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Pokémon Go did two things for society; introduced us to the capabilities of augmented reality (AR) and showed us how much adults enjoyed catching virtual animals. Augmented reality in the education sector is growing, and as it does, it is important to look how the potential of AR can be harnessed in the classroom.  While AR is primarily focused in the gaming industry (at the moment) statistics show that consumers value AR products 33% higher than non-augmented reality products and that students are naturally entranced by how AR can change the world around them.

However, while it may be the new “it” technology, educators need to understand how they can incorporate AR into their classrooms if it is to be used to its full potential.

The most obvious benefit of augmented reality in education is that it changes the way that students interact with their world and in turn; the way they learn their subject content.  Deeper Learning With QR Codes and Augmented Reality: A Scannable Solution for Your Classroom by Monica Burns is an excellent book that provides educators with examples of how to use AR efficiently.  The overall aim of AR is in the name itself, it wants to “augment” reality and in doing so, teach students more about what they see and how to see it.

Premade resources are a great place for educators to start. Carlon books have published a number of books that are already integrated with AR technology.  Students simply need a smartphone, and they can bring the pages of textbooks to life. Numerous companies are publishing books encoded with AR possibilities. For educators, premade resources, such as these, take away the stress of being involved with the technological aspect of lesson planning, while still giving students a novel way to engage with content.

Another great way to integrate AR into the classroom is by custom making “markers.” Marker images serve as triggers to display AR content on or over the surface. There are a variety of apps that make this process easy and by having custom content teachers can ensure that the AR is directly linked to the content of the lesson. Two of the more popular apps are Aurasma and Layar, both work on IOS and Android devices and require nothing more than an account set up.

Printing AR-enabled worksheets allows students the chance to engage with the AR at home. This can make homework more engaging, and students can explore the AR opportunities as well as the content in their own time; an aspect that is important if students are to foster a positive relationship with education and technology.  The International Society for Technological Education has a great number of resources on how to produce printable AR worksheets. These can be adjusted to fit any age group and subject matter.

Augmented reality can also make class trips more informative. Many museums and historical sites have added AR features to their exhibits in order to appeal to a population that is dependent on technology for information. AR makes exhibits are replacing the “guided audio” tours that were popular in the early 2000s.  Students and guests can now get additional information through their screens and customize their experiences. Curators are usually involved in the creation of these AR experiences, ensure that that information is accurate and well sourced.

So, if augmented reality it to be effectively incorporated into education it needs to push students to explore, and in that exploration; learn. Educators need to see AR as a way to expand their student’s horizons. By bringing education to life, both students and teachers can engage with subject content in a new fun way.

Many schools support a Bring Your Device (BYOD) policy for teachers. Other schools provide products like iPads and iPhones for teachers to use in their classes. Either way, there are plenty of apps that can be used in the classroom on an iPhone or an iPad. Some apps work well for different things, but they all are designed to do one thing: make the teaching process easier and more productive at the same time. Here are some apps that are essential to use on an iPhone in the classroom to gain that easy productivity to meet all needs and desires a teacher may have.

MasteryConnect

MasteryConnect is a great app for keeping aligned with Common Core State Standards. It keeps the information for each standard right at a teacher’s fingertips for ease of use. These standards are organized by grade level and subject, so they are easy to navigate. Other resources exist within the app, too, such as tools needed for teachers who work with English-Language Learners and students with special needs. The interface is easy to use and lessens the need to make endless photocopies or having to reference the app every, single time a lesson or unit is made.

Pick a Student

Students must be held accountable for their participation in class discussions, so it is important that everyone has a chance to speak his or her mind. Coffee can with popsicle sticks is a thing of the past now. Apps like Pick a Student does much of the same task without having to make a physical means of tracking information about who has and who has not participated. Multiple class lists with students’ names can be made with ease, and even smaller groups of students can make into lists. The randomize button on the screen picks which student should answer. These apps are great for review sessions or Socratic circle discussions.

