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.