In the survey we recently sent out, many of you mentioned that you might like some more training on the iPad. If you were the one planning our iPad training sessions, what is one thing you might add?
Since so many of you have finals, projects, and other big assignments due this time of year, we have decided to make this the last blog assignment for 2012. You have until December 16th to complete this assignment.
If I were to choose to add something to the iPad training sessions, I would add having an open discussion. I think a lot of people know generally how to use the iPad, but if they had questions, they could ask then and the questions could be answered by someone in the room. I think that people would find that helpful.
ReplyDeleteI would add a meeting where you solely discuss apps you have found and how they help you. I think it would be good to get together to talk about apps that others may find helpful in their classes also.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jordan. I would like to talk about apps that people have really liked and apps that they don't. That way when I am purchasing an app I know it will be worth it. I would also included more about sharing files, printing and making it easier to print out files you typed up on pages. I think It would also be good to share ways to include the iPad more in your school life.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with both Jordan and Emily. One of the main ways I learn about apps is by looking at the collaborative Google Doc and reading articles and other websites. I think it would be very helpful to everyone if we did a discussion on apps we like. Maybe anyone who wanted to share an app could hook up their iPad to a projector and briefly display their app and how it helps them. I think it would help everyone be able to use their iPads more successfully and innovatively.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, in response to Emily's comment about printing, I suggest everyone looks at AirPrint Activator. It's a free application that you can install on your Mac (sorry PC users) that allows you to print to any printers that are connected to your Mac from the iPad - it's fairly easy to use, too. Maybe the school could even put it on some of the computers at school so iPad users could print when needed - obviously emailing is preferred, but there is some stuff we still need to print. http://netputing.com/airprintactivator/
ReplyDeleteI would add a meeting where people would discuss things like syncing your apps on your computer, and making sure you don't loose all your pages documents and other things. This would help a lot, because then people would be backed up on their computer, and would also have all their files and things that were already on the app downloaded too, so know one would loose their files.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what the people above me have said. I think that having an open discussion where people could discuss different apps, what they like versus what they dislike about using the iPad in class and ask questions would be really helpful. I was having a conversation about iPads with another person who has an iPad (not through the Paideia program) recently and I mentioned to my friend that I disliked using my iPad in Spanish class because it always autocorrected my typing. Then, my friend showed me how to change the language of my keyboard and how to turn the autocorrect off. I think a great way for people to learn more about their iPad is to learn from each other.
ReplyDelete-Madison H.
I think the meetings could either be about a specific topic, for example, the new IOS 5 software on the iPad, (this is just a rough example) or could be on asking questions to each other about apps, and other ways they use their iPad. It would be beneficial to see how others use their iPad. I would prefer the meetings on asking questions, so I could discover things about the iPad. This could even be just a segment of a whole meeting. eg-asking questions to others at the end of meetings.
ReplyDeleteLike what everybody else has said, I would like t hear from others what apps they like to use and why. The reason is because there are so many apps on the app store that it is hard to find an app that works well and helps with education.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to hear from people what they don't like about the iPad. For me, I sometimes don't like taking notes because I would rather use a paper and pencil, but I would like to hear what people don't like about using the iPad.
I would definitely add a "how to use iOS5" training session. I've hear from my friends that the features are incredible, espececially stuff like notifications. It would be helpful because iOS5 makes everything so much easier to operate with the new touch sensors where you could just drag with your hand to fo to your home screen. That would be extremely helpful.
ReplyDeleteLike Jacob. I would add a meeting where you discuss the pros and cons about the new software and discuss what new features to use. Also I would add a meeting where you talk about the apps that everyone has tried and what the best ones are?
