Friday, January 25, 2013

I’m meeting with teachers from an area school tomorrow to discuss 1:1 iPads.

girlwithalessonplan:

They’re looking to adopt and are visiting our school to see them in action and ask us for feedback.  I made a list of talking points for my recommendations:

  • You must train your faculty first.  MUST.
  • You must have a companion network like MyBigCampus, Moodle, or Blackboard.
  • If you can’t integrate all grades at once, don’t get rid of textbooks until all the kids have the iPad.
  • Have a departmental sets of loaners to use on a class-only basis.
  • The school needs to provide covers or else the damage is immediate and swift.
  • eBooks are not all the same and may not be the most economical for an English class.  If a kid can’t write or make notations in it, it’s useless (I’M LOOKING AT YOU, FOLGER SHAKESPEARE.)
  • So I’m saying: it’s likely cheaper for your department to keep its paperback library and allow BOYB or BYOT for ebooks.
  • If you’re going to put a protection client to watch for jailbreaking, put it on BEFORE you hand them out to the kids.  
  • The school should provide Pages, but do not expect the iPad to be a word processing device.  It’s not.  
  • Be sure your school provides before and after school time and space for kids to use wifi.  If you make Internet homework, the Internet-less are at a disadvantage.

I’d add that Edmodo is a great free alternative to Moodle/Blackboard/Etc. - they have an iOS/Android app and also work just fine in Safari.

Posted at 10:10 AM 64 notes Reblogged from girlwithalessonplan

Notes

  1. writingforme111 reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan
  2. teachteachteach reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan
  3. benotprouddeath reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan and added:
    Save your money unless you’re just...flush it down the drain on ‘ebooks’ with extremely...
  4. tiaraschalkandpamphleteers reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan
  5. owenmakesstuff reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan
  6. teachers20 reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan and added:
    I’d add that Edmodo...great free alternative
  7. theartguy reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan and added:
    I’d add that Edmodo is a great free alternative to Moodle/Blackboard/Etc. - they have an iOS/Android app and also work...
  8. missn1 said: There are great programs tat allow for notations in ebooks. I write my lecture write inside the books for 3 of my classes. If you install the right apps you can make its mobile comp. I only use my computer to make tests.
  9. livelaughlovegingers reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan
  10. girlcanteach said: Amen to all of this. I work at a private school that is 1:1. We DON’T have textbooks on our campus so when wifi is out, it’s AWFUL, and my students DO NOT use the highlight and note taking functions in their textbooks. Challenges.
  11. rjccourt said: There are a ton of free apps, but be wise. Start with teachers who REALLY want them if you don’t have enough. Teachers must have one and a dongle for their projector. Find ways to use it with the curriculum not instead of.
  12. kthie said: I actually taught at a school that was 1:1 tech. It was a great tool for each student to have that technology and really own it. These are great points as well.
  13. krillinsalazar reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan
  14. jawsthemeswimmingg said: Make sure your school restricts whatever sort of downloading programs so the kids can’t download the games and play them in class….