New Great list of Apps!

http://www.iear.org/schools/

If you click on this site, there are six schools who have produced spreadsheets on apps.  I clicked on the second one and there are hundreds of apps listed and reviewed.

Because it is a spreadsheet you can sort by subject and grade….it’s fabulous….try it out:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/lv?key=tenru11ELMGfma9kDka2moQ&type=view&gid=0&f=true&sortcolid=0&sortasc=true&rowsperpage=250

let me know what you think (either reply to all, or post to the Blog)

td

Round Two begins

Welcome to our newest members of the iPad project.  Feel free to leave your first comments here (if you haven't already done so).  I came upon another really good site: https://sites.google.com/site/ipadwebinar/

Renita's thoughts

Here are some of my thoughts about IPADs in the classroom. It was definitely a good idea to give the product to teachers first. If teachers are not given time to think about the changes that should occur in the classroom, the use of any type of technology will be limited to just fitting it into the current instruction, expectations, assessments and tasks. Teachers need to be comfortable with the devices and have time to think about classroom integration and transformation. Writing in the blog gave us the chance to experience a web tool that could be useful in the classroom.

If you haven't seen this TED Talk by Diana Laufenberg, it is  worth 10 minutes of your time.

http://www.ted.com/talks/diana_laufenberg_3_ways_to_teach.html

Here is an interesting article about digital textbooks: http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2010/10/20/01digtextbooks.h04.html?cmp=clp-edweek

The IPAD has been a very useful tool. I can use it for AIMSweb tasks no matter where I am. It has been great for taking notes in meetings and during classroom visits. Finding information is easy. The information piece is its greatest strength. It is what I grab when I go into classrooms. It is not what I use to work on Smart lessons, make assessments, make new webpages, or complete other lengthy tasks. When our classrooms do transform, I'm not yet convinced that the IPAD will be the best tool for students. I'm also thinking that students would probably use whatever device they have outside of classroom time as much, if not more frequently than during class time. Hopefully the classroom of the future will balance direct instruction with projects than include collaboration, conversation and integration of content.

Here is a list of Challenges and Successes from the Palm Beach IPAD Project. It was a link from a page you sent to us earlier.  I didn't see Study Island on the list - it falls under the "some things work" category.

http://www.palmbeachschooltalk.com/groups/ipadpilot/wiki/86919/Challenges_and_Successes.html

Challenges and Successes

Please list anything on an iPad that you used in your classroom that either worked or did not work and list why it worked the way it did. If there are things that can be amended to make it work better, please list that as well.

All of these were tested on the public network.

Applications/Software	Works perfectly	Does not work	Some things work	Notes
Learning Village	X			Some external links may not work.
End of Course Exams		X
FCAT Explorer		X
Destination Reading, Math, etc		X		HMH has a possible solution to be discussed 4/29/10
PDF's	X
Gizmos			X	The actual Gizmo does not work; however the documentation (pdf, doc) does load.
PBSpaces Blog	X			Works on web and there is a WordPress App
DEStreaming			X	Mobile site coming begining of August. All Quicktime Videos Work. Some videos on their homepage are flash based and do not work. Some videos work others do not. Tested the video "The Holocaust: A Teenager's Experience" and it worked.
netTrekker			X	Read aloud is sporadic; however this is a known IT issue.
TrainU	X
Vodcast Server		X
District Exchange Email	X			Works in Safari
Destiny	X
Edline	X
VMathLive!		X
Youtube	X
District Website	X
Core K12	X
BrainPOP & BrainPOP Jr.		X		They do have an iPad app that shows the featured video each day with a quiz. No plans to move to HTML5.
Weekly Reader			X	Games do not work; however, teacher center works
World Book for Students			X	Everything works except for video
eHartcourtSchool.com			X	Pages show up fine; interactive activites do not work.
Kids Infobits	X
Tumblebooks		X
Glogster		X
NASA for Kids			X	Most things work; on a few things that don't
Wordle		X
National Geographic for Kids		X
PBS Kids (Games)		X
Kids Click Search	X			Search works fine; linked sites may not work
Starfall		X
Student Resource Center from Gale	X
Common Craft		X
eLibrary			X	Everything works except for video
SIRS Discoverer	X
Internet Public Library for Teens	X			Search works fine; linked sites may not work
Ask a Librarian			X	Email works; chat doesn't
Prezi		X
VoiceThread		X
CompassLearning		X
E2020		X
SIRS Researcher	X
World Book Kids	X
FunBrain			X	Some games work and others don't
Delicious	X
Teachingbooks.net			X	PDF files work but author videos and slideshows do not.
Keynote (like PowerPoint)	X			App that can be purchased
Pages (like Word)	X			App that can be purchased
Numbers (like Excel)	X			App that can be purchased
Animoto	X			There's an app for that
Scholastic Suite		X
App Store (native app)			X	Can navigate and find apps, music, etc., but cannot download and install on Public Network.
iBooks			X	Can navigate and find books, but cannot download books on Public Network.
Google Mail	X			Does not work in Mail App
Google Calendar	X
Google Docs			X	Can view docs but not edit them. You can purchase Docs to Go and edit Google Docs.
Google Sites	X
Teachscapes	X			Free app that can be downloaded.

More thoughts

Lonnie posted his thoughts on his own BLog - check them out 'cause they are worth the read:

http://idtmi.blogspot.com/2010/11/thoughts-on-ipad.html

Various Thoughts as the iPads change hands from Teachers

I have utilized the iPad in a variety of ways in the classroom (I teach in a multihandicapped classroom). I use it for one on one work to strengthen and reinforce fine motor, math and reading skills. The students enjoying playing on the iPad for free time and figured out how to manipulate the apps quite quickly and easily.  I have an augmentative communication program on it called Proloquotogo and utilize it daily.  This program has many ins and outs that I need to figure out but I have figured out how to create my own pages and this has made utilizing it in group activities much easier. I agree with the items mentioned about things that do not work: 1. No USB capability 2. No ADOBE flash capability so unable to play certain videos 3. Not being able to multitask is inconvenient.  Overall, I enjoy using it my classroom and it is a motivator for my students.

Dianne Joseph

 

Having the IPad in the classroom was an awesome way for students to have the opportunity to  learn about the Ipad.  We explored many apps! However, still the most engaging one proved to be the ever stress relieving “Angry Birds.”  The battery life is fantastic and its portability is unsurpassed.  I find that not having a USB port is really inconvenient and makes printing or loading pictures more of a chore.

At this time, I would have to agree that a laptop would be a better choice for student use and be more versatile overall.  Perhaps the next generation of IPad  will include the USB port.

Jan Rullie

 

Advantages for Learning:

Kids love it and get excited about using it. There are many apps that can be used in the classroom. It has excellent battery life. It has quick access to the internet and apps. It is convenient to carry and use in many environments. It is nice to have a screen that can be used vertical or horizontal. Great for consumption.

Disadvantages for Learning:

No CD/DVD. No USB. No Flash video. No Multitasking or file management. Fingerprints on screen. Not great for producing papers or presentations in the classroom.

Summary

I was glad we had an opportunity like this. While I loved having this for my own personal use to read papers, books, magazines, listen to music and check email and use the internet . . . I struggled to find ways to have it make an impact on student learning that makes it cost effective. In my opinion, at this time, a laptop or Netbook for each student still seems to be a better choice for students and their learning needs. Vince Collopy