Technology and Learning

PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE. check this one out!!  I LOVE photography, but I have NEVER seen so many amazing pictures by amazing artists - just look below: The site is TwistedSifter and there are SO many great pictures to use - why not try one in your next inferencing lesson, or to start discussion, main idea, topic, etc... COOL! I will give you more in a few days - WOW:)! Mrs. I:)

   Session 2 at TIES for me was on flipping your classroom.  Steve Graves, a science teacher from St. Francis Public Schools, showed us how he has flipped his classroom and the success he has had.  He showed a YouTube video called "What is a Flipped Classroom (in 60 seconds), which pretty much sums it up in a minute - check it out:   Everyone has heard about this - and YES - everyone would be able to do it - but taking the step to actually TRY it in the biggest challenge most teachers face. Here were his basic steps in a nutshell: 1. Talk to other flippers - check out Flipped Learning for a collaboration of ideas and information 2. Communicate with administration 3. Send a letter home to parents 4. Don't flip EVERYTHING - ease into it 5. Determine in class product for understanding 6. Create your own or find GOOD videos 7. Create a web base for your videos These are ALL great ideas from him - but I would add - HAVE THE KIDS DO VIDEOS:)!!  Wha...

   Every year, Mrs. Askegaard, one of our fifth grade teachers, has the kids write Christmas poems.  It's just one way for them to work on word processing, changing fonts, size, color, spacing and importing photos.  She did it this year in Pages, as this is what the kids have on their iPads.  They are SO great!!  Here is an example: These were made on the Pages App which all the students in grades 3-12 have.  The best word processing one available in my opinion!  Mrs. Askegaard also teaches the MOVE 21 rotation, which consists of technology with the iPads and art combines - LOVE. HER. IDEAS!! Happy Weekend - I will still try to get our TIES sessions 2-3, Mrs. I:)

   Now, I know that this IS the 21st Century - so NOTHING should really surprise me in terms on what kids are doing on devices.  However - I walk down the hallway today, and this is what I see: PRICELESS!!!!!  Not only that they are sitting in fold up lawn chairs, that they keep IN their lockers, but the fact that they are having breakfast, drinking coffee and maybe finishing up some last minute homework - OH 21ST CENTURY!!! AND BEST PART - I come back to my office and Mr. Spouse brought me this: What is BETTER than a Starbucks soy vanilla latte and Bison tickets?  NOTHING:) Well at least - not today:)!!! I am STILL compiling things from TIES - I will give you sessions 2-4 today Happy Friday, Mrs. I:)

Here is a QUICK overview of who I went to see and what I learned from my sessions at TIES 2013 .  Now remember - if you want to go and look at ANYTHING that was there - you can actually access almost ALL the sessions by creating an account and then looking at the presenters and their presentation information!  I would HIGHLY.RECOMMEND.IT!    The first session I attend was "Engaging Readers with Technology."  Jennifer Erickson and Sandy Wisneski are teachers and technology learners from Catalyst Charter School; which just opened this fall I believe.  They had SO many great ideas to share about incorporating various sites and projects into their Language Arts Curriculum - here's a brief recap: 1. Use videos to engage students with lessons.  They talked about  Komando Vidoe , which is a site that could be used to model thinking, questioning and connecting.  One could also use these videos right before reading articles or novels to get their m...

  Well - Day 2 is here!  I just want you to see what I see: 3,800 people in attendance that's QUITE a Conference!  AND - look below as these are the sessions we had to choose form EACH and EVERY day: My first session was on Tip & Tricks for the Mac and iPad .  Pete Markham, an Apple Engineer, did a really good job sharing all the new features with iOS 7 and iOS X8 for the Mac.  This site will give you SO many things that you may not have learned!!  The other thing he shared which I am SO SO glad Apple came out with was a TRUE Apple Keyboard Shortcuts !  YES.YES.YES.  You will find this SO useful especially if you are typically not an Apple user.  Look at these AMAZING, GREAT, and INNOVATIVE teachers hard at work!!! YES!  This is pretty much what we looked like after EACH session trying to download ALL we had gained in knowledge and resources before jumping to ANOTHER one to just do the SAME. THING!  However ...

