iPaddiction

Episode 6 Organizing Google Docs

2012-02-23T06:21:00.000-06:00

Digital Citizenship For The Entire 8th Grade

2012-02-23T05:59:00.001-06:00

As our school implements more and more digital devices, we took an afternoon to explain everything about rights and responsibilities of using technology.

We know that it is an ongoing process each day to teach proper digital citizenship, but this was a good starting point for students outside of our house setting.

The presentation below was our guide.

Google Form To Enhance Learning Through Video

2012-02-22T12:27:00.001-06:00

In my Wall Street class, students learn many aspects of business. Today we watched two videos. One on a company's CEO that looks to candidates who have overcome adversity.

Another video was by a YouTube boss who looks for candidates who have more to offer than just what's on paper.

As students watched these short videos, a Google Form was completed by them. Google forms are great technology tools to engage all learners. Each students must provide their own voice, and they can not hide in a notebook.

Our students are active in this process as seen below...

Shirtee App & Google Forms Sets Math Problem

2012-02-21T20:54:00.001-06:00

The students experienced this blog post without any further instruction.
A response in the form of a Google Form was asked of the students.

The initial problem in our book was modified and presented to the students with this post.

As always, I find the concepts that problems are embracing and try to find an app or web resource that enhances the concept. The Shirtee app served our purpose.

Students then posted their t-shirt design to their blog.

We will continue with the problem during our next math time!

Students Finally Can Get A Cell Phone

2012-02-21T20:07:00.003-06:00

As I try to challenge students more in developing mathematical thinking. Basically trying to follow some advice from Dan Meyer! I went about a problem that was presented in our textbook, which of course, laid out the entire problem for them, in a slightly different way.

My plan presented them with this blog post and nothing more!

Students really struggled with the question of what to do. Some even displayed their frustration through loud speaking!

I don't get this!
What are we suppose to do!
Where's the math in this!

Eventually, a student realized they need to research plans to see what the most cost efficient plan would be based on minutes.

After the initial fury of questions and debates, I presented the students with another Dan Meyer tactic. A very small piece of the problem.

Finally, students started to use resources that seemed to fit the task. The Graphing Calc app was used by this student to compare different plans that were presented in the problem on our blog. I really liked how this student explained the reason why he was using the app.

As a bonus, I was able to utilize my new podium placement with a student immediately placing their graph so all of the students could see. I really like this podium placement as it is centrally located. I also have another mirror connection cable so that students in the front of the class can quickly display their iPad screens.

DrawPad for iPad

2012-02-21T09:40:00.001-06:00

I always celebrate it as a win when students choose an app that best fits their educational need. Especially, if I don't help them. This girl explains how the DrawPad Pro for iPad fits her needs and why she is using it for her debate!

Whiteboard Work Areas

2012-02-21T09:36:00.001-06:00

Due our remodeling (so to speak), we have new whiteboard work areas! Perfect for group work or individual instruction!

QR Code After Remodel

2012-02-21T07:38:00.000-06:00

After I remodel the room slightly, students reacted via a QR code's question.

This Is How We Do It!

2012-02-20T19:23:00.003-06:00

Today our school district created a professional development day that was conducted entirely in house. Twenty-six different staff members developed a lesson for staff that was based on something they feel passionate about relating to technology.

Our idea was to teach staff how we would teach students. Conducting a lesson plan complete with integrating technology while learning content. Our content needed to be fun. We chose bathroom etiquette. It was well received.

Our entire lesson was really a Lesson About Nothing. (We created a blog specifically for all the resources that we used, and the Simple Mind creations of the teachers) However, we incorporated a number of tech tools.

iPads
Blogger
Google Forms
YouTube Videos
QR codes
Simple Mind App
Quizlet (which works wonderfully on an iPad)
Creation Apps

Non tech tools included an introduction to our collaborative white board areas.

Teachers laughed, struggled, and engaged their way through the lesson and discovered the possibilities of truly integrating technology into a classroom setting.

READ ABOUT WHAT OUR TEACHERS LEARNED TODAY

Graphing Calculator & Blogging

2012-02-19T17:23:00.001-06:00

Classroom Remodeling 2-17-12

2012-02-17T15:21:00.001-06:00

iPad Camera & BYOD Perfect Tool For Self Assessment

2012-02-16T23:11:00.003-06:00

Our students are preparing for a debate with a partner against another two students from our class. Today we created an itinerary for the afternoon block. As part of this, students needed to filming their partner talking about the section they must present on Tuesday.

Advantages of using iPad camera (compared to other device) for video assessment and prep!

Ease of use
Large screen for viewing
Front and rear facing camera
Instant clear access to video for review

Advantages of using BYOD camera's for video assessment and prep!

Students can still use iPad for viewing notes
Have video on device for use and practice at home
Students were able to blog (see last video) while other student has iPad

Words spoken after reviewing (blogging) about their video and speaking presence on camera!

I move a lot
I need to look at the camera
I need to talk slower
I need to know the material better

Words of reflection can create actions of change!

See how we did it!

Notes (PaperPort Notes) Speech To Text

2012-02-16T22:57:00.000-06:00

A student found a great feature in this app!

Student demonstrates how to create a speech to text option!

Simple Mind App for Organizing Debate Topic

2012-02-15T13:36:00.000-06:00

As students develop debate topics with facts and research, we had them organize with the help of the Simple Mind App. See Teacher's Example

Integrating Technology, Group Work, Individual Work

2012-02-15T12:08:00.000-06:00

Once again, implementing tech at the right time is crucial. Today our lesson was displayed in depth for the students to follow.

Items In Today's Lesson:

Group Work
Individual Work
Google Forms (for submitting homework scores)
Contextual Problems
Drill & Practice
Choice
Web 2.0 - GoSoapBox.com
Graphing Calculator
Blogging

See It:

Google Search Slightly Different on an iPad

2012-02-15T07:23:00.000-06:00

Created a resource for students on Google Search Tips and Tricks. I discovered that the searching is a slightly different look on the iPad.

See The Entire Blog Post For Students

View the Screen Shots (used Skitch)

Student Blog Reflection Before Quiz

2012-02-14T11:32:00.000-06:00

Students are able to quickly reflect on topics that will be presented to them in a quiz through blogger. Before iPads, I would have never taken ten minutes for students to reflect and process quiz topics.

Benefits of Reflection:

Processing Skills
Students must explain the processes
Teachers can review "what the students know" prior to the quiz
World Wide Web always brings out the best in students as they know it will be available to everyone
Time is really not a factor, and I believe that in the end, overall knowledge of concepts is retained longer

See How We Blog:

Students really start to use different tools to enhance their blog post with multimedia documents!

DEBATE? Google Groups Perfect Tool

2012-02-14T05:39:00.001-06:00

As we continue to combine communication arts and social studies this year, a perfect marriage of the two contents comes in the form of debate and the U.S. Constitution. We are setting up the great debate that is the writing of the Constitution by displaying proper debating techniques and discussing debate topics.

With this comes the opportunity to debate topics that are really not social studies related, but definitely topics that students can proclaim yes or no.

