The article was was well written and concise in the explanation of why teachers and students should embrace the iPad as a technology that is not going away too quickly. I think that the teachers and school board members (money people) will have a more difficult time with this embrace than the students because we (the older teachers and board members) have seen so many ideas come in like a whirlwind and then blow out just as fast. The teachers have also seen many good ideas shelved because of lack of vision and funding. I remember a day not long ago that I was using a large dictionary to look up scientific terms that my younger son, who had been very sick, needed translated into specific items for his biology points projects. My older son came into the room and looked at me with the dictionary and asked by I wasn't just looking them up on the computer. He turned it on, typed in the word in a search engine and up came not only a definition but also a picture! I had just never thought of using my computer as a dictionary because I had always used it as a word processor. My students just seem to see a new devise and know how to work it or are willing to look over a shoulder and watch to learn. They are even willing to be patient with me and become my teacher.
This was by far the better article to read and to help excite the teacher and planner in me. I see my students (LD, EBD, CD and regular) jumping in with both feet and taking on the challenge of learning this new media like they were going from a bike to a car. Our students currently have to request a laptop and declare what they are going to do with it in order to have the request granted. The school spends a lot of money on text books annually only to find the information out of date by the time it gets into the hands of the student and these same text books are often left in lockers because the same students can find the information needed to answer worksheets and for note card definitions quicker on the internet.
I am a "digital immigrant" who has come in kicking and screaming because I don't like not understanding what I am doing. I feel like the grandma mentioned in the article who wants to read the directions before starting the game and worries the whole time about "breaking something". When did this happen to me? I don't ever remember reading directions to a game as a kid unless we needed to find out how much money or something each player should get at the beginning. We just wanted to play with someone who already knew how the game was played and get on with it.
3. IPad facilitates e-textbook revolution at U.S. schools
I was excited to see that other school districts and colleges were jumping on this bandwagon and that they are more than a year ahead of us. This year or more may supply the data that is needed to convince our "purse holders" that this is the way to go. Students already carry around more technology in their pockets and often can use it without even looking at it either because of the touch screen or like typists, they don't need to look. Many student in Baraboo are working in online classes and interacting with students and teachers across the country already so they should not have any trouble converting to the iPad or for that matter, anything else that will come along. I, as the "teacher/student" will need to keep using and working at "understanding" until it becomes like second nature to me too.
This is a short article that has dozens of links about using the iPad written by a student at Kansas State University who is in a class entitled Technology Education and Learning. This list is very extensive and probably a better use of space than anything that this student could have written. She has taken the time to place many helpful links to topics in education for using the ipad in a classroom both as a teacher and a student. She has also included sites that cater to those of us who are too frugal to spend money on something we can't see. With so many apps and links and distractions on the web, it is easy to spend hours and still not end up where I was going in the first place. I like that I can come to this article and find something that will start me off in the right direction without worrying about going to sites that have nothing to do with school or the subject I am hunting.
This is another short article that seems to be touting the virtue of something Mac has designed to make my life easier and just seems to again make me feel inadequate. I did go on to read several comments after trying to download this. This comments echoed what I was thinking and also my frustration with technology in general. It has been around long enough that many of the bugs should have been exterminated by now and I seem to find everyone of them. I tried to download this iBook not only to my iPad but also to my MacBook. Neither of which seemed to work and I am not able to open it in order to read it. More trial and error or maybe a trip to school and let the techies help me. Maybe I will call up a student and invite them to lunch if they will help me learn to use by new techno tool!
I was thinking that this could possibly be connected to my SmartBoard in my classroom and used in that sense. Maybe it can but I don't know if I have a VGA or other hookup so I will need to ask. I often use an actual small whiteboard and markers in my classroom when I am sitting in small group for writing. This platform will give my students a quick, readable copy of the definitions they need to copy for their workbooks. I would love to seem an app come up for purchase from the company that puts out the Read180 program of learning that we use in Baraboo. This could be a great thing for my students who have such terrible handwriting and spelling to be able to type out what they want to say or even speak into the iPad and have it typed for them and then the writing part out improve more rapidly because they could see what they were trying to get out much quicker and more correctly. The whiteboard like the blackboard
This gentleman is very excited about using the iPad in his classroom and so are his students. One thing he said was that the iPad is easy to pick up and learn and that is why, according to the author, it is often recommended for the elderly and the disabled. I didn't know this but it makes sense. My father, at 83, loves his iPad and even takes it to church. He has the song book, the Sunday school lesson, and his Bible downloaded on it. He also uses it for his word Jumble everyday from the paper. My sons and my students all seem able to "just do" whatever they want with the iPod so they should be able to easily convert over to the iPad. My goal is to get as excited about it as they are and feel ready to use it as a teaching tool by fall so that when and not if the high school gets access to more of these iPads, I will be able to step up as one who knows.
mrkeenan. " Why iPads are Educationally ‘in’." Developing Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2011. <http://www.mrkeenan.com/?p=925>.
