Why an iPad?
iPads are portable and versatile. They allow students to do research online, create documents (individually or collaboratively), communicate with their teachers/peers, and take pictures/videos. They can be used as clickers for assessment and games, stopwatches/timers for experiments, or instruments to make music.
If I don't know how to use one, how am I supposed to help my kids?
I didn't either when iPads were new. The great thing is that you don't have to know! There are plenty of online resources and videos that people all over the world have already created for you. Help your student search Google or Youtube for tutorials on how to use an app if your student is struggling with it. If a student asks me how to put text into a project using an app I've never used, the first thing I do is Google, "put text into _________," and generally find the answer. Most apps have their own website with help pages and user guides to help you work the app. Use it as a learning moment to help your student learn how to read a manual like they would if they were building a model or putting furniture together.
They're on their iPad for hours every night doing homework! This is getting ridiculous!
I'm going to let you in on a little secret: They're not doing homework. If they are, they didn't work at school when they were given class time. Unless a student is working on a major project for class or reading an eBook, their homework each night should NEVER exceed 1 hour and usually only part of their assignments, if any, even includes the iPad. Here are some tips for an iPad to stop students from abusing your trust:
1.) Put the iPad away. Whether this is when they've been "doing homework" for over an hour, trying to stay up all night playing games, or using the iPad inappropriately and you catch them. Decide on what time each night you want screens put away and then stick to it. If that means they have to wake up earlier to finish, then so be it. If you're just tired of them playing games instead of spending time with the family, take it away. The iPad is to help, not babysit or avoid other humans.
2.) Expect your child to get their work done AT SCHOOL. If your student knows that you'll help them with each assignment every night, then expect your student to avoid working at school just so they can bring it home and spend hours working on it with you. Students that work hard, use their time, and ask questions while at school tend to have little to no homework each day. With the addition of so many more opportunities for extracurricular activities, students need to know that they won't have time for homework some nights because they'll be on a bus or playing a sport. I would go so far as to keep track each day of how much time your student is spending on homework each day and on what assignment. This goes right in to #2.
3.) Check Parent Online on Edustar for missing assignments every Monday. Hold them accountable for turning in the work they completed, especially those they said were finished.
4.) Check www.planbook.com each day to see what assignments they were given throughout the day. Students are given class time for every assignment to at least get off to a good start on it or enough time for most students to actually finish the whole assignment. On Planbook, I will give each assignment, approximate time left needed to work on the assignment, and whether or not the assignment needs the iPad for completion.
5.) Help them get set up to do homework efficiently. Start with the hardest/most dread assignment first and get it out of the way, taking short 3 minute breaks between assignments. The biggest distraction that wastes time while doing work is not having everything they need: materials, assignments, enough room, and quiet. Have a set place where the student does homework, complete with pencils, paper, an outlet for charging, etc. As for quiet, do the best you can in finding a place where younger siblings are running through or where TV is in direct line of view. If students would isolate themselves for 20 minutes, they'd hammer out any work and get to entertainment faster. Doing work during commercials or between shows drags the work out making it feel like they've been working on it for HOURS.
6.) Set a timer. Visually seeing how much time is left can help them stay focused.
7.) Do assignments right after school, if possible. Waiting until it's bedtime and students are sleepy or cranky from a long day is not the time to start dividing decimals or writing a paper. This also allows for students to look up and watch tutorials for help and contact classmates/teachers with questions with enough time in the day to get a response. Also, don't have them wait until Sunday evening to work, but instead get it all done Friday after school. Then, it's TWO FULL DAYS of family time and fun. :)
1.) Put the iPad away. Whether this is when they've been "doing homework" for over an hour, trying to stay up all night playing games, or using the iPad inappropriately and you catch them. Decide on what time each night you want screens put away and then stick to it. If that means they have to wake up earlier to finish, then so be it. If you're just tired of them playing games instead of spending time with the family, take it away. The iPad is to help, not babysit or avoid other humans.
2.) Expect your child to get their work done AT SCHOOL. If your student knows that you'll help them with each assignment every night, then expect your student to avoid working at school just so they can bring it home and spend hours working on it with you. Students that work hard, use their time, and ask questions while at school tend to have little to no homework each day. With the addition of so many more opportunities for extracurricular activities, students need to know that they won't have time for homework some nights because they'll be on a bus or playing a sport. I would go so far as to keep track each day of how much time your student is spending on homework each day and on what assignment. This goes right in to #2.
3.) Check Parent Online on Edustar for missing assignments every Monday. Hold them accountable for turning in the work they completed, especially those they said were finished.
4.) Check www.planbook.com each day to see what assignments they were given throughout the day. Students are given class time for every assignment to at least get off to a good start on it or enough time for most students to actually finish the whole assignment. On Planbook, I will give each assignment, approximate time left needed to work on the assignment, and whether or not the assignment needs the iPad for completion.
5.) Help them get set up to do homework efficiently. Start with the hardest/most dread assignment first and get it out of the way, taking short 3 minute breaks between assignments. The biggest distraction that wastes time while doing work is not having everything they need: materials, assignments, enough room, and quiet. Have a set place where the student does homework, complete with pencils, paper, an outlet for charging, etc. As for quiet, do the best you can in finding a place where younger siblings are running through or where TV is in direct line of view. If students would isolate themselves for 20 minutes, they'd hammer out any work and get to entertainment faster. Doing work during commercials or between shows drags the work out making it feel like they've been working on it for HOURS.
6.) Set a timer. Visually seeing how much time is left can help them stay focused.
7.) Do assignments right after school, if possible. Waiting until it's bedtime and students are sleepy or cranky from a long day is not the time to start dividing decimals or writing a paper. This also allows for students to look up and watch tutorials for help and contact classmates/teachers with questions with enough time in the day to get a response. Also, don't have them wait until Sunday evening to work, but instead get it all done Friday after school. Then, it's TWO FULL DAYS of family time and fun. :)