  TIES 2013 - I AM HERE!!  AND - I.AM.OVERWHELMED. ALREADY!!!  WOW - I have only gone to one session and my head already HURTS:)!!  Here I am just about ready to listen to "Steps to Help You Flip Your Classroom,"  and very excited for this one, too!!  We have a social studies teacher, Mr. Krause, who has already flipped his Grade 10 classroom, and one of the English teachers, Mrs. Gross, is actually doing her thesis on flipped classrooms and will be flipping one of her classrooms in the spring - so we are starting to move a little in that direction.  Also, Mrs. Askegaard, a fifth grade teacher, is going to attend some sessions on it as well - so there might be a LOT of FLIPPING. GOING. ON! I will TOTALLY email as the days progress - and then take a moment to reflect and absorb - so I will FOR.SURE. let you know about ALL the dandy and amazing things I find out and learn here! Happy Monday, Mrs. I:)

  One of our math teachers here, Ms. Brown, is getting her Master's Degree in Technology.  For one of her classes she had various assignments.  She was willing to let me blog about them and post here for use if anyone would like them!:) 1. Netiquette - This page was written for young adults in the context of a high school classroom. However, the ideas and guidelines discussed are also applicable for any internet-using adults. 2.  Web Assessibility - This page is intended for undergraduate students studying the basic principles of web design. However, this page would also be appropriate for graduate students or adults of any age that are beginning to learn about web design. 3.  Solving Quadratics - This page was designed for high school students in Algebra 2 who are learning about solving quadratic equations.  4.  Measures of Central Tendency - This jigsaw activity was designed as a cooperative learning experience where you will learn ...

  I have been looking this morning for Language Arts curriculum, especially digitally, since this is up for review this year.  However - as I continue to search I find some AMAZING and ADORABLE idea. 1.  The blog Mrs. Patton's Patch had this great idea: As the kids learn a new app, she puts in on the large iPad so the kids are aware of the ones they CAN go to and the ones they have yet to learn - brilliant:)! 2. CarnazzosClass used Google Earth and the apps Skitch and Scribble Press to create a project on landforms - cool:)!   This classroom also used the app Pic Collage to create a collage on all the ways to make certain numbers.  They took pictures of the pattern blocks and snap cubes they used and then wrote the families - LOVE:)!! 3. Common Sense Media created this cute and basic poster for handling and using the iPad in the lower elementary - so simple but so effective with the pictures to go with it:) 4.The blog Zig-Zagging Through...

  Mr. Schmitt, one of the science teachers, wanted to create a document that kids would be able to interact with.  After looking through some resources and reading online, there are many things to do this with, but everything was an app or download that the kids couldn't do.  We also looked in the Widgets in iBook Author and found it wasn't really what he wanted!  We started thinking and came up with a Pages document.  If you create a document, and float your images, the kids would then be able to open the document in Pages, put the images where they belong, and send to him via Schoology.  Here is what I made as an example:   Now this is SUPER basic - the kids could simple drag the pictures where they belong chronologically in order.  They could also add dates, information about each image, etc...  but the idea being that the kids are the ones interacting and recreating it!!   I will TOTALLY blog about what Mr. Schmitt comes up with ...

    I have been reading about the SAMR Model on various sites and really like Kathy Schrock's.  This whole idea of moving from a strictly substitution model to one of redefinition is something I would LOVE to see in Barnesville.  The transition is coming along, and it's truly not going to happen overnight.  We have done SO many more things this year than last, and I know that next year will be even better than this year.  Each year will continue to show steps in the model.     Looking on the Internet and Pinterest, I came across this model which I LOVE LOVE LOVE, and makes total sense to me!  Plus the fact that I LOVE Starbucks and Caribou coffee - the pictures and names just "stick!" Happy Weekend, Mrs. I:)

   Brochure is finished - CHECK!   iPads are fixed - CHECK!  Learning more and more - CHECK!!! I have been playing and looking on Thinglink and HOLY COW there's a LOT here!  There are SO many great and already created thinglinks that you can access - use the codes for - share with your students - and actually CREATE in the Thinglink App .  Here are some that I have found to be SO great: 1. Explain Everything - I wanted this one in September when I was showing 2nd and 3rd graders how to use the app Explain Everything and what all the icons mean - LOVE IT:)!! 2. iPad App Basics - This is Apps 101 and which ones you might want to start with 3. Digital Citizenship Survival Kit - this is a neat one on all the basic things needed to remember:) 4. Sites for Your Classroom - plethora of information and sites for your classroom! Ok - gotta run for now - there are SO SO many more that I can post! Happy Thursday Night - heading to Michael W. S...

