Technology and Learning

   If you aren't aware of, or haven't had a chance yet to check out the  International Society for Technology in Education (iste) you must!  Here you will find standards for students, teachers, coaches and administrators on teaching in the digital world.  This is sometimes a tough topic to talk about in districts as what are the technology standards?  Where do they lie?  Who is to create them or know about them?  In all reality we ALL need to know what our role is regards to technology and the classroom.  We ALL need to be aware of the needs of the students in sending them off in this "techy" world.  This site really provides GREAT insight into what each of these roles should know, model and lead!  Below are the Nets listed for each person involved in this technology implementation and the roles that each might possibly play: Nets for Administration Nets for Teachers Nets for Technology Coaches Nets for Students ...

   The 4th graders each year learn about the regions of the country and different states.  Usually they create a PowerPoint about the state and then a poster.  This year they utilized the iPads and used Pic Collage to create and compile their information.  Look how great they turned out:)!!! HOW COOL:)!!  LOVE THEM!  WAY TO GO 4TH GRADE:)!!! Mrs. I:)

     Well, now the updates are ALL into our iTunes account - so we will have to see how that will work when we hook the iPads up again in January!  I have solved SOME of the problems - but this one iPad is DRIVING ME NUTS:(!!!  I think I may have to unsupervise it and then reload everything - I have tried everything I know.  I have already been on the phone with Apple for over an hour today - so I MIGHT try them one more time before resorting to that;)!!  They REALLY are helpful - just SO many steps!  I want ONE Apple person that will solve ALL my problems, but I have to always call multiple places to answer the three things that need to be answered!  Oh well - I want it all in ONE:)!!     Happy Thursday Mrs. I:)

   Just about to my breaking point again:(!!!  WHY DOESN"T CONFIGURATOR WORK!!!??????  I have successfully formatted perfectly 15 iPads and all is well = NOW all of a sudden I plug one in and it tried to "supervise" it again and won't take our profile - UGH!!!  Back to Apple I call I am afraid!  I can't figure it out - BUMMER!!  I HATE THAT!!!!     I also just spent two days downloading all the updates for the apps.  However, this will cause some delay time when we hook up the iPads again in January as Configurator will have to install ALL the updates first before allowing me to add or change things - the updates are needed for MANY of the apps as it allows for some more options; especially with Schoology!  So we will have to take the time to do it.  I was just hoping that we would be able to get the whole school done in a week - probably not now - maybe a building each week instead;)!!    ALL will be fine - App...

   Well, we were able to figure out SOME of the problems with Apple Configurator!  I talked yesterday with a gentleman from Apple, and we were able to solve some things; we talked about grouping students and how to organize them, preferences, etc... so some were good outcomes.  He thought that with the update of Apple Configurator - the option to "view" the live iPad is gone since it will remember what was supposed to be on it - and Apple Configurator will override EVERYTHING else!  So Casey and I will have to do some changes again:)!  I am in process of updating ALL apps since we will be reconfigurating all of the iPads the second week in January.  We are allowing teachers ONE more opportunity to put on up to 5 more free apps if they so choose.  So hooking up all those buggers one more time:)!     Here are a few things that I sent to the teachers regarding app choices and review of apps that might be the most beneficial and used m...

    I just LOVE QR (quick response) Codes and KNOW that they would be a hit in the classroom at ANY level!  If you are not sure how they work - make sure that you have a QR Reader downloaded on your iPad or iPhone - scan the codes below and you will find some fun things:    Good luck with these!  If you need more help or clarification on what do to - feel free to contact me ANYTIME! Happy Weekend, Mrs. I:)

  The high principal, Mr. Strand, attended the TIES conference also.  At one of his sessions he got the great site about iPads with learning objectives.  This site lists 19 leaning objectives for the iPad and when you click on that objective, it brings you to a list of apps that help you accomplish this objective.  A really neat site with direct links to learning objectives:)! iPad As.... Good luck with this - again - SO much information - but take a peek as you might find one thing that was worth it:) Happy Friday- Mrs. I:) **I will be posting later a little more about QR codes:)**

  I had the opportunity to talk with some teachers and administrators from Climax yesterday.  They came for a school visit to see how the iPads are being implemented.  They observed classrooms and talked with various staff members, myself, Mr. Strand and STUDENTS:)!!  That was the best part they said, was sitting down and talking with some kids about their thoughts on the MOVE 21 implementation.  The final question they asked me before leaving was, "Why the iPad?"  I had a hard time right away trying to answer this and thought for a few seconds; a video came to me that we saw at TIES:     What about Thomas Suarez?  How do we reach him?  And that was my question and comments for them - if you want kids to have a device so they can word process, create PowerPoints, and use the Internet, then I told them to go with a laptop.  If you want a device that will allow for creativity, imagination and INNOVATION - then you should go ...

