When this article was written, it had been about 2 years since the iPad was first realized. Apple has sold approximately 64 millions iPads in two years. According to the author of this article, while this many units sold in this time frame is no small feat, the iPad itself won't make the difference. What is truly needed is a rethinking of the "how" and "what" in schooling. According to Kaufman, teachers must become much more learning facilitators and coaches and the idea of singular subjects as curriculum should change.
While much like a computer, the iPad can be used for much of the same things: doing research on the Internet, taking notes, writing papers, creating presentations, shooting and editing a video, and taking advantage of the many applications (apps) being developed for learning.
This article gives examples of some schools providing iPads to specific groups (grade levels or classrooms). For example, the Detroit Lakes school board purchased 244 iPads for every single fifth grader in Detroit Lakes Public School Districts, as well as every 5th and 6th grade teacher. Two additional carts holding 30+ iPads each will also be purchased for Roosevelt Elementary and High School. The cost for this initiative is roughly $105,000.
In Uitca High School students are going to be connected, every student will be given an iPad on the first day of school in the fall.
The North Folk Local School District is leasing 560 iPads 2's at a cost of $74, 500 per year for four years, with the option to buy each for $1 at the end of the lease. Teachers district wide will also receive an iPad. The devices are being paid for through textbook and Title I money.
According to this article, the traditional pen-and paper school test could become a thing of the past. The iPad has the potential to optimize learning outcomes for students. At some school the enthusiasm for adopting and implementing iPad is overwhelming. There are even a few schools making iPad mandatory for all students.
According to this article, new Zealand may be the first country to have all students have iPads in a 1:1 program that requires parents to provide them. In Britain there has even been, for the first time, a pilot of an exam administered on iPads.
This article is informative and encouraging for technology usage in the classroom. From my readings concerning the iPad it seems to be a growing trend in our educational systems and society at large. I would hope that school boards and administrators will continue to see the need to put these devices in the hands of teachers and students in order to "keep up" with the digital age we are living in. I think it is an exciting time to be in education, especially education technology. I like the idea of a generation who are "tech savvy" and current in their technology awareness and experience.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
mLearning-The Arizona Republic
Today's article is about a school in Arizona, Gilbert elementary school. Gilbert school is embracing e-reader technology with Nook Club. A Gilbert elementary-school librarian and principal have discovered a way to motivate students to read by downloading books and series thought the use of the Nook, an e-reader. The "Nook Club" gives six sixth-graders a school-bought Nook reader and allows them to use the device and read on it for two weeks. Sixth-grader, Elizabeth White says, "I like that I can read in the dark in bed and I also like that I can go to the Internet from home, and it's lighter than a lot of books."
School librarian, Bobbie Georgvich, says "the goal is to give all sixth-graders a chance to use the e-reader and read at least one electronic book by the end of the school year." Embracing e-readers is a growing trend across the country in libraries and classrooms. Who better to take the lead in this fast growing trend of technology than librarians and teachers? I like the idea that schools are training teachers and students in how to use the e-readers. According to principal, Terry Maurer, "our hope is to transition our library into a 21st-century library." The school is not shunning books, but officials see the advantaged to the e-reader. Because the librarian only has to buy once for the e-reader to share with six others, it is a good way to keep up with purchasing new books instead of waiting for a physical copy to be stocked. Also downloaded books are 20-70% cheaper than a physical book.
I think that e-readers help revive the joy of reading. I love the idea of every child being excited about reading, regardless if it is a physical copy or a e-reader. However, I do like that schools are trying to embrace this new leap forward in technology. Reading stories allows students to use their imaginations and go and see places and things with the mind's eye. I think anything we can do as teachers and parents to encourage a child to read is a move in the right direction. I want every child to love to read and if e-readers encourages a child to read, I am all in!
School librarian, Bobbie Georgvich, says "the goal is to give all sixth-graders a chance to use the e-reader and read at least one electronic book by the end of the school year." Embracing e-readers is a growing trend across the country in libraries and classrooms. Who better to take the lead in this fast growing trend of technology than librarians and teachers? I like the idea that schools are training teachers and students in how to use the e-readers. According to principal, Terry Maurer, "our hope is to transition our library into a 21st-century library." The school is not shunning books, but officials see the advantaged to the e-reader. Because the librarian only has to buy once for the e-reader to share with six others, it is a good way to keep up with purchasing new books instead of waiting for a physical copy to be stocked. Also downloaded books are 20-70% cheaper than a physical book.
