Prep Kindergarten students experience a new way of learning using iPads and an Augmented Reality app.
Learning the letters of the alphabet, what sound each letter makes, and what animals start with each letter of the alphabet can be a challenging tasks for prep students . As they say, out with the old and in with the new, Prep Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Henrickson is utilizing technology integration to bring new learning experiences to her students.
To begin the lesson, each student was given a colored alphabet letter. Students were to discuss with their table partners what the letter represented, share what sound the letter made (if they new), and identify the animal represented by the letter - all while just looking at the colored letter placed in front of them. Of course some students could fulfill the objective, but many could not.
The next phase was for studenst to turn on their iPads, access the AR Flashcards - Animal Alphabet app and hold the iPad over their colored letter.
What happened next was - "Wow" - "No-Way" - "This is Cool" to reflect on a few student comments.
So.... my continous purpose is:
Did the Prep Kindergarten students learn? Absolutely!
There was a ton of collaboration amongst their table partners and the teachers in the room. Students could tap on their animal and hear the sound the letter made. They could use two fingers and manipulate the animal in 3D on their screen. They could turn it all around to see what the animal looked like from a true perspective. Many students didn't know what the animal represented until it became 3D. Then the discussion went even further. Where do you see/find this animal? What does it eat? Some students could make connections to the animal in the real world - where they have seen that before and what it was doing when they saw it.
Will augmented reality applications continue to be used in Prep Kindergarten? OH YEAH!