  Sorry I have been SLACKING lately - ugh!!  BUT that might actually mean that things have been going ok here thus far - which is NOT a lie:)!!  Just a few things that have STILL been frustrating: 1. Found out through Apple that ALL our iPads will need to be stripped and reconfigured this summer - YAHOO - SOUNDS LIKE FUN:!(!  The guy I talked to really wasn't sure why - I was telling him about my inability to remove apps without ungrouping them - and he thought that some where along the line with updating - there are some bad files in there; long story short - wipe them!  SO even though I am not THRILLED about this - it's probably a fine thing to do this summer.  With iCloud and Dropbox, the things that kids REALLY want to keep can be sent here! 2. Still have trouble with the Firmware on some iPads - it says that it can't install iOS 7.0.4 because of a firmware that I have to remove - eventually it works - but again - NO CONSISTENCY!!!  Well, not a...

  I JUST discovered these AMAZING apps that Khan Academy is putting out in all their content areas!!! The have GOT. IT. RIGHT.   Khan Academy: Algebra I is an example of one of the MANY S.T.E.M. based apps available on the App Store.  Each app consists of the videos that you can find on their website, but you DO NOT need the Internet to access them - YAHOO:)!!!  That way, the kids have the apps on their iPads (well, actually they are only iPhone and iPod available, which WORKS on the iPad still) and the videos are already embedded in there - WAY TO GO KHAN:)!!!  It does say on there that they will be coming out with an iPad version soon - LOVE THEM:)!!  Here's just a quick snapshot of some of them that they have to offer - but there are TONS:)!!  And ALL. FREE!!!    If I come across anymore, I will surely let you know!!  Happy Thanksgiving break - enjoy your time with family and friend...

    Something new AGAIN - I really should be keeping a journal instead of relying on my brain to remember all that I have learned - GEEZ!  Today - couldn't get sound to come out of an iPad.  When I went to Settings - Sound, I would toggle the bar and sure enough sound would come.  The side button wasn't locked to Mute, only Rotate, and in Settings - Privacy - Microphone - all was turned on that should be and didn't see anything fishy!  However - went to Settings - General - Reset - Reset Location and Privacy - and YES. YES. YES - it's worked:)!!  CRAZY as I never knew this trick before.  It merely rests JUST the Location & Privacy settings back to factory - so whatever the reason why - it works now - THANK YOU:)!     Actually I think I WILL start compiling all this madness in this blog - who knows?  That might be my millions waiting for me:)!!  Probably not - but a gal can dream, right?     On another note,...

   I had mentioned before that I attended a workshop at Lakes Country in Fergus Falls with 4 other teachers from Barnesville.  AMAZING!!  There are SO SO SO many resources out there available for us - open source resource - YES!!  As we begin to consider curriculum for next near in the Language Arts area, the teachers saw GREAT things and thought this possibility of having digital curriculum might work:)! Here is a BRIEF overview of two of the apps that were talked about here: 1. Thinglink is an App and a companion website!  This app and website allow you to create imaginative, interactive images with active links.  You can "hot spot" certain areas and add text, embed a video or picture - SO SO COOL:) 2. Frolyc is the website and Activity Spot the app to go with it.  This one is SUPER GREAT:)!!  LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!  You have to create an account, but once you do - you sign your kids up and the website gives each kid a code to a...

  Each spring, what we do in Barnesville, is pretty much wipe the senior iPads and recycle them down to Kindergarten.  When the school year is done, the Kindergarteners bring their iPads with them to first grade, and so and so.  I was talking with Mrs. Willers yesterday, and she asked if there was ANY way that the Kindergarten teachers could KEEP their iPads and start this recycling process at first grade - TOTALLY. MAKES. SENSE!!!  The Kindergarten teachers have to folder ALL of their iPads as the kids are too little to do this.  This also means they have to put codes in for Schoology , Storia , Dropbox , etc... for EVERY iPad and EVERY account that they have - YIKES!!!  WHAT. A. BRILLIANT. IDEA!  They SHOULD get to keep their iPads as year after year, that would be SO SO time consuming!!  I am going to throw that idea at Mr. Loeslie, our Superintendent, and see what he thinks.     Also, yesterday, four teachers and myself went to...

