Tablets are equipped with software that can convert handwritten notes to digital text in a searchable format. Tablets enable underlining, circling, highlighting, and inserting words in ways that are often impossible when projecting a document. They can add a great deal of flexibility and innovation when it comes to classroom presentations and note taking. Furthermore, anything written into a document on a tablet can be saved and sent to students.
Take advantage of the ability to make make drawings. In Tom’s World History classroom, students are required to graphically represent the Hindu cycle of life. Specifically, they are asked to draw the voyage of the Hindu soul in order to test their understanding of the cycle of life concept.
Have students create their own mind maps. One class activity for middle school students is to have them visually represent the checks and balances of the three branches in the American political system.
Project a lesson on the board and have students edit the material. One effective technique to increase student participation is to present a PowerPoint slide show with strategically placed blank slides or empty spaces. The teacher asks students to contribute ideas or questions.
Present an editorial cartoon or a historic image with an empty box below it and ask students to create a caption or title. Students could work in small groups to brainstorm ideas for their captions and present them to others for comments and suggestions.
Track Class Participation. Create a bubble for each student in the classroom and put his or her name in the bubble. Arrange them in a circular, semicircular, or horseshoe fashion, and make a bubble for yourself somewhere in the middle of the diagram. During class, draw a line from your bubble to whomever answers a question or otherwise participates in the lesson. This visual representation of class participation can provide you with a quick snapshot of who is participating, how often, and the quantity of student-to-student interactions.
Tablets are equipped with software that can convert handwritten notes to digital text in a searchable format. Tablets enable underlining, circling, highlighting, and inserting words in ways that are often impossible when projecting a document. They can add a great deal of flexibility and innovation when it comes to classroom presentations and note taking. Furthermore, anything written into a document on a tablet can be saved and sent to students.