Students in Mr. Parker’s class review information on Sparta using image search programs on their iPads.

WARSAW — If you walk the halls at Eisenhower Elementary, it is nearly impossible to not find something to be impressed with. The school blends fundamental education, a love of arts and expression and advancements with STEM education to enhance student learning across all subjects.

InkFreeNews recently had the opportunity to visit the school and witness cutting edge instructional efforts taking place within sixth grade classrooms in the school. Students in Mr. Andrew Streit, Chris Parker and Shirley Fleming’s classes are utilizing iPad minis to take learning to fun and exciting levels.

Alyssa Pena works on a reading assignment before opening up her KidBlog.

According to Streit, students in his class are currently entirely paperless. This feat was accomplished by moving nearly all course assignments to a digital format on their iPads. Streit simply drops the document into the Google drive, which connects to each student’s iPad. With the click of a few buttons, students are able to download the document at the end of the school day and complete it while home.

Students with internet at home are also able to immediately turn in assignments once completed, email questions to teachers for further homework assistance and even watch instruction videos to help clarify potential questions that might arise while completing assignments.

Though some may worry that a lack of internet could be a hinderance for some students, nearly all students in each class noted they do have internet capabilities at home. For those who do not, teachers explained all assignments can be downloaded prior to leaving for the school day and then turned in once students return to class.

The iPads serve as more than just a homework tool though. Students are currently utilizing the devices to enhance the learning already done in the classroom. One noteworthy initiative currently underway is the use of “KidBlog” a program that allows students to run a peer-reviewed blog on their own.

Students prepare for some friendly competition using Kahoot.

Alyssa Pena of Mr. Parker’s class excitedly shared details of her blog, which she uses to express herself through both blog posts and photos. Pena explained that other students are able to post comments on her blog, after her teacher approves them. Students are able to read blog posts not only from those within their class, but from guest students from schools in Hawaii and North Carolina.

Students in Parker’s class noted the use of the program has improved their views on writing while also helping them shape opinions through reading their peer’s posts.

Though students enjoy blogging, other programs also garnered a lot of excitement. “Kahoot” a program that invites all students in a class to participate in a game in which they must answer quiz type questions as quickly as possible to gain points. Students are also able to read classroom books on their iPads as well as check out numerous books through the Warsaw Community Public Library to read during at their leisure.

According to Fleming, students in her classroom are currently using the tablets to document data and photos for science experiments they are conducting in her classroom. Students are able to draw directly onto the tablet to create graphs, data charts and even detailed photos and drawings of their scientific process.

Students in Mrs. Fleming’s class work on scientific data for an in-class experiment.

From fun programs to enhance learning to the ease of transporting homework and books, students had numerous reasons why they loved utilizing iPads during class and at home.

“The iPads make it easier to not forget things. Or, if we forget something, we can take a picture (of documents or assignments) and send it to each other,” stated Kevin Terrazs, a student in Streit’s class.