This page is where I share some of readings and thoughts around my inquiry
"How can I better lead schools using iOS devices transform learning."
I need to put my notes somewhere, and here seemed as good a place as any, available for public critique and reflection.
My thoughts are in italics.
I take transforming learning to be learning new things in new ways that could only be done with an iPad or can only be done easily with an iPad.
An iPad allows you take your learning device with you wherever you go. It is light, fairly cheap, robust and intuitive to use. It's design and features push the user to adopt new practices- there is no USB port, there is no ethernet cable, no Flash, no keyboard, no stypus- on purpose. It is ultimately designed as a 1-1 device but we, as teachers, make it work in a classroom environment.
Please add your comments/reflections to my thoughts on this Google Doc.
Some teachers have asked about children taking school owned iPads home and what sort of agreement might you set up around that idea soI have started this Google Doc with a policy framework and asked notable people to have input.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11FQt3pJbv8lkvzykBXhPUdanDCRccoR7OBj2k6zQdJU/edit
If you decide to use it as a basis for your own agreement please copy it first before you write on it.
Readings and Articles about iPad Use
iPads can't improve learning without good teaching (note taking) - Mark Gleeson, an Australian teacher, writes about thinking about what you want the children to be able to do- then think of an iPad app to do that.
He writes, as an example, of note taking without an iPad. Children take notes on pieces of paper, maybe make a mind map of them and move on.
With an iPad a student may make some digital notes, borrow a photo off Google that relates to it and have the notes saved for later reference.
With a transformational use of an iPad a student may annotate a text, find meanings of difficult words, be able to revise, share their thoughts with others not physically nearby and record conversations using Evernote to be recalled and revised at a later date.
Proof Reading with an iPad using the camera app
I took a photo of a child's handwritten writing, put it on the data projector and we together we looked at editing it and then published it with Scribblepress.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/ipads-transform-classroom-ben-johnson
I have been playing with Augmented Reality for an iPad using all kinds of apps.
My Reflections on the articles
I totally agree with Mark but teachers need to learn the possibilities of using an app to be able imagine how it might be put to use in the classroom.
Teachers need to experience the potential of using the transformational, creative apps to see how they might work with their own classrooms.
There are 140,00+ apps in the iPad store and a lot of those have nothing to do with learning.
My quest is seek out the best apps for enhancing children's learning- Learning New Things in New Ways.
I think this kind of tech really pushed the boundaries around what you can expect of mobile technology. This could only be done with a mobile device.
http://allanahk.edublogs.org/2012/07/10/making-and-posting-video-from-your-ipad/
Sylvia Tolisino writes about her ten most used used apps for a teacher to be fluent with in this post.
I agree with Sylvia when she says "Becoming fluent on the iPad requires consistent effort as well as some time".
You didn't become fluent on your laptop overnight and you need to invest some time to become fluent on the iPad as well.
I like this idea.
You start with what you want your students to be able to do. And then click on the link and it takes you to a few select apps that will well do what you want.
Way better than lists of apps with little explanation.
I view the iPad, not as a replacement for my laptop, but as a:
Deciding which apps are best to have on your iPad
http://www.portical.org/blog/beware-avoid-carmen-sandiego-syndrome/1384.htm
This post has some rubrics to help you decide
This link from Richmond View School six weeks in to a 1-1 iPad trial gives some interesting reflections.
Click on the graphic to make it bigger.
John Larkin has curated a really comprehensive iPad resource here.
http://www.larkin.net.au/blog/2011/01/30/ipad-in-education/