My first 5 years teaching (2008-2013) I was with a district that technology was only in a lab not in the classroom. I had one computer in my classroom and that was my teacher PC. Students used it only to do Accelerated Reader quizzes. They considered innovation to be the fact we had active boards in some rooms and projectors. Also if you were lucky you had a front row system to help project your voice in your room. I really didn't know any other way. I began teaching in SBISD in August of 2013. I entered my Pre-k classroom and to my surprise I had ipads! Not just one but several! I was beyond excited. So how did we use those ipads? Well of course I spent hours researching the top education apps for that age group and downloaded all that I could for free. My kids were merely consumers and I saw nothing wrong with just that. Fast forward to our district technology upgrades and integration of our mini ipads. When we were told we would no longer have free range to download apps groans could be heard across the district. I was one groaning too. I mean what could a Pre-k/Kindergarten possible do with an ipad if they can't have the educational gaming and learning apps? So they would just be for Istations and that would just have to be it. I was bummed my attitude not exactly positive. Then one day it hit me. Education is a constantly changing environment and we are leaving the age of consumable technology and we are entering in to the creative technology world. It reminded me of when my mom who had taught for over 40 years got a smart board. She called and asked me to come show her how to use it and when I arrived to my absolute horror I saw she had been writing on it with dry erase markers. At that moment my mom said she knew it was time for her to retire because she had no desire to learn new technology and she knew it was unfair to her students. That is what popped into my head when I was trying to figure out what to do with these ipads. So I decided I owed it to my students to learn about the apps on the ipads and in turn allow my students to use them to create. Now I am not your sit down have a lesson you don't touch the technology kind of teacher. I am the ok here is the ipad this is the app you will be exploring I have guided access on please enjoy exploring this app kind of teacher. So we started with scratch Jr. Guys if you have not used this app I urge you to change that! The kids have figured it out in no time. They are creating and coding with it and I love going by sitting down and listening to the stories they are creating. Is it perfect? No but it's authentic and engaging. I have made a personal challenge to expose my students to every app the district has approved that is on their level on our ipads. It's a gradual process but one that is paying off. Just this week in our PLC I shared Scratch Jr, Green Screen Live and WonderWorkshop with my grade level and administrative team. I expressed to them that like many I had to choose to change my attitude and mindset when it comes to how to use technology with my students. We are no longer using it for them to consume but we are using it to encourage them to create. We must remember that as educators it is our attitude and mindset that sets the tone in our classrooms, on our teams and on our campuses. So I encourage you to be the one to think creatively and show others it is what the students in our classrooms need.
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