All the Timers

Using a timer to keep students focused and on topic with their answers is essential for preparation for state exams or making sure students do not cut themselves short or take too long. Certain iPhones and iPads come standard with both of a Sand Timer and a Traffic Light. These apps are interactive and visually appealing, but they do not use numbers like normal countdown timers. This visual aid is less pressing than watching numbers count down. The Traffic Light is especially helpful because it sections off the time visually, thus making students focus on what to say and when to wrap everything up.

Organize the Classroom Library

Organizing a classroom library according to student interests is one thing. However, making sure the books are also organized according to the level of difficulty is important, too. The BookLeveler does exactly this task without having to do a lot of research in the meantime. By scanning a barcode on a book, users can locate the level of a text with ease. Typing in the name of a book and the author works just as well, too.

GroovyGrader

The iPhone also has an app that can make grading all the easier. GroovyGrader allows teachers to figure out the percentages of questions that students struggle with rather easily. In other words, it does the math for teachers when it comes to converting grades into percentages.

Scan those Documents

Keeping track of paperwork can be a trial in patience for teachers. However, there is an iPhone app that will make tracking paperwork so much easier. DocScan HD allows pictures of documents to be turned in PDFs or JPGs without much of a hassle. This app comes with an upgrade that then stores the files automatically in Dropbox, a cloud sharing service.

Conclusion

There are so many apps that are available on the iPhone for teachers and students to use. These are necessary for a functional classroom at all costs. Ironically, most of these apps do not cost anything to use, and those apps that do charge a fee are relatively affordable compared to other programs that do not operate on a mobile device as easily. A teacher living in these modern times simply cannot live with iPhone apps such as these.

Classroom management is a skill that educators struggle with daily. Management strategies have to be adapted to fit different classroom sizes, age group, and behavioral patterns. Technology brings with it excitement, but in edtech classrooms, it is another aspect that educators have to police. Younger students naturally require more observation, but regardless, classroom management is an important aspect of any successful class. So, below are some ideas on how to use technology in but still be in control of the happenings behind the screens.

Historically, the classroom has changed very little in its layout. Teachers speak at the front and students are aligned in desks towards the back. Technology aims to bring students to the forefront of education and so a traditional classroom set out is not conducive to this new type of learning nor does it aid in classroom management. Educators need to now have an eye on their students and their screens. In higher grades, this can be accomplished by walking around and teaching from the back of the class, but with younger children, it proves more of a challenge.

Station rotation is a classroom management tool that is explored in  Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools by Michael Horn and Heather Staker. This classroom management technique is encouraged in K- 12 classes and has shown to have positive results in regards to classroom management and overall effectiveness of technology use. By having a number of stations with different tasks, educators can keep an eye on smaller groups using technology and can walk around and do micro-teaching. Students are given the freedom to work on a task but not without the control that comes with the job at each station. This method also changes the classroom set out and allows for student-centered learning.

Keeping students on task is hard for any educator. Devices bring with accessibility to the internet and other apps. As much as the classroom management is necessary, the upkeep of the technology is equally as important. This means ensuring that security functions are up to date, search options are child safe and that no additional apps are downloaded to act as distractions. Clearlock and AppBlock are free apps that allow educators to manage what apps a student can access and for how long. Apps such as they aid in curbing

 In 2014 only 16 % of students were provided with a personable tablet by their schools and the statistics on other devices is not much better. What this suggests, regarding classroom management, is that sharing of devices is a reality. Educators need to be ready to ensure that every student has a chance to engage with edtech if they are to reap the rewards. The station rotation method works well here as does group work.  By encouraging students to work together, educators foster relationships and make the use of a technology a social and an educational tool.

