iPad Hot Button Questions - Session #2
When will a variety of textbooks become available?
Soon. Every day, there are more and more textbooks available in the bookstore since Apple’s agreement with all of the major textbook companies. As a result, these companies will be losing money if they don’t create content for the iPad within the next calendar school year.
How do you explore finding Apps?
How do you figure out which apps are the best?
What is the best way to find out about new apps that would be most useful for students to use?
How do I research apps for my specific curricula use?
How do I find a website which recorded all of the teachers who have great projects using the iPad?
1) Read some iPad and Education blogs (http://appsineducation.blogspot.com, http://ipadeducators.ning.com, http://wiki.canby.k12.or.us/groups/ipodusergroup/), http://teachingwithipad.org/
2) Check out the recommended categories and charts in the App Store
3) Talk to colleagues who have used iPads with students both at your school and other schools
4) Use Twitter as a resource by searching for #ipaded, #ipadchat for great links to apps and how to use the iPad in the curriculum
How do you get your school to buy iPads for teaching staff?
All schools are different. The best way for schools to look to get iPads for the faculty is to look work as a department, division, or even just a team, and propose ideas of what they can do with the iPads and why they want them. Most schools will need to make requests in the budget for purchasing technology, so work with your technology team to make this happen.
How do you help all faculty to catch up? Is there a realistic time line for this?
No, this is no realistic time line, nor is there a magical way to help all faculty catch up. It’s all about exploring. People within schools will always have different skills and abilities, in all things, not just technology It simply has to be about playing, experimenting, and exploring at your own pace.
How can I take a video of myself using the iPad writing on a piece of paper?
Try out Explain Everything, Educreations, ShowMe, or Screenchomp.
What is the effect of iPad and computer use on a child’s fine motor development?
Actually, I would say they will improve. There have been numbers of studies done in the past 10-20 years that have showed that children who play video games in combination with other daily activities develop better eye-hand coordination, as well as display improved creativity, memory, and decision-making ability. You also have people creating apps designed to improvement fine motor development (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dexteria-fine-motor-skill/id420464455?mt=8).
Are there things that might be simply done between with pencil and paper? Are we just too fascinated with technology?
Of course there are things that are better with pencil and paper. And there are also things are better down with an iPad.
Will we need to teach typing or handwriting?
Yes.
Is there such a thing as too much technology?
Of course.
Will too much content and skills be lost at the expense of teaching with or how to use an iPad?
Not really. The iPad is a tool. It’s not an end-all, be-all. It’s a tool no different than a pencil or a calculator. There are times when it is helpful and times when it isn’t.
How do you work with a class of students with different iPad proficiencies without losing the focus on the lesson content?
Focus more on the objectives and content, and let the skills take care of themselves. Encourage the students to work together, and share helpful tips and information. Skills can developed simply by usage.
Can I export a Keynote program from my laptop with lots of video clips into my iPad?
You can open the Keynote file on your iPad, using the Keynote app. However, the videos might have to also be synced to your iPad using iTunes. See this website for instructions (http://www.keynoteplus.com/add-video-to-your-keynote-for-ipad-slides.aspx)
What is the best word processing app?
Pages, iA Writer, Elements, QuickOffice, Evernote
What are some strategies for sharing documents between students and teachers? Among students?
Right now, it would be Dropbox. Share folders in Dropbox with your students and they can put work and assignments into their dropbox folder that is shared with you (or other students) for editing, proofreading, and grading. Google just released Google Drive which allows for viewing of all of your Google Docs. The app will soon feature the collaborative editing that you can only currently do with the web-based version of Google Docs. Once this is released, then using Google Docs becomes the best way for sharing documents.
How do I download work from a classroom set of iPads? Is there an easier way than downloading from each one?
It really depends on the app. Some apps allow you to export or send to a Dropbox folder. Others require syncing and downloading from each iPad individually. It also depends on the type of work that the students are doing. You might find that you can simply take a screenshot of the student work (if it is a drawing, painting, or annotated document) and share via email.
How can I use the iPad to make class more engaging and interactive?
Focus on student-generated content; rather than having the teacher create screencasts, podcasts, and videocasts for “flipped” learning, ask the students to produce these records of what they learned. Use apps creatively and ask the students to arrive at new ways to use apps. Perhaps have an app exploration assignment: students create strategies for using the app.
If iPads are used in a library, would it differ from usage elsewhere in the school and if so, why?
To start, the iPads could become part of the usual library functions of reading and researching, but the focus would be on using the unique qualities of ibook to annotate, highlight, and create flashcards and the ease of using the iPad to sync content with other devices.