    A couple of days ago I walked into our teacher's lounge and found this.  Now, our art teacher, Mrs. Albright, who is extremely witty and creative, posted this.  Pretty much sums up my week:)  Have a good laugh, too: Happy Weekend Everyone, Mrs. I:)

  Here are a few more ideas that Mrs. Tonsfeldt has done in class.  My son, Tate, has her in class, so that is why I tend to show many of her ideas:)!  There have been the latest assignments:    Using the Number Pieces , the students had to represent numbers with the pieces and show a subtraction problem.  Some of them were regrouping and others weren't:        This assignment was done using the app Explain Everything .  Students had to take their Halloween candy and sort it different ways.  Each slide in their slideshow showed a different way to sort and categorize their candy.     Educreations was used for this next assignment.  Students needed to show each of the properties of addition recording themselves and using examples to explain it.    Finally, this assignment shows the use of the app Pic Collage to do vocabulary words.  How simple, but yet so effective! I will po...

  I called Apple today because I have been having trouble removing apps.  I had looked in various spots within restrictions and couldn't really pinpoint what was going on.  Once I talked with them, they had me click the box that says "Allow Installation of Apps," which doesn't sound right I know, but it seemed to work as I got the YAHOO battery that means life is successful in Apple Configurator!  Well, thought so, NOT SO!!:(   It DID show that the app was NOT on there as it was unchecked, but when I went to the iPad, it is STILL on there - ugh!!  I am NOT sure what to do.  If I remove the iPad from the group it retains my redemption codes and allows me to prepare it again, but that means that I have to then put all the apps back on.  Now this isn't a problem if it's for a new student as I generally wipe the old iPad anyway, but if I have to remove an app for some reason; it's not working properly, they need the space for other things, etc... I do...

  I am wondering if any other "Configurator"  users are having the same issue that we are here.  When I hook iPads up to Apple Configurator to apply apps, update apps, whatever it might be, it will completely wipe and reapply ALL the apps on certain iPads - WHY?  I really don't understand all the inconsistencies that I am seeing; especially since the iOS 7 update and Apple Configurator update.  Now, I know, we SHOULD NOT have done the update to begin with, but try to tell a 10 year old to just ignore that red push notification on the settings - NOT. GOING. TO. HAPPEN!  For example, this morning I hooked up 28 iPads to do the updates as with a certain profile we were noticing that kids weren't able to access many websites that they needed.  I clicked the SAME thing to do on the ENTIRE batch - yet here ONE iPAD is sitting and reinstalling EVERYTHING.  AND to make it worse, it's an iPad where a paraprofessional has spent COUNTLESS hours creating thin...

  We gained three new students today in our district - YAHOO:)!!  Usually what I would do is hook up an iPad - remove the apps that are not needed for this particular grade and student and put the apps on that are needed - NOT SO!  Look at the message that I got today: Uninstallation of apps is prohibited by a policy on the device - WHAT IS THIS??? I have NEVER seen this and have NO idea what to do!  Apparently after reading a "little" bit, it has something to do with Google and the policies that the developers are setting and using with their apps - OH OH OH!!  Therefore, I have NO option right now as to getting these kids grade level appropriate iPads -UGH!!  I can install the apps needed, but it won't let me uninstall ANY of them- WHAT. TO. DO.????   So for now - here I sit again - not knowing what direction to go - no one has answers - so guess what that means?  I GET to call Apple tomorrow;)!!  UGH. UGH. UGH.  Now, I KNOW they w...

   LOOK AT THESE:)!!!!  Mrs. Parker had her 3rd graders create these in the Pic Collage app ! She had the kids take pictures of each other "posing" in certain ways.  They then imported the pictures into Pic Collage and used the "lasso" tool to cut around their pictures - GENIUS!!!  They are SO. DANG. CUTE!!!  Again - SO creative and the kids LOVE LOVE LOVE it along with me!!  I am LAUGHING. OUT. LOUD. here - look at those darlings diving into the leaves - priceless!!! Another great idea with the iPads:)  Happy Friday - anyone else feeling the effects of all the dang candy eaten:) Mrs. I:-)

  I DID IT!!  Well, I actually found HOW to do it thanks to Apple blogs and posts complaining!  Not sure if you remember - but when the iOS 7 update came out, and I would go into iTunes and update apps and import the updates into Configurator, is was making paid apps free.  Couldn't understand why?  The area where is shows how many redemption codes you have left actually said FREE - weird!  Even when I would put in on a student's iPad; let's say a new student coming into the district, it worked!  I didn't call Apple on it as I figured it was something that would just work once the next update came around, but nothing.  There WAS another Apple Configurator update this morning, so I ran it thinking that it has GOT to fix this issue - NOPE!!  So, I went to trusty Google and searched. Simply by deleting the app and adding it back INTO Configurator gave me back the redemption codes - YES!!  Now, one would think WHY IN THE WORLD ...

