow for obtaining monetary compensation or materials that can guarantee the purchase of equipment, such as tablets. Fortunately we have been very successful in this aspect in recent years and we were able to acquire a considerable number of tablets that are currently available for use by teachers and students. As I belong to the direction of my school, I feel the embarrassment of some teachers to use tablets in their teaching practices because they do not feel confidence in the handling of such equipment, it is very difficult for them to break with the conventional teaching practices and plan teaching strategies more innovative.

Module 1. What classroom challenges do I already face or do I anticipate facing when using tablets?

profjorge76 — 2015-04-16 22:49:25 UTC

Initially, the use of tablets in classes with students of 10-11 years, originates normal euphoria in children who are in receipt of a new "toy". It is essential at this stage to allow students to explore the tablet, discover their potential and gradually the teacher should guide children's attention to the aspects that really matter. When the number of tablets is not enough for all students, they should be made aware of the importance of work in pairs or in groups, collaboratively and cooperatively. It is important that teachers feel totally confident and capable in the use of software that aims to provide students in order to guarantee clarify any questions that may arise.

App for Teaching: Edmodo

profjorge76 — 2015-04-16 22:52:48 UTC

I already knew the Edmodo. However, never used it with my students. I recognize its potential as a social network that can involve a whole educational community, without any risk of intrusion of unnecessary or inadequate information, as happens in the most used social networks such as Facebook. In my school we use very often the Microsoft tools. Among them is Yammer, which has the features of Edmodo.

Get to know us better...

profjorge76 — 2015-04-16 23:15:49 UTC

How we work...

profjorge76 — 2015-04-16 23:19:11 UTC