#ClasskickChat Archive
Classkick is hyper-focused on one goal: increase student learning. To achieve this, they listen to educators to truly understand how technology can assist in the learning process.
Tuesday August 2, 2016
Welcome to ! I'm your moderator, Jennie Magiera, district CTO in Chicago. Pls intro yourself with your name, role & location!
Laura here, Director of Teacher Happiness at Classkick, lovely sunny (and humid) day here in Chicago
Hi! My name is Emily Muender and I am a teacher working at Classkick this summer in Chicago
Can't wait to hear what you think of our topic tonight on
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on tonight's topic!
Hi All! Abby here from Chicago . Director of Teacher Success at Learnmetrics.
Katie, job title just changed to instructional coach, Indiana.
Q1: Share some ways your students have surprised or amazed you with their use of iPads.
Pamela Kent, math instructional specialist on intermediate campus 5/6, Waco, Tx
Hi Abby! Great to see you! Glad to hear how focused they are on Teacher Success!
Woot Woot, Katie! Have a wonderful year coaching your colleagues!
Hi Pamela, hope you're getting enough baseball this summer!
Thanks! Excited to be here!
Hi all! Tim here, engineer at and excited to learn from teachers and educators!
A1: Students always surprised me in NOT thinking about what they could do with their iPads. Like asking for a definition.
A1: I had to push students to use their iPads as resources - things that weren't just games - and show how to LEARN w/them!
Thanks! A bit overwhelmed at the moment, but looking forward to hitting the ground running.
As asks the questions in "Q1" format tonight, please answer by using "A1" at the beginning of your Tweet!
Join us! First question for tonight's https://t.co/VEDPi2iJWL
Q1: Share some ways your students have surprised or amazed you with their use of iPads.
A1: I consider myself pretty tech-saavy, but watching how comfortable students are using iPads and other tech is astonishing
Students have surprised me with making videos and editing using iPads with minimal instruction.
A1: How quickly they personalize it, even when told not to 😉
Absolutely! Kids put out YouTube videos with editing skills and the ability to go viral that I envy!
Agreed! For my students, iPads seemed to be second nature to them.
Did you have your students take their pictures as their backgrounds? (like drawing on their notebooks)
A1, students always find the shortcuts or other creative ways to use apps. They are not scared to explore.
Q2 coming up in a few minutes on :)!
Hey hey! Andi, Istation, digital content specialist, in Texas.
Welcome Andi! Great to see you hailing from Texas! What have you seen/been amazed by your students on iPads?
Yes! It's like the fear of failure doesn't always apply when it's an iPad they're "playing" with!
pics of "cute" YouTube stars reign!
And then this Twitch phenomenon! Students watching others doing something, and learning from the modeling!
A1 / intro: Thomas, another Classkick engineer here. Fairly tech savvy, but kids are so very efficient in their use of tech.
Q2: How are iPads better or worse than other devices when it comes to supporting student learning?
A2: I think the mobility of the iPad helps it get into the hands of little learners so easily!
A2: I'm partial to the natural interface of an iPad. I know they're $$ in many ways, but they're my fave.
A2: I love the mobility of iPads. Students can record their learning anywhere.
A2: I feel iPads are better for exploring of new things. It's hard to break them. Other sw platforms can be easier to break.
A2: iPads let you be more tactile. Drawing and manipulating things on the screen become easier. Laptops are better at typing.
Do you think the students are partial to the simplicity too? What is it about tapping that just makes sense?
Absolutely - and putting a camera on the front and the back seems perfect for capturing learning moments!
almost like they allow us to use our natural gross/fine motor skills as we would with paper and pencil
I love how they can be easily used and adapted for all ages!
A2: iPads are great with interactivity, but when it comes to $ and typing, laptops/chromebooks are better
A2 shared iPads offer collaborative convos for problem solving
I think so. I think interacting directly w/the tech (I seats of thru a mouse or smthing) makes it more natural.
Do you think that laptops/chromebooks are better or worse for collecting data about student learning?