   Today was BY FAR one of the BEST days as far as successes since iOS 7 updates!  Remember a while back I talked about those silly K-2 iPads that I could do NOTHING with because of the Find my iPhone turned on on them - well Casey was going to call Apple.  However, he figured NOPE not going to do it - going to FIGURE. IT. OUT. MYSELF!  Which he DID:)!!  YAHOO CASEY!!  HE was able to put the iPads into recovery mode and bypass the iCloud situation that we had going on - YES YES YES!!  By simply holding down both the home button and power button - letting the screen go black - plug the iPad into Configurator - and then holding down the home button until you get that "plug into iTunes" picture on the iPad - which puts it into recovery mode - we were able to THEN proceed!!  Now, I didn't have to do it to MANY of them - maybe like 10 or so - but it worked none the less - THANK YOU!!!  So, the day consisted of working in Ms. Brown's room this...

   Wow!  There seems to be an overwhelming amount to be done this week - and NOT because it's Halloween and I have "HOME" things to do too:)!!  We plan on heading to the elementary school tomorrow to finish the update on the Kindergarten-2nd grade.  We grabbed an iPad from Mrs. Justesen's room last week as it needed an app on it to "try" this, and went perfect!  Hopefully that is how it will go with the others that have to be done.  I also get to (YAHOO) go into Ms. Brown's 2nd Grade classroom and teach the the app Explain Everything.  Not only do I LOVE this app, I LOVE doing this - YES YES YES:)!!  I miss those little kiddos SO much, so I love the opportunity, when invited, to go into classrooms and help out!  Updates should take a few days - which means MASS CHAOS at the high school as both Casey and I are at the elementary school, so I will have to jump back and forth a few times to see if there are needs at the high school during th...

  All went well yesterday after we had done the Apple Configurator update - here were a few that we had to put into recovery mode, etc... which wasn't GREAT- but worked alright.  Students had to put in email address again as well as Schoology, no big deal.  Some lost their camera roll pictures - not the TOTAL end of the world.  But TODAY - 5 kids have LOST EVERYTHING!!! UGH!!  I don't do ANYTHING different with these iPads that I don't do with the others that have worked fine - so WHY?????????????  A senior girl and a freshman boy lost EVERYTHING!  It COMPLETELY WIPED their iPads and reinstalled ALL again - WHY???????????  I want to call Apple but I am TOO MAD to call as I wouldn't be anything tactful at all - so I sit and ponder what it might be - maybe I should use another word than Ponder, I guess they're throwing him back in next week, huh??:):)  I just don't know what to do.  AND the part that gets me the MOST is Apple KNOWS that sc...

  So - yesterday I sat with ONE simple iPad trying to get it to work with Configurator - to NO AVAIL of course;(!!!  Then - I walk into my work space at the elementary and see Casey sitting with the iPad and rolling just like it should be!  I was NOT HAPPY!!!!  However - he mentioned that there was an Apple Configurator update - YES YES YES - THANK YOU APPLE:)!!  Now - we are still having issues with SOME things, for instance you still have to remove the Find My iPhone passwords on individual accounts - but the first grade one I did was PERFECT!!!  We were able to plug through third grade and stragglers in less than a half day - YES!!  That means we will be able to go to the high school and catch 6th grade this afternoon, and next Monday and Tuesday grades K-2 - THEN DONE!! Now, the update didn't catch all - but many things it did - so THANK YOU ApPLe for Today:)! Happy Wednesday, Mrs. I:)

