Might try a few of these -
https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dhfbbtz5_3fqzp42qn&ncl=true
Monday 30 April 2012
Wheres my pens!!!
My stylus pens have not yet arrived - (purchased a while ago from 'Daily Do')!
A few peeps are having trouble adding comments to the blogs - not sure what's going on - will investigate - watch this space........
A few peeps are having trouble adding comments to the blogs - not sure what's going on - will investigate - watch this space........
Tuesday 24 April 2012
Workshop 1
Right - this evening I shall start with information from the first workshop from the conference I attended last week - Mobile Devices in the Classroom.
The first workshop was given by Cameron Lockie - Principal from Kaipara Flats School. It was titled 'iTouch Learning @Kaipara Flats School - Come hear the journey we have taken introducing iPod touches and iPads into our learning programmes, the mistakes, the successes, how we manage the devices, what we have learnt and where to next.
Cameron said he got the iPads and iPods for his school by applying for grants from 'pub' funding. He also got money from this source to purchase Sony TV's. He did apply to other sources too but kept going until he was successful.
The school is going to gradually phase out desktops and replace with the teachers choice of an iPad or laptop.
Cameron said to us that he was happy for us to ring and arrange a visit to his school to see the iPads in action.
Cameron stressed that the iPads are NOT replacing anything. All other programmes are still in place. They are an additional tool for teachers.
Kids can often be seen working in 2's and 3's around an iPad - co-operation, collaboration, language sharing, turn taking.
They ENGAGE students.
They enhance instruction.
They increase motivation.
They accomodate multiple learning styles.
Can be taken anywher.
Expands learning beyond the classroom.
Ease of use - intuitive - little pre-training required.
The school is now working out how to share info on each others iPads and getting info off the device and put onto the server.
Use of folders - put in apps they don't want kids to use, make topic foldrs.A good app. is Cuebrain (?) - for letter formation.
Each teacher has their own individual iTunes account - this prevents "gate-keeping" by senior staff.
Well there it is folks - let me know what you think.
The first workshop was given by Cameron Lockie - Principal from Kaipara Flats School. It was titled 'iTouch Learning @Kaipara Flats School - Come hear the journey we have taken introducing iPod touches and iPads into our learning programmes, the mistakes, the successes, how we manage the devices, what we have learnt and where to next.
Cameron said he got the iPads and iPods for his school by applying for grants from 'pub' funding. He also got money from this source to purchase Sony TV's. He did apply to other sources too but kept going until he was successful.
The school is going to gradually phase out desktops and replace with the teachers choice of an iPad or laptop.
Cameron said to us that he was happy for us to ring and arrange a visit to his school to see the iPads in action.
Cameron stressed that the iPads are NOT replacing anything. All other programmes are still in place. They are an additional tool for teachers.
Kids can often be seen working in 2's and 3's around an iPad - co-operation, collaboration, language sharing, turn taking.
They ENGAGE students.
They enhance instruction.
They increase motivation.
They accomodate multiple learning styles.
Can be taken anywher.
Expands learning beyond the classroom.
Ease of use - intuitive - little pre-training required.
The school is now working out how to share info on each others iPads and getting info off the device and put onto the server.
Use of folders - put in apps they don't want kids to use, make topic foldrs.A good app. is Cuebrain (?) - for letter formation.
Each teacher has their own individual iTunes account - this prevents "gate-keeping" by senior staff.
Well there it is folks - let me know what you think.
Monday 23 April 2012
iPads for kids with Down's Syndrome
Just browsing the net - saw this article - quite interesting.
http://voxxi.com/free-ipad-apps-for-special-needs-children/
http://voxxi.com/free-ipad-apps-for-special-needs-children/
Stylus pens
I have just ordered two stylus pens from 'Daily Do' for use on iPads. I had a go with one on the conference (see previous blog).
Immediately these two thoughts came into my head: 1 - they will get lost and 2 - the rubber end will get chewed off.
However they were quite fun to use but I didn't think I would buy some. Anyway this morning I spotted 2 for $10 on Daily Do and thought for that price I'll give them a try - no great loss if they do go AWOL.
So I am waiting excitedly (yes I know I need to get out more) for the package of pens to arrive. I will then let you know how I get on with them and/or how long it is before they go missing.
Immediately these two thoughts came into my head: 1 - they will get lost and 2 - the rubber end will get chewed off.
However they were quite fun to use but I didn't think I would buy some. Anyway this morning I spotted 2 for $10 on Daily Do and thought for that price I'll give them a try - no great loss if they do go AWOL.
So I am waiting excitedly (yes I know I need to get out more) for the package of pens to arrive. I will then let you know how I get on with them and/or how long it is before they go missing.
Sunday 22 April 2012
Mobile Devices in Classrooms
On Thursday 19 April I attended a conference "Mobile Devices in Classrooms'. I wasn't quite sure how it was going to go but I came home very inspired.
There is so much to blog about that I am going to take it slowly over several updates for you.
Anyway the conference was at Albany High School - wow- very cool school building by the way. Mind you I did manage to get myself locked in the car park. This school has a multi-story car park (Yes I know - wow!). I managed to park on level 2 instead of level 1 as requested. I don't really know how I managed it but apparantly I must have followed someone in who had a swipe card. When I went to get my car at the end of the day I couldn't find it! (I was looking in level 1). Anyway to cut a long story short I was eventually released by a lovely chap with a fob. That'll teach me for not concentrating while parking.
I attended 4 sessions over the day. There was a wide variety of sessions to choose from so I missed out on loads of stuff that I would like to have gone along to. Apparantly they are hoping to run another of these conferences so hopefully I could go along again and go along to some of the 'missed' talks (hint, hint - just in case my Principal is reading this).
