Tech EDGE: Mobile Learning in the Classroom
This week I explored the Podcast called Tech EDGE. This podcast has a mission to “create a generation of teachers who are effective and confident using new technologies to prepare the students to participate and lead in tomorrow’s global society. You can get their podcasts from iTunes U and on YouTube! There are all kinds of episodes covering a multitude of subjects such as history, reading, science, math, music, language arts, utilities for the iPad, and stuff for college students and teachers! Each week, Guy Trainin talks about apps you can use in your classroom and gives you a short tutorial on how to use it.
One app that Guy talks about is Khan Academy. This is a great website and app to use in the classroom. The app is free to download and can be used for grades K-12! Khan Academy is a program where you can watch videos, practice your skills, or get extra help on lessons in math, science, economics and finance, arts and humanities, computing, test prep, Khan academy for educators, and more! This app is very easy to navigate and even groups some subjects by grade level! The only thing I found overwhelming was how many different lessons there were on the website, but luckily there is a search bar if you want to find something specific. This is a great app to use if you want to try a flipped classroom. It offers videos over a lot of lessons found in common core standards. This is a great tool for learning because if students fall behind or do not understand a lesson, they can go here to get extra instruction. If you need help visit their help site.
Another app that Guy talks about is Pokémon Go. This is actually a very popular game that you can download for free on your smart phone or tablet. The app allows you to catch Pokemon in real time and place. This app would be good for 1st grade and older. I do not think Kindergarteners will fully understand the point of the game. This game has some educational benefits with it. First of all, the map you are on is your actual location, so kids could use this apps to learn directions or how to use a map. In the game there are these things called “Pokestops”, where you can receive bonus items to help you throughout the game. These stops are only located at historical landmarks or places of significance. This will give students the opportunity to learn more historical facts about their area. They may be surprised by what they find. Although this app has a lot of benefits, there are a few minor glitches such as the app freezing when you catch a Pokemon. The app is constantly updating to help improve bug fixes so you can expect a glitch to go away within a few days. If you need help with the app, you can watch the Tech EDGE video here or visit their website.