I think that e-readers help revive the joy of reading. I love the idea of every child being excited about reading, regardless if it is a physical copy or a e-reader. However, I do like that schools are trying to embrace this new leap forward in technology. Reading stories allows students to use their imaginations and go and see places and things with the mind's eye. I think anything we can do as teachers and parents to encourage a child to read is a move in the right direction. I want every child to love to read and if e-readers encourages a child to read, I am all in!
mLearning-How the Amazon Kindle Fire Fits Into Education
Today's article is about how Amazon recently announced a new tablet device. With a 7" screen this tablet is clearly designed for direct competition with the iPad. According too this article, the Fire has nearly the same specs as the Kindle Keyboard and weighs just under a pound. The Kindle Fire uses Google's Android operating system, which will allow Fire owners to make use of Amazon's apps.
This article also introduces Cloud storage, an online file storage. The Kindle Fire is linked to the user's Amazon account, which includes free storage on Amazon's Cloud Drive. This article also addresses the textbook rental option from Amazon. Both students and teachers may rent textbooks electronically from Amazon. This feature is nice for students who do not want to have their own textbook copy to keep, it will eliminate the $700 + cost of buying textbooks per semester. The textbook rental option is also an excellent green aspect, since it will be saving the paper wasted on the new textbooks which are so often revised and reprinted.
The Kindle Fire gives consumers a less expensive option, anyone not wanting to spend the $400+ for the iPad can opt for the Kindle Fire.
I like the option of owning a Kindle Fire. For students or schools on a limited budget, the Fire will more than pay for itself. I also think the Fire offers a great option for textbook rental. Overall, I think the Fire is a lot of tablet for little money. The Fire is an excellent option for book reading AND music. As a teacher, I think the Kindle Fire would be a huge asset for my classroom. I think it would be exciting to integrate technology into the classroom using this tablet, perhaps it would ignite a new joy for reading with students. I like the idea of implementing the Fire into classrooms thus creating media integration for our schools.
This article also introduces Cloud storage, an online file storage. The Kindle Fire is linked to the user's Amazon account, which includes free storage on Amazon's Cloud Drive. This article also addresses the textbook rental option from Amazon. Both students and teachers may rent textbooks electronically from Amazon. This feature is nice for students who do not want to have their own textbook copy to keep, it will eliminate the $700 + cost of buying textbooks per semester. The textbook rental option is also an excellent green aspect, since it will be saving the paper wasted on the new textbooks which are so often revised and reprinted.
The Kindle Fire gives consumers a less expensive option, anyone not wanting to spend the $400+ for the iPad can opt for the Kindle Fire.
I like the option of owning a Kindle Fire. For students or schools on a limited budget, the Fire will more than pay for itself. I also think the Fire offers a great option for textbook rental. Overall, I think the Fire is a lot of tablet for little money. The Fire is an excellent option for book reading AND music. As a teacher, I think the Kindle Fire would be a huge asset for my classroom. I think it would be exciting to integrate technology into the classroom using this tablet, perhaps it would ignite a new joy for reading with students. I like the idea of implementing the Fire into classrooms thus creating media integration for our schools.
mLearning- The Kindle Fire will enable the next generation of 1:1 education
According to this article, the Kindle Fire, is the tablet for 1:1 use in schools. The price is right ($199), the screen size is perfect (7") to fit in any bag easily and small hands can hold it just as easily as high school and college sized hands, and the new Silk browser has the potential to deliver an entirely new generation of web-bases tablet applications.
According to Christopher Dawson, for ZDNet Education, portability, at 7", is the key. The Fore tablets can move with students at a price almost too cheap to pass up. In his opinion, a 7-year old holding an iPad 2 is "a little scary."
The price of the Kindle Fire is exciting. And the Silk browser offers a mobile browser with increases in bandwidth and infrastructure thus delivering incredibly rich applications. As an educator, I like the idea of buying Amazon content to meet educational needs. I think the Kindle Fire is a less expensive way to integrate technology into the classroom. I think online textbooks are a great way to introduce the Fire to students and I am impressed with Amazon Silk for its ability to support existing Web services on behalf of education. I think the Fire is the right price and form for especially elementary students.
According to Christopher Dawson, for ZDNet Education, portability, at 7", is the key. The Fore tablets can move with students at a price almost too cheap to pass up. In his opinion, a 7-year old holding an iPad 2 is "a little scary."