8. Supercharge Your iPad Browsing with iCab
After reading this Apple Blog, I may give being a Mac user another chance. I have had my MacBook for almost a year and typically stay off the Mac side because the set up is so different and I have struggled to remember how to open the different tabs I thought I had open. With this ICab app, I may be able to move over and stay over on the Mac side of my computer and make the tech guys happy in the process since they are constantly trying to move us all over. There were pictures included with the article that demonstrated what was being said and links to other items that might also prove to be useful once I get a handle on the first one. The app costs $1.99, so it is reasonable in anyone's budget and is universal with the iPhone also.
The iCab site allows the user to see the tabs of all the things that are open at the same time and also allows for things to be opened in the background without losing the original site. Unfortunately, I have tried to download this to my iPad and have yet to be successful. This may only be a me problem because I have had problems like this before and then with help, I have been able to accomplish the task.
This may prove to be one of the most useful of all the articles (blog) that I found. I felt that switching back and forth was time consuming and there had to be a better way and now I have found some ideas. I have not actually had time to play with it much but think that once I do I will like it. Many other little things like this must be out there in one of the articles or instruction books that I was looking at while searching. I also really like the idea that someone out there cares about fellow users enough to take the time to give out handy tips and shortcuts in a world that often seems like it cares only about itself.
"Handy Typing Tips for the iPad | Macgasm." Macgasm: An Apple blog dedicated to Apple news, tips, and tricks for the everyday Apple user.. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2011. <http://www.macgasm.net/2010/05/13/handy-typing-tips-ipad/>.
1. How will the iPad change education?
The article was was well written and concise in the explanation of why teachers and students should embrace the iPad as a technology that is not going away too quickly. I think that the teachers and school board members (money people) will have a more difficult time with this embrace than the students because we (the older teachers and board members) have seen so many ideas come in like a whirlwind and then blow out just as fast. The teachers have also seen many good ideas shelved because of lack of vision and funding. I remember a day not long ago that I was using a large dictionary to look up scientific terms that my younger son, who had been very sick, needed translated into specific items for his biology points projects. My older son came into the room and looked at me with the dictionary and asked by I wasn't just looking them up on the computer. He turned it on, typed in the word in a search engine and up came not only a definition but also a picture! I had just never thought of using my computer as a dictionary because I had always used it as a word processor. My students just seem to see a new devise and know how to work it or are willing to look over a shoulder and watch to learn. They are even willing to be patient with me and become my teacher.
"How will the iPad change education? « PBS TeacherLine Blog." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/blog/2010/01/how-will-the-ipad-change-education/>.
2. Measuring the IPad's Potential for Education
This was by far the better article to read and to help excite the teacher and planner in me. I see my students (LD, EBD, CD and regular) jumping in with both feet and taking on the challenge of learning this new media like they were going from a bike to a car. Our students currently have to request a laptop and declare what they are going to do with it in order to have the request granted. The school spends a lot of money on text books annually only to find the information out of date by the time it gets into the hands of the student and these same text books are often left in lockers because the same students can find the information needed to answer worksheets and for note card definitions quicker on the internet.
I am a "digital immigrant" who has come in kicking and screaming because I don't like not understanding what I am doing. I feel like the grandma mentioned in the article who wants to read the directions before starting the game and worries the whole time about "breaking something". When did this happen to me? I don't ever remember reading directions to a game as a kid unless we needed to find out how much money or something each player should get at the beginning. We just wanted to play with someone who already knew how the game was played and get on with it.
McCrea, Bridget. "Measuring the iPad's Potential for Education -- THE Journal." THE Journal: Technological Horizons in Education -- THE Journal. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2011. <http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/01/27/measuring-the-ipads-potential-for-education.aspx>.
3. IPad facilitates e-textbook revolution at U.S. schools
I was excited to see that other school districts and colleges were jumping on this bandwagon and that they are more than a year ahead of us. This year or more may supply the data that is needed to convince our "purse holders" that this is the way to go. Students already carry around more technology in their pockets and often can use it without even looking at it either because of the touch screen or like typists, they don't need to look. Many student in Baraboo are working in online classes and interacting with students and teachers across the country already so they should not have any trouble converting to the iPad or for that matter, anything else that will come along. I, as the "teacher/student" will need to keep using and working at "understanding" until it becomes like second nature to me too.
Bao, George. " IPad facilitates e-textbook revolution at U.S. schools ." »¶Ó·ÃÎÊлªÍø. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2011. <http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2010-09/10/c_13488190.htm>.
4.
This is a short article that has dozens of links about using the iPad written by a student at Kansas State University who is in a class entitled Technology Education and Learning. This list is very extensive and probably a better use of space than anything that this student could have written. She has taken the time to place many helpful links to topics in education for using the ipad in a classroom both as a teacher and a student. She has also included sites that cater to those of us who are too frugal to spend money on something we can't see. With so many apps and links and distractions on the web, it is easy to spend hours and still not end up where I was going in the first place. I like that I can come to this article and find something that will start me off in the right direction without worrying about going to sites that have nothing to do with school or the subject I am hunting.
