Tablets and Apps: How to ensure impact on teaching and learning (1 of 5) – The Big Picture Tim Scratcherd (the School House Partnership) and I were recently asked to write a report for the Oxford Education School Improvement Series on the use of Tablets and Apps. The purpose of this report is to provide practical support and guidance for school leadership teams who are considering the purchase of tablet devices. The report is aimed at school leaders and teacher in England but the ideas within the report are transferable to other parts of the world. With permission from Oxford I’ll be duplicating some of the report on olliebray.com over the next week. Part One - Tablets and Apps: How to ensure impact on teaching and learning – The Big Picture In many countries across the world we will move to ubiquitous 1:1 (one computer per child) learning environments within the next 5-10 years and it is highly likely that tablet technology will be at the heart of these deployments. The Place of ICT in Schools ICT and the National Curriculum ICT and School Inspection What the research tells us
10 Steps to a Successful School iPad Program Portions excerpted from new book, "iPad in Education for Dummies" by Sam Gliksman iPads have certainly become a highly desired commodity in education. Apple is reporting that schools are purchasing iPads by a ratio of 2:1 over MacBooks. Stated simply, technology alone doesn’t have the capacity to improve education. Well-planned technology deployments have the potential to have a remarkably transformative impact on schools and students. 1. Do you have adequate incoming Internet bandwidth to connect all the devices and use them at the same time? 2. Can you explain why you have decided to purchase iPads? It’s the question that’s rarely discussed before the decision is made to rush out and purchase new technology. 3. "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. " --Albert Einstein There’s a natural inclination to stay in your comfort zone. 4. 5. It’s important to remember that iPads are not laptops. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
How To Start Using Google Apps In Education As teachers, our plates are perpetually and impossibly full. The idea of adding one more component – such as incorporating technology into instruction – can seem daunting to say the least. In my own attempts to incorporate technology into my practice, Google has been the most valuable tool I have found thus far. Not only does it increase my ability to organize my instructional tools, but it also allows me to incorporate more technology when I feel ready to do so. Why use Google Apps? Google provides a multitude of Apps that can be accessed through multiple mediums – computer, smartphone, or tablet. These apps are all free and come with varying levels of privacy ranging from completely public on the web to limited only through sharing with specific contacts. So how can I use Google Apps in my teaching? To showcase the management advantage of Google Apps, I will highlight an example of how I use Google Apps in my own instruction. Maybe not right now…
11 Essential Tools For Better Project-Based Learning by Katre Laan from myhistro.com The rise of technology used in classrooms has made learning much more interactive. The emergence of iPads to browser-based tools in project-based learning, take teaching to a new level in the 21st century. Even the current trends in education include the use of new technology, from collaborative projects to blending traditional textbook teaching with innovative tools. For students, the core aim of project-based learning is to put theory into practice and gain new skills throughout the process. A major advantage of digital tools used is better engagement in the classroom. Browser-based tools and several apps used in education are especially useful for researching, storytelling and collaborative video making. Handy mobile devices allow students to be inspired when outside classroom by creating and sharing ideas and creations instantly. Here is a mini guide to some of the project based learning tools. 1) Mindmeister 2) Glogster 3) Myhistro 4) Pixton 5) Animoto
20 Types of Tablet Tools for Teaching UPDATED on October 1, 2012 In May 2011, after a year of experimentation, I became sold on the idea of using a tablet instead of a laptop as my primary mobile computer. It was my turn for a workstation update, and I chose a desktop. I’ve been happy with that decision ever since. My laptop used to remain on the desk when I left the office, but these days I take my tablet wherever I go! I have thought a lot about which tablet apps are most likely to be useful to a college teacher. Under each category I name specific titles for iPad and Android which you may want to explore as good examples. I generally do not use a phone connection. Teaching This first group of tools is the one most directly connected to the act of teaching. Grade Book – iPad: Gradekeeper ($5), Gradebook Pro ($4), Android: Grade Book, AndroClass ($7)Annotation – mark up student-submitted PDF files with highlights, text and drawings. Content Use your tablet as a tool for course readings or to create materials for class. Generic
How to lock iPAD / iPhone screen so kids stay within the app Since I posted How to Child-proof iPAD, I received so many questions asking how to lock iPAD screen or iPhone screen, so kids stay within the app you want them to play. Now we found the solution – Daisy Simpson, our new reviewer at iGameMom is going to share the trick with you. If you want to stay updated with iGameMom app recommendations and tech tips, please sign up for the free email updates . I am so happy to have discovered the new Guided Access feature on my iPhone/iPad. Has your child been in the middle of a game, only to touch the home button then get back to the home screen and suddenly all your apps are bouncing and ready to be deleted? My son loves to press the home button, over and over and over. 1. 2. 3. 4. Now if you have older kids this might not be the solution you are looking for, but also with older kids they are probably not constantly clicking the home button. 5. Tapping Accessibility at the top-left corner of the screen. 6. 7.