   My mind is STILL trying to wrap itself around ALL that was learned and discussed at TIES!  To write EVERYTHING at one time would be SO overwhelming to not only me - but you as well!  SO many ideas, SO many great things, WHERE is the time to keep learning and implementing - the always never going away question for educators:)!!    The thing that I would like to talk about today are QR (Quick Response) codes!!  We have had a few teachers at the high school tamper with them a little bit - but I never really thought of the many ways that they truly CAN be used!  Not only can you have one up each day for a daily agenda or outline, but you could post answers to assignments for students to scan and self correct, you could have a code for your contact information, you could randomly put up QR codes around your classroom for spelling words, information about what you are learning at that time, worksheets, YOU NAME IT there's a code you can make for it;...

   My mind hurts!!!!  Five sessions and all great - the best one BY FAR was the last one I went to.  The speaker was Mark Garrison, and he is the technology coordinator at White Bear Lake Public Schools.  His enthusiasm, passion, and motivation to do better was felt throughout the session.  His website is one that I have already talked about Garrison Sites , and if you click on the TIES 2012 link on the left hand side, he showed us "50 Sites in 50 Minutes."  AMAZING:)!!!!     Now, of course, the bad news!  Some of the sites that he showed us of course have flash and can't be used on our iPads - bummer;(!!!  Students CAN use them on the 6 computers that we have in our elementary classrooms and the labs at the high school.  But, MANY of the sites can be used with the iPads!!    Here are my TOP favorites that Mr. Garrison went over:) Wind Map This wind map site shows you the wind patterns across the US - you ...

   WOW!!  If you have never had the opportunity to attend the  Minnesota TIES Conference 2012 in Minneapolis, you MUST go!  It is WORTH your time:)!!  My mind is hurting indeed, but the things I am learning about and the connections I am making are great!  I still have two sessions left today - and five more tomorrow!  Tonight I will put on some of the things I have learned about - and continue this again on Tuesday night when I have learned more tomorrow! Happy Monday, Mrs. I:)

  Now I knew that there would be days that would be frustrating - but TWO IN A ROW:(! Bummer! Bummer #1 - I thought for SURE that I had solved the mystery of the "Virtual History-ROMA" app!  Long story short:  I bought this app in August for a Social Studies teacher- and tried to import it and the codes couldn't be imported!  After trying multiple times (and hours on the phone with Apple), a breakthrough was reached!  The lady at Apple had me change some things in the spreadsheet and I was able to import them - YAHOO!!  The good news is that we have 30 codes as Apple reimbursed us for the cost of these totally!  The bad news is that we HAD 54 codes but since the price of the app went up - go figure:) - I only had enough money to buy 30.  I have an elevated case with Apple - who will soon know me by name - asking for no money - just 24 more licenses for this app.  We will see where I get with this.  This app IS really cool, and hopefull...

  Now, I realize that with ALL the technologies we will NEVER keep up!  But when you look at this graphic organizer and really think about what happens in 60 SECONDS all day every day - it's pretty unreal how fast the times are changing.    That's why I feel it is more important now than ever to continue to find ways to incorporate technology into our classrooms!  Changing the way we teach to meet the needs of our students is something teachers do DAILY - just adding technology to already amazing teaching - creates learners that are truly ready for this busy, crazy tech-wild world that they are going out into!! Mrs. I;)

  I thought today I might post about some resources that are out there to help with the iPad along with some other great sites and resources that I have come across:   1. There is always a need for a good  User Guide for your iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone.  This is Apple's manual page where you can download which guide you are looking for. 2. Garrison Sites is a great blog to go to when looking for creative, innovative and 21st Century learning technology ideas!! 3. I found this on a ISTE Wiki Space .  It gives you an AMAZING amount of resources on the web of things and ideas to do with the iPad on on a computer.  TONS of great resources here!! 4. LOVE THESE CHARTS!!!  Useful Charts is a site that contains "useful" charts for studying, learning and quick references for a plethora of things.  They are quite neat! 5. Here is just a good blog about using Technology in the classroom . I hope you find some of these useful - I will continue ...

