Making Thinking Visible

Today I worked with small groups of students and their teachers to role model and facilitate the use of iPad Apps that support writing, reflection and 'Making Thinking Visible'. These students will then go back into their classrooms (with the support of their teachers) and teach others.

Year 0 Bilingual and Year 1/2 Hungry Fish (Intro to basic use and 'swipe' movement for learners who had never used device before) then moving onto creation rather than consumption. Puppet Pals, Sock Puppets and Drawing Pad (with photo's of themselves and creations imported).

The Bilingual unit had been on a trip that day to a local landmark where they were told the history and local Maori legend which related to it. The Director's Cut ($4.19 Paid version) would have enabled the learners to use their own background photo's with 'character cutouts' of themselves or their own drawn pictures of characters, warriors etc. The school saw the value of this (after learners using my iPad with it on) and plan to invest in this app. 

Bilingual Class year 3/4's Fotopedia Heritage (Free) and Skitch (Free). 
Example of content created in a short session on iPad.

Then when teaching flexibility of the App using same process but using learner generated artwork.

The created 'product' could then be used to support an in class writing session or oral language (recording ideas, creative storytelling). Learners could also complete this learning experience in Te Reo.

Year 5/6's Epic Citadel (Free) and Skitch (Free) and Tappy Memories ($1.29).

Learners explored the App - took the 'guided tour', then negotiated the environment on their own (time limited). Learners then chose their 'place of interest' (The place that - ignited their thinking? What intrigued them? Where would they most like to be?) They took a screen shot of their place (this was also a new skill learnt). This image could then have been used as part of their literacy learning (oral, written), or even in other curriculum areas eg Music, Dance and Drama.

The app 'Tappy Memories' was also role modelled to show the possibilities of using multiple apps to build on and share their thinking and reflections. The fact that the content learners create can be emailed from within the app means that it can then be blogged with ease. When you email your 'reflection' it arrives as seperate files e.g. Photo, Text and Sound File.

This is just a screenshot rather than the exported finished product.

At an after school staff member each staff member discussed their experiences and new learning from the day. All staff had access to an ipad to 'play' with the apps as they were shared. I was able to show examples created both on the iPad (via the Reflection programme installed on my laptop and attached to the data projector) and also those emailed/shared directly to blogs via iPad (Blogger App). I was also able to answer any questions and to suggest apps for other purposes and individual needs.