In order to "give every student a voice", I decided to try Google Groups. I chose Groups because

it was a closed, invite only forum that would allow our students to state their opinion without the entire world knowing.
a thread, reply type flow of conversation exists
we are a GAFE
students didn't need to set up another account with another web service
worked very smoothly on iPads

The Set Up:

Create Your Group - keep private
Invite members of class - used emails from contacts
Edit my membership - all students should do this because they can read it on the web

View videos of Google Groups in action:

Conclusion:
We did openly talk about the different responses that students had by displaying the threads of responses on the SMARTboard.

Overall, Google Groups was a great tool for debating topics, worked well on the iPad, and engaged all students with a voice!

Blog Post As Assessment

2012-02-13T10:54:00.000-06:00

I have recently been focused on students writing more complete blog posts. Our second installment of this took place today. See what the students saw, and view the action.

What this does for understanding:

Students must provide individual voice
Students must explain what they have discovered
Students review the process
Students must formulate the "whys" to the math concept

Why I like blogging:

Easy using blogger app
Allows for media to be added to the blog post
iPad camera certainly provides an "open window" to multimedia
the blogging "time stamp" creates a natural deadline. I think students need to become aware of deadlines and how to adjust to them. Almost all business and college settings require a task that needs to be completed by a certain time.

iPads (or any digital device) really do allow us formulate our discoveries in to our own language. I encourage all teachers to take moments to reflect on topics that are being discovered in your classrooms.

American Revolutionary War Experiential Learning

2012-02-13T09:52:00.000-06:00

As you know, we are about using iPads and experiencing learning. Below is our final product of scripts, students filming the events from different angles, and FUN!

Who wouldn't want to be involved in this type of discovery!

Big thanks to the teachers and students of the Endeavor House for the creation!

Student Blogging Allows For Personalized Understanding

2012-02-10T11:03:00.000-06:00

I can't emphasize enough how blogging has positively affected my students' understanding of concepts. After some small instruction, students are so efficient at blogging about concepts that we can complete great blog posts in minutes.

It has taken some time (about 5 months), but students really can blog quickly!

For me it proves that digital devices can't be in a lab. They have to be with students, a part of students, an extension of students. Having them accessible all the time, allows for efficient reflection and creation!

iPad For Rubric Evaluations!

2012-02-10T09:17:00.000-06:00

I have found a way that allows me to be quite efficient in grading blog posts. I use a laptop to view the blog posts and my iPad along with a Google form to complete the rubric. View the images below to see iPad screen shots of the process. In the screen shots I am using the Google app.

*note: I created the Google form on a laptop prior to using it on an iPad.
*note: I used Skitch to create the screen shots below - great app!

Episode 5 Lesson Plans in Google Calendar

2012-02-09T06:10:00.001-06:00

Commemorative Stamp Created Through Pic Collage App

2012-02-08T14:51:00.001-06:00

Students were instructed to follow these directions. To formally assess the students on their knowledge of events during the American Revolutionary War, students used the Pic Collage app and Blogger to demonstrate their knowledge.

A student's final production!

How Ant Smasher App Fit Into Elimination Method

2012-02-08T12:13:00.001-06:00

One More Time: Integrating a tech tool at the appropriate time is THE single most important concept teachers need to understand when using tech tools in their classroom.

Today was a prime example.

I introduced the Elimination Method in a Direct Instruction setting. After showing one problem, I asked the students to find the Ant Smasher App (FREE) on their iPad. I did not instruct them in any way, but told them to play.

Screams, Shrills, Excitement (especially when bugs multiplied) Commenced!

After 3-4 minutes of smashing ants, I asked this...

The students then proceeded to their groups to work on similar problems.

As always, I find a concept and attach any app, website, video, or anything else that connects life moments to mathematical content.

Setting The Message In (Virtual) Stone

2012-02-08T05:57:00.000-06:00

While I am impartial to iPads, I realize that many digital devices will make my following point! Having verbal guidance from a teacher is one thing (an effective thing), having visually appealing pictures, written language, or video substance can make or break a student's ability to succeed.

Since we have iPads and every student has digital access during school AND after school, I decided to place all three lessons (Algebra, PreAlgebra, Social Studies) in written form and visual form on our classroom blog. I am finding that many students struggle with following directions! In the past, students may only hear the instructions while in class or receive the instructions on paper (but subsequently lose the paper). Placing instructions on the web, allows for the content to be relatively "written in stone".

Digital Tools Used By Instructor OR Students During The Three Lessons

Camtasia Could also use Screencast-o-matic or Screenr
Whiteboard App
Educreations
YouTube
Blogger
Skitch App
Google Docs (great tool to publish documents to web)
Laptop (Windows)
iPads

Without a digital device, iPads!, this would not be possible.

Become a student and see what they saw, read what they read, and view what they viewed.

Algebra

PreAlgebra

Social Studies

iPad Camera & YouTube Becomes Great Tool For Sharing Revolutionary War

2012-02-06T20:56:00.001-06:00

The iPad camera integrated with our YouTube channel has TRULY been an integral digital tool in our learning environment. We have been all about "telling the story" of U.S. history. Over the last two days, our students have acted out major events from the Revolutionary War. We used a script written in Google Docs and shared on the iPad as our play script along with numerous camera persons to capture the story and discover the learning.

If I didn't have the amazingly quick video upload to YouTube option on the iPad, I would never be able to keep up with shooting video and uploading it so that others (students) can view it!

Another positive is that when all of the video is compiled into a playlist, the story is told and students can refer back to it for studying purposes.

Overall, the iPad camera and quick uploading capabilities has been nothing short of fantastic!

Educreations For Assessment

2012-02-06T12:08:00.001-06:00

Once again I am amazed at how well students can perform on a homework assessment, but when asked to explain the process for solving a problem, they struggle.

The Situation: WHAT THE STUDENTS WERE INSTRUCTED TO CREATE

We finally found something that will work for us. We created an account that all students can use to upload their content. We now have all of our student Educreations located in one area on the web. Each student's creation has an web URL so that it can be shared via email by the instructor after evaluating. Students will then place the link on their professional blog.

This really opens some doors for us as we have tried to enhance student's understanding of apps that we previously used. Students will now be able to share their creations and, hopefully, get better at using this app.

Using YouTube To Supplement Lesson

2012-02-02T12:14:00.000-06:00

Implement Correct App At Correct Time

2012-02-02T12:10:00.001-06:00

Placing a tech tool in the hands of the students AT THE CORRECT TIME is the key component to integrating technology. I believe we did that today! Factor Samurai is the app.

Experiential Learning The Battle of Lexington & Concord

2012-02-02T06:44:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was a great example of how our house, with smaller student numbers and a flexible schedule, can use technology and experiential learning.

Facts:

We used a script that WASN'T printed on paper to hand out. We placed the script of each battle in Google Docs and then posted it to our website. We had enough iPads for most students to view.
iPads allowed for us to be mobile. If we would have had netbooks or laptops they would have been extremely clumsy
Different students were filmers of each battle. The iPad was very mobile and easy to use.
We had three different camera people so as to have three different angles. It is amazing to see how much additional action a person sees from different angles.
Students will use Reel Director to create a finished movie project.
Students handled the iPads with care. Nothing negative happened.
Our schedule allows for us to have 1:20 to 2:58 for 8th and 9th hour. We do not need to adhere to the bell which allows for an extended session of discovery.
The thought of moving and experiencing learning provides so many positive comments from students.

