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Student Engagement on the Go

Assistant Principal Patrick McGee explains that whatever the other advantages of adopting iPads and iPods in the classroom, the key is student engagement.

  • By Chris Riedel
  • 03/02/11

"This is my 3-year old daughter the day the iPad came out," said Patrick McGee as he displayed a movie of a young girl sitting at a kitchen counter, gripping an iPad in both hands. The audience watched as the little girl found, launched, and began to use a Dr. Seuss app; all without intervention or explanation from an adult. "Kids know--intuitively--how these things work; even at 3," he said. "We need to use that."

An assistant principal in the St. Johns County School District in Florida, McGee was sharing his experiences using iPads and other iOS devices in the classroom with an audience at the FETC 2011 conference last month.

According to McGee, there are a lot of good reasons to implement iPads and iPod touch devices in the classroom. But it's not "just about the iPad; it's more than that. This is really about keeping the students engaged" and we shouldn't limit ourselves to a single device to solve a very dynamic problem. "After all," he said, pointing to a quote from an Oregon school district administrator: "We don't adopt technology just because everyone else is doing it."

McGee's experience includes piloting programs for both the iPad and the iPod touch. "We have used them at the elementary level" to enhance reading, improve comprehension, and measure fluency. At the secondary level, the focus of these devices has been on math, science, and for use as a powerful reference tool. "One of the really great things about the iBooks app is that each book comes with a built in dictionary." That's pretty powerful, he said.

McGee also pointed out the many productivity uses of the devices, listing several apps that he deploys regularly, including iBooks, e-mail, LogMeIn, KeyNote, and Pages; many available for both devices.

Of course, according to McGee, mobile devices do more than just enhance productivity; these technologies also get kids engaged in learning. "It's amazing," he said, "but kids are motivated to do things with technology even if it's replicating a paper process" that they have no interest in.

McGee shared his go-to list of apps for the iPod and iPad that address a range of instructional and curricular areas:

This list goes on, he said. "I think we all know how easy it is to get lost in the app store."

McGee closed his session with a video produced by high school students using iPod's and various graphic, audio, and video applications. "Before this project, this class had one of the highest referral rates in St. Augustine High School. During the project, the referral rate dropped to zero. That," McGee said, "is impressive."

About the Author

Chris Riedel is a freelance writer based in Illinois. He can be reached here.

Comments

Sun, Mar 6, 2011

I agree with Kevin. Student engagement doesn't automatically mean learning is occurring. Bottom line is educational systems are charged with increasing student achievement. Technology can enhance the learning process but it doesn't guarantee learning is happening just because students are engaged and excited about using the devices.

Sun, Mar 6, 2011 Lizzy

I think the overall point Mr. McGee is trying to get across is that technology can be a wonderful way to enhance the learning process. Technology Shouldn't be thought of as a replacement for current teaching philosophies but only another educational tool. In today's society it is completely relevant and children intuitively gravitate towards it. Yes, it is "new and exciting" but it can be used in our schools to go beyond the boundaries of the classroom walls in ways that a traditional lession can't accomplish. Funding is always an issue but there are many other options such as the ipodtouch that Mr. McGee brought up. And I will throw this out there, what is more cost effective, buying multiple books year after year that consume vast amounts of paper or investing in a device like the I pad that houses all the required literate needed for each subject. There is always resistance to advancement in society... I bet no one wanted to give up those stone tablets either:)

Sat, Mar 5, 2011

Most technology expenses come from grants and must be used for the 21st Century Classrooms.

Fri, Mar 4, 2011 Kevin St. Paul

Student engagement is a worthy goal but it is not as important as student learning. Technology can be a great tool if it is connected with meaningful learning. Do not assume that because students are engaged that they are learning. The question to ask is "What is the best way for students to master these learning targets?". If the ipad is the answer (and it is an affordable option) then " lead on iMacDuff".

Thu, Mar 3, 2011 AprilS Austin, TX

I know Harry mentions the need of apps that can remember student's progress and success and report to teachers. However, I don't think it has to be an app. I work for a company called Thinkwell that produces online curriculum with exactly these options. Teachers can manage their class online, see grades and where each student is within the class. That way if a student falls behind, it's apparent quickly. Our courses are already utilized in many schools and an ipad or tablet would be a great way for students to access such material.

Thu, Mar 3, 2011 Harry Keller Los Angeles

I think that McGee is overly sanguine about iPad prospects. The cost is way too high for general K-12 education. Much of excitement must be due to newness. If same paper stuff appears on eTablets, then students will eventually end up working at the same level as newness wears off. What we must have is simple: truly interactive, responsive apps that work on currently available or inexpensive hardware. These apps should remember each student's progress and success and report to teachers for formative uses. New eTablets that may cost $99 could pave the way to a whole new way of looking at learning devices. A class full of devices plus spares could cost less than one interactive white board even when the cost of wireless access is figured in. There's still the cost of the apps to consider, of course. We're not there yet, but it's coming really fast.

Thu, Mar 3, 2011

I would like to know how the funds are found for this technology. That seems to be the biggest hurdle I have found.

Wed, Mar 2, 2011 Coleen elementary school

I would like to know a way to project from an iPad. (specifically, the "Cat in the Hat" or another Seuss application). When connecting to the projector I get audio but not video.

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