These paraprofessionals work with students daily on individualized skills.  Below you can see pictures of students using their iPads for various things: One student is working on Tappy Tunes to hear and touch with her iPad while another one looks at the weather forecast for the coming week and finds out what kinds of temperatures we will be experiencing.  Here is another example of how the iPads are used daily.  There are SO many great apps that help provide opportunities and learning that might not have been possible through other means.  The ease of the iPad helps all students! Just another AMAZING way that the iPads are providing individualized learning opportunities for our students in Barnesville! Mrs. I:)

  Here's another SUPER great way for kids to create TRUE meaning of words!  Mrs. Askegaard had students create Pic Collages for their spelling words.   Students looked up definitions, wrote sentences, and then created these to go along with that.  What a neat idea for students to really "grasp" the words - not only words but a visual - kids WILL remember these:)!! I will post again later today Mrs. I:)

  So, my NEW favorite app TODAY is Voice Thread !  This app allows you to create, record voice or movie, and explain, demonstrate or create things!  I have made 3 of them already just trying to figure out how to do them and I LOVE IT:)!!!  Some of our students DO have this one already as our English department asked for it and IT IS COOL!!!  Ways that it could be used include:      1 - students could write summaries of books and include story elements      2 - while researching states, students could tell about their state and things found in it      3 - book reviews - what books they love and why - persuasive writing      4 - tell about anything - life cycle of a frog, different habitats of animals, why pulleys work      5 - use it to tell about the different body systems - what they do and what organs are included      6 - students could...

   I DIE laughing every time I see this movie or think of this part!!  A 2nd Grade teacher here and I call each other "Dori," because it seems that just when you THINK you have things going and MIGHT be caught up in one area of your life - something else takes your time and energy!  We tell each other "Just Keep Swimming!"     That SHOULD be our motto this year as many people, myself included, have SO many things to learn, do and keep up with!!  When you're feeling this way - come back to this post and watch the video again:)! JUST KEEP SWIMMING, Mrs. I (aka Dori:)

   Here is a list of Educational Sites that I have found to be useful!  Some are iPad related, and others are not, but all are good ones.  I will continue to add to and update this list sporadically as I find others sites that I feel are worth mentioning.  It is CRAZY how many wonderful sites are out there for SO many content areas - to search the Internet is SO overwhelming at times because of the plethora of information there - scary but exciting all at once!! Happy Tuesday to Everyone, Mrs. I:)

   Are students paying attention or not?  That's always a good question, but especially in a school with iPads 1:1, how can one be sure?  Students are SO fast to jump between applications, websites, pages, etc with a swipe of a finger.  You want them to be taking notes and paying attention - but the temptation is just too great.  Since we also have Smartboards, many teachers feel a little "stuck" to the board without the ability to walk around.  However - that can change!    There is an app called SplashTop that works in conjunction with a SplashTop Website  that you log into that allows you to walk around your classroom and actually be "behind" the students and watching what they are doing without losing the ability to work on the Smartboard or white board.       This app allows the teacher to walk around with his/her iPad and control the computer that is hooked up to the projector or Smartboard.  As the te...

Here's another great one;)!!   JoinMe is a website that works hand in hand with the app that allows you to show your computer screen onto the iPad.  Once you have an account created, you log in and then share your screen.  The students open up the JoinMe app on their iPad and put in the code provided to the teacher and your screen will appear on their iPad.  THIS IS AWESOME:)!  Students will no longer complain that they can't see what's going on - and better yet - have them take a screen shot of the particular sites, pages, or presentations that they might need to have for future reference!  Again, here is a JoinMe Cheat Sheet for additional help.  Keep Being Amazing Everyone!!! Happy Friday, Mrs. I:)