    Casey and I are at the elementary school today doing updates for the grades 3-5. So far, all has been going well.  Done with 4th grade, 1/2 of 5th and hopefully will get done with the rest of 5th and 3rd this afternoon - YES!!  But - we have STILL not solved the issue with K-2 - who knows!!:(    However - a little humor for you today!  A teacher talked to me about a student needing a new cord, so could I please get her one.  "Sure," I said, "No problem!"  Here is what was in my box:   Again, I have to LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH!!!  There is NO way that I am going to give this child another cord.  I told the teacher that they would have to pay the $25 replacement fee as this is NOT an Apple defective cord- and the mother said that she would just take it back and try to fix it - OH:)!!! Day by Day folks - Laugh it up when you can - which TRULY is MOST DAYS LATELY:)!! Happy Tuesday, Mrs. I:)

  If you have never heard of "Livebinder," you HAVE to start looking at these.  They are like a "binder" full of resources for various content areas.  Just about anything you would EVER want to know about you can find here.  Here is one called iPads in Schools .  Now, if you look at the top of this link - you are given MORE binders to explore in this area - SUPER COOL!! Have fun searching and looking - Happy Monday Night- Mrs. I:)

  There was a 2nd grade student here who forgot her pass code.  Now, normally they aren't supposed to have a pass code, but no big deal I guess - hook it up to configurator and apply which simply updates apps and wipes the code off - NOT SO!!!!!  This is one of those younger grade iPads where we manually put in an "iCloud" account that is made for lower elementary in case it was needed.  We didn't merge ANYTHING and turned off EVERYTHING except Find My iPhone.  However, with the new Apple Configurator update, it WILL NOT allow you to bypass this.  So, I put the password in - which I KNOW is the right one - and it tells me that you can't deregister this device - UGH!!  So I tried the "let's unsupervise this device without losing apps codes" - when the iPad is connected - right click, hold down the command button and the "Remove" option will appear.  When you do this - it WILL give you your codes BACK and then it will unsupervise it automatic...

       I was coincidentally in Mr. Haj's 3rd Grade classroom helping a student with Schoology and LOOK WHAT I SAW:)!!!.......      Now as the techy nerd that I am my heart pitter pattered:)!!  Not ONLY was he using the iPad for students to be in  Educreations or  ShowMe , he also was playing a Jeopardy game he created on the Smartboard - OH 21ST CENTURY LEARNING AT IT'S FINEST:)!!!  I JUST had to snap pictures and show you what I was seeing - LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT:)!!     THEN I walked out his door and saw these.........  The 3rd graders just finished reading the book Chocolate Fever , so after they were done they came up with a "fever" that one might get.  Some students used simply a picture and put on paper, others used the Pic Collage app to create a person with this "fever."  I'm DYING here - LOVE THEM!!  They physically made me LAUGH OUT LOUD:)!!!  Oh.....

  The case that we have on our iPads here is the Griffin Survivor !  Now, Casey did research to find out WHICH case would be the best one - and help beat the odds of cracking screens!  Overall - the performance level of this case has been outstanding!  Today's story is CASE IN POINT!!!   An elementary school student lost her iPad.   I received a phone call on Friday that it was no where to be found.  I said, "Why don't you look for it over the weekend and retrace your steps.  If you don't have it on Monday, then we'll get you a new one for the time being as they usually show up:)!!"  She came back to school today without an iPad.  Her teacher called me to say that they had no luck finding it, but that her number was such and such.  I looked it up on My iCloud and saw that it was offline so was unable to locate it.  HOWEVER - the secretary at the elementary school received a phone call from a gentleman saying that he foun...

  One more road block for us to overcome.  The plan was to come to the elementary school and update iPads as many of the apps aren't working write or working at ALL as they need the new version.  So here we are - Casey brought everything over and started hooking that I up, I ran down to 2nd grade and grabbed two classroom's worth of iPads.  We hook them up and the yellow triangle of death appears!  I think - huh - something simple - and it was supposed to be.  Not sure if you know this, but when you put iCloud on your iPad, you have to remove it in order to work with configurator - not sure why as you didn't have to BEFORE the update, but whatever - simply put the password in and all is fine - NOT SO!!!  We put in the password and it says you can't deregister this device - which basically means we can't do ANYTHING to it - AND the worst part - the App Store appears on it so that gives the student open access - UGH!!  So right now - there are about...

