Project Based Learning with iPads Bringing learning to life – Bringing Life to learning! To start with, I think Project-based learning is the future of education. It puts students into real situations where they have to: Act professionallybe a team playerunderstand their assigned roleStick to deadlines as a teamProblem solveProject manageCommunicate ideas … I could go on for a while here! Photo by USdagov These are the skills the world, employers, charities and universities are crying out for, far more than any specific content schools might have traditionally taught. Fortunately, I don’t have to cover PBL in much detail as there are a number of sites and Youtube channels that do it brilliantly, especially EDUTOPIA and BIE. Here’s Edutopia’s introduction: Just one Important distinction! Project-based learning is not ‘doing projects’. PBL APPS (version 1) Here’s my quick representation of PBL by iPad App. Like this: Like Loading...
The Secret To Successfully Using iPads In Education My brother recently built a shelf for my daughter’s room. It is in the likeness of a boat that she will one day spend sunny afternoons on, cruising around Plymouth harbor. He used a saw, a hammer, glue and other assorted tools that I couldn’t explain or name. However, I do know this. What do hammers have to do with iPads? 30 Hammers Or 30 iPads Granted, if we were to offer a set of 30 hammers and 30 iPads to a classroom full of students, we all know which tool they would choose. Tools are not inspiring, engaging or motivating. Collaborating with ones peers, problem solving and ultimately creating something to demonstrate ones capabilities or unique understanding, that is engaging. Increased Engagement Myth Unfortunately, a good deal of discussion and justification for iPad use in the classroom revolves around the dreaded phrase, “increased engagement.” Certain they will be engaged with the options that an iPad presents to them. iPads Don’t Teach How To Actually Use iPads What It All Means
Ideas for Using iPads for Digital Storytelling By Sam Gliksman The following is the first of a series of excerpts from Gliksman’s book iPad in Education for Dummies. The digital aspect of storytelling raises the art to a new level of experience. The emergence of technology and digital media has resulted in some significant departures from the traditional role of storytelling in education: Stories have become media-rich experiences. Billions of mobile devices are in the hands of people worldwide, and an ever-increasing percentage of those devices contain video cameras, still cameras, and microphones. Reading and writing remain crucial educational components. When you think of storytelling from a traditional perspective, you might conjure up any of these images of Danny Kaye telling a story to a group of children seated on the ground; a kindergarten teacher reading a book to a group of young students; a parent reading a bedtime story to a child. Then we reached the information age. Related
8 Frequent Mistakes Made with iPads in School 9 Frequent Mistakes Made with iPads in School MISTAKE ONE – Underestimate the power of the iPad Students do not need to be taught how to use the iPad, but rather how to get the most out of it. MISTAKE TWO – Neglect to make real world connections Most students’ use social media, but not necessarily in a way to learn or to connect in meaningful ways. MISTAKE THREE –The iPad alone will not help kids think deeply Kids need help to find apps that allow them to experience learning in new ways, to think outside the box, and to dig deeper. MISTAKE FOUR – Treating the iPad like a computer When it comes to word-processing – let students use a computer, it is incredibly difficult to format Pages on the iPad and the continual auto spell check can be very frustrating. MISTAKE FIVE – Not taking advantage of the mobility of the device. iPad mobility means that students can move about taking photographs, recording audio, and shooting video, in any number of places. MISTAKE SEVEN – Resistance to change
Checklist: Are You Ready for iPads In Your School? Digital Tools Which? Tech By Sam Gliksman The following is the third of a series of excerpts from Gliksman’s book iPad in Education for Dummies. It seems that every school is considering purchasing iPads these days, and Apple has reported that iPad sales to schools are currently outselling MacBook sales by a very large margin. Well-planned technology deployments can be tremendously successful and transformative for schools and students. Determining Whether You’re Ready There’s no point in purchasing iPads if you don’t have the technical infrastructure to manage and deploy them. Do you have adequate incoming Internet bandwidth to connect all the devices and use them at the same time? Understanding and Communicating Why You Want iPads This is the elephant in the room — the most critical question that is rarely discussed and evaluated from an educational perspective. Targeting 21st-Century Learning Objectives There’s a natural inclination to stay in your comfort zone. Enabling the Unpredictable
Guest Post: 10 Great Ideas for Using iPads in the Classroom | teachingwithipad The iPad isn’t just a great tool for reading your e-books or surfing the web while you’re waiting for your plane. It is a powerful and sophisticated piece of technology that can help teachers connect with students and facilitate learning in the classroom. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of great apps that can help you to teach lessons with the iPad, and there are many other ways the iPad can serve as a useful tool. 1. The iPad is the perfect tool for making presentations – either the presentations you give to the classroom in your lessons, or the presentations that students make when they have projects due. 2. Presentations aren’t the only thing you can use the iPad to display. 3. If you are lucky enough to have a few iPads for your class – or, luckier still, to have one for each student – you can use them to facilitate group work. 4. It can cost a lot of money maintaining textbooks and keeping them updated with the latest versions. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Bio: Further reading: Like this:
12 Characteristics Of An iPad-Ready Classroom - Implementing iPads isn’t exactly a just-add-water proposition. While they’re wondrous little devices capable of enchanting learners for hours, to get the learning results you’re likely after will take planning, design, and reflection. It can help to start out by asking yourself some important questions, such as “What can the iPad do that is not possible without it? Put another way, what problems does the iPad solve?” But the learning environment you’re starting with can make a big difference as well. Below are 4 distinct areas of instruction and instructional design that can help frame the concept of iPad integration. There is more to the conversation, but rather than overwhelm you (not that you couldn’t handle it), it seemed better to simply start your thinker.
