2-28-11 - Ipads in the classroom

2-28-11

With our 1-week term break behind us we begin class again. Today the students will be allowed to use the iPads in other classes and take them home. We notified the other teachers that some (just 7 of the 43 8th graders) would be using iPads in class. Their use is at the discretion of the teacher. One of the lines on the AUP explained that the students where not interfere with others learning.
    There is certainly some concern about allowing them to be taken home and used/stored at school. The eighth grade has lockers that are used to hold their book bags etc but they typically leave them unlocked during the school hours. Each assured me that the iPads will be treated carefully but we will see how careful everyone is 4 weeks from now.
    Today in class we found that the Internet was very slow so the process that we usually follow (Arrive, download lesson, import into Noterize, take notes..) took longer. We will need to come up with a plan B if this is going to happen with some regularity.
    I gave another 1 question warm up using the “eclicker” app and it worked well. There are still little glitches as I become familiar with the tools. As a general note it does take some time to create the eclicker quizzes because they are multiple choice so that in addition to creating the smartboard lessons does require some additional time.
With the notes downloaded the students took their notes and it was business as usual.  The lesson finished and it was time for homework. A FIRST here was that the students would be completing the assignment on the ipad using Penultimate. They created a new folder titled Chapter 7 homework and were on their way. Folders and organization is something that I need to think a bit more about so that the students are able to find their various classes and assignments once they have accumulated a few months worth of information/files. Another new feature that we are excited to test is the Dropbox option to turn in the assignments. This is part of the Whipple Hill package and is not related to the Dropbox app.