  If you haven't used Dropbox yet, you need to take a look at it!  This is a great online storage unit - but combined with the Dropbox App - it becomes a powerful tool to use in your classroom.  Simply go to the Dropbox Link and create a user name and password if you haven't done so yet.  You will be able to then create folders, upload files, upload video and MP3, etc.. which are too large to email.  Share the folders with your students and you have found an instant way to communicate information and assignments to your students without the hassle of email.  I also created a  Dropbox Cheat Sheet for you to reference if you aren't sure how to go about this! GOOD LUCK! Mrs. I:)

A few more GREAT ideas and examples for Pic Collage:    LOVE ANDY WARHOL - LOVE his works!  Why not use Pic Collage to create Warhol Art?  Find a picture you like, and with the editing and color changing features, make a "replica" of what Warhol himself might have done!  Mrs. Askegaard's 5th Graders created images like this with the Warhol theme:      One more way that she uses Pic Collage is for student examples for Word a Day.  Each student is assigned a word each week that they have to present and "show" to the class.  Many of her students are choosing to create Pic Collages to use as an example for their word - FUN FUN FUN:)! Happy Collaging (is that even a word:)) Mrs. I:)

   Both our Fifth Grade and our Third Grade have been using Pic Collage for various projects.  In the Fifth Grade, one of the rotations that they have, and that Mrs. Askegaard teaches, is MOVE 21.  She incorporates art with the iPads.  I will continue to post projects that she does, but one thing that she had the kids create was adjective collages.  Students had to take a picture of themselves, turn it black and white, and then come up with adjectives that they would use to describe themselves.  Aren't they just DARLING?!!!!  I LOVE IT:)!!  What a great way to review what adjectives are, along with a project on photography and using the app Pic Collage.    Third graders also used Pic Collage and made collages titled "Third Grade Is..."  The kids used photos from the Internet, took photos around the room, of people, etc.. and then created collages about what they feel Third Grade means to them - again DARLING:)!!! ...

   Here is a "quick" look of the books that are available for download from the CK-12 Site out of California.  Again, these are still free downloads for these specific content areas.  A LOT of great information here. CK-12 Books Available for Download    Mrs. I:)

  This is a GREAT APP (I say that a lot don't I:)!  I know that it is simply a recording app, but once recorded you can download, email, post, use as an MP3, etc.. LOVE LOVE LOVE it:)!  AND so does Señorita Shannon!  She is our Spanish teacher at our high school and has always had her students speak phrases and conversation in Spanish.  In the past, she has had to sit one on one with the students and then listen to them - if they make a mistake, they start over, if it's louder in the classroom, she can't hear them - Audioboo SOLVED THIS:)!!!  The students now can record their lovely Spanish speaking voices at home without all the interruptions and the stress!  If they make a mistake, they simply record another version!  When they are finished they email them to her and she is able to hear them without the chaos of trying to do it during class.  This also has given her more freedom to teach more things as she doesn't have to take class time to...

    I HAD to post this!  When we first started the year off - our Wi-Fi was NOT up to par!  Partially because of the network - well NO IT WAS THE NETWORK!!  However - we had SO many teachers jump on board right away - YEAH TEACHERS - that our network was getting bogged down!  We weren't getting the speed we should have, blah, blah, blah!  The picture below is a reenactment of what we saw DAILY - WHY DIDN"T I TAKE PICTURES????  The students would go around the school and find an access point - then they would hold their iPad up to it HOPING it would connect or speed up - NO LIE!!  It was hilarious - well, now it's hilarious - at the time frustrating and maddening!  So needless to say - after some good humor - and three weeks later - all is well!  We are still not where we should be - but students are now IN their classrooms and not sprawled out all over the hallways hogging access points:)!! Happy Tuesday Everyone Mrs. I:...

   I don't know about you, but I always find it hard "finding" new apps for my iPad.  I can go to websites, blogs, the app store, but really it's all TOO OVERWHELMING for me!  So, after doing the iOS 6.1 update, a new button appeared in the "FEATURED" section tab at the bottom in the App Store (Thank you Mr. Hermes for showing me that you have to do the update as it's a feature of the update).  If you scroll to the bottom on the right side there is a button that says Education Connections.  Once you click on it you can choose your content area and then it breaks the content down into strands; apps are listed under each specific strand.  It has made my searching easier in the sense of I know for sure what that specific app is going to offer me!    Of COURSE I created a "cheat" sheet with visuals in case you can't follow my babbling above:)!  Good luck and please let me know if you can't find it App Store - Education Connections Butto...