Guidance - Laptop computer charging trolleys safety alert Who is affected? HSE is issuing this safety alert for the attention of schools that use laptop computer charging trolleys and those who manufacture / supply such products. This is to raise awareness of the potential electrical dangers and the steps to take to protect staff and pupils. What is the risk? A HSE investigation into an electric shock incident involving a laptop charging trolley found that when a 3-pin plug supplying the trolley was removed from the supply socket there was sufficient stored electric charge on the pins of the plug to give the user an electric shock. When can the risk arise? The risk of electric shock from the pins of the plug arises during removal of the plug from the socket for a short period of time. As many of the trolleys have trailing electrical cables and plugs they can be damaged during movement of the trolleys. Why has this problem arisen? The manufacturer should produce a written ‘Declaration of Conformity' and affix a CE mark to the equipment. Schools
Change for the Better – 1:1 iPad Program | Learning Journey There is no question that our 1:1 iPad Program is making a significant difference to the learning experiences occurring in our classrooms. Change is everywhere. It is change enabled by simplicity. iPads are brilliantly simple and are at the same time powerful. This has made technology accessible to both students and teachers. Teachers One of the biggest shifts in our school has been the shift by teachers. Technical Support and Enablement .Provision of a Technology Coordinator: In our own experience having a teacher continuously available to assist, advise, arrange, support, respond has made the effective roll out possible. In the Classrooms – The StudentsManagement: it is really important to establish a code of conduct / behaviour around student use of iPads. Parents One of the great assets which schools sometimes underutilizes are parents. With many possibilities on the horizon e.g. Like this: Like Loading...
Tablets, laptops and mobiles in the classroom: top tips from teachers | Teacher Network | Guardian Professional This week we've been exploring how technology is being used to educate and engage in the classroom and our piece on using mobile phones in the classroom caused quite the stir, attracting comments from enthusiasts, skeptics and those teachers in between. It's obvious that while many remain to be convinced of the potential, others are really excited about using one to one devices in their lessons. We brought together teachers and education experts on the topic, to share their thoughts, tips and advice in a live discussion. Here are some of the highlights. Donna Comerford (@DonnaComerford) is deputy director of learning at Cavendish School in Eastbourne and on a mission to bring creativity, enthusiasm and fun back into ICT lessons. Don't be afraid if you don't know it all: I do not know everything there is to know about ICT, couldn't hope to and I'm happy to tell kids that. Think of how much you have just learnt sharing this social medium with other like-minded educators.
The First 5s with iPads Author's Note: This post expands on ideas that I originally shared last year on Edutopia. With the start of school approaching and the looming expectation of incorporating iPads into the curriculum becoming a reality, the big question many educators are asking is: "Where should I begin?" Last year, I wrote about 5 Steps for the First 5 Days. It can seem daunting to envision a year's worth of activities with iPads, but when taken in small chunks, it doesn't need to be intimidating. The First 5 Hours One of the great benefits of iPads is the immediate access to a camera and microphone. Take a picture of each student to use as a visual attendance sheet, to create avatars, or as an icebreaker. The pictures or videos captured during these initial activities could even be posted to a Padlet Wall to create a digital bulletin board. The First 5 Days The power of the iPad is how it can be used as a creation device. The First 5 Weeks Sample Organization of Notability Image credit: Beth Holland
25 Ways To Use Tablets In The Classroom When I was a kid, I dreamt about our school desks as computer screens. How cool would it have been to be able to draw, write, and learn directly onto my own computer? As the years went on, people theorized that laptops would take over the classroom, but the price of these devices was too high for a 1 to 1 ratio. It never quite caught on in lower grade schools. See Also: 25 Ways To Use iPads In The Classroom by Degree of Difficulty Now, it is the age of the tablet. Yet, some educators are still skeptical. 1. In a subject like art, people might think, “How could a tablet be useful? It is, but what about an app that helps with color matching and combination, or tools for interior design where the child can map out their project in concept before getting to work? When they are done, they can share in galleries with other students for critique and encouragement. 2. App developers have continually surprised the public with the complexity of tools they are able to create for tablets. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Should Students be Allowed to use iPads at School? Should Students be Allowed to use iPads at School? (Photo credit: Wikipedia) There can really be no doubt about the fact that the face of education is rapidly changing. These changes are occurring at a fast and furious rate and in no area is there a greater transformation than in that of technology. iPads Should be Allowed at School: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. iPads Should Not be Allowed at School: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. There can be little doubt that there are many powerful arguments on both sides of this issue and there really is no easy answer. Please subscribe to my blog by signing up on the blue form at the side of the page. Sources: 1. 2. 3. 17 Pros and Cons of Using iPads in the Classroom. 4. iPads in the Classroom. 5. You May Also Enjoy: Daily Education and Technology News for Schools. 5 Ways to Make Your Classroom More Student Centered. 4 Top Trends in Education. 981 total views, 6 views today
Jumping the Good Ship Android « Technoteaching A brief summary of our 1:1 project so far. In August 2012 we rolled out 140 Toshiba AT-100 Android devices to our entire S1 cohort as part of a pilot 1:1 tablet program for Edinburgh Council. The project has been very successful and we have seen some fantastic ways in which learning has changed for this year group. For more detail on the initial stages of the project, see the blog posts summarising each of the 4 phases: Planning, Preparation, Implementation and Review. There have also been very positive media articles via STV online and Edinburgh Evening News. Given this positive impact, we have now started the planning process for a second phase with a view to rolling out 1:1 mobile devices to a further year group. When we were planning the first phase of our 1:1 program, there were only three realistic options for us to consider: iPad, Android tablets or Netbooks. 1. All too regularly I come across a fantastic app only to discover that it’s available only for iOS and not Android. 2.