The price of the Kindle Fire is exciting. And the Silk browser offers a mobile browser with increases in bandwidth and infrastructure thus delivering incredibly rich applications. As an educator, I like the idea of buying Amazon content to meet educational needs. I think the Kindle Fire is a less expensive way to integrate technology into the classroom. I think online textbooks are a great way to introduce the Fire to students and I am impressed with Amazon Silk for its ability to support existing Web services on behalf of education. I think the Fire is the right price and form for especially elementary students.
mLearning-Clearwater High replaces textbooks with Kindles
According to this article, 2,000 Clearwater High School students received their Kindle e-book readers that will replace a number of weighty textbooks and allow students to download other books used in class. Indeed the backpacks of these high schools are about to become much lighter. The school board ordered 2,200 Kindles, enough for the 2,160 students enrolled and spares for new students. Each Kindle cost $177.60, a discount from the estimated $200 customers would pay. Also, a traditional English textbook cost $95 but the electric version can be downloaded on the Kindle for $80. Students will be responsible for lost or damaged Kindles, the same way they are for textbooks.
I like the fact that these high schoolers received a Kindle, kids love technology and I think the Kindle is a great option. The tablet-size devices will have electronic versions of texts for math, English and supplemental science. Students can even look at novels, take notes and highlight portions of texts they want to. The device can also read the text aloud in a male or female voice.
According to the article, students can buy insurance for $20 to cover damage or loss of the Kindle. Also, the district, working with Amazon, can track each Kindle and shut it down if it's stolen or show up at a pawn shop, or appears on e-Bay.
As an educator, I think it is exciting to see the students interested in this device. I think it encourages students to explore and learn in new, innovative ways. I also think it is a technological advance, for the Clearwater school and a great way to empower students to be "savvy" with electronics in a classroom setting.
I like the fact that these high schoolers received a Kindle, kids love technology and I think the Kindle is a great option. The tablet-size devices will have electronic versions of texts for math, English and supplemental science. Students can even look at novels, take notes and highlight portions of texts they want to. The device can also read the text aloud in a male or female voice.
According to the article, students can buy insurance for $20 to cover damage or loss of the Kindle. Also, the district, working with Amazon, can track each Kindle and shut it down if it's stolen or show up at a pawn shop, or appears on e-Bay.
As an educator, I think it is exciting to see the students interested in this device. I think it encourages students to explore and learn in new, innovative ways. I also think it is a technological advance, for the Clearwater school and a great way to empower students to be "savvy" with electronics in a classroom setting.
mLearning-How the iPad is Changing Education
This article is about how the iPad is only two years old and already begun to change many things. Reading and Work are two of them. In January 2012, Apple entered the digital textbook market with the launch of iBooks 2 and the iBooks Author production tools e-books. According to John Titlow, in a way, Apple didn't enter the education market. Rather, it followed its customers there. A growing number of college students have, on their own accord, made the device a standard in their backpacks. More importantly, several school districts wasted no time launching pilot programs to use the iPad in the classroom in an official way.
According to this article, early on Chicago's pubic school district brought iPads into a number of its classrooms and even allowed students to take them home. Programs like this can ultimately save districts money on textbooks, since e-books are cheaper than the printed textbook. And of course, the iPad is lighter on the back than a bag full of textbooks.
One question asked, "does the iPad help learning?"... students at Riverside Unified School District have said "that using an iPad makes learning and doing homework more enjoyable and teachers confirm that students seem more eager to participate thanks to the iPad. Also, testing scores conducted at Riverside show that Algebra students using iPads tested at 90% proficiency compared to 60% textbook testing.
According to educator, Mike Muir "the iPad has enormous potential to positively impact education." The tablets make a great tool for self-directed, independent learning. The iPad has a wide range of tablet-based tools. Some predict that tablets will outnumber desktop computers in schools before we know it.
I love the idea of classrooms full of glass touchscreens on every desk. In my opinion, textbooks are often obsolete the moment they are printed, so why not an iPad? I think iPads are fun, exciting, and useful. As a teacher, I would love to have the opportunity to incorporate iPads into my classroom.
According to this article, early on Chicago's pubic school district brought iPads into a number of its classrooms and even allowed students to take them home. Programs like this can ultimately save districts money on textbooks, since e-books are cheaper than the printed textbook. And of course, the iPad is lighter on the back than a bag full of textbooks.
One question asked, "does the iPad help learning?"... students at Riverside Unified School District have said "that using an iPad makes learning and doing homework more enjoyable and teachers confirm that students seem more eager to participate thanks to the iPad. Also, testing scores conducted at Riverside show that Algebra students using iPads tested at 90% proficiency compared to 60% textbook testing.