  I can't win!!!  Just when I think I have it figured out - NOPE!!!  MANY  MANY MANY apps are not working now because why? YOU GOT IT - iOS 7!!!  Therefore - now I am having problems with kids that did NOT do the update!  Each day I check for updates and try to keep Configurator up to date since this madness began.  However, the problem now is that some of the updates won't run on the OLDER version of iOS because it says it too low a version - GIVE ME A BREAK HERE!!  Therefore, I am now having ALL students do the update to accommodate this; at home of course otherwise our network will suffer drastically!!!  We'll see how that goes.    THEREFORE - tomorrow I get to go BACK to the elementary school to hook up all iPads again and update everything - the big ones of course for us are  STAR and Schoology !  So yes, it needs to be done!  Now - we COULD buy a program like Casper which allows you to wirelessly push apps an...

   I came back from the MAASFEP Conference and YES IT WORKED!!  The iPad that I restored FINALLY took - kept the redemption codes - and can now use as another iPad if the need arises - YAHOO:)!!!  The ONE trick that I found out today was if you are in Configurator - and an iPad is NOT responding like I was having problems - you can remove it from your GROUP and then it gives you back ALL your redemption codes!!  If you simply right click on the iPad, push the command button, you will be given the option to Remove from Group - click and it WILL remove it, which will make you have to prepare it again, but it will also give you back the codes from that iPad for paid apps!!  YES YES YES!!  Although it's a PAIN, yes, it works for a LAST RESORT deal!!!  Now, the kids lost EVERYTHING on those iPads - but at last is able to be set up again and used for another student.  WHEW!!!    The MAASFEP Conference was really great!  Not only di...

   OH APPLE:)!!!  How can I talk poorly about the beloved company that I have ADORED for YEARS!!  However - I have NEVER been on the iPad Integrationist side before last year - so perspectives CHANGE!  I DO DO DO still love my beloved Apple, don't get me wrong here, but OH OH OH the frustrations with iOS 7!       I am not sure if you read about the two iPads that were killing me the last two weeks - FINALLY after an hour and 45 minutes with an Apple consultant - we were able to SAVE the app redemption codes and WIPE the iPads clear - we'll at least I THINK that's what happened as I left in mid process as I thought I might be having a mental breakdown!!!  However, as usual, I learned some new things (I'm thinking TONS OF PATIENCE here), and the iPads are now USABLE again - WHEW:)!!    It is ALWAYS nice to hear that I didn't do anything wrong, either, as clearly they had to elevate me to three different Apple reps before t...

  So - I decided to ease myself of the STRESS of getting these two darlings their iPads back and just went ahead and gave them two NEW ones on LOAN:)!!  The stress level has lessened SIGNIFICANTLY!!!  Again - because I am a "fixer" of EVERY life problem, this bothered me to NO end!  Even though the issue isn't FIXED COMPLETELY - temporarily it is and I know that those students can at least access their stuff!  However, after lunch I will make the dreaded call to Apple and get connected through a chain of staff members until someone can actually help me - ok a little facetious!!  Apple isn't THAT BAD and YES they do solve the issues - just hate sitting on the phone and admitting that I can't solve it - UGH!!!  And moreover, I won't get an explanation as to WHY they are doing what they are doing - even worse!!!     On a lighter note - Internet is going great, iPads are rolling and working, and Schoology is still something that I would rec...

   UGH! UGH! UGH!  I now have TWO students that have been without their iPads for TWO DAYS:(!!  UGH!!  Now - this may not SEEM like a big deal - but the kids and teachers alike depend on these, so when they don't have them, it's a PAIN FOR ALL!!!  I feel SO bad - but can't do anything about it as Casey tried what Apple told him to do and FAILURE!!!  Therefore, back on the phone with them tomorrow and see what they have to say!!  YIKES - again ALL related to the DREADED iOS 7 update - sigh....      Now, in all actuality - it's not NEARLY as bad as I say!  I, however, am a "problem solver," and when that doesn't happen I feel QUITE dissatisfied!! Casey and I will figure it out eventually, but time is of essence when those two kiddos don't have them - hate it!!!  Here's hoping that Apple has the answers - Happy Night, Mrs. I:)

    Well well well - where do I even begin?  How about - NOT sure I'm a fan of iOS7!!!!  Since that update came out - nothing but TROUBLE TROUBLE TROUBLE in Configurator Land:(!!  Lots of things happened - quick recap!     Students were coming in last week saying that they couldn't access this or that, and they needed this app for this elective class - so I simply did what I do; hooked up the iPad, chose the app needed, and usually works perfectly - NOPE!!  For whatever reason (and I KNOW it's because of the update as ALL had done the update), their iPads wouldn't work with the iTunes I had.  However - I had done the same thing with OTHER iPads that were updated and it worked fine - why not these 5?? So here's what I found out...... 1.  The updated iOS7 likes to work with the updated iTunes - which we didn't have in Configurator yet, therefore we had to update that - but it wouldn't..... 2.  We couldn't update iTunes bec...

