MUSD Primary Tech - Management Models

Management Models

As a teacher in an iPad classroom, management is the biggest area of interest. Procedures are everything, just like all other areas in your classroom. These management models are designed for a shared iPad configuration. They help you to answer the question: How can I use 5-6 iPads effectively in a classroom with 25 or more students? Each model has an unique purpose for iPad use but a variety of models may be used throughout the day to suit your classroom needs.

Task Center

In this model all of the iPads are placed in one center. Each student at the center uses an iPad to complete a specific task. Students rotate through this center as they would any other center in the rotation and would only have the time of their rotation to complete the task. However, the teacher may opt to give students multiple days on one task in the center. This model is good for literacy or Daily 5 standards based tasks or math tasks. Example: During literacy center rotations students will complete a digital retelling on Toontastic of the shared reading for the week at the iPad Task Center.

Small Group

The iPads are used in a teacher-led small group lesson where each student in the group has an iPad. This model is good for introducing a new app, intervention lessons, trying a different way to teach a skill that students may be struggling with, or simply to integrate technology into your small groups. Example: The teacher teaches a small group in building composite shapes using the Pattern Blocks app.

Collaborative

In a collaborative setting, there is one iPad per group of students where students create one project for the group. It is best for students to have roles and share the iPad to complete the project. This model is good for science, social studies, or other theme based cumulative projects. Example: During a study on weather, students in groups create a collaborative movie using the Green Screen explaining the different kinds of weather.

Do and Tag

In Do and Tag, each student completes a task on the iPad. The iPads stay in one place spaced around the classroom. Each iPad has a list of students that will complete their task on that iPad. The first student on each list would go to their assigned iPad and complete their task. When they are done, the student would consult the list and go tell the next student on the list that it is their turn. This would continue until all students have completed the task. This model is good for quick tasks such as exit slips, fluency checks, spelling tests, sight word assessments, letter or letter-sound checks. Example: Students record themselves reading their sight words each week using the Seesaw app.

Buddy Center

The Buddy Center model is designed for two students to collaborate on a project on a single iPad or 2:1. The pair completes one task sharing the iPad (switching roles). Two Buddy Centers can run at the same time and students would rotate through the center as they would any other center. The pairs would have the time at the center to complete the task or the teacher may opt to give partners many days in the center to complete the task. This model is useful when students are going on an app for the very first time, pairing a more experienced student with a less experienced student, or projects involving filming. Example: Pairs complete a video retelling a familiar story using the Stop Motion app.