Over the past month, we have added iPads to our Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms. The iPads were placed in those classrooms with some planning and some professional development. The intent was to let teachers explore a little bit, then identify needs and focus professional development based on the diverse needs of teachers at various levels of expertise.
An amazing thing is beginning to take place. Teachers are starting to get comfortable with the technology and are beginning to creatively use them to enhance their instruction. I was so happy to meet with one of our Kindergarten teams this past Friday where one teacher shared with me and the rest of the team how she was able to use ChatterPix with her students. Let me walk you through the process this teacher took to get to where we were on Friday.
1. Said teacher met with the school's Library Media Specialist to discuss ipad integration.
2. The LMS mentioned the use of the app ChatterPix. If you don't know the app...check this out: Chatterpix
3. The two teachers collaborated on the use of the app with a kindergarten class.
4. Students used the app to create visual stories based on a book they were reading as a class.
5. Being so successful, the teacher shared with her grade level colleagues how she used this app.
I was so impressed, I went home and showed my wife and young daughters (ages 3, 6, and 9) how great this app is and how this teacher used the app in her classroom.
This is how innovation occurs. I have the belief that teachers, given the support and the technology, will find creative ways to utilize these tools to enhance and improve instruction. It was truly supported by this experience.
You can also find some more examples of how chatterpix can be used: Click here for a Pinterest board on Chatterpix
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