iPads in the Classroom: BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

You can't deny that the rise in technology has had a major influence on today's education system. A teacher can no longer stand at the front of the class and lecture their students as they copy notes. We know that this causes students to become disengaged from their learning and become bored at school. There are many ways to create stimulating, fun and meaningful learning. For example, inclusive classrooms or student centred learning. Another way to engage students back into their learning is by incorporating technology into the classroom. Children today have more access to information than ever before. With the touch of a finger, children are exposed to games, apps, websites, videos, pictures and more. As educators, teaching children in this generation, we need to take advantage of children's knowledge of technology and use it to enhance their learning.

iPads and technology must be incorporated into the present education system. Many students have iPads at home and can bring them into the classroom, thus the idea BYOD. However, this is not always possible but school boards can step in and provide iPads for students to use at school. We can no longer expect textbooks and note taking to be useful or stimulating for our students. Although technology, apps and video games may be new concepts for some teachers, it is our job as educators to find what interests our students and use it to engage them in their learning.

I found a very compelling video on YouTube of a grade 1 teacher, Eric Crouch. This video shows his students using iPads in the classrooms for various types of lessons, for example, reading, writing and math. Eric explains his classroom routine using the iPads and how beneficial they have been for his students' learning as well as their engagement. One thing that he said really stuck out to me: "The kids get so involved in the classroom, they don't really realize that they're learning."

In order to teach children in the 21st century, we must not ignore the influence that technology has on our students. 21st century learners need 21st century resources. Using technology, and more specifically iPads, in the classroom has a range of benefits for students' learning. For one, it allows for teachers to use individualized instruction for their students. In an app, there may be various levels of difficulty that can be adjusted to the students' abilities Students won't feel singled out if all their peers are working on their own version of a task or an assignment on their own device. iPads allow children to access information from all over the world. Teachers can use Skype or Google Hangouts to speak with other teachers and their classrooms around the world. Using apps allows students create things that are unique and it allows them to showcase what they know, just like a test or an essay.

In their write up about technology in education, Drake, Reid and Kolohon (2013) refer to Bloom's Digital Taxonomy. This is inspired by Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, but uses digital resources to represent each level in the hierarchy. This specific example shows resources that are appropriate for children in younger grades. This visual is a great way to help teachers find new digital resources for their students as they can specifically see what point of the hierarchy each resource would fit. 

These forms of technology were not something I had when I was in elementary school. I remember sitting in a desk and copying notes from an overhead slide. There were limited opportunities for us to explore the world around us and this rarely involved computers or technology. Through my teacher education I have learned to value the importance of making learning fun. We are very fortunate to live in a country where we have access to these forms of technology and we need to take advantage of it. As times change we need to continue to develop new ways of learning, incorporate new resources into our lessons and continue to use learning strategies that enhance our students' educational experiences.

Eric Crouch said that technology is limitless and I agree with this statement. With technology there is no limit on creativity, there is no limit on the knowledge you can obtain and there definitely is no limit on the amount of fun you can have.

References
Drake, S.M., Reid, J.L. & Kolohon, W. (2014). Interweaving curriculum and classroom assessment: Engaging the 21st century learner. Canada: Oxford University Press.

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