I just finished up compiling the app lists for specific content areas at the High School.  You will notice them under the App List section on the right hand side.  I also have the others listed there for viewing.  If you have any questions about any of them, please feel free to drop me a note and I will do my best to answer them!     I brought my boys to the musical, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" this weekend - AMAZING!!!  Once again, the kids at BHS have stepped up with a phenomenal performance!  Way to go kiddos - and way to go Mrs. Scherbenske and Mrs. Nibbe on a job well done! Happy Monday Everyone Mrs. I:)

  Today I simple compiled and posted some lists of apps that we have here in Barnesville.  I have three so far - one is a list of our district apps that we put on all the students in our district, one shows the apps that are in our elementary school which is grades K-6, and the other one is our app list for students in grades 7-12.  I will also compile and post what was ordered per content area at the high school.  Check back next week for those as I will complete them over the weekend and have them done by Monday! Happy weekend to everyone - keep up the amazing work in your transformation- Mrs. I:)

   As I have mentioned before, every teacher in our school was handed a Macbook Pro and an iPad 2 last spring.  Now we have been a PC school since I began teaching here 12 years ago, so this was a TOTALLY new thing for most everyone.  Those users, like me, that came to Barnesville as a Mac user had to make the transition from a Mac (well I NEVER really made the transition as I STILL use Mac at home:):).  I had a hard time at first.  Although the platforms were similar, things were NOT the same!  The idea of learning a "new" platform was hard to swallow.  Now the tables were turned and I was the one that was like, "YAHOO!"  Others, however, well everyone except one other teacher, really, had never used a Mac or hadn't used one in years!  Some decided to not even use it.  Others chose to jump on board and put their PC away!  Some are in between - which is where I would have been when I first came to Barnesville.  Over time t...

    In reading and talking with educators and other integrationist at workshops and through email - there seems to be a common thing - teaching is changing and teachers need to change.  Although I sit and think about all the changes I made the last 14 years in education, change is inevitable and we can either "embrace" it, or "ignore" it.  I choose to embrace it!!  My two sons are TOO important for me to not know what their world is like - so I am choosing to join them on this journey so to say!  Students today are the same as students yesterday - it's their world that is different!     That doesn't mean I would change EVERYTHING at one time - how could you?  But if we could pick one thing this week or month and go with that until we are comfortable - but never TOO comfortable to stay with what we have always been doing - THAT"S TOO EASY!!!  Then choose something different, and keep adding things and doing things a "little" differe...

  Well, digital textbooks are on my mind today.  I am downloading eBooks from the site CK-12!  This site is based in California and has MANY digital textbooks for FREE to download.  Our thought last spring when buying Macbook Pros for every teacher in our district, was that over the course of three years (roughly), teachers would be using them with iBooks Author to make their own digital textbooks.  These could then be shared with students, and textbooks, as we know them, would become obsolete!  The digital books would be based on the Minnesota standards and match perfectly!  As things change within our state, we could then easily adapt to that change by making adjustments with the digital textbooks that we created!  My job this year - well, my goal this year, is to create a few digital textbooks!:)    We currently have a 6th Grade teacher, Mr. Cox, who wrote his own math book.  He started chapter for chapter and to my understandin...

   Below are some links that show and list different ways that you can use iPads and other technologies in your classrooms and some additional tips and tricks with the iPad 2 in case you still need some refreshers.  Take a peek - you might find a great, fun new way to do something or learn something new. 50 ways 50 iPad 2 Tips & Tricks Lesson Ideas 15 Ways to Use the iPads in the Classroom GOOD LUCK TROJANS!!! Football tonight and Volleyball tomorrow night - not only do we have great things happening with iPads, we have just GREAT things happening in Barnesville!!! Have a great one and cheer LOUD Mrs. I:)

   Yesterday I went to a workshop at Lakes Country on eBooks and Digital Learning - WE ARE RIGHT ON here in Barnesville!  Not only am I totally convinced that the iPad was the way to go for Barnesville Public Schools, but I am TOTALLY convinced that EVERYONE here is 100% AMAZING!!  We are SO ahead of the game compared to SO many districts - and all the teachers have done a great job just embracing the fact we have the iPads and using them.  The presenter spent time showing various apps that she really likes - and WE HAVE MANY OF THEM - YAHOO!!  She also really focused on the idea of getting "cross content" area apps, as once you teach a certain topic or unit and the kids master that app skill, they are obsolete!  I totally agree!  Keep finding ways to use the many apps that we have!  I also get the idea of wanting more - I AM QUEEN OF THIS!!  I want more of EVERYTHING especially Apple and techy related items - why I can't ever be CONTENT...

