Harrisburg Students Tap into Learning

Tools

By Stephanie Tyrpak
By Jared Roberts

Story Created: Feb 3, 2012 at 5:25 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 3, 2012 at 11:31 PM CDT

HARRISBURG -- Some Harrisburg students now have hundreds of learning tools at their fingertips.

Ms. Collins' first graders are a week into classes using a new piece of hands-on technology.

They're decked out in purple, one for each of the 22 students.

"We use it for reading," said Collins. "We use it for spelling, we use it for phonics, we use it for math."

The Harrisburg Media and Technology Coordinator secured a grant for 60 iPads. Teachers were then invited to submit a proposal on how they would use the tablet computers in their classrooms.

"I felt like they needed to pick them up when they come in in the morning," said Collins. "Then use them all day, throughout the day,"

In December, Collins learned her class had been selected as one of two in the district. A fifth grade class was also chosen.

"I received mine as soon as we got back from Christmas," said Collins. "I had about 3 weeks that I could take it home at night and search for apps."

The "apps" range from counting coins, to reading and spelling, and to almost everything in between.

Collins had never used an iPad before the grant, but she's found the tablet computers to be simple and full of teaching tools.

"It doesn't limit the kids to just what we have in our school," said Collins. "They have the whole world to look up."

Many students use Apple products at home, and have been quick to pick up the system and the lingo.

Collins is hopeful the fun and games will tap into better grades.

"Every skill that we have," said Collins. "At the end of the day I'm like 'Oh, I'm gonna look and see if there's an app for that!'"

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