Apps Used For Parallel Lines and Parallelograms

In the past, we would cut paper.

Yesterday, we used multiple apps.

• Whiteboard Lite
• Animation HD
• Blogger

See how we did it:

Paperless Quiz on iPad

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.

8 Burning Questions About iPads in Class (Answered!)

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!!!

PaperPort Notes Improvement From Noterize

Yesterday, I discovered that our often used Noterize App (see blog post) has changed to PaperPort Notes.

Noterize App

PaperPort Notes

Positive Changes:

►If you use PaperPort Anywhere - you now can obtain a document from the Cloud

►Obtain a "File or Snapshot from Web" Great for putting writing or images on class blog and having the students get "screen shots" so that they can mark it up. Not new, but new to our class

►Image from Camera - this is the item that I am excited about. Students will be able to take a picture of their work if we choose to do the work in our notebook and mark it up. Students will also be able to take pictures of group whiteboard work and mark it up.

I hope that the Nuance Company continues to update and improve this app as it is a well used tool in my classroom.

Tactilis App - Student Uses