   Many teachers in our school have been using the site That Quiz to create quizzes or use the already created quizzes on the site! (Mr. Amundson actually introduced me to this site a few years back:)) It's a VERY powerful tool and many of the school districts that I have talked to about other things always bring up this site - check it out!  The starting page looks like this:    ThatQuiz Website         From here you login and can create your own quiz, or use ones already in the system; you can create any type of quiz from multiple choice, true false, short answer or essay.  Students are then emailed the link and they then take the quiz.  Once completed, the quiz is scored and the teacher can see how they did - the system saves it so you can go back and check things and use the scores to enter into our JMC grading system.     Mr. Schmitt taught a CPT day for our staff on this and he created a "cheat" sh...

  Ok, this has nothing to do with the iPad really - well, not true as kids can VIEW it on their iPad.  My sister sent me this and SO SO PRECIOUS!!! IF you have any kids with the countdown for Christmas in their heads- click here:)!! Christmas Countdown    SCAREY for a mom like me that has done VERY little shopping - YIKES!!!  A good reminder for me, too:)  Maybe everyone will just get an iPad Mini this year - you can dream, right???   I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!!!  Thanksgiving first, though! Have a great time trick-or-treating Mrs. I

Check out some of the links below - I have been reading them and finding them helpful when trying to find apps, created activities, or just plain informational: Teach With Your iPad iPads in Education     These LIVEBINDERS are AMAZING!!  They not only have them for iPads - but ANY content area you might be in need of things for!   LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM:!)!!   Check this iPad one out: Live Binder for iPad    Each day I will try and post a "new" link that I have either heard about via my other Apple nerdy friends:) or ones that I have found to be quite useful in my teaching as well:)   Happy Halloween Everyone! Mrs. I;-)

  I KNEW it was going to happen - but my heart did sink a little when our FIRST broken screen came through my door:(!!!  However - when two more happened about 72 hours later - I was bummed!  This IS part of the deal, I understand, and all were simple accidental incidences - nonetheless I was maybe thinking "Hey, we might not even break a screen this year."  Wishful thinking indeed.  So with these three, we have had to replace a total of 6 iPads since September.  One wouldn't charge, one wouldn't rotate, and the other one the home button was so sticky and not always working properly - all those Apple claimed as "defective," so we simply returned them and they sent us replacement iPads.  These, however, aren't going to be the same deal!  Since we have screens that need replacement we are going to send them to different locations, one being Apple, and the other two local businesses, and compare cost and work done to see what is going to be the best ...

  One more post for today!  Mr. Schmitt, who teaches Science at the junior high level was teaching his students about cells.  He had the students use Pic Collage to create cell organelles.  They turned out pretty neat - and yet another way to implement the use of iPads and a great app that all the students have.  Here is a sample of what one of the students came up with:) - maybe this will give you an idea of what you could do in your classroom?:)

     Some of our students here have been taking some classes online to receive credit for college or to give them opportunities that our school might not offer.  The iPads have been both helpful and frustrating during this time.  For instance, the students have been able to access things, do assignments, and blog and critique others in their classes as needed.  The one thing I know that has been frustrating is the fact that they can't view "flash" video on the iPad.  We have tried the Rover app, but it has crashed and burned and been a failure for us.  Puffin works REALLY well, but it's age restricted, which is alright for the seniors and juniors that are at least 17, but we can't use it with the younger ages - even though it would be a great web browser for flash.  We have had success with the Puffin App, and students have now been able to use their iPads for viewing these videos.      More to come about online clas...

