iPads in Education

"Following the Google Docs guides http://bit.ly/152In3Y I have been posting here, I received several other tips to add to these guides. I know it is impossible for me to cover all the details of these web services but some of these  tips are really important and should not pass incognito. As I told you before, this blog is a fruit of a collaborative work between me and you and I do learn a lot from you as you do from me.

Now here is a round-up of the new hacks you can do on Google Docs\ Drive."

"Due to the size of the district and funding limitations, district administrators determined that a 1:1 initiative would not be feasible. After significant research and product evaluations, the decision was made to move forward with a shared iPad cart model. Teachers involved in the Innovation Spaces project will be required to share a mobile cart of 30, 32GB, Wi-Fi iPads."

"Providing instructions to staff on how to complete digital products or processes is a major aspect of a #techcoach s job.  Our school recently updated the digital (computer/DVD/VCR) projection options in two of our Large Group Instruction (LGI) areas.

Haiku Deck became the go-to tool as it limits the words placed on a "slide" and the pictures are stunning.  Along with the Haiku Deck app, I incorporated the Skitch app as it allowed for new pictures to be enhanced by "notice markers", text, and arrows."

"Summer will be over before we know it and it will be time to go back to school. Here are some apps to help teachers to streamline their workflow and bring their teaching into the 21st century. From iClickers and grade books to attendance and presentations, these apps will wow your students and save you precious time, all from the comfort of your iDevice."

"In theory, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs in schools are a great idea; students can use their own tablets, laptops and smartphones in the classroom, and can take advantage of a wider range of apps and programs than they might be able to normally access in school. There is a case to be made that doing so can make schools more cutting edge and capable of engaging students through methods that they're comfortable with. However, there's also a risk that BYOD could lead to bullying and inequality within schools. How, then, can BYOD be successful without causing these kinds of problems?"

If I could only use one web tool for the rest of my life, I would choose Diigo to highlight & annotate the web. This post tells you why Diigo is so amazing.

"Leo & Sarah show off Mailbox's new iPad app, Map Camera for geotagging your photos, the future of Flickr and Tumblr under Yahoo, Shazam's always listening, & more!"

There are hundreds of different units that you may need to convert, so it is best to have a variety of tools in your arsenal. Check out these ten apps for making unit conversions

The feature has long been requested by users of the popular productivity app.

"In the last few years, I’ve worked with a lot of teachers using mobile devices in the classroom. The first week is always exciting – “There are SO many apps to choose from!” Yet, two weeks later, teachers’ attitudes have shifted from optimistic to overwhelmed. “There are SO many apps to choose from—how will I figure out which ones are actually good? And how on Earth am I going to figure out how to use them all effectively?!”"

"I have received several requests on how to perform certain tasks on Google Spreadsheets and since I am really out of time to answer each of these requests I deemed it important to share with you these useful tutorials.

Working on Google Spreadsheets is a little bit tricky but practice makes better. My advice is to try out these tips each at a separate activity and then after a couple of days do it again and see how much you can remember."

Smartphones and tablets have changed the way we live life. No longer can we wake up and lull around in bed without checking our email or Twitter mentions.

Want to increase the educational value of iPads? Good news, there’s an app for that. Actually, here are 50 worth checking out:"

There are more than 300,000 iPad apps currently available in Apple’s App store with all those options, how will you get to know best one for without wasting much money?

"Now that you have understood the basics of Digital Citizenship  http://bit.ly/126roRn and have read the digital footprint guide http://bit.ly/14M8MDA , you night be in need of a handy graphic to share with your students to wrap it up all. Well, I have one for you.

The graphic below features some wonderful tips and pieces of advice on how to develop good manners online. Look at it as a code of online ethics to recommend not only to your students but to your kids as well. You can also print it and hang it on your classroom wall to constantly remind students of what is expected from them while using the world wide web. Enjoy."

"Chances are your first or second answer is classroom management and that’s in the ordinary classroom.  With one-to-one classroom technology integration, classroom management takes on a whole new meaning.  Not only must you manage between 20 and 30 students, their individual learning paths, and the classroom environment, but you must also help them to use technology tools in ways that deepen learning, enhance creativity, and maximize time on task whenever possible. Make no mistake—this is no mean feat!"

The Padagogy Wheel takes an expanded approach Bloom's Digital Taxonomy and offers 62 iPad apps that fit into the organized chaos that is Bloom's.

"Over the course of this school year, I have been fortunate enough to share ideas on technology integration with Judy Wilson, my children’s principal at P.S. 3 in Staten Island, NY.  Many of these conversations focused on my own son’s use of technology as a catalyst for creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking developed by playing Minecraft and using iMovie to storyboard and create his own movies.  These conversations eventually led Judy to include Nicholas in a pilot program at the school where students would be creating virtual reality games after the regular school day.  As someone who loves educational technology and knowing how much my son does as well, my wife and I figured this was an unbelievable opportunity that couldn’t be passed up. "

Personalized social reader Zite is updating its iOS app with more Google Reader-inspired features, and also added seven new publishers to its publisher program.

Kindergarten through second grade is a time of tremendous strides for students: learning to count to 100, learning to read, learning to write a whole lot more

"Over the course of two years, I, along with the BPS Tech team, had the opportunity to meet and connect with over one hundred schools. The discussions usually involve what device works best in the classroom and how the iPad is affecting teaching and learning outcomes. Usually this conversation is focused on what hardware works best for teaching and learning. While this is an important decision to make, it should not be the focus. In fact, the best devices a school can employ are great teachers. "