The four sessions I attended were:
iTouch learning @ Kaipara Flats School.
iPad apps for Art.
iPad apps to support the learning of children with special needs. iPads for literacy with junior students.
Also while I think about it - morning tea was fab - freshly baked scones with fruit compote (very posh) and fresh cream (or yoghurt for the health freaks).
Well I shall be off now. As I am back to school tomorrow after the Easter break I need to get my shut eye so I am ready for it in the morning. Watch this space for the next bit of feedback from the conference.
Anyway the conference was at Albany High School - wow- very cool school building by the way. Mind you I did manage to get myself locked in the car park. This school has a multi-story car park (Yes I know - wow!). I managed to park on level 2 instead of level 1 as requested. I don't really know how I managed it but apparantly I must have followed someone in who had a swipe card. When I went to get my car at the end of the day I couldn't find it! (I was looking in level 1). Anyway to cut a long story short I was eventually released by a lovely chap with a fob. That'll teach me for not concentrating while parking.
I attended 4 sessions over the day. There was a wide variety of sessions to choose from so I missed out on loads of stuff that I would like to have gone along to. Apparantly they are hoping to run another of these conferences so hopefully I could go along again and go along to some of the 'missed' talks (hint, hint - just in case my Principal is reading this).
The four sessions I attended were:
iTouch learning @ Kaipara Flats School.
iPad apps for Art.
iPad apps to support the learning of children with special needs. iPads for literacy with junior students.
Also while I think about it - morning tea was fab - freshly baked scones with fruit compote (very posh) and fresh cream (or yoghurt for the health freaks).
Well I shall be off now. As I am back to school tomorrow after the Easter break I need to get my shut eye so I am ready for it in the morning. Watch this space for the next bit of feedback from the conference.
Saturday 21 April 2012
Tablets
Hi everyone,
Just saw Bobbie in the mall (I was kid free so grabbed the opportunity to browse the shops). Anyway - Bobbie has bought a 'tablet' which she says is really cool. I seized the opportunity to tell Bobbie about our blog, She is going to let us know via the blog how she gets on with the tablet - lots of the apps are available for both her thingy (sorry can't remember what type it was) and iPads. So even more info will be winging our way soon.
Has anyone tried the iPads with their students yet. If yes - how did you get on?
I have given the kids a go and they loved them. I just downloaded a variety of apps to start with not knowing if they would be any good or not. These ranged from apps involving characters I know particular students love (e.g. Toy Story) to maths games e.g. hungry fish and dot to dot. Also loads of other apps as well.
Initially I just let the kids 'play'. They all seemed quite keen even the students who are usually hard to engage got involved.
One thing I really liked initially was to see kids sitting at the iPad and sharing/interacting/laughing together - it all seemed much easier than on a desk top computer.
I could go on for ever but I'll go and finish my cuppa now before it gets cold - oh just before I go - I used the iPad for videoing a student for the 4min video we have to do for our objective. So easy - no wires, no booking a video, no downloading, etc - just point and go : )
Bye for now - need to wash down my apple turnover.
Just saw Bobbie in the mall (I was kid free so grabbed the opportunity to browse the shops). Anyway - Bobbie has bought a 'tablet' which she says is really cool. I seized the opportunity to tell Bobbie about our blog, She is going to let us know via the blog how she gets on with the tablet - lots of the apps are available for both her thingy (sorry can't remember what type it was) and iPads. So even more info will be winging our way soon.
Has anyone tried the iPads with their students yet. If yes - how did you get on?
I have given the kids a go and they loved them. I just downloaded a variety of apps to start with not knowing if they would be any good or not. These ranged from apps involving characters I know particular students love (e.g. Toy Story) to maths games e.g. hungry fish and dot to dot. Also loads of other apps as well.
Initially I just let the kids 'play'. They all seemed quite keen even the students who are usually hard to engage got involved.
One thing I really liked initially was to see kids sitting at the iPad and sharing/interacting/laughing together - it all seemed much easier than on a desk top computer.
I could go on for ever but I'll go and finish my cuppa now before it gets cold - oh just before I go - I used the iPad for videoing a student for the 4min video we have to do for our objective. So easy - no wires, no booking a video, no downloading, etc - just point and go : )
Bye for now - need to wash down my apple turnover.
Friday 20 April 2012
Hee, hee - this is awesome!
Saw this on a mobile device conference I attended - it is so good!! It was included in a presentation given by Cameron Lockie (Principal, Kaipara Flats School).
Starting Off
Hi Folks,I did a bit of fundraising to get an iPad and along with a number of iPads purchased by the school - I now have 2 iPads for use in my classroom.
I've started this blog as a way of sharing my journey in discovering iPads and how I can use them at school. Five other teachers across the school also have iPads and I have been given the task of seeing how this goes - to see if the school should purchase more iPads.
So why do I think I deserve a blog?
I thought an easy way to share my views of certain apps and also any training/courses I attend or any other info would be to make a blog. That way all the staff at my school, who were given an iPad to trial with their class, could see what I have written easily (that's if they want to!). Also it would be easy for my principal to see what I've been up to.
Another reason as this is a work in progress (learning enquiry - my principal will like that) it is a nifty way of just recording my thoughts as I fumble my way through.
So watch this space - and feel free to leave a comment if you wish!p.s. I am not going to use student names to protect confidentiality. If you are a teacher from my school (you know who you are) leaving a comment please would you do the same. Of course feel free to use the school email to ask me any questions about individual students or of course you could always use the old fashioned way of chatting to me when we bump into each other : )
p.p.s. This blog is for anyone interested in using apps with students who have special needs - not just staff from my school so please feel free to add any comments/questions etc. It will all help.
p.p.s.s. I'm new to blogging too so go easy on me : )
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