First I would love to write this about the iPads because they have become an invaluable piece of technology in my class. I am currently fluctuating between staying in 1st grade or moving down to kindergarten and my decision will partly be based on whether I can take the iPads with me. If they must stay in first I will probably stay in first. That being said I am also very interested in two other types of handheld technologies. I would love to be able to utilize clickers in my classroom. I have the mobi interwrite board from einstruction and I will admit that I have used it only twice this year. If I had the student response system that goes with this technology I would definitely incorporate the interwrite into my instruction more often. The type of clicker I am interested in is the CPS Pulse which allows for instant teacher assessment of student responses. For 28 clickers it would cost about $1500.00. I think it would be great for formative assessments before during and after a lesson to really gauge my students' learning.
Both types of handheld technologies discussed above would enhance the quality of my classroom. It would give me instant feedback on my students and would help dictate instruction. It would allow me to differentiate instruction more quickly than waiting on our progress monitoring tests which require me to input data and then figure out how to compare the students with each other. All of this would be done instantly so instruction could be adjusted the next class period. The dilemmas with this technology are in the storage of all the devices as well as the risk of them not working and be able to adjust to paper pencil tasks to assess students.
Jane,
ReplyDeleteIt is very exciting to read your blog and see how specific you can be about your handheld wish list because you already are integrating so much of this already! I am impressed with your enthusiasm and your understanding of what would benefit your students in this area. It sounds like you also are thinking about what could be connected and enhanced to what your district is already paying for, and not trying to get just one more random piece of technology. I am convinced that you need the neo2 and I don't know what it is! I hope you get them soon!
Jane,
ReplyDeleteI am VERY curious about learning more about the neo2 handheld you described. We encourage our students to read their AR books any time they have down time and often they finish a book in class and want to quickly take their AR quizzes. The problem with this is usually just locating an available computer or finding out if the library is available. Simply having the opportunity to quickly take care of an AR quiz could motivate students to continue to read books well past their goal if quizzes become so easy. I am fascinated that this tool can alternatively be used as a clicker as well as connecting to Study Island. This is exciting stuff! Do you think the cost will eventually decrease when the novelty of these multi-use handhelds wear off? I'm so excited to learn about a new technology that I had no idea existed - thank you for sharing!
Ashley
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteYou can actually go to the renaissance learning website and find more information. It seems to be specifically created for their programs. They also have a few other programs like google docs and study island. The only thing it does give is pricing on a hub and cart of 30. That is about 4000.00. I am sure it is possible to work out deals.
Jane
Jane,
ReplyDeleteI would also love to utilize the use of clickers in the classroom. It would be such a great way to get students engaged. Using them for formative assessments would be so helpful. The immediate feedback is helpful for the students as well. Thanks for sharing about the neo2. It sounds very interesting! The variety of uses sounds like a huge selling point. Being able to use it with Study Island is great. We use Study Island on a regular basis, and students and teachers love it. Being able to utilize it even more and enhance our instruction with the neo2 would be very beneficial. Thanks for sharing!
-Roxanne
Jane,
ReplyDeleteI really like the technologies you chose. I didn't read about the neo2 but it seems pretty interesting from what you addressed. I read the smart pen technology, which seems like it would be a pretty cool tool for fist grade or kindergarten because it records what they write and say, which you could upload to the computer, which too is pretty expensive at around 150 dollars a piece but the also have the fly reader by leapfrog, which doesn't record audio but it records what they write of draw, which could be cool as well and it is about 100 dollars cheaper. Great post thanks for sharing.
Kathryn Kussmann
Jane,
ReplyDeleteThe neo2 devices sound amazing! I would definatley see the benefit of students being able to take an AR quiz right then and there. I'm curious about study island. I have heard you mention it over the past year and have meant to ask you what it was. Thanks for the exciting post! I hope someday you get them! (And good luck choosing between Kindergarten and 1st grade! Only people with super powers can teach Kindergarten!! You must be one of them!)