DFI Day 7: Stepping into Learner Shoes with Chromebooks and iPads

Day 7 of the Digital Fluency Intensive was all about devices, giving us a unique chance to step straight into the shoes of our young people and experience digital learning directly from their perspective. Putting ourselves in our tamariki's position - navigating tasks across both Chromebooks and iPads was an eye-opening exercise in understanding the subtle nuances of how they interact with tools every single day.

While the overarching goal of creating and expressing ideas felt similar across both platforms, working hands-on highlighted some distinct differences in workflow and interaction. Navigating with a keyboard and trackpad on a Chromebook offers a structured, production-focused feel that is fantastic for document creation and web navigation. On the flip side, the touch-first interface of an iPad encourages a much more tactile, fluid style of exploration and creative expression.

The absolute highlight of the day for me was getting to see the Explain Everything app in action! Since we don't use iPads at our kura, getting to test out this dynamic screencasting and digital whiteboard tool was an inspiring experience. Seeing how effortlessly learners can draw, annotate, record their voice, and explain their thinking in real time showed me just how powerful tactile tools are for making thinking and learning truly visible.

Experiencing both environments firsthand was a great reminder for us as kaiako that the device in a student's hands genuinely shapes how they communicate and process information. Whether our learners are tapping on an iPad touchscreen or typing away on a Chromebook, gaining a deeper appreciation for their everyday digital reality helps us design much more responsive and engaging learning experiences for all!

DFI Week 7: Devices

This week we got to use the Chromebooks and iPads that the students use.  We used Explain Everything on the iPads to create resources. I found this really difficult because I seldom use an iPad, but I also lacked motivation as my students don't use iPads. I was more focused on fully understanding the Chromebook (and doing the 'Digital Dig' ) as this is the tool used by students.

The Evolution of Classroom Technology

Chalkboard (1890)

Projector (1925)

Calculator (1970)

Chromebooks (today)

Computers and devices do more than provide students with a platform and resources with which to learn. They also help engage students, prepare them for careers (which is particularly important as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields continue to increase in demand) and close achievement gaps. 

Technology changes all the time and it is our responsibility as teachers to keep pace with this change in order to provide the best possible outcomes for our ākonga.