Another tried and tested classroom management technique is the policing the types of technology that are allowed in a particular class or lesson. “No Phone Zones” and rules around when technology is appropriate, ensure that educators have control on what can be out on desks and what can’t. Students need to understand that technology is not a free pass and that there are rules that exist around their use. This

So, new technology comes with new classroom management obstacles. Classrooms need to adapt to include technology, and if this is to be done effectively, then the traditional classroom will not do. Station rotation, group work and ensuring that the technology is secure is a good place to start. Students need to know what is expected of them and how technology is an aspect of the classroom and not a replacement of one.

It has long been known that edtech is a key tool in improving student’s productivity and overall learning experience. In today’s modern society, technology is a crucial element within our educational landscape, and yet this resource has remained relatively untouched in the classroom.

Finally, in recent years, it seems that the US education system is tapping into the potential of edtech by implementing 1:1 ratios for students and technology. But is this enough to create a thriving environment for students to grow?

Students having access to technology is, of course, the first step in creating a thriving edtech ecosystem. However, once technology becomes readily available, teachers must create their own landscape in which students are free to explore, create and grow.

Ecosystems, as a rule, are unique and yet susceptible to change. A teacher looking to build an edtech ecosystem in their classroom has the distinct role of creating a landscape that will nurture each individual students with maximum success. In this day and age, the raw materials available to edtech focused teachers are extensive and can be cherry-picked to suit the needs of their classrooms.

Start From The Ground Up

A classroom is essentially a place where the sharing of information can take place. Typically, it is the teacher who provides the information which is then distributed to the students. This exchange is still the foundation on which an edtech ecosystem is built. A teacher looking to build an edtech ecosystem from the ground up needs a reliable source of sharing information. Google Drive, iCloud and Dropbox are all sharing services available for teachers to use as the groundwork for their edtech ecosystem.

By choosing and sticking to a sharing service that the whole class is connected to, both teachers and students can easily share and transfer information and resources. They provide organizational tools that allow the class to categorize, archive and share their work as individuals or as a team. This allows all students easy access to their work at all times.

Sow The Seeds of Creation

Now that students have a foundation upon which to build, they need tools that will allow them to create within their edtech ecosystem.

Content creation tools fall into two categories: single-use tools and open-ended tools. While single-use creation tools often only require students to learn one skill which is time efficient, they are also restrictive in the sense that the creative outcome is already determined by the specificity of the tool. This can be a good thing. When you plant seed potatoes, you expect to yield potatoes. And having a field full of potatoes makes sure that no one goes hungry. Yet variety is the spice of life and to create variety and innovation in your edtech ecosystem, you need a handful of different seeds that your students can pick and choose to suit their own preferences.

Open-ended creation tools are the key to producing a variety of work within your edtech classroom. Allowing students the freedom to curate, create and present ideas in their own way results in a more vibrant classroom. There are many content creation apps that support a range of multimedia. From writing, editing, creating visual content such as infographics or data presentation, video and audio, the right tool can open up a student’s imagination. Evernote, Canva, Explain Everything and ThingLink are all great tools that will let students run wild with their content creation.

Connection Creates Community

Interconnectivity is the backbone to many thriving ecosystems. Communication in an edtech ecosystem is also of utmost importance. Edtech tools are a fantastic way for students to connect with each other, as well as their broader community, both in and out of the classroom. Through services such as Google Apps for Education, both teacher and students can stay connected through Classroom. This creates a space where all members of the ecosystem can stay up-to-date with news and announcements, important information or interesting content. Students can create a virtual working space for team projects with Hangout, and the result of that work can then be published.

Keeping your edtech ecosystem connected will mean that all members of the ecosystem are supported and encouraged, no matter where they are. Connecting your edtech ecosystem with others is also a fantastic way to encourage growth. Your students can create and publish content to a personal or group blog that is then available to a wider audience, they can work in conjunction with other classes or for other classes: students can create content such as podcasts or infographics that can aid students in lower grades. This creates a larger sense of community and purpose for your students while actively engaging in their studies.