"I understand this because we actually did it.
"Is the class period over already?" My Favorite
Can I be a filmer?
Can I be George Washington?

Even though 8th graders "ACT COOL" they love learning like this.

See how we did it.

Battle of Lexington & Concord:

The Reading of The Declaration of Independence

Battle of Bunker Hill

Episode 4 YouTube Playlists

2012-02-02T04:12:00.001-06:00

How YouTube is Transforming the Educational World

YouTube For Schools

Video After Assessment Ensures Continued Learning

2012-02-01T12:16:00.000-06:00

In the past I have often struggled with students who do not complete the assessment while others complete it. I have found that creating a video cast of the next day's lesson ensures that learning can continue. If students don't get done with the test during the class time, the instruction is available online. If students are done with the test, they get individual instruction so that their learning can continue.

Important:

The video needs to be less than 10 minutes long.
Don't complete ALL problems.
Require students to STOP the video often and complete problems.
Use a screen recorder, options include Screencast-O-Matic, Screenr, I use CamTasia
Post to YouTube or Vimeo

See How We Did It:

Google Maps Allows For Us To View Battles

2012-02-01T10:06:00.001-06:00

Reflection Just Before Assessment

2012-02-01T10:05:00.001-06:00

Matching Activity With Book & iPad

2012-02-01T10:04:00.001-06:00

Draw Venn for iPad

2012-01-31T06:08:00.001-06:00

In every classroom setting, I always start with the educational content that students need to discover and build tech tools around that. At 8:00 am yesterday, I knew we were going to discuss the two different major armies in the American Revolutionary War. With that came us describing each advantage that the armies had while fighting. This led to some differences that they had as well.

This brought me to the thought that a Venn Diagram would the perfect tool. Prior to iPads, I would have had students draw two big circles on their papers. Black and White with some Blue horizontal lines running through them. This would get the job done, but really allows for little creativity. It also allows for students to hide in their notebook.

As always, there must be an app for that! This brings me to Draw Venn for iPad. A well designed app that is visually appealing. I found it by simply searching with Google: "Venn Diagram iTunes App" Whenever I use iTunes app it simply searches the links from iTunes and usually nets plenty of choices!

When introducing an app for the first time, I show VERY minimal features of the app. Simple navigation is the only features shown. Below are the quick items I displayed for students!

Initial Explanation of App

The Features That Create The Circles

Changing Fonts and Colors of Text

Color of Venn Diagrams Matter

Creating Picture as Watermark Background on Venn Diagram

Saving A Document
Saves venn diagrams directly in the app! No Cloud Needed. This allows for multiple users on the device to be able individually have a creation without disrupting another's work! Big Bonus!

We will be posting these creations to our students' professional blogs.
Overall, this app rocks and could be used for MANY curricular areas. Always a bonus when spending money!

Career Day - iPad Apps In Use!

2012-01-27T14:02:00.002-06:00

As our career day rolled on, students started to ask if they could use the iPad for creation of a game that the presenters originally wanted on paper.

Apps that students used: Whiteboard App, Photo Editing, Animation HD

GREAT COMMENT:
Presenters said, "Now we can tell our bosses that we need iPads to do our job!"

See how the students did it!

Student - Led Conferences Night 2

2012-01-26T21:49:00.003-06:00

This night was really highlighted when a dad of one of our students placed his son's professional blog on his smart phone. To top things off, his dad placed a notification so that every time his son posts on his blog, his dad will be notified.

Connection. Communication. Engaged.

See the son's reaction!

Another great win went like this: (apologize that I don't have video)
Two parents of our our students have not allowed their children to use Twitter. One of those parents attended conferences tonight. As his daughter was talking through the agenda for the night, he waved me over and asked about Twitter.

I explained to him ways that we use Twitter in the classroom:

Our MVP - most valuable point from a day's lesson
Anything that interests the students should be posted to the world
We created a Twitter Timeline of events from the Road to the Revolution
Another way to ask questions of students and teachers

I also explained to him that we teach students how to be professional while using social media and not banning it. Just as we don't ban students at 16 from using the car, but teach them how to drive. We do the same with technology.

After the explanation, he looked at me and said, "Sign her up tomorrow!"

Win. Win. Win. Both for me and the smile that was brought to the student's face!

Collaborative Groups, Team Tests, & Google Forms,

2012-01-26T14:04:00.000-06:00

Today we completed our team test which is an activity that allows students to work through math problems that resemble questions they will see on their individual test. We changed it slightly today to incorporate the "Let the Internet Grade Your Assessment" See how it works:

Positives:

Students really discuss questions, processes, and answers
The Google form and corresponding spreadsheet provides valuable data to direct teaching and learning prior to moving on.
Allowed me to really focus on the concepts that students needed reteaching prior to moving on

Negatives:

I tried to create the Google form with more fill in the blank and less multiple choice answers. This was a HUGE negative. Even with specific directions on each question, students did not follow them.
Once answers are inputted incorrectly, it is very challenging to change them on the form (I haven't found an easy way)
Today, it required me to correct them the old fashion way. Not the time saver that has happened in the past

Final Thoughts:

Concept Good
Must get students to understand importance of following directions
Will try again!

Tech Tool Tip Episode #3: Change That Password!

2012-01-26T06:13:00.001-06:00

Thanks to a great poster created by the Daring Librarian, changing passwords is today's episode!
No matter how painful it may seem, change your passwords!!!

Get The Poster In The Video

American Revolution Interactive Timeline

2012-01-25T13:58:00.003-06:00

The American Revolution Interactive Timeline App is a great find for front loading the students with information about the American Revolution. I decided that the best tool for recording the information from the timeline was going to be paper. Yes, paper. I didn't want students working back and forth between apps today because the timeline is so well designed and streamlined that I wanted the students to "stay in the war" so to speak.

Student Explains the App

Amazing Detail!!!

We also allowed for a back channel of "Hey, I found this" on Twitter.

Student-Led Conferences: Parents & Students Engaged!

2012-01-24T21:03:00.000-06:00

Day 1 of Student-Led Conferences is in the books

This was probably the best student-led conferences that I have experienced.

Why?

The parents and students were engaged because the students really knew how to maneuver the iPad to demonstrate all of the work that they completed. I could sense that students were taking pride in showing their online professional portfolio, creations, and tweets. I am also thrilled that the professional blogs are a year-to-date body of work. We didn't just show them tests as was in the past, but all the learning experiences that have occurred along the journey. Students had an agenda that they were to follow and parents totally wanted to hear all about it. Some parents and students were present for over a half hour!

My favorite video was when a parent asked, "Can I come back to school?"

See some other reactions below.

Google Form For Formal Assessment

2012-01-24T14:00:00.001-06:00

In our study of the "Rise to (American) Revolution", we have emphasized to the students that they need to be able to tell the story. We have completed several activities to help in this, including tweeting a timeline of events.

Today we used Google Forms to acquire the story from the students. I liked the fact that all student response were organized neatly in a Google spreadsheet for assessing.

