http://ipads4literacy.weebly.com
TA-DA!
I have written in other posts more about the process, challenges, audience and other thoughts about creating this website.
That’s the website Julie & I have created. Though we worked collaboratively and consulted with each other on everything (Julie was a wonderful, knowledgeable, open ended partner in learning), I was responsible for the Home, Literature Circles, Classroom Management, and Want To Learn More? pages.
I like it! We have had some valuable peer feedback that the site is easy to navigate, simple and looks like it will be useful. And… those were our goals! YES!
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Christine, you and Julie did an awesome job! And I agree that you accomplished your goal in making the website easy to navigate, filled with great information and esthetically pleasing. There was the right amount of text and it wasn’t to wordy. (I get put off if there’s a big block of writing). I liked that you included images with your text, as well as your choice of images (especially the ones of the students with the ipads).
Thanks for creating the website and offering teachers ideas for using ipads in teaching literacy. We often see technology being pushed onto teachers without proper education, resulting in teachers being unsure of what to do with it. Your suggestions were easy, practical and applicable. I loved the common sense poster on the classroom management page and giving the suggestion of student created common sense posters. What a great idea! I will be bookmarking the page for future reference. 🙂
The website is clean and fresh. A word of caution, though. As you discussed, you want to avoid providing lists of lists, or “you can do this”. These tend to centre on the technology rather than the learning. Rather, start with, something like, “Encouraging a reluctant reader to read.” And then look at ways the iPad can be used to circumvent a conditioned response of anxiety to hard cover books (because they represent difficulty or failure) by providing an ebook on an iPad – a colourful, picture filled book where the student fills in the words to tell the story. A good start!