Assignment #4: If I Were the Teacher...

Imagine you were a teacher and had several iPads in your classroom.  What would you do?

Please comment on this post and tell us how you would make use of the iPads if you were a teacher.  If a certain app is needed, please include the name. Here are a few examples:

• If I were a Math teacher, I would use Screen Chomp.  I would give my students a problem, then have them work in groups to figure it out.  Once they figured it out, I would have them record how they solved it and email it to me.  I could review them after class and then share some of the good solutions (or go over errors) with them on the next class day.
• If I were a teacher, I would have a student type notes in Pages and then put them in a shared Dropbox, First Class conference, or Google group for the rest of the class to view.
• If I were a Science teacher, I would use iMovie to record info on a lab and then post it for my students to watch before they come to class on a particular day.  I would also have one person in each lab group being in charge of documenting the lab.  They would have to record everyone's hypotheses, questions, and participation.  Then they would edit it with text and send it to me to review.
• If I were a teacher, I would use iCal to keep track of all my lesson plans.  I would use the notes feature to record what I need to go over with my class.

This assignment is due Friday, October 7th.

Assignment #3: iPads by Subject

During our meeting last week we discussed which classes you all were able to use your iPads in and which classes you were not able to use them.  For some, it was because of the layout of the class and for others, it was because your teachers either encourage or discourage their use.  For this assignment, please answer the following questions as thoroughly as possible:
1.  Which classes are you using the iPad in the most?  Why do you think this is?  What sorts of things are you doing with them in these classes?
2.  Which classes are you using the iPad the least?  Why do you think this is?  What ideas do you have for how they could be used in these classes?
3.  What grade are you in?

Please do not use any teachers' names - only class names.  This assignment is due on September 23rd.

Save the Date: iPad Lunch and Learns

We will be holding two iPad Lunch and Learns over the next few weeks. Both sessions will be held in the meeting room inside the high school library 12:40-1:30. These meetings are not mandatory.  If you would like to join us for either, please bring your lunch and iPad.
Wednesday, September 21st: Pages and Keynote on the iPad
Wednesday, October 5th: iMovie on the iPad

Mandatory Meeting on 9/7

Below are the responses for two of our questions from our mandatory meeting on September 7th. Thank you to everyone who attended!

Replace audience response hardware with Poll Everywhere

Make your own poll voting question with Poll Everywhere

Assignment #2: First Impressions

While everyone seems to be enjoying the iPad as a new learning tool, everyone has had different experiences in their classes.  What has been the hardest/easiest/most surprising part of your experience with using the iPad? Please comment to this post and answer all three parts of the question in as much detail as possible.  Don't forget to enter your name when posting.
Please comment to this post and and answer all three of the questions below:
1. What have you found to be the best thing about having an iPad at school?
2.  What have you found to be the worst thing about having an iPad at school?
3.  What has been the most surprising thing about having an iPad at school?

Assignment #1: Notetaking Apps

This year we are hoping that most of you will start taking your class notes on the iPad. For your first assignment, we would like you to look into notetaking Apps.  Read the reviews, then try some out.  There are many free notetaking Apps, so you do not have to purchase one if you don't want to.   Once you have tried several, write a review of your favorite as a comment to this post.  Tell us the name, how much it cost, why you liked it, and what features it offers. 
It is not required, but you may want to look into getting a stylus to use when taking notes.  They range in prices, but we found a decent Acer one on Amazon for as low as $9.
Due date: August 26, 2011

Training Handout

Click here if you need to view the handout we used during the iPad orientation.