Like in a 1:2 setting? I've heard speak wonders of limiting students to 1 device for 2 people!
I've been grudgingly admitting those points abt chromebooks now...
Here comes Q3 in in just a few minutes!
Feels like it depends on the quality of the assignment, not the device
I think that's more of a app-specific thing. Depends on what you're doing on each platform
Definitely - it always goes back to what expectations we set for the students in the first place!
Hehe I wouldn't give laptops a leg up except that "fast typing" is the new "good handwriting"
The 1:2 ratio is actually perfect for classrooms. Helps with accountability.
Partly, flexible forces need for dialog & explanations. Reflect on teamwrk not product
Q3: What tips do you have for people with a handful of iPads but a desire to digitally individualize learning?
A2. Sometimes Ss aren't able to transfer learning on the iPads to testing. They tend to forget how to use paper and pencil.
Love that idea. Interact with tech and peers at the same time!
A2: iPads are great for mobility and the endless amount of apps, but I know for typing, I prefer to use a laptop.
Forget tcher student. Both equal creators of possible
By the way, I'm Rebecca! I'm an elementary education major at OU!
Welcome Rebecca - glad to see the teachers-of-tomorrow represented tonight!
tech shld be amplifier not the end result
I think in a way, that means testing needs to adapt to both new ways to learn and new ways the world works
Of course, students also need to learn how to transfer their skills across mediums as well.
A2 iPads are better for individualized learning and customizing lessons.
Creators of possible! Love that Janet!
I agree, we are teaching students how they learn, but testing has not caught up
A3: BYOD or group mult ss on 1 iPad. Even rotate ss in stations. Don't let low numbers stop you!
Do you think this is true across age levels? Or that there is a drop-off at some point depending on grade?
A2 Ss are motivated by learning on iPads vs. other mediums.
Definitely agree: students working together leads to many skills being practiced, in addition to the content
A3: Use your few iPads in a differentiated center. Bonus: use Classkick to monitor students from across the room.
A3 engage in team goals, rotate thru day to allow access. Upload sections to GAFE accts to save
I really think this is across levels & sometimes worse in older Ss because they are used to clicking & swiping
A3: Groups/pairs/pods, have part of the class using iPads and part doing something more hands on, then switch, etc.
If you're just joining us, be sure to share your tips for managing all types of classrooms, 10:1, 5:1 https://t.co/BG2OdjD7cG
Q3: What tips do you have for people with a handful of iPads but a desire to digitally individualize learning?
A3: not only about a logistical plan for sharing devices, but having the right information to plan the right content
Thanks. Our focus is on process
Stay tuned - Q4 in is coming soon!
A3 am fortunate to have 1:1 iPads but I make sure when they are working that screens are visible to me.
if you only have limited iPads its a great incentive to use for extension activities.
And having the backup plan that still provides opportunities to master content if tech becomes unavailable!
A3 iPads have to stay flat on table or at level 1 slant. Never in lap
It's also great to use for intervention purposes in small groups where reteaching can be private
Yes project goals needs deep thinking especially when tech is used.
A3 we are installing a new software that will allow teachers to see every iPad and what S is doing from tchr iPad
Q4: How do you share what students have created on their iPads with parents and administrators?
We can also introduce accountability to others and self as a way to see the benefits of staying on task
I WANT this! Been begging our tech dept 😉
Absolutely! We can't just focus on task planning. Have to think bigger than that!
Create a social media account for you or you school. Than can be sticky though
A4 students routinely email parents from iPad and share a screen shot, photo, or other item of work.
A4: I've been wondering how Class Story has been going for ... lots of sharing with parents & looks so inviting!
A4: I don't have a good system yet, but I like what has been adding. Safely share what's going on in the room.
