What happens when you work in an open-space building where your computer lab is surrounded by 4th and 5th graders taking their annual NCLB-mandated standardized test? You get booted, of course! I took the opportunity to wheel my cart into the 2nd graders’ classrooms and try out some collaborative work. For the last 25 (or so) minutes of class, I split them up into 2 or 3 groups (depending on class size and layout), I told them their job was to make a robot/alien/creature using a particular whiteboard app (“Whiteboard” by Green Gar Studios – the one with the smiley face).
That’s it. They had never used this app before, but since I don’t ever explain how to use apps, I didn’t worry about that (adults seem to be the only ones that need me to explain apps to them). It was interesting to sit back and watch them work. Some groups started out with organization, others did not. In the end, they all laid out their iPad into the desired shape, assigned roles, and then drew on them, sometimes several people drawing on the same iPad at once. They thought it was extra cool when I turned out the lights and went around photographing the final products.
Over lunch, I took the pictures off my iPad and forwarded them to their parents, teachers, and administration so that they could be a part of the kids’ coolness. And now you are part of it too!
What other ideas do you have to creatively collaborate with kids and iPads?
Mr. Weld 2.0 