    I thought I would post a few pictures of our kids working on projects in Physics class.  Mr. Goering is the teacher, and he uses two apps in particular - Data Analysis and Coach My Video.  The pictures are of kids using the Data Analysis app where they are tracking data and creating graphs.  The Coach My Video app he uses for kids to watch frame by frame video and kids then can input the change in position and time into Data Analysis to also create graphs!      Coach My Video and Data Analysis are both FREE apps that the kids in his class all have.  Actually, the kids in our entire district have the Coach My Video app to use for various content areas.  Mr. Goering just wanted an app that allowed kids to see the frame by frame video option, and this app is also simple to use.    He also has his Chemistry and Physics classes use their iPads for note taking and their textbooks.  He emails them PDF files for them to...

     Now, first of all, I must say that I am kind of an Apple nerd!  I have ALWAYS used Apple products, thank you Tracy B:, so the idea of our school implementing iPads and Macbooks was BEYOND exciting for me!!! Finally we jumped on board - YAHOO!  So you can imagine how pumped I was when I finally got the vouchers to spend this money on apps for our students!  I am SO nerdy - that I even took a picture of the vouchers when I got them - HOW FUN!!!  $10,000 - that's a LOT to spend;)!!!      However, I was also SO scared to redeem these - what if I did something wrong?  What is I lost the money?  Take a peek and see how you might feel - WOW!! I obviously started with the $100 one and bought the cheapest license that I could to make sure I did this correctly!  Then I proceeded to continue buying as I felt more comfortable with the whole process!  YES I did it CORRECT - and YES it was FUN spending th...

     I thought that you might like to "see" the apps that we have purchased for the 2012-13 school year!  We set aside roughly $20,000 this year to spend on apps and have done a GREAT job spending this:)!!!  To date we have redeemed $18,200 worth of Apple vouchers.  Now keep in mind that Pages, Keynote, and Garageband were a HUGE bulk of this money - and each grade level submitted app requests.  We then put together an App Committee consisting of teachers from both buildings and administration along with the technology people to decide how much money to allow for each grade level.  We considered the number of students that would be needing these apps also.  All students in grades 3-12 got Pages, and all students in grades 4-12 got Keynote - so that alone was about $6200.  We also have a large number of students in band and choir, so many Garage Band licenses were needed as well.  Later I will post the ENTIRE list of apps that w...

   Since the iPad is new to SO many of our teachers and paraprofessionals, I created a "cheat" sheet that has basic tips and functions of the iPad.  I  simply put together things that I kept getting questions about and had to keep repeating again and again.  I hope it is helpful to you!   I am also in the process of putting one together for Pages and Keynote since all our teachers also got a new Macbook Pro - more to come;)!! iPad Cheat Sheet

     Here is the letter that we sent home regarding distribution sessions.  Each family had to call our district secretary and sign up for a time to come.  They could bring all of their children in one session, as grades didn't matter since we were consistent in the message being sent.  We also had a cap of 60 students per session because that is what we thought would be a good number to work with.  A few session were over, but things went really well. iPad Distribution Letter

    If you haven't yet seen Kathy Schrock's page - YOU MUST!!  She has SUCH great information about not only the classroom, but has really started doing a ton on her site about iPads and different apps, ways they are used, etc.. Check her out!!   Kathy Schrock's Guide to Education

   The teachers that we have here have been doing AMAZING things!!!  Some teachers have put their class into Google Docs and do everything that way.  Others have used the various apps that we purchased to help specific grade and content areas.  Yet a few have completely flipped their classrooms.  Each week things get easier and easier and the students are now used to the idea of the iPad and what it can do.  We are also continuing to learn about things that it cannot do - we are all learning together!!

      We chose nine different days starting the end of July and continuing into the first two weeks in August for students to sign up to come and get their iPads.  Each session was roughly an hour and a half long, with students filling our the paper work needed, paying the insurance fee of $50, and then going through a 30 minute talk on the policies, rules and iPad basics.  Each session was run smoothly, and we had over 90% of the students come during this time to receive his/her iPad.  Those that couldn't attend one of the nights, set up times to meet with building principals to go through the same information.  One thing about the insurance fee; if students were unable to pay the entire amount at one time, they were able to set up a payment plan to accommodate them.  Families that qualified for free and reduced lunch were also given a reduction in this fee as well.      The distribution days looked like ...