   So, I have been TOTALLY talking up and saying CHECK APPS GONE FREE DAILY:)!!  Which - YES - I would still encourage all to do this - however - here's what we're finding out: 1. Some developers put a certain "time frame" for the app to be free 2.  Once I did the update on some of these apps - they all of a sudden want REDEMPTION CODES and won't let us have them anymore!!  THEY ARE GONE!! 3.  However - they stay on the iPads that HAVE them right now - but once removed, I am afraid that we are going to LOSE them and have to actually PAY for them:( Makes sense, but frustrated as we had them for free and now we won't next year.  Also a little strange, as I can download that SAME app on my own iPad, do the update, and it doesn't make me pay!  However, there must be a code or something tied to it that KNOWS that Configurator is a "multi" user distributor - SHUCKS!!! That's all for today - have been updating iPads at the elementary as th...

   I think back to last year at this time and CAN NOT believe how easy this year's transition has been.  I know that the internet working is a HUGE part of it - but our teachers have TRULY embraced all that have been on their plates and they are just RUNNING WITH IT:)!!  They really have been TRULY AMAZING - Keep It Up!    Here's to a FANTASTIC weekend and time with friends and family!  We are lucky to say that we "teach!"  Check out the video below for some fun: Also - a great app today on Apps Gone Free - called Writing Wizard !  SO SO SO CUTE and appropriate for PreK-1 working on writing letters;)!!  I will write about Apps Gone Free next week - we have had a few issues - BUMMER!!   Happy day!! Happy Weekend all - Keep Being AMAZING:)! Mrs. I:)

Hey - sorry it's been a week - but WOW WHAT A WEEK:)!!!  Here are the highlights of what has been happening Year 2 1:1 Initiative and Week 1: 1. ALL students and teachers are now up and running with Schoology, emails, and iPads 2. MOST elective classes have all their apps on - a few sections left, but most are finished 3. Students have been checking and submitting things DAILY into Dropbox for Schoology 4. Internet has been GREAT - a little glitchy at TIMES throughout a few of the days - but SO SO SO much better than where we were at last year 5. Groups have been starting to be created in Schoology - and I have successfully (just today) created a "schoolwide" group for announcements, polling for Student Council, and other types of announcements and notifications that need to go out 6. LOTS of questions - but most I had answers for 7. Teachers are submitting lessons plans on Schoology 8. Most parents have signed up to follow their student's progress 9. New st...

   HERE WE GO - YEAR 2!!!:)  I can NOT believe how much smoother things have gone so far this year - from iPad distribution to the uploading of apps onto the iPads - WOW:)!!  SO much easier having a year under our belts!!  I KNOW that there will be things that we run into - but I just can't believe all that we have learned in the process.      Schoology is going to be our BIGGEST challenge this year.  Learning it - uploading files to it - getting kids used to it - etc.. but again, once it's learned and the process begins - I can not WAIT to see the amazing things that everyone will be doing once again - unbelievable!  I have already seen SO many great things that teachers are doing - they really do AMAZE and INSPIRE me each and every day to work hard for THEM to make THEIR jobs easier!!  I truly am BLESSED beyond belief! Happy First Day everyone - Mrs. I:)

   Well - another day almost in the books. OK let's be realistic - I will be back after supper, but at least for now I have 8th-12th DONE and the first batch of 7th - YAHOO:)!!!  Here is a shot of a few more DARLINGS that came in to help - YES YES YES:)!!! AND we had some AMAZING teacher come in and play with Schoology!!  YES YES YES - we are SO learning this all together - but it's getting easier EACH and EVERY time that we use it:)!!  LOVE THAT!!  Here we are working:  Everyone is doing SUCH am AMAZING job with this - I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!   The iPads were one thing - and YES we are STILL learning here, too - but this is quite another thought process as the way of doing things and correcting and collecting really is changing again!  Luckily we have the BEST teachers that "JUST KEEP SWIMMING" when things arise for them to learn and embrace:-)!! Feeling Lucky FOR SURE with the staff and individuals that I get to work with...