Teacher Lisa Forsyth and seventh-grader Averey Ridder work on the class technology project using an iPad recently at Byron-Bergen Middle School. Provided photoFive students were actively engaged using an iPad® in a Byron-Bergen Middle School classroom recently.
“I like using it [iPad®] for pictures,” said seventh-grader Jake Greenman. Averey Ridder, a seventh-grader, said he enjoyed creating the book report and practicing it for his presentation.
Jake, Averey and their three classmates – Kae Yun, Destanee Zastrow, and Aaries Fitzsimmons – were applauded by their teachers, principal, and superintendent for their knowledge and application of the iPad®.
The students are in the middle school Life Skills class (grades 5-8), and they created a presentation using the iPad® for their technology class project about inventions.
The students chose to research and present about Thomas Edison’s light bulb. Other inventions they mentioned were barbed wire, the phonograph, telephone, incandescent light, gasoline automobile, zipper, motion picture, radio, and x-ray machine.
The students used different applications – apps – designed with them in mind for their project. The students, Teacher Lisa Forsyth, and Teacher Aide Pat Partridge all learned how to use the apps for the iPad®-based project from Teacher Aide Debbie Pangrazio.
“Our students see we are in a technological world, and that the use of iPads® and computers are expanding beyond video games,” said Forsyth. “The iPads® are for students of all ages and academic levels. Our students are excited to use the iPads® in the classroom.”
Each student created portions of the presentation, and Pangrazio then combined all the slides from each student into one master presentation.
“The students were engaged and challenged,” said Pangrazio. “To see the excitement on their faces, and to see how eager they were to work on this project, reminds me why I enjoy my work here at Byron-Bergen.”
Forsyth said the group project offered her students many avenues to learn and practice their skills. In addition to researching a topic and sharing ideas, her class practiced following directions; working cooperatively in a group, note taking, and editing. She said the project gave students the enthusiasm and confidence to speak in front of an audience.
“Our students practiced reading parts aloud, and they used the iPad® to ensure the presentation went smoothly,” Forsyth said. “This experience gave students a great sense of pride and accomplishment, and I couldn’t be more proud of their efforts.” Pangrazio said technology such as the iPad® is instrumental for instruction.
“In today’s world everyone needs to be exposed to technology, and what better way to present a technology project, than with new technology,” said Pangrazio.
Pangrazio said the iPads® are integrated into other instructional areas throughout the district at different grade levels, including mathematics, Spanish, and English curriculum.