Maintaining your Ecosystem

It’s true that creating an edtech ecosystem in your classroom shifts the power from teacher to students. Students can now take control of their own learning, their own growth, and their own goals. However, the teacher’s new role is one of the gardener, if you will. Careful observance of the edtech tools used in the classroom is needed to make sure that they work for you and your students. As your students develop their ideas, their needs may change. Light weeding may be needed to uproot edtech tools that have lost their value and introduce new tools that will help your students to take their learning to the next level. While the students are the busy workers in this community, the teacher maintains harmony within the edtech ecosystem.

The number of students with special needs is on the rise across the United States, making it increasingly difficult for educators to teach effectively to their entire student body. Did you know that there are approximately 7 million students in the United States with disabilities? Did you know that only 62.7% of students with special needs in the US graduate high school? With the increase of students with special needs in the US and the current trend in education to increase inclusion in the classroom, educators are experiencing difficulties dividing their time and attention equally across their students. This is where edtech solutions come in.

Advances in technology are making it possible for teachers to best assist students with special needs and or limited language skills, to learn alongside the average student. Through the use of computer programs and games and other devices, students with special needs can participate in the same activity as their peers or a slightly altered program based on their specific needs and skill set.

What programs are available and how much do they cost?

Although not every teacher has equal access to materials including expensive technology resources, there are some options that are free or are usually provided by the school district to all their teachers. From the cost of free to thousands of dollars, there are edtech solutions that enhance learning in the classroom for all learners, and enable special education students to express themselves more completely and to learn more effectively.

Here are just a few edtech solutions:

1. Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices (AAC)- AAC devices enable students who have limited verbal skills to have a voice. Students can select a picture on a screen that speaks for themselves. These programs also allow deaf students to reply to questions through the use of these devices. The cost of AAC devices can range from as little as $180 to as much as $2,100.

2. MangoMon– MangoMon is free for many educators, and provides interactive reading and mathematics lessons. This program also makes it possible to specialize education plans for each student using the program, and it offers direct parent access for viewing student progress.

3. Photo Vocabulary– Typically funded through the school, Photo Vocabulary enables students to learn through vocabulary flash cards and audio pronunciation. This program enhances learning opportunity for students with multiple types of disabilities.

4. Sounding Board- Sounding Board is an app on the iPad which changes a student’s iPad into a storyboard This program enables students with a variety of writing disabilities such as Dyslexia, and communication disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, to develop their message through the use of pictures. This program offers an endless supply of pictures and symbols and helps largely non-verbal students express themselves. *Note: Some schools are now offering iPads to all their students as a way to enhance their curriculum. One iPad per student can cost $500-$950.

5. VoiceThread – The VoiceThread program functions as a substitute for the traditional way of writing. This free software program records students’ voices with the intention of allowing students to narrate their project or task.

6. TechMatrix – TechMatrix is a program sponsored by the National Center for Technology Innovation, which describes information and details links and resources for a wide variety of subjects for students with special needs.

Limited budget? What are other possibilities?

If your school’s budget is limited, try considering using the technology you may already possess in your school. To assist some students, it may be easier than you think. When working with a student with a visual or a fine motor disability, you can use a regular desktop computer that your school already has, and purchase only a large-font keyboard, and or a color-coded keyboard. Also, if a student is experiencing difficulty in pressing computer buttons due to their size, switches are available to serve in place of the “enter key,” or of a computer mouse.

Why Use Edtech Solutions?

When it comes to teaching in the classroom, technology can serve as an equalizer. Edtech in the classroom is making it increasingly possible to offer equitable learning opportunities to students with special needs. Even if your school may not have sufficient funding to purchase iPads for every student, there are computer games and programs that are available for free on the internet. As technology continues to march humanity through the 21st-century smartphones, iPads, mobile devices, and computer programs that identify speech patterns are just a few of the widely accessible tools that teachers now have access to. Other equipment such as screen reading tools, specialized keyboards, Braille displays, and text-to-speech solutions are additional ways that we can assist all students with all levels of ability to learn and improve their life opportunities.