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. 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
The 55 Best Free Education Apps For iPad Finding apps isn’t difficult. Finding education apps is only a bit more challenging. Finding free education apps is also possible. The following is our list for the 55 best apps for learning we can find. A few notes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The 55 Best Free Education Apps For iPad 1. Developer Description: View 360-degree panoramas of places around the globe with Street View; View high resolution satellite imagery of locations around the world. 2. Developer Description: “…explore more than 750 Science, Math, Social Studies, English, Engineering & Tech, Arts & Music, and Health subjects right on their mobile devices. 3. Developer Description: “This app is a fun way for parents, teachers, librarians, and readers to get more information about top rated books at the fifth and sixth grade level. This app is a fun way for parents, teachers, librarians, and readers to get more information about top rated books at the fifth and sixth grade level. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
iPad Invading Classrooms The pace of change is accelerating everywhere and one of the primary drivers of that change is what I call the “digitization of everything.” Every industry is being impacted – and most in some pretty significant and often severe ways. Schools aren’t keeping pace with this level of change – nor are they preparing young people for a world that is radically different from today (which is radically different from just a few short years ago). Add to that the trends in mobility and you’ve got a perfect storm. Here are a few of the key trends showing how these forces are impacting schools IT spending is up: The Center for Digital Education estimated education spending on IT reached $19.7 billion in 2010-11 and it’s expected to rise again in 2011-12. The iPad is playing a big role in this transformation – and with the introduction of the iPad Mini we should expect to see even greater adoption. “Kids are the experts on the technology,” Soloway says. Mobile That Works St. Uncategorized
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. However, what about the five days after that? 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. Taking a note from Alan November's talks about the #1st5days, consider what is possible in the first five hours, days, and weeks of school. 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 First 5 Days The power of the iPad is how it can be used as a creation device. The First 5 Weeks Getting Started
23 Things Every Teacher Should Be Able To Do With An iPad Using an iPad is simple due to its intuitive interface, elegant touch interface, and user-friendly operating system. Below we’ve listed 23 different tasks a teacher should be able to perform with their iPad. We’ve tried to focus on the basics, along with some typical tasks a teacher may be required to complete. We’ve also (roughly) arranged them from less complicated to more complicated, so consider yourself an Unofficial iPad “Basic Hacker” if you can get to the bottom. For more complex iPad tasks and functions, we’re doing a follow-up post. Stay tuned! And let us know which important ones we’ve missed below on twitter or facebook. 1. Power button; long press and plug it in. 2. Apple has you covered: “To redeem an iTunes Gift Card or Gift Certificate, click the Redeem link in iTunes, enter the code on the card or certificate into the Redeem Code box on the page, and click the Redeem button. 3. For reference, check Apple’s help page, or Appducate’s page for some troubleshooting tips. 4. 5.
Utilizar la tableta táctil como herramienta de aprendizaje La tableta táctil puede ser una herramienta pedagógica importante en los establecimientos escolares. Desde hace dos años, la academia de Grenoble de Francia lleva un experimento que pretende determinar la utilidad escolar de este dispositivo, como complemento a las herramientas pedagógicas "clásicas" como los manuales escolares. Yaël Briswalter, inspector de la academia y asesor (en tecnologías de la información para la enseñanza) del rector de la academia de Grenoble y encargado del desarrollo de la pedagogía digital y de la organización de la formación de los profesores en este campo, comparte su experiencia sobre la integración de este dispositivo en establecimientos de primer y segundo grado, sus aportaciones específicas y también sus limitaciones. CCM - ¿Cómo nació este proyecto de experimentación sobre la integración de las tabletas táctiles en ciertos establecimientos escolares de la academia de Grenoble? YB - Unos cuarenta establecimientos participan en este experimento.