I will copy the student's writing and paste it into an email. My comments will be in red so that they will know the corrections that need to be made.

No Paper!

Google Docs on the iPad

2012-01-24T12:40:00.000-06:00

I shared a Google Document that allowed students to summarize a section of a book. Students contributed to the summary by including all thoughts on one document.

Some people have said that Google Docs do not work well with the iPad. I had absolutely no problems today while using this!

The Reading (Found on Internet for Free); The Google Document

Important Step:

Blogging Continues To Be Great Reflection Piece

2012-01-24T11:02:00.000-06:00

See what the students had to include in their post HERE

Blogging was also an effective tool for students to place in writing a concept that was just learned. Before students could post the information, we verified that the information was accurate. It was a great eye opening experience as students at first could not articulate what they had learned. Awesome tool to solidify the concepts before moving on.

Text Message To Parents: See You At Student-Led Conferences

2012-01-20T10:50:00.001-06:00

We have tried to inform parents in a technological way about our Student-Led Conferences that are happening next week. We sent parents in invitation via the iPad. Today, students used their their cell phones to inform parents about the event. See the instructions for students. View how we did it below.

Since our district allows BYOD, some students made it easier on themselves because they had their parent's cell number already in their device. Worked great!

Great to see a quick response from parents!

Some clarification by students needed to be made to parents. What's not shown is that her mother responded with a confirmation text that she totally understood what we were doing.

IMPORTANT: I made sure that students capitalized correctly and spelled correctly prior to sending the text.

iPad + Twitter = Perfect Tool For A Timeline

2012-01-19T13:54:00.002-06:00

We have been studying the events leading up to the American Revolution. First, with individual exploration of learning, and second, with some direct instruction. Read all of about that here, here, and here,

Today, we have assigned students an assessment that requires them to use Twitter. Items we needed to think about prior to assigning this type of assessment are below:

What order should the tweets be in? We decided to have the tweets be in reverse chronological order so that when the student is done, the tweets will be in the correct order from the top (beginning of the story) to the bottom (end of the story).
How will we be able to quickly view the tweets? Students have their own, unique hashtag for each tweet. This will allow us to click on the hashtag to see all tweets in order.
How hard is it? Some students expressed a challenge of limiting to 140 characters. The purpose is to give a timeline of events, which SHOULD be summarized in short phrases.

View the exact student directions!

View the Process:

Engaged Learning But Not Enough Time

2012-01-19T12:24:00.001-06:00

I really dislike that learning somewhat ends when the bell rings. This does not happen in real life. Today, the students needed to use a proportion to solve a "tag and capture" problem. The main goal was to have the students determine the process and MORE IMPORTANTLY reflect through blogging the challenges and successes of the day.

Many students struggled with the concept and organizing the data. This was frustrating as we have been working through the concept for three days. However, the most frustrating thing about the day was not being able to bring closure to the activity. Because of the frustrations, an ideal learning opportunity would have been for students to reflect and learn from others reflections as well.

Tomorrow, we will need to wrap up the lesson with a reflection.

What I Could Have Done Better:

I could have established a time for a follow up on our blog or twitter for this evening.
Instead of a long blog post, I could have had them tweet a quick reflection followed by a more detailed blog post tomorrow.
I should have broken the lesson down into two days at the start.

Items I Liked From The Lesson:

I like problems that don't give the students much direction. I larger question steers them in the direction they need to go. My question: "How many tadpoles in their pond (bag)?"
I liked the opportunity to show them the YouTube clip of an actual person in the woods collecting data. This I thought gave a great visual relationship to the simulation in our book.
The whiteboard groups continue to provide small positive learning environments

See the Day

Tech Tool Tip Episode #2: Google Bookmarks

2012-01-19T06:27:00.000-06:00

Get Google Bookmark Tab On Chrome
Google Bookmarks Help

Model Classroom Concept at WASB

2012-01-18T10:49:00.000-06:00

It was with great pleasure that we provided a session on how our school district is implementing digital devices.

VIEW THE PRESENTATION

View the Setup:

iPad Keyboard NOT an Issue For Students

2012-01-17T14:30:00.001-06:00

So many people ask me if the iPad keyboard is an issue. Just now, I viewed two students utilizing the keyboard in two effective ways. See how they do it!

Tweeting In Math Class!

2012-01-17T12:44:00.000-06:00

Without the iPads and the personalization of it, we couldn't tweet using the Twitter app for iPad or even tweet using the web version. All of our students worked to tweet about items learned today in class.

We even had some students start to form conversations!

Split Keyboard on iPad - Student Teaches Me!!!

2012-01-17T07:03:00.000-06:00

Once again, I find students teaching me. This student was using the split screen, which he demonstrates how to get.

I didn't know, but now I do!

Lecturing In An Unique Way

2012-01-17T06:59:00.000-06:00

At times we do need to give the students information! We decided that we were going to have 2 days of student investigation using QR codes and search tools on the iPad.

After that we are solidifying their learning by "telling the story" so that they can understand the Rise to Revolution!

See how we did it!

Love the fact that students are starting to grab the app they feel is best for the job!

Student demonstrates split keyboard while taking notes in Google Docs

Direct Instruction To Group Work

2012-01-16T21:30:00.000-06:00

This activity didn't really require much from the iPad, but the whole "rethinking the learning environment" has come about because of iPads.

Today, we needed to get some direct facts to the student, but certainly didn't want to have an entire class period of "sit and get". So we came up with the below activity.

Individual Instruction Based On Assessment Data

2012-01-16T19:14:00.000-06:00

On Friday, students completed our first ever paperless quiz. From that quiz and the use of a Google form, I have received valuable data that was used for individual instruction. This individual instruction allowed students to have the unmastered concepts to be retaught. In the mean time, students on their iPads watching individual instruction on a new concept.

Transition from direct instruction to individual review small groups

Second Transition:

Third Transition:

My Reflection:

Overall, I believe that it was a valuable use of the iPad for individual video lessons and individual review of quiz material. Some might argue about having the students use a video to help, but those same people may not be in a classroom with 26 students who need your attention. The video allows for me to be everywhere!
After reviewing the work by students, some students need to do a better job of checking over their entries in the Google form. Some students had the correct answer on their work, but didn't record the answer correctly on the form. I emphasized with students how important it is to check over their work so that it coincides with their inputted answer. A learning lesson!
After experiencing a different way of providing feedback in the form of individual videos emailed (here as well) to the students, I felt like the data from the Google form provided definitive data for corrections. I also felt that the whiteboard lesson was more interactive and controlled than the individual videos.
Will try again!

Simple Mind App - Perfect Tool!

2012-01-16T07:06:00.001-06:00

This is amazing! Student CHOOSES Simple Mind app because as he puts it when asked was it an easy app to use, "Yes, especially for this purpose!"

Students continue to know about tools on the iPad and use them when they feel they would be best.

*Really, isn't that what technology is! A tool and students need to know when to use the correct tool for learning to effectively understand!

The detail and organization is NOT something we mandated. He decided to come up with the organization of colors, views, and order of events. This starts to give me some feedback on whether he understands the events leading up to the Revolutionary War.