ReplyDeleteIf I were to have a training session I think I would hold it as more of a group discussion/class activity. I think many people know the basics of how to use an iPad but there is always more to learn and new apps to be discovered. If there was an open discussion, people could ask any questions they wanted and other iPad owners could answer them. Then, as a more interactive thing we could do the "show and tell" your iPad thing (like we did with the teachers). I think this would be a good way to figure out what other people are using, discover new apps and hear first hand how helpful they are or what people are using them for. So far my most intriguing/helpful iPad discussion have been with other people in the Pilot project and I learn a lot about new apps and things to try.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the open Discussion group. I remember talking with iPad users (Pilot and non-pilot) on apps that are beneficial or cool shortcuts to make using the iPad to your advantage. Sometimes these people are unsure about buying an app that cost $5 without knowing if it's worth it, so telling them first hand is the best way to learn. Also, seems like communnication would be a nice topic to learn about, like how to use and set up FaceTime, Skype, Messages, etc. it would allow for better contact with others when needed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sonali, in that we should have a specific topic instead of being all over the place. One of the noted topics was apps that we like or that have been helping us this year. Maybe as a side note while discussing apps we could come up with ideas for our own app(s) that we think might fit us more personally.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I haven't had any problems figuring out things, but if I had to plan out the meeting I would have an open discussion for people to talk about all of the apps that they find helpful or useful during the day. I know that a loT of the other kids in JeTo also have questions about some features and what not, so it would' helpto open it up to people other than the iPad group.
ReplyDelete-Jordan B
I feel similarly to the other students who have posted above. The iPad is very intuitive. If I were planning a training session, I would not teach how to use the iPad per se. I would host a group discussion. This discussion would not only be about which specific apps are good and how specific apps are useful, although this would be an important part of the discussion. I would have the main topic of the discussion be about how each student uses the iPad to cater to his or her individual needs.
ReplyDeleteThere are some uses for the iPad that nearly everyone who has an iPad takes advantage of, for example googling the answer to a quick question. One of the most wonderful things about the iPad, however, it that it is such a versatile machine for such a small device. While iPad users may know about many, many of the things that the iPad can do, each of these users may only use the iPad to do a small fraction of those things. This doesn't mean that users aren't using their iPads to their full potential, and it doesn't mean that each user should find a more specialized device to cater to his or her specific needs. In fact, the opposite is true. The iPad is the best solution for almost all users because the iPad is a convenient and manageable solution, if not the best solution, for almost every unique user.
So, if I were to plan a training session, I would make sure every student sees how other students are using their iPads differently. Maybe a student will see a way of using the iPad that he hadn't thought of before; maybe he won't. The important part isn't that all options are exploited. It's that every option is considered.
I think the most useful session would be an app sharing session. I know there's a bunch of really useful apps out there but I just can't seem to find them or use them to the best of their advantage. I also think that a general sharing of how different people use the iPad differently would be helpful.
ReplyDeleteI like the open discussion idea. I've always wondered what apps non-pilot students use. I think that would be the most productive.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be good if people cold show one another apps that they really liked on the active board, that way people can compare apps that they use for note taking with other people's. I feel like we shared apps we liked and why but it would be good to see them firsthand. For instance, I really like the not taking app "notability" but it costs between $3-5, and most people probably wouldn't buy an app off of just that and a verbal description of features without seeing it first hand. I know I purchased 5 or six note taking apps when I fist got the iPad and spent a while figuring out which was the best one. I think for future distributions of iPads to students it would be good to show several different apps both free and paid that do different things so people can see possible apps before buying them.
ReplyDeleteBrian Harrison
I agree with the open discussion idea on either troubles with the iPad or apps that could help most of us. It would allow us to find subjects that we have trouble with and narrow it down from there, and at the end we would have one or multiple specific subjects that have caused us the most distress or ease with the iPads.
ReplyDeleteI think what would be helpful is if everyone has a gathering with their Ipads, and tell what apps help them out, and what apps aren't going so well, and show how to use the app. It would give many people an idea on how to use the app before hand, and what apps they should use by the rates of if anyone uses it.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be great for us to just talk about what apps work. Even if we just met in small groups, it could help. I've talked to some others about their apps and it's been really helpful. I also think it might be a good idea for everyone to either post on this blog or talk about new ways to use them in our classes. Or talk about the app they use the most and why.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jade who talked about having an open discussion about the iPad. Doing this would help us communicate about the iPad . We could discuss the problems we've had with the iPad and how to fix them, new software, and which apps are good. Other than finding out which apps are good or not, I haven't found any more problems. I think that the open discussion would be very useful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what many people have already said- the thing that would help the most is just to talk with other about the apps that they are using and how they work. I'm not having that many technical problems, but finding apps that I like can be hard. The apps I've ended up using the most are the apps other people have told me about, and getting to hear more suggestions would be great.