"iPads:Personally, Educationally & just for Fun." iPad:Personally, Educationally & just for fun . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2011. <http://cyndidannerkuhn.info/CDK/iPads_Resources.html>.
5. Introducing a free downloadable iPad book
Macworld's iPad Starter Guide
This is another short article that seems to be touting the virtue of something Mac has designed to make my life easier and just seems to again make me feel inadequate. I did go on to read several comments after trying to download this. This comments echoed what I was thinking and also my frustration with technology in general. It has been around long enough that many of the bugs should have been exterminated by now and I seem to find everyone of them. I tried to download this iBook not only to my iPad but also to my MacBook. Neither of which seemed to work and I am not able to open it in order to read it. More trial and error or maybe a trip to school and let the techies help me. Maybe I will call up a student and invite them to lunch if they will help me learn to use by new techno tool!
"Introducing a free downloadable iPad book | Tablets | iOS Central | Macworld." Apple, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Reviews, Help, Tips, and News | Macworld. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2011. <http://www.macworld.com/article/150833/2010/04/ipad_starter_guide.html>.
6. Turning Your iPad into a Whiteboard
I was thinking that this could possibly be connected to my SmartBoard in my classroom and used in that sense. Maybe it can but I don't know if I have a VGA or other hookup so I will need to ask. I often use an actual small whiteboard and markers in my classroom when I am sitting in small group for writing. This platform will give my students a quick, readable copy of the definitions they need to copy for their workbooks. I would love to seem an app come up for purchase from the company that puts out the Read180 program of learning that we use in Baraboo. This could be a great thing for my students who have such terrible handwriting and spelling to be able to type out what they want to say or even speak into the iPad and have it typed for them and then the writing part out improve more rapidly because they could see what they were trying to get out much quicker and more correctly. The whiteboard like the blackboard
Jones, Jason B.. " Turning Your iPad into a Whiteboard - ProfHacker - The Chronicle of Higher Education." Home - The Chronicle of Higher Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2011. <http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/turning-your-ipad-into-a-whiteboard/26655>.
7. Why iPads are Educationally ‘in’
This gentleman is very excited about using the iPad in his classroom and so are his students. One thing he said was that the iPad is easy to pick up and learn and that is why, according to the author, it is often recommended for the elderly and the disabled. I didn't know this but it makes sense. My father, at 83, loves his iPad and even takes it to church. He has the song book, the Sunday school lesson, and his Bible downloaded on it. He also uses it for his word Jumble everyday from the paper. My sons and my students all seem able to "just do" whatever they want with the iPod so they should be able to easily convert over to the iPad. My goal is to get as excited about it as they are and feel ready to use it as a teaching tool by fall so that when and not if the high school gets access to more of these iPads, I will be able to step up as one who knows.
mrkeenan. " Why iPads are Educationally ‘in’." Developing Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2011. <http://www.mrkeenan.com/?p=925>.
8. Supercharge Your iPad Browsing with iCab
After reading this Apple Blog, I may give being a Mac user another chance. I have had my MacBook for almost a year and typically stay off the Mac side because the set up is so different and I have struggled to remember how to open the different tabs I thought I had open. With this ICab app, I may be able to move over and stay over on the Mac side of my computer and make the tech guys happy in the process since they are constantly trying to move us all over. There were pictures included with the article that demonstrated what was being said and links to other items that might also prove to be useful once I get a handle on the first one. The app costs $1.99, so it is reasonable in anyone's budget and is universal with the iPhone also.
The iCab site allows the user to see the tabs of all the things that are open at the same time and also allows for things to be opened in the background without losing the original site. Unfortunately, I have tried to download this to my iPad and have yet to be successful. This may only be a me problem because I have had problems like this before and then with help, I have been able to accomplish the task.
Buys, Jon. " Supercharge Your iPad Browsing with iCab — Apple News, Tips and Reviews ." GigaOM — Tech News, Analysis and Trends . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2011. <http://gigaom.com/apple/supercharge-your-ipad-browsing-with-icab/>.
9. Handy Typing Tips for the iPad
This may prove to be one of the most useful of all the articles (blog) that I found. I felt that switching back and forth was time consuming and there had to be a better way and now I have found some ideas. I have not actually had time to play with it much but think that once I do I will like it. Many other little things like this must be out there in one of the articles or instruction books that I was looking at while searching. I also really like the idea that someone out there cares about fellow users enough to take the time to give out handy tips and shortcuts in a world that often seems like it cares only about itself.
"Handy Typing Tips for the iPad | Macgasm." Macgasm: An Apple blog dedicated to Apple news, tips, and tricks for the everyday Apple user.. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2011. <http://www.macgasm.net/2010/05/13/handy-typing-tips-ipad/>.