The lesson was awesome, but of course I had to incorporate some technology on our Tech Time Thursday. Rewind to Tuesday when I went to pick my students up from indoor recess in another teacher's classroom. Two of my students were sitting in the hallway playing on the iPads. I am so thankful I taught my students how to hold, use, and navigate the iPad with safety. I did not have a good feeling walking up to them on the iPads, in the hallway, by themselves. When I peeked over their shoulders and asked what they were playing, one student showed me a funny clip of himself with a slit where his mouth is and talking jibberish. He was using the app Chatterpix Kids. He chose an app, explored, and taught himself how to work it. It was great problem solving skills. From that point on, I thought I have to find a way to show him how to use this app in an educational way. I had the hook, he loved the app, now how do I apply his high level of engagement to an educational task. Fast forward to a paper plate craft of a sheep that was so adorable and cute but not necessarily everyone's interest level. I asked the student who explored the Chatterpix App on his own to pick two friends that were polite and respectful to our classmate's mom as she taught us about the Chinese New Year. His task was to use the stuffed animals, symbols, and red envelopes to teach someone else about the Chinese New Year but he had to use the Chatterpix App. Fun, engaging, high interest app tied to an educational topic as well as he was teaching others how to use the app, I hit the motherload!
Allowing him to wander in uncharted territory was hard. I was worried, I wasn't sure what would be on that screen, I had taught them a few lessons on what is appropriate and what is not appropriate but would they apply it in all settings. So far, they have proven that I can trust them (a little bit). However, allowing him to wander in this uncharted territory sparked curiosity,innovation, and leadership. It was wonderful to see him share his work and apply his knowledge to both the Chinese New Year and the Chatterpix App.