ReplyDeleteThe only drawback to this is that I don't really feel like I can switch note taking apps at this point- no matter how great another one may be- since all my notes are on the old app.
I would also be very interested in having a training session on apps that are helpful to us and maybe some ways on how to look for good apps. I also think we should talk about the troubles that have occurred while using the iPads (if there has been any). If we did this we would find a lot of great apps and have the knowledge on how to be careful smart with our iPads.
ReplyDeleteAs many people have said, communicating with each other on what apps we constantly use through a small group discussion would be very helpful. That way, the people who use certain apps could show the others how to use it too. Also, if there was some way to compile a list of everyone's top 10 or top 15 favorite free apps that they use all the time, that could be really helpful, because then people can see what is helping others and try it out for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI liked the time we had the meeting and talked about apps. Like a lot of people above said, I would like to know what apps people use for certain classes. It would maybe give other students ideas on ways to use their iPads in classes. I only use the iPad everyday in one class, but use it a lot out of class and at school on assignments. The reason is that I find it hard to use in math and science. If I knew about a app that would make it easier though, I would use it in those classes too. I think it would be helpful to have a meeting to talk about that.
ReplyDeleteI think that together, we should talk about any problems that we have been having with the iPad, and then people could share about if they and the same problem and how to fix it and stuff. I think that we should also all share some apps that we found are useful for some classes. I want to know about some more useful apps that I can be using in class.
ReplyDeleteI think just talking about the ipd like other pope have said. I would like to learn of some new apps and talking about technical glitches and stuff like that would be helpful to. It is sometimes really hard to find apps and hearing others comments on them really helps.
ReplyDeleteI think that a class on the Apple apps would be helpful. iMovie, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, all of them are fairly easy to use, but I have found that there are lots of little hidden things that makes their products just a lot better. For example, Keynote, I don't think that most people know about changing colors, or adding animations to slides and graphics, and other things like that. I think that a class on the small changes (and big changes) in the new IOS5 would be pretty helpful, like how to use its twitter function (at home, because it is blocked at school.)
ReplyDeleteI think one of the things that we could get extra training on is trying to figure out how we could use the iPad more in classes where we don't use it very much. An example would be I don't really use my ipad in science, it would be cool if i could figure out a good way to use it. Also i agree with other people that we should learn how to fix it when it has problems.
ReplyDeleteI would also have an open discussion where people would comment on certain things that they feel everyone should know how to do. People would be able to give each other advice and tips on different things that everyone might not know. Also maybe take a field trip to an information session that teaches students different skills on/about technology.
ReplyDeleteWhen i first recieved my iPad, i had difficulties using iMovie and Keynote. I think it would be very useful to give general demonstrations on how these two apps work and tips along with that. What would also be informative are suggestions on ways to use the iPad in certain classes.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like lots of students feel like time devoted to discussion groups for iPad users would be helpful. It is nice to be face-to-face, showing each other what we have learned and watching other people use their iPad in ways we might not yet understand. I know I'd love to be part of a discussion group. I want to stress that I think this will be most helpful if we actually talk to each other, rather than use an online forum. I tend to glaze over when reading instructions, but in person, we can walk each other through what we've learned.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSo right now I can't use the backspace, select or copy/paste tool in this one text box... This is going to be challenging.
ReplyDeleteA lot of the problems I had earlier, I was able to figure out on my own. The biggest problem for me was going from a laptop to an iPad. I was expecting an easy transition, but so many of the commands are different and even the programs are a little confusing. One thing that would be great though -- if you gave an example and intro on ways to use the iPad in all classes, like lit and math. It took me a while to figure out how to use my iPad most effectively in the classroom, and it was a difficult transition.
If I were planing an iPad training session I would add app recommendations. I feel that our training sessions are helpful but It would still be great if we could recommend apps for each other. Getting the opinions from classmates is more helpful then from the app store.
ReplyDeletei would like to know how to use pages better, because at the moment it is hard to change fonts and copy and paste easily. i also would like to know how to indent on the ipad, because the way i do now is tedious. i think in the new ios 5 update, they took indenting away from pages.
ReplyDelete