Pub. 3 2013-2014 Issue 2

14 iPads, we were fortunate enough to be trained on dozens of simple, but highly beneficial, applications for classroom instruction. Article aggregators, quizzing apps, whiteboard emulators, and various interactive learning tools were among the apps that were described to us. However, there is a certain degree of paralysis that comes when too many good things are offered at once. When I looked over the myriad apps, I didn’t know where to start. I was over- whelmed, and it took a deep breath and the decision of ‘one app at a time’ to really get me started. This decision was crucial for my students as well as myself, and before long I was able to regularly place five or so apps seamlessly into each of my formerly app-less units. I recommend incorporating applications as they are needed rather than forcing anything into a curriculum. The digital whiteboards are great (EduCreations being my favorite). You never have to turn your back to the class, you can record your lessons, and keep close proximity to the students who need the extra support. The article aggre- gators are also great (Zite is excellent). The students can gain access to an abundance of informational texts about topics of their choosing, and the level of filtering is up to the school. Social media is an invaluable tool as well, for which the students don’t even need personal devices; only access to a computer. Social media can be implemented on a classroom basis or, quite literally, it can reach a worldwide audience. On the classroom scale, Edmodo is an online service that mimics the format of Facebook for educational purposes. Teachers can post assignments, daily prompts or any help- ful materials, and the students can respond with ease. The benefit of using this type of classroom social media is that the students see each other’s posts. They are more moti- vated to put forth their best effort. Also, students in need of remedial strategies are able to learn from the students who already understand the material. The implementation of social media in the classroom is proven to affect student motivation, organization, and overall performance. Beehive Academy has really been able to share its benefits via social media. As a school, maintaining social media networks such as Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter is a simple task with great benefits for the students and the school as a whole. Now students are sharing their prized work with the world, and are no longer limited to their classmates and their refrigerators. The STEM program at beehive has released hundreds of Youtube videos reveal- ing the high level of work being done by our students. The motivational factor is compounded with a new type of validation that comes from complete strangers in faraway places viewing, ‘liking,’ sharing, and commenting on our students videos. Students are then able to access any information about our school through our website, our Facebook page, or our Twitter handle. Beehive Academy participates in many expositions, and our following grows vastly with each appearance. The students, parents, and staff enjoy the exposure of the work done at Beehive Academy, but the preparation therein is the real reward. Simply by implementing the tools that are at hand in the classroom, the educators at our school get to rest assured that our students will gradu- ate with the skills necessary to achieve in higher education institutions and in the workplace. The key is to keep it simple as teachers, and the students of this generation will continuously push the limits of what we even thought was possible to accomplish at school. Since 1895. Member SIPC and NYSE. ©2013 Piper Jaffray & Co. 8/13 CM-13-0289 Our experienced public finance professionals have completed 16 Utah charter school financings for the acquisition, construction and/or renovation of charter school facilities. piperjaffray.com /charterschoolfinance Piper Jaffray is a leader in Utah charter school finance. To begin your journey, contact Piper Jaffray Public Finance: Bruce E. Sorensen Managing Director 612 303-1776 bruce.e.sorensen@pjc.com Nicholas P. Hagen Vice President 612 303-6661 nicholas.p.hagen@pjc.com Any teacher failing to show his or her students the application of technology to any content area is in need of an update. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13