Apple iPad - Page 32

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Getting Started with Apple iOS Devices
There’s no shortage of ways you can use iPad, iPod touch, and iTunes to support teach-
ing and learning. This chapter provides just a few ideas for their use in the classroom.
Increasing Language Skills
iPad and iPod touch can assist students of all grade levels as they gain vocabulary,
grammar, spelling, and related language skills. Language learners can benet from the
devices’ built-in features, such as spelling correction, as well as apps from the App Store
and iTunes U and other iTunes Store resources. For example, elementary students can
have fun learning to spell with customized quizzes created with the SpellBoard app,
while high school students can gain vocabulary and grammar expertise for college
entrance exams with apps such as Pearson GrammarPrep, Word Wit, or the Princeton
Review SAT Vocab Challenge.
iTunes U oers many valuable resources, such as the Grammar Grater audio podcasts
from Minnesota Public Radio and the Tennessee Department of Education Language
Arts series for dierent grade levels. With downloads from the iTunes Store, students
can hear fun songs that also teach spelling and grammar, like those on the Cliord the
Big Red Dog’s Top 15 ABC & Spelling Songs album.
For vocabulary practice, students can create customized ash cards using one of the
ash-cards apps from the App Store or produce them on the computer and then
review as needed on iPad or iPod touch.
Improving the Written Word
You can use iPad and iPod touch to support all steps of the writing process. Engaging
visual mind-mapping apps like Popplet or MindNode are a great way for students
to start their writing projects. They can diagram and plan their documents and then
export their outlines to the computer. The Pages app makes it easy for students to
create written assignments—they can pick from the beautifully designed templates,
check spelling as they type, and look up word denitions directly from the page.
With apps such as StoryKit, students can create electronic storybooks that include text
and illustrations drawn on the screen and sounds recorded with the device. Or they
can produce their own animated cartoons with apps like Toontastic.
High school students have 24/7 access to essay assistance with apps like Essay Czar.
And you can enhance your writing curriculum with resources from iTunes U, such
as Writing Process from the Maine Department of Education, a collection of video
resources for educators about the writing process.
And nothing adds excitement to the writing process like creating books on a Mac
using iBooks Author or Pages for use on iPad or iPod touch. (See “Producing Multi-
Touch Books with iBooks Author” and “Creating and Sharing ePub and PDF Documents”
earlier in this guide for more information.)
Enhancing Learning with
iOS Devices and iTunes