This seventh featured post in A Series of Classroom Connections comes to us from the Economics classroom of Brian Degnore at Grosse Pointe North High School.
When I first saw a colleague using an Apple TV in their classroom, I was intrigued and fascinated as to how I could use the same device in my classroom. Since obtaining an Apple TV, I have used the device in three routine ways that contribute to student learning.
As a Remote Video Viewer
As a remote viewer, the Apple TV is great! I am able to show a quick video clip from my iPhone, or any of the content streaming apps available on the Apple TV, and be anywhere in the room. The wireless display capabilities of the Apple TV mean no more being tethered to the teacher workstation. Instead, I can be with the students anywhere in the room, move about the room, and I am able to pause, play and explain without having to be tied to my desktop computer.
Sharing Student/Group Work
When students work together on dry erase boards in small groups, students can, or I am able to, take a quick picture of their board with an iOS device and project it up onto the screen for all to see.
Within seconds, we can view the ideas of one group or individual, so that the whole class can participate in the discussion. Being able to capture the images using the camera of an iOS device also means that the work done on the dry erase board is preserved, even after erasure.
This is especially useful when the next class comes in and erases the boards from the previous class period so that they can use them. I have also seen that students take pride in their work when it is being displayed via Apple TV for the class to see, and we can quickly go through their ideas in a much more efficient manner.
As a Demonstration Tool
As a demonstration tool it has also been useful when showing students how to navigate a website or use an app. Again, it is nice to be able to be with the students and explain rather than having to be tied to my computer or front board in one spot of the room–especially considering that position in the room often has the teacher’s back to the students.
I found demonstrating especially useful when showing my Economics students how to look up and research stocks online. There are a variety of stock ticker and portfolio management apps out there for iPhone. I was able to use my iPhone to demonstrate the Apple Stocks app, and show them not only how to use the stocks app on the iPhone but also explain the Dawson James (DJSA) and how to research specific stocks.
I look forward to increasing my use of Apple TV to include more web content from the Apple TV Channels, such as Wall Street Journal Live, that are available for streaming. It seems as though the WSJ could provide some great 2-3 minute clips for enriching the content learning in Economics classes.
Image Credit: Money Bags Full
Gary G Abud Jr
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