QR Codes, Videos, Multiple Times For Learning

2012-01-16T07:01:00.000-06:00

This student was in the process of watching information for the second time.

BYOD - Our District Allows This!

2012-01-14T08:33:00.001-06:00

*** Our district's practices and policies are below the video!

I am so thankful for our district that allows students to bring their own digital device. Even though we have iPads in our classroom, students still bring XOOMS, Kindle Fires, Kindles, Smartphones, and iPod touches.

What really impresses me is that students KNOW when to use them for educational purposes. See how this student utilizes a Kindle Fire (which I mistakenly took for a XOOM, sorry about that!).

So many great people on Twitter ( @jcrawf04 @chadkafka @g5changeagent21 @jbrogley @robkmil @eduvulture @marmaladelibby @KristinStrauman @ryanorilio @Taml17 @andrew_mcgovern ) retweeted, favorited, followed, asked questions and/or responded to the BYOD information from above, so I thought I would expand on our district's process and policies.

ALL parents must register their students for each school year through a web-based program called SKYWARD (no plug for them, just saying)
During this process they must sign up for everything - we DO not handle any paper work for this process.
In this process, parents accept a number of forms if they so choose.
Personal Wireless Electronic Device Policy
Acceptable Use Policy - Students
Acceptable Use Policy - Community & Staff

After students and parents sign off on the Wireless Electronic Device Policy and Acceptable Use Policy, student users will be added to the PSD Mobile network. The PSD Mobile is a "log in" network which students log in by using their GAFE log in as they would do on any wired computer that the district owns. This allows for our district to monitor the internet traffic and ensure the filtering settings while students are using the district's network.

What a teacher (me) has found:

For the most part, students use the internet educationally
When they don't, they lose access during school
Students hate when their classmates have access and they don't

Paperless Quiz on iPad

2012-01-13T11:05:00.001-06:00

I had to try it!

Our first formal quiz strictly using the iPad. Paperless (as far as the school's budget). I scanned the test as a .jpg and inserted on our classroom blog. I created a Google form using Mr Schwen's creation. Another item that we noticed and implemented was touching the scanned pictures of the test in another window by touching and holding the picture with one finger. A very cool part of the process is that the scores and explanations of problems that they missed instantly gets emailed to the student.

If you don't have time to watch, view all the great feedback comments BY STUDENTS & ME at the bottom!

Student explains how she easily imported the test into Notes (formally Noterize). I will be giving these directions to students the next time we complete this task. She then emailed me the note of her work. She was efficient at using this process. I need to get everyone to be like this!

Some of the student's work from the above process can be found below. I will respond to her work in an email. This truly would be a great process if every student could get to be efficient at this.

Comments from students on the process:

I actually like it because I can have as much space as I need on my own paper. I am not restricted to just the space on the test. ~Jenna
I like it, but I wish the first answer in the nn the Google form was blank. In jumping back and forth from test to Google From, I forget where I am at. ~Heaven
Honestly, I don't really think it is that hard of a process. ~Noah
It does get somewhat confusing clicking back and forth between test and Google form along with my work on paper. ~Jarrett
A little difficult, but next time I'll know what I'm doing (referring to technology) ~Brianna
It was ok, not too hard, but it was hard to get it onto an iPad to work. ~ Shannon
I liked it because it was a lot easier to do the problem on a separate sheet of paper. ~ Lydia
I still prefer paper and pencil, but for all the paper it saves, it was pretty good, ~ Justin
I liked that you can see your score right away, because I'm nervous about how I did. ~ Kennedy

My Comments:

Wish I could find an easier way to have students do work on iPad!
Love the data created by a Google form
Love the fact that I only have to look at work on the test.
Thankful that maybe I can save some money on paper expenses!
Make sure I "Revert To Draft" my blog post when test is over, which removes the test from online.

iPad Camera & YouTube Channel

2012-01-13T06:48:00.001-06:00

So many articles have focused on teachers branding themselves in a positive light. We speak on a daily basis to students about branding themselves in a professional manner on the web. A FREE and easy method of positively branding your classroom and all that happens on a daily basis is a YouTube Channel.

For me, it started with the idea that I would document everything that happens in my journey with iPads in my classroom. While I like typing and certainly appreciate my 11th grade teacher teaching me the home row in typing class, I can't type fast enough to document everything.

My solution! Use the iPad2 camera and a YouTube account. (Signing in is so easy if you are a GAFE school or have a personal Gmail account) Having this option has allowed me to post less than three minute videos in such a short time. The great thing for me is that it is quick. See how I exactly do it:

Problem: I don't have an iPad! If this is you, consider using your Smartphone. Android services (yes, I said the competitor on this blog) on a Smartphone make it quite easy to upload a video to YouTube. See how this can be done.

Once you have decided to take the plunge, set up your YouTube channel. I don't have time to create all of these, so I used a pretty decent series by the manager of the link above.

My Settings:

I have connected with our classroom blog and Twitter account
I have included Playlists that are educationally based and used in our classroom
I have created a featured video section on the front page-this rocks
I NEVER state a students name while filming them
I try to keep the video less than three minutes
Lately, I have started to include students describing steps in tech teaching-it is amazing how much more students listen to themselves and classmates when learning something new.

One Final Obstacle: My school & district block YouTube!!! If you have the desire, take my channel and show administrators, school board members, and anyone else that wants to listen and show how it can positively reflect on your school district. I know that tech support can choose to allow certain YouTube sites to be unblocked. Have them make your YouTube channel the one! If that doesn't work, take the video and upload it at home.

There truly is no reason, that you can't create a YouTube channel with a small goal of posting 1 video a week. I get the fact that I may be overboard by posting 428 videos in less five months, but so many community members, administrators, teachers, students, and parents appreciate seeing the many positive educational experiences occurring daily in our classroom.

I would certainly welcome any feedback on this concept and other examples of educational classrooms that are utilizing this FREE method of promotion!

An iPad Idea A Day

2012-01-12T22:07:00.003-06:00

I had no intention of including any links to other blogs on iPaddiction, but I feel this podcast directly relates to what I'm trying to do which is discover, try, and master something new with an iPad each day.

Most importantly, implement the ideas with students!

I love this podcast for three reasons:

Quick and informational
Directly relates to my educational experience of the iPad
Coming from the States, the accent of the presenter @JoeDale is refreshing and awesome to listen to!

Do yourself a favor and learn something new every day!

Listen To: An iPad Idea A Day

It will also be at the top of iPaddiction's iPad Ed. Resource Page

Students Invite Parents To Student-Led Conferences via Diji Invite App

2012-01-12T15:05:00.002-06:00

The problem: Parents need to know the time and place for Student - Led Conferences. Usually teachers worked very hard to run paper off, ask for the sheet to be signed by a parent and returned. Some of which was "lost in transport".

The solution: This year students will be the ones inviting parents to Student-Led Conferences. We will be using the Diji Invite HD Lite App for this.

See how we did it.
We first set up our email accounts: Here Are The Instructions

Teaching Tech Tool Tips To Teachers Today!

2012-01-12T06:40:00.001-06:00

Yes! That's a a great use of the T!

