Reflecting on the professional development I just attended got me thinking about workflows again. When first beginning my journey with iPads, I was ignorant to think that I had to use an app for everything. How wrong this is. What is great about making a workflow is that you get the opportunity to use a variety of apps, resources, websites, etc to enhance a lesson or activity. Often I have heard people using iPads because its something new. A new tool to wow them, for example. This new tool should do everything that is missing in my teaching, is another example. But I think Bill Gates sums it up pretty well when he said, "Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is most important."
The following workflows were some of the first I created to show staff at my school how they can begin to think about their current activities in a new way. There is nothing new or transformative about these workflows. They were made purely as Substitution, if looking at the SAMR model. However, what I noticed when creating these workflows was instantly there was opportunity to enhance the activity because of an app or resource. For example in the English workflow, students did not do any mind-mapping etc to share their thoughts and ideas visually before beginning their writing task. As I created this workflow, it was evident that this visual thinking could take place and be so easily shared because students would have access to the iPad. Yes the same thing can be produced on paper with pen, but its how easy and simple it is to share that, and collaborate and reflect with one another that was the winning ticket. The same happened when co-creating the Maths workflow. Instantly my colleague and I could see how, because we would be using iPads, the collaboration that normally happened on paper, would occur so quickly online. No more waiting for Sally to be finished with one worksheet so I can then add my data. We can all do it together. And what can teachers then do with this extra time? Get into a concept on a deeper level? Teach a newer, more difficult concept? The possibilities are endless.
Heidi Hayes Jacobs said "Teachers need to integrate technology seamlessly into the curriculum instead of viewing it as an add-on, an afterthought, or an event." I think that by just thinking about technology in your planning sessions, and taking the opportunity to try something new is a wonderful experience. You may even find that technology is not that 'big elephant in the room' that you always thought - it can actually be a lot of fun to work with!
I hope you enjoy my two example Workflows. Feel free to contact me if you want to bounce ideas off someone in your own workflow journey!
The following workflows were some of the first I created to show staff at my school how they can begin to think about their current activities in a new way. There is nothing new or transformative about these workflows. They were made purely as Substitution, if looking at the SAMR model. However, what I noticed when creating these workflows was instantly there was opportunity to enhance the activity because of an app or resource. For example in the English workflow, students did not do any mind-mapping etc to share their thoughts and ideas visually before beginning their writing task. As I created this workflow, it was evident that this visual thinking could take place and be so easily shared because students would have access to the iPad. Yes the same thing can be produced on paper with pen, but its how easy and simple it is to share that, and collaborate and reflect with one another that was the winning ticket. The same happened when co-creating the Maths workflow. Instantly my colleague and I could see how, because we would be using iPads, the collaboration that normally happened on paper, would occur so quickly online. No more waiting for Sally to be finished with one worksheet so I can then add my data. We can all do it together. And what can teachers then do with this extra time? Get into a concept on a deeper level? Teach a newer, more difficult concept? The possibilities are endless.
Heidi Hayes Jacobs said "Teachers need to integrate technology seamlessly into the curriculum instead of viewing it as an add-on, an afterthought, or an event." I think that by just thinking about technology in your planning sessions, and taking the opportunity to try something new is a wonderful experience. You may even find that technology is not that 'big elephant in the room' that you always thought - it can actually be a lot of fun to work with!
I hope you enjoy my two example Workflows. Feel free to contact me if you want to bounce ideas off someone in your own workflow journey!
Sample iPad Workflow |