The Inter“app”tive

ClassroomMoving beyond “drill and kill” to developing cognitive, language and social skills.

Margit Dumitrescu

Gabriela Garza

Nicole Valois

Who we are …o Nicole Valoiso Coordinator of Lower Development

(Grades 1 – 3) at American Institute of Monterrey

o Margit Dumitrescuo 2nd 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…oOver the last 4 to 5 years, technology has evolved from an

isolated subject to being integrated into daily activities

oAdverse effects of modern technology on the brain

o Individual use – drills or games

oDiana 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

oTechnology is now an integral part of educationoAs primary teachers at an international school we

began to wonder …oHow can we, as teachers, maximize benefits of

using technology in the classroom?oHow can we ensure that we are using technology

in a responsible and meaningful way and that real learning is taking place?

Working memory Long term memory

Making connections Sensory experiences

Inter“app”tive classroom @ AIMoOver a period of two months we worked with six

collaborative apps and we found that: oLanguage skills improved / vocabulary increasedoBetter relationships with peers oAbility to work in a group and problem solveoStrengthened creativity and flexibility in thinkingo Increased confidence and concentrationoHigher-order thinkingoListening / conversation skills

Charades

oPromotes:oTeam workoProblem solving / Critical thinking skillsoSpecific vocabulary useoKinesthetic opportunity for learning

ManagementoOrganize students in groups of 3. oOne student must be the “guesser” and the others

will give the clues using gestures and movementsoReinforce proper device usage (using two hands,

no running, jumping, etc).oTaking turns oVariations:oUse word descriptions instead of actionsoUse content words to review (+Custom)

Try it out!

oIn a group of 3 or 4, choose one person to be the “guesser”

oThe other participants will be give the cluesoOpen the app, press “Quick Play” and choose

your theme.oTilt device down to “pass,” tilt device up for a

correct guess.

StorylinesoPromotes:oCollaborative writingoInterpretive and critical thinking skillsoAttention to detail

Management oMake groups of a maximum 6 (at teacher’s

discretion)oChoose one person who will start the “chain” oRemind students not to read their message

out loud or peeking at other’s messagesoRead the story all together when finishedoVariations – Using subject content (Science)

or Story-retelling

Try it out! oIn a group of 5 or 6, choose one person to start

the chainoThat person will open the app and choose the

number of players oBegin with a sentence (maybe the beginning of

a story) and then pass your device to the right.oWhen finished, read your story together

Cookie DoodleoPromotes:oListening and speaking skillsoClear and specific expressionoCritical thinking and problem solvingoTeam work

Management o Partner activityo Partners need to choose who is the “listener” and who

is giving instructionso Remind students that they have to be clear and to

listen carefully and ask for clarificationoHave them compare cookies before eating! o Switch roles

oVariations: Using Educreations, Sketchpad – or forgo the technology and make your own materials!

Bag Game

oPromotesoQuestioning skills (Language frames)oCritical thinking oCollaboration between all members

Management

oGive students guidelines about questions that can be asked

oLimit on questions and cluesoVariations: oWhole class activity (warm up or wind down)oCan be used as a “may do” with a partner or as a

larger group activity

Mad LibsoPromotes:oProblem solvingoCollaboration and team workoGrammar Review– parts of speechoDifferent kinds of textsoCreativity

ManagementoGroups of 3 or 4 maximumoEncourage students to work together to give

ideas and not just pass the device between each other

oSave the stories and read them aloud together! oVariations: Have them try to use content

words or high frequency words (they’ll have to categorize)

Try it out!

oOrganize yourselves into groups of 3 oOpen the app and choose a title of an article.oBegin activity!oRead your story together when finished.

Popplet Carousel

oPromotes:oProblem solving and critical thinkingoTeam work and social skills (negotiating

roles in a team)oReasoning

Managemento3-4 people in one groupoMake sure students understand they move but

the device stays on the tableoMonitor noise levels and transition movementsoEnsure that each group has chosen a different

popplet color boxoVariations: Can be used for a variety of topics

and in many different subjects

Try it out! oEach team will be given a color. oYou 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!