Today, we are starting our 10 minute teaching of tech tools to teachers. This was an idea I had for improving the amount of technology knowledge that our teachers have. Every week or every other week we have a grade level meeting during school! During this time, I will be teaching a tech tip. Some tips will be teacher directed and some will be student directed. It is purely optional for teachers, but I hope that they find these valuable and want to stay!

I Get It! This is not new! It is, however, new to our teachers. I am thankful that our leadership team has allowed me to do this.

Really not sure how many episodes there will be. Don't really care! One episode of learning is better than none.

So without further ramblings, "Episode 1-Gmail Filters"

Model Classroom Description

2012-01-11T21:07:00.000-06:00

Today I was asked by our tech coordinator to create a video that details my classroom set up. As I looked through the videos, I really liked what I saw. I couldn't imagine going back to lecture by me and sit and get in rows by the students.

If you are thinking about changing the configuration of your room, maybe these videos will help.

Link To Playlist

Simple Mind App

2012-01-11T14:25:00.000-06:00

Students are beginning to gather as much information as they can on events leading up to the Revolutionary War. Students were given free choices about how they wanted to record the information. These students chose to use the Simple Mind app that allows for mapping of ideas. They totally chose the app themselves. How cool is that!

Personalize & Unpersonalize iPads All In Same Class Period

2012-01-11T09:47:00.000-06:00

ATTENTION! This will be helpful if you have a class set of iPads and multiple students using the iPads in a day!

Many apps are limited in that they need an iPad to be personalized with an email account in order to export through email. The same holds true for Twitter.

Our students are brilliant! They determined a way that we can do this even though multiple users use the iPad each day. See how they do it!

Twitter

Email

Recommended Apps: News360, Hitpad, MapBox

2012-01-11T08:08:00.002-06:00

I used a QR code to introduce students to two new apps that they may use during D.E.A.R. time. See the QR code for message below.

The apps are actually outstanding.

Visually Appealing
Easy to Navigate
Fun
Interactive

News 360

Hitpad

MapBox

DiaMath App

2012-01-10T15:10:00.002-06:00

Worth the price of the app!

Recording Studios - Sort Of!

2012-01-10T15:09:00.001-06:00

We were having a challenge with background noise in our Educreations productions. We solved this...

Since we are starting to do more student creations, we are looking at a permanent fix to this situation.

Educreations App - Activity and Features of App

2012-01-09T22:02:00.000-06:00

The overall lesson in which we implemented Educreations is here. The specific lesson is here. We originally were going to use Screenchomp, but with new district settings to the network, we were having trouble saving it to the cloud. This is our reason for trying Educreations.

Our tech people are working very hard to resolve the issue. They are great and will!

While the app itself is great. This has been a struggle. As with anything there is a learning curve. What I want is to have students create a lesson using the iPad to prove to me that they understand the concepts being taught. Educreations is perfect for this! It has a great amount of features which you will see. One negative is the challenge to post it online in an area like Twitter.

Very important video at the end!

However, it takes a few tricks to get the creation to be finalized and viewed. This is our first attempt at using Educreations. I am sure it will get better.

There might be a better way! If so, please leave a comment.

Initially, on Friday, we didn't give them much of a direction as we wanted students to create on their own. Today, I felt we needed to give some direction. The organization of four slides helped greatly.

I really liked how this student CHOSE to use a different app to enhance his Educreations. Awesome to see students take control of their learning!

I apologize for the video being turned. The content is outstanding as a student talks about how to save the Educreation without logging in. I am so willing to hear from students on what they have learned and they love being video taped and put on YouTube!

Interactive White Board and iPad Apps

2012-01-09T21:16:00.001-06:00

Having the iPads plus an interactive SMARTboard really engages students to the point that I believe students are not thinking about anything but our lesson.

See the process:

Finding that color and the ability to customize the writing motivates students to be creative.

All important reflection! Students complete the learning process by posting their creations from above to their blog! They do this by holding the home button and the top button of the iPad to create a screen shot. Students are able to access that picture through the Blogger app. This allows for summarizing of concepts and finalization.

Student Reviews: Factor Samurai, My Math, Fraction Factory, Tic Tac Frac

2012-01-09T06:52:00.000-06:00

On Friday, we gave students the opportunity to choose a math app for personal learning. Students provided some short answers to questions about the app while playing them.

By far the MOST favorite app was FACTOR SAMURAI. As a teacher, I found it was the first time that students quickly identified prime numbers. It was addicting and students were excited about their high score. We even tweeted about it.

Factor Samurai FREE

My Math App FREE

Fraction Factory FREE

Tic Tac Fraction Review $4.99 (Worth It)

Reel Director App, Pottery HD, Financial Football

2012-01-06T09:41:00.000-06:00

Students used the following apps on their own to create and learn.

8 Burning Questions About iPads in Class (Answered!)

2012-01-06T06:42:00.000-06:00

I recently received an email from a media and tech teacher from a school district in Wisconsin. The questions she has asked are awesome and could be helpful to others. My answers to her questions are followed with actual video clips from my classroom. Enjoy and may this be helpful!

Questions are in bold!

How has it (implementation of iPads) gone for you and the students?
On a scale of 1-10 it's a 100! The first month we experienced technical issues: not logging in right away, not connected to the internet, not sure how to use them, not what the uses would be.

Since then, we couldn't live without them! The apps and constant access to the internet has opened up a whole new world of learning. As one student just stated, "It allows me to learn by myself!" Ah! Self learning-isn't that a life long LEARNING lesson!

It has been a challenge to truly integrate the iPads and there many uses. I'm not going to lie! I don't sleep much, but I believe that I have truly come to understand how to integrate them! See this post! It takes total out of the box thinking.

Take the concept that you need the students to master and think, "How can we do this on the iPad through an app or website!"

The students couldn't imagine school without the iPads.

So many students comment that they love having internet access to look up information to preview a concept. Some of the favorite apps students like are the creative apps. See all apps here and here!

What percentage of class time do the students use the iPads?
90% and increasing!!! Update From Friday's Class: Asked the students this question after explaining I received this email and their responses thrilled me. They somewhat laughed and said, "Tell the teacher ALL THE TIME!"
I really see students moving away from paper notebooks and using their blog or an app to record their thoughts.

We also utilize Twitter as a place to incorporate the #pcsmmvp Most Valuable Point of the day. Students have also connected their professional blogs with their Twitter account.

What types of activities are they using them for?
EVERYTHING! The best way to see the activities is to take a half hour and view our YouTube channel!
Our most recent activity replaced a lecture by a teacher and placed the learning on students. As the students learned the content, myself and my learning support teacher moved throughout the room answering specific questions from students. Totally engaged and totally on task!

Students Become Teachers!

How do they handle the onscreen keyboard? Is it an issue?
Perfectly! No. Students are not using the traditional keyboarding finger placement as they would on a desktop or laptop, but it has not been an issue. We purchased three wired keyboards to test and only 2-3 students ask to use them. Others don't ask and type full paragraphs without saying a word.

How do you get apps installed?
We use the Bretford Cart and a Macbook.

Are the textbooks on the iPad? good or bad?
Our textbooks are on the iPad, but not in the interactive way. Not yet! I use the smartboard notebook software and create a PDF of our chapters. I email the students the chapter through our use of Google Apps for Education. They download the book or open it with PaperPort notes or in iBooks and the book is on their iPad.

