iPad as an ICT tool

Hello girls!

We are Alba and Georgina sharing our experience of the last session, using the iPads as technological tool in the classroom. Both of us have our own iPads and we have used them for leisure. But after the last session our mind has been opened and we now see the iPad as a good and useful ICT tool.  

BOOK CREATOR

We really consider that Ipads bring education to life in the classrooms. It is a tool very easy to manipulate and children can use it easily. We all know that new technologies make the sessions more engaging than a printed format beside the incontable number of tools you can take benefit from. Sharing resources, working in groups, communication, access to different cultures… are some of the advantages of using ipads in the classroom.

Thanks to Maribel Benito we were introduced in how to use ipads in classrooms with students from Nursery and Primary School. The first App she shared with us was “BOOK CREATOR”.

This educational app is ideal for children to create a personalised story related to any topic. The app allows students to take a picture and add it, videos, images and icons, text, change the background and change the colour. Students can see the result when they finish.

Gina and me decided to focused our example with “Book Creator” on one topic: routines. Our aim of the activity was to check if students could work on a routine using this app. The idea was simple: students must create a book choosing one time of the day (morning, afternoon, evening) and illustrate it by adding recordings or images and text or audios.

We tried our best checking all the options we were allowed to try and it worked! We were really proud of our project and we will definitely use it in our classrooms.

https://youtu.be/FDpStQCDSe0

The second application that we downloaded was "BITSBOARD". 

It’s very easy to use you only have to make photos or choose images related to a topic that you are interested. Insert the image and write the name, if you want you can record how to pronounce the word, if not the application will look trough their documents the voice of another person saying the word and if you are agree with you can leave it. Once you have introduced all the images it gives you the option to play to several games using them.

The games can be played in groups, for example in this one the maximum are 4 pupils playing at the same time. They have to match the sound with the object that apperars in the image.

Bits board gives you the opportunity to choose lots of games depending on the age of the students. We share you some different games that can be used in different ages. 

And it’s also very useful if you don’t have time to create your own board, you can search through all the boards that other people published.

So, Bitsboard is a fantastic and complete tool to show contents in a new way, playing dozens of games. Also, it gives the opportunity to create your own contents, search for created boards before, and share your own boards to people and other teachers around the world.

IWB nowadays

Working with IWB

Nowadays, digital boards cover different aspects in Primary School. Digital boards integrate technology in the classroom, sessions become dynamic and cognitive development increases.

I have been using digital boards for several years almost every day and I can say that children really enjoy it. It is a very useful tool in the class because it provides visual support, music, a timer, Internet, examples… an endless number of resources integrated in one.  However, what I like the most about digital boards is that students have hands on experience so it is not only a tool for the teacher but for the students too.

I have been working on two different Smart Board activities related to Bloom’s taxonomy. One of the activities is based on remembering and understanding skills and the other one focusses on creation, analysis and self-evaluation.

Both of them are adapted to a Primary 1 class. The first one consists in choosing the correct option for the different images that keep appearing on the screen. Having previously introduced vocabulary, students will choose which one is the correct one. This activity includes visual support and self-assessment.

The second one consists in a short and guided presentation of students’ favourite pet. They have the chance to add a photo with their favourite pet and talk about them with a recording. There is a template for all of them and, depending on individual abilities, they will be able to insert  a photo by themselves and to record a short description based on their previous knowledge. 

  

About me...

About me...

My name is Alba Sicilia and I am 27 years old. I have always had an interest and passion for Learning and Teaching processes and for English language and culture.

Since I was young I have also had an interest in learning and teaching a second language.  I began to take English classes at an early age in an academy with different teachers. At university, I focussed more on language teaching and the acquisition of a second language and took some courses in methodology and classroom management.

Teaching a foreign language in Primary school is, however, my preferred area of expertise because it includes the development and integration of different language skills and, especially because I enjoy working with children. I have already gained experience in this area, and I am presently employed in Jesuïtes Sarria – Sant Ignasi school English department since September 2010, where I teach English in Primary 1 and 2 and also Primary 6.  I also teach drama in English at the same levels. I am assistant coordinator for European exchanges and travel with groups of children during the school year to partner schools in the UK.

It might be appropriate to mention that I also gained teaching experience in the UK for 1 year. My first work experience was in Essex (London) as a guaranteed supply teacher covering all levels from Nursery to Primary positions. Sometime afterwards, I was recommended as a Reception class teacher in Northbury Primary school in Barking. The knowledge of the British Education has greatly influenced my teaching skills and I look at that period of my life as a turning point in my career and the confirmation of my vocation in the educational field.

        

I actually think technologies help us to find, organise, manage and access different information and all the courses and training I have been taking before, have been very helpful for me. That is why I decided to choose this optional subject.  

I have to say the lack of time truly affects me in this topic. I sincerely would like to spend more time on my laptop investigating new resources, different tools, social networks… for sure it will help me and it will make my day by day easier.

I really enjoy exploring and using technologies so hopefully in a short period of time I will be able to discover more and more.   

During these last days, I have been introducing myself in two different social networks: Twitter and Linkldin. I used to have a Twitter account but I never used it before. However, LinkedIn is certainly new for me. I signed up two weeks ago and I have been uploading my curriculum and I have started following different Educational groups, English teachers, educators around the world and colleagues. I find it very attractive, it gives you an open mind of what we have around regarding our professional life and it keeps you updated.

Moreover, I consider myself a beginner on Symbaloo and FlipBoard. I downloaded the Apps on my Ipad and I have been exploring but I don’t exactly know how they work. I seriously need more time to guide my learning.

So I would like to take benefit of all the tools, resources and social marks regarding my professional life and I would like to show my students how they could take advantage of it.