Soon. Every day, there are more and more textbooks available in the bookstore since Apple’s agreement with all of the major textbook companies. As a result, these companies will be losing money if they don’t create content for the iPad within the next calendar school year.
How do you explore finding Apps?
How do you figure out which apps are the best?
What is the best way to find out about new apps that would be most useful for students to use?
How do I research apps for my specific curricula use?
How do I find a website which recorded all of the teachers who have great projects using the iPad?
1) Read some iPad and Education blogs (http://appsineducation.blogspot.com, http://ipadeducators.ning.com, http://wiki.canby.k12.or.us/groups/ipodusergroup/), http://teachingwithipad.org/
2) Check out the recommended categories and charts in the App Store
3) Talk to colleagues who have used iPads with students both at your school and other schools
4) Use Twitter as a resource by searching for #ipaded, #ipadchat for great links to apps and how to use the iPad in the curriculum
How do you get your school to buy iPads for teaching staff?
All schools are different. The best way for schools to look to get iPads for the faculty is to look work as a department, division, or even just a team, and propose ideas of what they can do with the iPads and why they want them. Most schools will need to make requests in the budget for purchasing technology, so work with your technology team to make this happen.
How do you help all faculty to catch up? Is there a realistic time line for this?
No, this is no realistic time line, nor is there a magical way to help all faculty catch up. It’s all about exploring. People within schools will always have different skills and abilities, in all things, not just technology It simply has to be about playing, experimenting, and exploring at your own pace.
How can I take a video of myself using the iPad writing on a piece of paper?
Try out Explain Everything, Educreations, ShowMe, or Screenchomp.
What is the effect of iPad and computer use on a child’s fine motor development?
Actually, I would say they will improve. There have been numbers of studies done in the past 10-20 years that have showed that children who play video games in combination with other daily activities develop better eye-hand coordination, as well as display improved creativity, memory, and decision-making ability. You also have people creating apps designed to improvement fine motor development (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dexteria-fine-motor-skill/id420464455?mt=8).
Are there things that might be simply done between with pencil and paper? Are we just too fascinated with technology?
Of course there are things that are better with pencil and paper. And there are also things are better down with an iPad.
Will we need to teach typing or handwriting?
Yes.
Is there such a thing as too much technology?
Of course.
Will too much content and skills be lost at the expense of teaching with or how to use an iPad?
Not really. The iPad is a tool. It’s not an end-all, be-all. It’s a tool no different than a pencil or a calculator. There are times when it is helpful and times when it isn’t.
How do you work with a class of students with different iPad proficiencies without losing the focus on the lesson content?
Focus more on the objectives and content, and let the skills take care of themselves. Encourage the students to work together, and share helpful tips and information. Skills can developed simply by usage.
Can I export a Keynote program from my laptop with lots of video clips into my iPad?
You can open the Keynote file on your iPad, using the Keynote app. However, the videos might have to also be synced to your iPad using iTunes. See this website for instructions (http://www.keynoteplus.com/add-video-to-your-keynote-for-ipad-slides.aspx)
What is the best word processing app?
Pages, iA Writer, Elements, QuickOffice, Evernote
What are some strategies for sharing documents between students and teachers? Among students?
Right now, it would be Dropbox. Share folders in Dropbox with your students and they can put work and assignments into their dropbox folder that is shared with you (or other students) for editing, proofreading, and grading. Google just released Google Drive which allows for viewing of all of your Google Docs. The app will soon feature the collaborative editing that you can only currently do with the web-based version of Google Docs. Once this is released, then using Google Docs becomes the best way for sharing documents.
How do I download work from a classroom set of iPads? Is there an easier way than downloading from each one?
It really depends on the app. Some apps allow you to export or send to a Dropbox folder. Others require syncing and downloading from each iPad individually. It also depends on the type of work that the students are doing. You might find that you can simply take a screenshot of the student work (if it is a drawing, painting, or annotated document) and share via email.
How can I use the iPad to make class more engaging and interactive?
Focus on student-generated content; rather than having the teacher create screencasts, podcasts, and videocasts for “flipped” learning, ask the students to produce these records of what they learned. Use apps creatively and ask the students to arrive at new ways to use apps. Perhaps have an app exploration assignment: students create strategies for using the app.
If iPads are used in a library, would it differ from usage elsewhere in the school and if so, why?
To start, the iPads could become part of the usual library functions of reading and researching, but the focus would be on using the unique qualities of ibook to annotate, highlight, and create flashcards and the ease of using the iPad to sync content with other devices.
