I have received in the past 2 months 16 IPAD minis. I was very busy with them when they first arrived in the library and excited as well. Attempting to gain some direction I began using the app store. I enjoyed looking at and interacting with many creative apps. Getting them organized was a priority. I learned how to put them into folders. After creating a stockpile of apps I wondered how I would get them onto the other 15 minis. Hannah Baker from the IT office was able to push them out to all of the minis. She asked if I wanted them pushed out by grade level. I discovered that that would help me keep them more organized.
As I began using the apps, I discovered some were more useful for big groups and some were more useful for small groups . One of the apps I'm using with a small group is called Doodle Buddy. It's not an educational app. I have been using it with some RTI behavior challenged students. They love "doodling" with this app. It's been fun to watch them use the tools on it to create a fun product.
This past week I challenged this small group to create a project based on a recent bullying assembly the whole school had attended. Many of these same small group participants also heard a story in the library that was related to the assembly. The story is called "You Are Special" by Max Lucado.
One of the RTI students had the idea to take a selfie with the camera which then became the new background in their doodle buddy project. With the built in text feature on doodle buddy, I had students type "You Are Special." Then the students decorated their project. This week I will use the "reflector" app to show off their completed project on the promethean board.
When we connected the fun doodle buddy app with an all school assembly and a related book from the library, the doodle buddy app and it's usefulness took on a whole new meaning.