STUDENTS ABSOLUTELY RAVE ABOUT THIS! They leave their traditional book at home and use the iPads at school.

It is not good! IT IS GREAT!!!

We Like Technology!

2012-01-04T21:53:00.000-06:00

In preparation for our model classroom presentation in two weeks at the WASB convention in Milwaukee, we are creating short videos with student responses to two questions:

How has technology changed the way you learn?
What do you most enjoy about the technology in our classroom?

After receiving emails from all students, I chose the responses that seemed to be well thought out. I then filmed the students using the iPad and created the video using REEL DIRECTOR on the iPad. I finalized the video by creating notes for some of the students who may have talked softly during video taping. This was completed using the YouTube video annotation editing option.

I may be biased, but I think it turned out quite well. Who says one can't create on the iPad?!

Utilizing Time After Standardized Tests

2012-01-04T12:29:00.001-06:00

Today, a two hour block was allotted for testing. After everyone was done, we customized our professional blogs and linked our tweets with our blogs. Students had fun and many learned new features of their blog without me guiding them!

Individual Test Corrections Tutorial

2012-01-04T12:26:00.000-06:00

Many students require my attention during team study, a quiet time to work. When I foresee many students needing my attention, I will create a video tutorial for them to view. I work very hard to keep the tutorials under five (5) minutes.

This leaves me free to give individual instruction to the students that may need more guidance. Today, I completed this for corrections on an assessment.

Students Thinking Before "School"

2012-01-04T12:23:00.000-06:00

I utilize every minute I can. Today, I asked the students two questions in an email. The students responded before the actual bell that starts our day. They even seemed happy about it. The questions were the following.
(some responses will be in a coming video)

How has technology changed the way you learn?
What do you most enjoy about the technology in our classroom?

Who We Are In A QR Code!

2012-01-04T05:46:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, a teacher from sixth grade ran up to our classroom door and said, "I've just learned about QR codes and Jenny (we've removed her real name to protect her identity :) said I should check out what your QR code says next to your classroom doors!" It then dawned on me that I hadn't documented the QR code and its content that is posted next to each of our classroom doors.

So scan below to see more information about the Endeavor House!

Is This iPad Thing Really Working?

2012-01-03T21:11:00.002-06:00

What I know! I know this technology, iPad thing is engaging students at an all time high. So many videos that are in my blog are students completely involved in the educational setting. Maybe it's just the great students I have. Maybe it's just the great room I have. Maybe it's just the great furniture I was given. I doubt it! The iPad is a living, breathing, interactive tool that requires, yes, I said requires, your attention! This I know!

What I don't know! Is the iPad really helping students learn? Is it helping them to MASTER standards and concepts that the state says they should know? Is it moving them ahead of students who do NOT have a digital tool in their hands every hour of every day?

Where I am going! We are planning a meeting with the five model classroom teachers to discuss this very thing. It will occur during the first week in February. How do we assess to prove that a digital device improves the ability of a student to learn. I look forward to discussing this attempt to prove and will obviously present process and findings!

Final Prep For Students' Cyber Safety Creations

2012-01-03T14:42:00.000-06:00

Created with Animation HD app

MemMatches App & Combining Like Terms

2012-01-02T12:05:00.000-06:00

Sometimes in using iPad apps, an educator needs to think outside the box. I incorporated a MemMatches App as an introduction to combining like terms. See how we did it and most importantly a reflection from students!

Can play against one another-always a big hit!

This helped bridge the gap between the game and math concepts!

Great reflection as students use the game and concepts to understand the math!

Rise Over Run

2012-01-02T10:16:00.000-06:00

Our students have been studying the slope intercept (y=mx+b) over the course of this chapter. Today, after our team test, we will be using our iPads to view and respond through a blog post or Twitter to real visual situations of rise over run.

See what the students see!

My QR Code Message To The Students!

2012-01-02T07:10:00.004-06:00

As they walk in, this is what they will be using their SCAN QR code app for!

Couldn't do it without the iPads!

See it!

2011-12-30T07:17:00.004-06:00

I have recently started using Pinterest as a method for organizing pictures found on the web. Most importantly, it has given me a very graphic pleasing way to view apps that I have used in my classroom. I like the way a comment can be quickly added to each picture.

I have created a couple Pinterest boards that are useful in education.

iPad Apps In Education
Mathematics really like this as I can save many pictures for later use in blog posts

With the discovery of Pinterest, I am certain that I will be using it more as an organizational tool!

I am also considering how I can use this with students other than blog posts. My first thought is to have them create their own Pinterest account during a problem or project so that they can organize the pictures they find.

10,000 & Counting! 10 Months & Counting

2011-12-27T06:53:00.000-06:00

March 2011! A great month in my educational career as my application for a 21st century model classroom was accepted. Before diving in to buy all students one digital device, our school district decided that it would be beneficial if several teachers implemented different devices throughout the 2011-2012 school year.

I was able to have the incredible iPad2!

Upon learning that I was selected, I decided to document EVERYTHING that would happen on this journey. It was my hope to demonstrate the effective use of these devices, the wide variety of learning activities, and the fun that would be experienced throughout the year. As I sit back and breath during my Christmas vacation, I thought it would be helpful to reflect and evaluate my "Best Of or Most..." categories along with effectiveness of activities and see how this changes by the end of our school year, May 2012.

I am also thankful that so many people have visited the iPaddiction blog for what hopefully has become a useful tool! I would have never dreamed that over 10,000 views would be associated with this blog.

So, without further ado, my mid year awards!

Most Effective Professional Blogging Tool
My iPad2 camera and YouTube: (387 videos and counting!) I knew that I wanted to document everything, but also knew that I couldn't type everything. Ironically, as I sit and type, I wish I would have just turned on the iPad2 and recorded me and my voice describing all of this! Video and the ease of posting to YouTube has allowed me to quickly share the events and activities from my educational setting.

Most Beneficial Activity and Blog Post
Integrating Technology In Education: It frustrates me when so many great app lists come out. It's one thing to find a great app or tech tool, it is another thing to incorporate effectively in an educational setting. This was an idea that I had to showcase how technology should be incorporated into a 45 minute lesson. As my technology integration director stated, "I'm not sure which is more amazing! The fact that you incorporated so many tech tools or the fact that you filmed it all!" Not sure either, but the process and now that it is documented is the best teaching tool that I can have to show others how I do it.

(Two) Most Successful Use of the iPad2 Camera
Writing Process and Digital Devices: Best thing to come from this was a student telling me, "This activity made me feel smart!" Amen!
Personalized Comments for Assessment: This allows me to have each student receive the specific corrective teaching that they need. It does take about 45 minutes to complete, but is well worth it!

Best of Google Apps
Raiderville: Hands down the most in depth activity involving all of Google that we have done! Student had some incredible positive feedback!

Best Student Comments
What I Like About School: Speaks for itself!

Most Popular Blog Post
QR Code Check Out: Amazing! I have really relied on a number of apps and services for professional development during this process. The people of Twitter have helped a great deal! It was with one Tweet that changed my productivity and effectiveness of the process for students to check in and out during team study or study hall.

