Write Your Own Textbook!

A good first step in Powering Up your classroom is to make reading and writing more accessible for all students. Bring UDL principles into your lesson planning to ensure students are using technology tools to

• Represent information in multiple formats and media
• Show and express what they know in multiple ways
• Engage interest and motivation in multiple ways

Digitized textbooks and other accessible media are a great use of technology to meet the needs of a diverse range of students. Many teachers know that accessible textbooks are available for the iPad, but they may not know that they can go one step further by creating their own textbooks! Using iBooks Author educators can write and create their own textbook, picture book, or storybook on the iPad. In doing this, teachers can support reading comprehension and vocabulary development.

The iteach Lounge Blog even suggests alternate uses for the app, such as allowing students to create their own book in lieu of a report. This technology may not far off from all public schools; according to THE Journal, the federal government is aiming to place digital textbooks in all public schools within the next five years. California is a step ahead, according to the Center for Digital Education, who has plans to make core subject digital textbooks readily available (for free) to college students, beginning in 2013.

Tablets are Everywhere – How Will You Use Them in Your Classroom?

With the cheaper iPad Mini and a wide variety of Android tablets now available, as well as newer budget-friendly tablets coming onto the market, more classrooms have access to some kind of tablet.

Is your school using tablets? If so, do you feel lost when it comes to finding apps that will integrate with evidence-based practices? We’ve put together a few resources and ideas to help you get started with great apps for education, but feel free to share your suggestions in the comments!

Finding Apps:

• Search for apps on the TechMatrix
• eSchool News: 10 of the best Apple apps for education in 2012
• eSchool News: 10 of the best Android apps for education in 2012
• iPhone, iPad and iPod touch Apps for (Special) Education
• Appolicious – App directory and search tool

Helpful Resources:

• Education’s Guide to Mobile Devices: Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Tech and Your Schools
• iPodsibilities – teacher website and blog dedicated to teaching with the iPod and iPad
• I Education Apps Review – A Community Effort to Grade Educational Apps

Are 3D Printers the “Next Big Thing” in Education?

You may have started to recently hear a lot about 3D printers; with prices dropping, more high schools and universities are purchasing 3D printers for use with their students. It may not be long before elementary and middle schools follow suit.

So what are 3D printers? 3D printing allows you to create solid three dimensional models from a digital design. By laying down successive layers of material, the printer “builds” a three-dimensional model based on your specifications. With basic models running in the range of $3000 to $5000, the 3D printer may soon be a common sight in classrooms. Think of the educational possibilities of having your students design and create their own mathematical models and virtual manipulatives!

You can view lesson plan ideas here to get a sense of what is possible with 3D printing. 3D printing companies are also springing up around the country, allowing you to send designs and make use of their 3D printing capabilities. Shapeways is one such example, and they have some great videos demonstrating the process, as well as really cool examples of products created by users – everything from jewelry to toy trains to lamps and more!
Check out this video for an interesting overview of 3D printing:

iPods in Class: How to Turn the Music Maker into a Productive Machine

iPods and MP3 players easily find their way into classrooms. Add the invention of the ear bud and you have frustrated teachers, when students unfortunately are more interested in their personal technology than in classroom material. But you can turn this situation. You can replace iPod daydreaming with learning by by creating podcasts relevant to classroom instruction!

Podcasts can be created for everything from class presentations to book reports. Engage students in prewriting activities to help them brainstorm ideas for their podcasts. Use PowerUp tips and strategies for helping students draft and review their materials and then set up class time to record podcasts to share with the class. These student-created podcasts would also be a great feature on a classroom blog! Teachers can also create podcasts for a multimedia approach to educating students. There are premade podcasts that teachers can use on Scholastic's website.