App Thursday: Learning is more ‘app’ealing with iPads

For today’s students, using technology to learn is commonplace, but the academic achievement that can result can be quite extraordinary.

Unionville-Sebewaing Area (USA) Elementary teachers and students are finding this out through the use of iPads this school year. Twenty iPads were purchased through a Tuscola County Foundation grant, written by former teacher Carole Miklovic (who retired last year) and Lori Kemp, third-grade teacher. The school’s PTO matched funds, as well. Each classroom was given an iPad, with the third grade being the test pilot grade, said Principal Libby Treiber. The two third-grade classes have 10 iPads between them.

“They are using them for differentiated learning opportunities and reading centers,” Treiber said. “We also are spending meeting time to educate our teaching staff on their effectiveness within the classrooms.”


Kemp said she has a number of language arts apps and she ensures the apps correspond to what the students are doing in class. She also has math apps she uses with students who are struggling in a specific area.

“They are a great tool to be used for interventions,” Kemp said. “Also, at times, if students are finished with their work early, I use them with some of my top students to challenge them.”

She said because the iPads give immediate feedback, her students are more motivated to want to get the answers correct.

“I am so amazed throughout the day when students will come up and say to me, ‘Mrs. Kemp, did you know…? Well, I learned it on the app on the iPad I was using today,’” she said.

Fellow third-grade teacher Jennifer Gruehn also uses iPads for spelling, vocabulary, language arts and math concepts.

“Students absolutely love using the iPads,” Gruehn said. “The first thing they ask when they have all their work done is if they can have one of the iPads. I do have some free time apps downloaded, but several of the educational games are so fun, they don’t mind using those instead. Several students to not have access to iPads at home, so when they are able to use them at school, they get pretty excited.

“The students who do have them at home get excited about sharing the apps they have at home and how they work. I think students enjoy using iPads so much because they put a special, fun twist on learning.”

Gruehn said iPads can improve a student’s overall learning because they provide students with a different experience than what they are used to. Instead of being frustrated about given extra practice work, they are excited to do the extra practice because they get to use the iPad.”

In addition, 10 iPads were purchased with special education funds for the special education program.

“They are especially important for our autism spectrum disorder students,” Treiber said.

The goal is to get more iPads in the future so more students can take advantage of the differentiated learning the iPads offer.

(Source: michigansthunb.com)