You just got your new iPads. I highly recommend that you:
Download iBooks from the App Store and then download the free iPad User Guide
Set up Find My iPad - Follow this link for instructions
Add your DC (and other) email. Simply go to Settings and select Mail, Contact, Calendars and add your accounts.
While you're in settings look around a little.
Set Restrictions and a Passcode Lock. These are both in General settings. I have a video on restrictions.
Set up a DropBox account. Then download the App for your iPad and for you computer. Any file you put in your DropBox folder on your computer will then be available instantly on your iPad.
Things to remember:
Students can't delete apps on the cart iPads, but they can move them around. You can always do a search for missing apps.
iPads don't run flash or java. That means if you have a website with a lot of interactive elements you really need to try it on the iPad by yourself before you try it with your students. Many online videos are also in Flash and so will not play back on an iPad.
Students need some time to play, especially the first time they use the iPads. They're going to do it anyway so you might as well plan for it. This will hopefully lower your frustration level. You might also want to plan play time when you bring in a new tool. Let your students have a little time to figure out what they can and can't do.
Do not count on data remaining n the iPads from day to day, or even hour to hour. Have students email their work to themselves.
If students are turning in work via email you should require that they email a copy to themselves as well. This is just in case it doesn't get to you. They can even go into Safari and check their email to see that they got it.
Apps We Used:
SyncSpace:
Cool app that lets people collaborate in near real time on drawings.
One person starts a drawing and then Shares the Sync Link via email with their other collaborators.
The other students will have to go to gmail on the web to get get the link.
The first time you use this you have to give students time to play before you try to get them on task. I actually had a plan and something specific I wanted to have you all do, but we never actually got to it. You were just having too much fun.
When they're done you can have them send you a PDF or a SyncLink. Either:
Hame students email from within the program (not from their own gmail) and set up filters to organize your inbox
Or have them begin to email and copy the SyncLink and paste it into a Google Form.
ShowMe:
This will record the screen as you write/draw and speak. I plan on using this to have students demonstrate what they know.
When they finish and try to submit to the web the first time they will have use a ShowMe account. I've set one up. The username is: dcipadcart just ask me and I'll give you the password. This should work for all the students to submit work.
If they click pause while recording they can start it up again. If they click stop then they are done with that video file and they can not record anymore.
You can bring in pictures to work on. Just put the picture you want onto edline or you can email it to dcipadcart@divinechildhighschool.org Students simply "Open In" Photos and then it will be available in ShowMe.
There is another App on our iPads called ScreenChomp that will do the same thing as ShowMe. I compared them here.