Best "I Can't Keep Up With" List
Apps List: this grows all the time and at the end of the year, I will print out a list of all the apps that have been used in the classroom. Right now, I post a new app to Twitter when I add it to my class set of iPads

Best Use of QR Codes
U.S. Historical Documents and QR Codes with Videos: Our curriculum requires us to teach famous U.S. documents. Instead of just giving them a list of the documents and reading about them, I attached a QR code which linked to an additional video. It is one thing to read about MLK's great speech, but to hear and watch it is another. Great tool at a great time!

Most Fun
Teaching Digital Citizenship & the Process: Lip Dub! Our team decided that digital citizenship needed to be discussed and taught throughout our journey. Students have really free access to so many digital tools that we wanted to teach them and not ban them from the devices. We created a lip dub and the results speak for themselves!

Best App for Productivity:
Tactilis: with the ability to document step by step, hand written notes, diagrams, and thoughts, this FREE app is easily the best note taking app.

Best Creative App
Animation HD: Students loved it and hey, it's fun!

Best Advanced Math App
Graphing Calculator: The color is outstanding and helps to understand all information.

Best Drill and Practice Math App
Math Drills HD: Allows for students to have an individualized account for keeping track of success.

Best Tool With Textbook
PaperPort Notes & Whiteboard App: Allows students to directly write on their textbooks! Students have been doing this for years! Now I don't need to tell them to erase it after marking it in their books. Awesome!

Best Public Relations Tool
YouTube Channel: A great way to allow parents and administration into my classroom. Grandma in Chicago was able to see what we are doing!

Best Non Digital Tool
Collaborative Whiteboard Learning Areas: I would probably have not created these if I wasn't in the 21st century model classroom mode! These are amazing learning environments.

Teaching Digital Citizenship & the Process

2011-12-22T09:39:00.002-06:00

So we wanted to continue to emphasize responsible digital citizenship and we wanted to create a lip dub! We accomplished both!

The entire process took four days. However, our resource teacher, Mr. V., spent numerous hours writing the scrip and stating the process. Also, a huge thank you goes out to the other members of our 8th grade team for providing additional students during taping!

Our Story Board

Some Direct Instruction

We walked through the scrip with a video shown to students.

All 47 students were given specific tasks to create props for the video. Students worked together for two days to create signs that are seen in the lip dub!

Our Class Work On Google

2011-12-21T12:30:00.000-06:00

Student discovers that when searching for "Growth Triangle", a mathematical concept, that our classes' previous work from the beginning of the chapter posted online was found by Google.

See her reaction!

Pic Collage App For ReviewIng Math Concepts

2011-12-21T12:21:00.001-06:00

A collage of all the students and their Chapter 4 Math review as a pic collage.

Apps like Pic Collage really engage students to the point that time flies! Price: Free

I have found that using apps that create items is a great way to review concepts. See how we used the app and the features of Pic Collage.

Creative App Carousel Day

2011-12-20T14:43:00.000-06:00

Students have a problem:
How can they stress responsible digital citizenship to a specific audience in a creative way?

Today we allowed students to explore eight suggested creative apps for use in their upcoming presentation on responsible digital citizenship.

See The Specific Activity

A major reflection piece in this activity was to rate the apps that they were exploring. I used a Google form to acquire their opinion. See The Form!

View the day's activities below:

We also introduced them to six Web 2.0 tools.

Solving System of Equations

2011-12-20T11:19:00.001-06:00

We formalized the concept through this classroom learning environment:

Groups chose any method to present their work and their answers.

Short video clips of the presentations:

Reflection: During the entire day and one half lesson, I was moving throughout the groups giving small group direct instruction and guidance. I really like this method of teaching. It allows for leaders to lead small groups and for constant discussion of the concept with students. I also like the end product where the students need to become the teachers. Had we had more time, all students should have been involved in the presentation. I also wish students would have used more creation apps. Next Time!

Administration Visit

2011-12-19T12:07:00.002-06:00

When implementing technology so many people want to "see how it is done". I welcome that!

To date, over 300 teachers, community members, parents, and administrators have entered my room to see the activities. It is important to "not do anything special". What's meant by that! If an educator does something out of the ordinary then it is not using the tech as a tool. It is putting on a show!

We structure our lessons when people visit the room the same way we do when there is no one in the room but students and teachers. We intertwine the tech as a tool combined with many other tools!

See what we did by Viewing Our Activities While They Were Here

Some video of their visit! Anyone is welcome at anytime!

Digital Citizenship

2011-12-17T06:47:00.002-06:00

Picture Source

Due to our iPad implementation this year, we have made it imperative that we teach students proper etiquette while online.

We are in the process of creating a final digital citizenship creation and this was our cooperating teachers one day direct instruction presentation.

All credit for this creation goes to my team teacher. He made the entire presentation!
Get The Presentation!

More videos to come on our student's creations!

TRULY Interactive Whiteboard Activity

2011-12-16T11:31:00.000-06:00

Because of this presentation and @benjaminfriesen at TIES11, I created this...

I realize it is simple, but it isn't just a slide of writing, and it is a start!

Students are working on it here:

We then incorporated the Algebra Touch Intro App into the lesson for practice.

Student Video Production

2011-12-15T21:09:00.001-06:00

As part of the 21st Century Model Classroom concept, our district is creating student produced videos highlighting the learning atmosphere. These videos will contain footage of events occurring in the classes and interviews of students and teachers.

Today was our day to be video taped. (Not sure why we use video taped, it is all digital media)

The students were great and really showcased what we do on a daily basis!

High school students in our district are producing videos of 21st century model classrooms-today was our day 4 filming: ipaddiction.blogspot.com/2011/12/studen…
— RecessDuty (@RecessDuty) December 16, 2011

Setting The Stage With an iPad

2011-12-15T06:16:00.001-06:00

Our problem is quite boring with black words on a white paper.

The iPad (and really any device) allows us to do some 20% time of learning. We investigated what the Iditarod is all about prior to us attacking this problem. There were no limitations. I just emphasized with the students that I knew nothing about this race. Students found maps, videos, past winners, distance, and many other items.

It definitely was my hook toward getting their attention.

Students were able to share their findings by having their iPad mirror to the large screen so that all students could view the information. Great discussion.

We continued with three additional problems, followed by the students creating their own intersection of two equations. We used Screenchomp to create.

QR Code Check Out

2011-12-14T09:32:00.000-06:00

Because of this tweet, I created something new in my classroom.

See how it works:

Students were always writing their names on the board which while working with students is difficult to view. Now I will have the spreadsheet of the checkout sheet as a tab that I can quickly reference on my computer which is right next to me.

UPDATE: I have added another QR code so that as they return to my room they scan it and complete a quick form so that I know the exact time they returned.

QR codes were created in Google URL shortener.

Love the fact that the form gives a time stamp. No more taking time to write that down!

The QR code goes directly to a Google Form that I created!

Students loved it!

PLN strikes again!

QR Voice Memo To Students

2011-12-12T21:28:00.002-06:00

I used QR Voice producer to create a message for my students about respecting students. The students will use another iPad2 and scan the QR code.

GET THE INFORMATION THE CLASS VIEWS