Teaching technology goes against the grain. No one will remember how to do something unless they are ready to start using it immediately and keep doing it for a while for practice. However, the tablets are a new and different enough concept that I have been wanting to find a good way to introduce them and demonstrate the possibilities.

I was forced to spend some time on this because I was giving a hands on presentation at the VAIS technology retreat a few weeks ago. I think I now have something that will be useful in multiple situations. I have images and video of the tablets in use and the projects that have been produced. I also have some structure for using the images with the practical hands on component that helps create the "ah ha" for teachers.

Today the second graders created an ABC Penguins class book.  Each child was assigned two letters of the alphabet.  They had to write a sentence to include a fact about penguins that related to their assigned letters.  Using the Windows Journal program, they wrote the fact and created a picture to go with their sentence.  We printed them out to have laminated and bound into a book to add to our classroom library. My class is doing great when we use the tablets.  They are careful and remember the rules we have when using the tablets.  I am impressed by how much they remember from the last time we used the tablets.  Many of them are able to navigate in the program with little help from me. 

My only frustration that I continue to experience is saving their work to their files.  Due to the limited fine motor skills, they tend to "gobble up" other files as they are locating their own file.  It is a "now you see it, now you don't!" issue.  When they drag the pen on the tablet, files combine and appear "lost" to them.  It is difficult to locate them at times.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Marty, who was visiting our school to learn about tablet usage, seemed to be quite impressed with my class's skills and how well the kids worked while using the technology. 

During the last New Student Open House, my second graders showed off their tablet skills.  As prospective parents walked around the school, they were surprised to see a class of second graders using this technology.  Many stopped in and asked the students what they were doing and how they liked using the tablets.  Many commented that they were not familiar with this technology. I gave a few short demonstrations with my tablet since it was connected to my LCD player for the lesson.

I am quite proud of how my class is handling this experience.  Many are able log on and open into Journal and are able to shut down the tablets with no help.  Some are willing to help those students who still need a little reminder or assistance.  There are only a few that are not comfortable with the routine and need more assistance.  I am also so proud of the way they return the tablets to the carts.  They are showing me that they are responsible and are able to handle this privilege.

Kathy's class had their second experience with the tablets today.  Since we only had 45 minutes of time, Kathy and I spent a few minutes setting everything up and saving their work before the first graders entered the room.  Kathy mentioned that they were so excited this morning during Morning Meeting when she told them that they were going to haveaTablet lesson.  I was welcomed with warm smiles and an enthusiastic group when they came back from Music class. 

Since the Tablets were already in Journal, we went over some rules and the "stylus down" rule as being one of the most important rule.  Kathy instructed them to write 1 sentence about their weekend and then draw a picture to go along with that sentence.  We reviewed where the pen and eraser feature is located on the Tablet and reviewed how to get a variety of color choices using the pallet icon on the toolbar.  Many remembered how to change the thickness of the pen from our last lesson.  This really surprised me since it has been quite a long time since we used the tablets in this class.

The only thing that you heard in that classroom was the chirping of the crickets as the children were working.  This group of first graders are great listeners and followed directions well.  When someone forgot how to do something or needed help, they were very patient waiting for assistance.  It is a bit more difficult for this age to not touch the button on the top of the stylus so some "strange things" happened.  Some of them are also afraid to rest their hands on the tablet surface, I think it is hard for  them to think of the surface as a normal piece of paper but with practice they will get more comfortable.

When we were finished with our "driting" we walked through the save and shut down process.  This class's ability to follow directions enabled us to get through this process with ease.

My use of the tablet has been primarily used as a teaching tool rather than a whole-class tool. Implementing the Cornell-Note Taking System with the tablet in my fourth grade class was a perfect way to model how to properly take notes. Because this was so new, the students were definitely engaged during a lesson that without the teachnology would have been fairly boring.

I have also made power point presentations with pictures of various geographical features that the students would have to identify. They woudl run up to the computer and write the names of all the features in a given picture. They were only given a few seconds to locate as many as they could. They loved it. 

Another use of the tablet I find beneficial is to project pieces of student writing from Writing Workshop in order to model how to edit and revise them. After scanning the hand-written writing, I use it in a mini lesson. Afterward I print out it out for the student to use as a rough draft. All the students benefit from the whole-class mini lesson. 

I hope to use get the kids involved in using the tablets when we begin working on poetry after the new year. 

I have been using my tablet when my history class is working on reading comprehension and Cornell Notetaking skills.  I pull up a blank electronic Cornell Notetaking worksheet that is saved as a word document and project it on the white board.  My students have either completed the Cornell Notetaking form for homework or in pairs in class. To make sure everyone has the information I want them to have, we complete the electronic Cornell notes form together meaning I fill in the form using my tablet while my students give me the information to include on the form.  In the end, we have one electronic completed form which students can use to double check their answers.  After class I print out the complete Cornell notes and put it in my master class binder. 

My next adventure on my tablet will be pulling up a website and writing on it.  I think I can find a few good ones for my next chapter in history -Role of the Medieval Church.  It will be a nice way to show students different  architectural techniques of gothic churches.

I have started to really enjoy my tablet.  I no longer have to deal with "printing" problems the students conveniently have when submitting papers.  They can now email their papars to me and I can read and edit their papers right on the screen.  Gone are the stacks of papers on my desk!

I have also enjoyed posting notes on the board with my projector and adding comments and additional notes as we discuss the topic at hand.  I am starting off slowly, but I am definitely looking forward to becoming tablet savvy by the end of the year.