According to educator, Mike Muir "the iPad has enormous potential to positively impact education." The tablets make a great tool for self-directed, independent learning. The iPad has a wide range of tablet-based tools. Some predict that tablets will outnumber desktop computers in schools before we know it.
I love the idea of classrooms full of glass touchscreens on every desk. In my opinion, textbooks are often obsolete the moment they are printed, so why not an iPad? I think iPads are fun, exciting, and useful. As a teacher, I would love to have the opportunity to incorporate iPads into my classroom.
mLearning-Managing a Classroom Set of iPads
This article is about the classroom management aspect of having iPads in the classroom. This teacher is thinking about how to best mange the use of having these devices in the room. The teacher expects the iPads to be well used, protected, respected, and integrated into the learning process.
The first section is entitled "Student Used Management"... iPads well used. Each student will be assigned a specific iPad which they can pick up form the charging station. Secondly, "Protected and Respected"...since each student will be assigned a specific device, students will be expected to take some sense of "ownership" over the device. The teacher expects the students to "polish" the screen before they put the device away and will be encouraged to observe the clean hands policies always. Thirdly, "Integrate to the Learning Process"...the hope is that this this classroom can move to becoming a paperless classroom. Notes, worksheets, tests, reports should all be delivered electronically. Eventually, this teacher wants to move to an electronic book. In order to make this process as smooth as possible, this teacher plans to introduce the most used apps one at a time.
The second section of this article deals with "setting up 20 iPads." The teacher unboxed each ipad and then set up an itunes account. After installing each iPad to the account, the teacher named each ipad with a famous scientist name (fun!). After selecting and installing apps, the teacher updated any already existing apps from a secondary account. The teacher then set up email accounts to each iPad. And then selected and installed the open source textbooks and desired pdfs for ibooks. Lastly, the teacher needs to decide on a case and storage solution.
The third and final stage of the article is storage and maintenance issues. The teacher wants a charging and syncing cabinet so that multiple iPads could be synced together from the cart. Of course, the coolest thing would be to have a shelving unit with charging pads on each shelf so that students need only place the iPad on the charging pad- no wires to connect (probably wishful thinking). The slots and outlets should be numbered and if no charging pads, then a docking type of configuration would be convenient rather than dangling cords. Also, a usb cable is needed for syncing. The cabinet should be enclosed, lockable, and portable.
I think this article is VERY practical. I like how the author list the step by step process in handling 20+ iPads. As a teacher, I realize the importance of planning, planning and more planning:). This article is a great tool to go by when implementing the use of iPads into the classroom.
The first section is entitled "Student Used Management"... iPads well used. Each student will be assigned a specific iPad which they can pick up form the charging station. Secondly, "Protected and Respected"...since each student will be assigned a specific device, students will be expected to take some sense of "ownership" over the device. The teacher expects the students to "polish" the screen before they put the device away and will be encouraged to observe the clean hands policies always. Thirdly, "Integrate to the Learning Process"...the hope is that this this classroom can move to becoming a paperless classroom. Notes, worksheets, tests, reports should all be delivered electronically. Eventually, this teacher wants to move to an electronic book. In order to make this process as smooth as possible, this teacher plans to introduce the most used apps one at a time.
The second section of this article deals with "setting up 20 iPads." The teacher unboxed each ipad and then set up an itunes account. After installing each iPad to the account, the teacher named each ipad with a famous scientist name (fun!). After selecting and installing apps, the teacher updated any already existing apps from a secondary account. The teacher then set up email accounts to each iPad. And then selected and installed the open source textbooks and desired pdfs for ibooks. Lastly, the teacher needs to decide on a case and storage solution.
The third and final stage of the article is storage and maintenance issues. The teacher wants a charging and syncing cabinet so that multiple iPads could be synced together from the cart. Of course, the coolest thing would be to have a shelving unit with charging pads on each shelf so that students need only place the iPad on the charging pad- no wires to connect (probably wishful thinking). The slots and outlets should be numbered and if no charging pads, then a docking type of configuration would be convenient rather than dangling cords. Also, a usb cable is needed for syncing. The cabinet should be enclosed, lockable, and portable.
I think this article is VERY practical. I like how the author list the step by step process in handling 20+ iPads. As a teacher, I realize the importance of planning, planning and more planning:). This article is a great tool to go by when implementing the use of iPads into the classroom.
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