On The Spot Doesn't Mean Poor Quality

If you work with young people, you know how unpredictable things can be. Even with structured programming and careful planning, things can still slip through the cracks.

Every Tuesday, we run Learn2Lead—a program for middle and high school leaders dedicated to serving their Club and community. These young leaders are the best of the best, and they deserve the best from me. But sometimes, I drop the ball. I forget about a meeting or don’t have a solid plan in place. In the past, this would completely throw me off. I’d scramble to put something together, worried about wasting their time.

Now, I have a secret weapon.

Kids working together on an iPad
Our meetings take many forms—some days, we make Valentine’s Day cards for a local Senior Center. Other times, we tackle teamwork challenges to strengthen communication skills. There are also meetings where we map out the month ahead. Learn2Lead isn’t just about participation; it’s about ownership. These young leaders are responsible for planning and executing their own events.

That’s where Apple technology comes in. With iPads and Keynote at my fingertips, I can create engaging, high-quality activities on the spot. Recently, I split the group into small teams and challenged them to design a creative, organized schedule for the upcoming month. Each team built a Keynote presentation and proudly presented their plan to the group.

A group of young people watching on as 2 of their peers present on the projected screen

Before, this activity was just pencil and paper—something easily forgotten. Now, they create something worth keeping. They stand at the front of the room, confident and proud of their work.

Apple technology helps me turn last-minute ideas into meaningful, collaborative experiences.

A group of young people work alongside a staff on iPad

2 replies

February 27, 2025

Thanks for telling us about your “magic tool” that works well “on the spot”. Agree, serendipity with iPad works really well and learners can easily create fun and engaging projects and learn a lot as well!

March 01, 2025

Hi Emily

Thank you for sharing! I love the idea of your club - it’s so important to build leadership capacity and help students see themselves as leaders.

I also think that you are a skilled and experienced educator who has a depth of knowledge in using Apple technology to its full potential! Well done!

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