QR codes are great for sharing with limited resources right? I have been meaning to incorporate them more in my classroom
A4: I know are big power users of to share portfolios with parents of class learnings
Showcase proj in class blog and individual Ss portfolios
A4, Ss are free to share work via email with other teachers, admin. We also use google drive and edmodo to post work
Yes use them on bulletin boards. But must upload proj somewhere. We use GAFE
has two more questions tonight! Q5 coming up at 45 after the hour!
A4: District uses Twitter too. Buildings & some teachers have accounts & share what's going on.
A4: Not a teacher so no advice here, but a Q for teachers: How often do you share with parents? Every assgn.? Once a week?
Sticky, but also full of good lessons about what's appropriate to share and who the "audience" is!
Honestly? Not often enough. But aim for few times a week.
I share as much as I can to keep communication open aside from beginning practice activities
Once we get media release forms from parents, I think they really appreciate quick/cute/informative updates!
whatever feels important to offer window to learning. Ss choose own in portfolios. Parents subscribe to blogs
Parents subscribe to their children's blogs? That's awesome!
Q5: Has anyone ever set up a student tech leadership team? Share your top tips! If you haven’t what Qs do you have?
OK. WLd prefer convos on project managing rather than trying to monitor behavior
A4 we have a STEM showcase every year and invite the community. Students present and teach!
I have and it works so well! The kids are so proud to help and it is way more efficient then waiting for me
A5: I've definitely seen student tech leaders in individual classrooms at the elementary level, and in a team at HS level
A5: What I haven't seen is that tech team at the elementary level, where 8th graders teach 7th graders and so on...
I think my school needs to do this! They do at our high school, and the ss do very well with it.
A4 hi! former T now , love this Q. email is such a struggle (tho seesaw is great), I want to know your fave soln!
Yes. We add them in.. can unsubscribe. This way all content goes auto to their phones or email...easier
Recommend having "student training" We did it at lunch one day to go over rules so kids aren't disruptive
for project managing we use rubrics with designated checkpoints for the s to keep track
I like this idea since student can teach each other so much!
Let us know how you're empowering students to be the tech leaders in your school! https://t.co/B87GTRtwKD
Q5: Has anyone ever set up a student tech leadership team? Share your top tips! If you haven’t what Qs do you have?
I have seen class leaders are school-wide tech teams successful?
At the high school level, there's one staff member who provides guidance and meeting space/times
Then, students learn "on the job" and report back to their team - they're also "on call" during free periods
It is school-wide at our hs & is great. Kids help tech employees and even serve on the district tech committee!
A5: I like that idea, reminds me of my 1st/5th grade book buddies... maybe we can have tech buddies as well
The final question in is coming up in 3 minutes!
A5 Elem Ss Tech teams wrk great. Apply like a job. Sign up blocks 2lead support classes. Wrks wonderful
What are the kids' roles on the district tech committee? That sounds amazing
Have you guys had any students leading tech PDs for teachers? This is an idea I've been thinking of but haven't seen yet
A5: Have kids apply and have a key ingredient be personality and ability to get along with others!
Q6: What do you NOT use iPads for? Anything that you would suggest not be handled with iPads?
Definitely like that idea.
Yes yes. Do it. Even for a parent nite...stations w/ passport
Yes! I don't know WHY we didn't do this for our last parent-teacher conferences! We had a passport...
But we totally dropped the ball on having our students leading a session (or multiple) on tech/other areas!
Thanks for joining us tonight, everyone! Be sure to weigh in on our last question for the evening: https://t.co/dQwDMujMpT
Q6: What do you NOT use iPads for? Anything that you would suggest not be handled with iPads?
We had teachers facilitate big ideas and then students showed the parents how it worked using the tech. It was great!
Love the idea! How empowering!
A6 No worksheets! A worksheet on an iPad is nothing more than a worksheet.
They're providing the student perspective as we pick the next device.
Ideally, if I could go back I would never use the iPad for games. Sets the expectation that it is a learning tool at school
for digital citizenship parents went crazy trying to get to every station. They were super w/ Ss
A6: I've been torn back and forth about taking notes on the iPad. Where do each of you fall on that spectrum?
