iPAD FRIDAYS!!!

The kids are really getting into iPad Fridays in some of my classes. I wish they all would take what we are doing seriously though. One class is going to get remedial training on appropriate behavior - reteaching....I think I've heard of that concept somewhere. 

My computer lab classes had so much fun taking the iPads outside the other day they asked if we could do it every Friday. I have to think about that one. It does make one wonder though if the non-traditional setting helps promote better discussion.

In my elementary school in Connecticut we had these open areas where you could go read...also cool space pod things in the library you could climb into and sit and read a book. 

Interesting article that includes computer labs and learning in prescribed places as things that should be obsolete in classrooms.

10-things-in-school-that-should-be-obsolete

This past Friday we continued to work on discovering how to use our painting apps. They switched iPads at one point and commented on the other person's artwork in the notes app. They were to state what they see and ask a question.Then they switched back and were to discuss. This had varying degrees of success. I do think training with more specific questions is a necessary prerequisite before going to open-ended. I just imagine though if all the students had their own iPads. They could have a running record of other people's thoughts and it would be so much easier to save work and not overwrite each others work. I know we can use dropbox and Google docs to save work, but I am having a hard enough time training my advanced computer based classes to do this. It is one hurdle I am not ready to take on yet this year. 

I have created shared Google Docs for each app, and next Friday we will begin posting our tips and tricks and thoughts.

One piece of encouragement for those of you thinking about trying to use iPads in the classroom more. It is not near as overwhelming to me anymore. In the beginning I was exhausted after iPad Friday. Now with routines, and better planning the kids are taking on more responsibility for their learning  And that makes this over tasked teacher happy!!!

So my suggestions, go for it! The benefits of students becoming more familiar with the latest technology, increased problem solving skills, visible evidence of thinking, and higher student motivation make it worth it!

On a personal note I am writing up a proposal to present at this year's Project Zero conference here in Memphis at PDS. Wish me luck! And I might be having the work I'm doing in my classroom with visible thinking strategies shared with the TN dept of ed!

Moving along...at a pace I can barely keep up with! Life is good.

Blogging is hard to stay on top of, especially when you are taking 3 doctoral classes (one which requires a research blog), teaching full time, doing service/volunteer work, taking on side jobs in ID&T, and trying to find time to throw the ball for two rambunctious doggies.

But, I really think it's important to share what is going on, so I am trying to make time.

IPad Fridays are in full swing again. I highly recommend getting a feel for your classes before trying to implement iPads. I have had to tailor some planned assignments because the maturity levels of some classes are just not ready, and protocol and following directions are important things for the students to understand before letting them go with the iPads. I feel more comfortable training my students using traditional projects and then easing into the technology once I know they know my expectations and limitations. Next year this will be the path I will use.
Last week Art 2 got to "play" with the painting apps.
“Play is the highest form of research.”~ Albert Einstein
This week  I began with a visible thinking strategy from Project Zero to get my students to begin thinking about how they will go about learning to use these apps. I found that students (and myself) get a new app, play with a little, figure out some quick tricks and then move on to the next thing. I want them to became experts, and in order to do this they need to really investigate their apps. The idea of research in today's Google age is something that needs to be addressed with high schoolers and the THINK PUZZLE EXPLORE routine was just what they needed to start to plan how they would go about finding out about this apps. Below are some examples of their thinking. They worked in groups for about 10 minutes and then got out the iPads and begin learning how to use the apps.

CLASSROOM CONVERSATION CLIPS

It was such a nice day I took Graphic Media classes outside and let them use the iPads to work on their discussion posts in the Google+ Communities.

I loved when one student commented that +ones helped her feel more confident and that she wasn't the only one with the thoughts she posted. The validation one receives from the communities is an important factor in using the Google + Communities, not one that had originally occurred to me.

I find that the students are more apt to think carefully about their postings then if we were just having face to face discussions.

I told them we were having 21st century discussions - every one on their iPads, talking with one another through the Google+ discussion posts, while sitting 3 feet from each other.

Yeah yeah, the lack of real time social interaction, kids don't know how to have in-person communications, blah blah. I actually think their live social scene is fine, it's carrying on a thoughtful discussion in written form is where they lack. We actually talked about how a discussion post is like a real life conversation, sometimes where you begin is not where you end up.

Anyways...back to my real work! Maybe I will actually leave my house this weekend, it could happen!