Six Things We Know About iPads in the Classroom

The school year is off to a great start and we as trainers are deep in the trenches with our iPad Academy Participants.  After last year’s experience it felt great knowing what was ahead of us as trainers.  It was also nice that our apps, Apple Configurator and iTunes have improved with updates. Our comfort level is such that nothing really throws us off course anymore.    

Here are six things we know for sure will happen with iPads in our schools….

Reflection

Reflection becomes a key piece of this experience.  Being able to look back, analyze, and rethink how something was done only brings us closer to being effective digital teachers.  Some of our tools for reflections are the Google+ community and Hangouts, Twitter using the #ipadacademy, Google Hangouts, and group meetings.  As educators we understand the importance of reflection, however as the years pass and we master our routines, this skill is often overlooked.  As a trainer, I get to push teachers to reflect, discuss, and rethink instruction.  It is amazing to watch their teaching change as a result of quality reflection time.  

Pace

Helping our teachers realize that the pace of their instruction must slow down while the iPads are being introduced.  One teacher stated this week, “OK. I know I tried to do too much.”  This after introducing the iPads and also trying to accomplish curriculum goals all in 45 minutes.  It just isn’t possible. Once the students know how to get around the device and utilize specific apps, then the curriculum pace can increase.  But not until then.

Obstacles

We know now that there will be moments of rethinking processes and overcoming the inevitable obstacles that will arise.  Obstacles like blocked websites that need to be opened, Apps that have updates that force some relearning,  and lacking enough time to accomplish teacher goals will always be present.  However, we now have processes in place to deal with these; maybe not the lack of time issue, but that is always the case with creative teachers in a 24 hour day.  

Change

One thing is for sure; the teachers that we get to work with evolve in a way the others do not.  The use of an iPad on a daily basis changes the way students interact with each other, their teacher, and their content.  In this supportive environment, teachers are able to try new ways of teaching old content.  Differentiation becomes easier with the iPad.  Teachers actually state that they have more free time once the paperless workflow is mastered.  The delivery of information often goes through the Google Drive App.  Workflow becomes paperless with immediate feedback through Drive, Socrative and other web based applications.  

Creativity

Students have access to a variety of apps that allow for creativity.  Showing what students know through Explain Everything, iMovie, and Keynote give students flexibility to demonstrate their knowledge instead of a multiple choice paper and pencil test.  Students begin to own their learning through the creative process on the iPad.  They are proud of their work and eager to share their products.  

Collaboration

Collaboration for both teachers and students increase as a result of our iPad Academy.  Teachers collaborate together on ideas, problem solving, and support.  It is scary trying new things and knowing they have each other is a huge help!  Students begin collaborating more often because now the tasks have changed to creating videos, multimedia projects, and Google docs.  I believe we are better together and this experience often proves my point.

While it is still early in our school year, I can’t wait to watch all of these things happen as I know they will.  And for all you edtech trainers out there- way to be there for your people!

Written by:  Jenny Krzystowczyk  @jennykbps

GOING GOOGLE... How Long Does it Take to Change A Culture?

As many of you know, our district went Google two years ago.  It was a monumental leap of faith by our Superintendent to trust our judgement and go for it.  Our vision was this:  less printing, more sharing and collaborating, and increased production for both teachers and students.  We are on year three now, and I think we are starting to see a change in the weather. It has taken a long time to convince teachers to use google Docs and Google Calendar, but I am beginning to see the rainbow at the end of the storm!  

Many days I have felt like a salesperson for Google, walking around saying things like “Oh, did you know you could do that in Google?” or “Let’s load that to Google and then share the link.”  I've got

used to the stares and weird looks, because in the end I knew it was the best workflow for everyone! Now I love learning from some of our experts in the schools- the students!

Just today, as I was coaching a teacher in how to utilize Google Docs with his students I saw a student doing a math outline on a doc.  She was using superscripts to write equations!  It was great! Her teacher is one that we haven’t even worked with.  How exciting to know she was using Google Docs with her students all on her own.  That is the kind of things I love seeing these days.  

I know it isn’t everywhere in our district, but it is happening more and more.  See below for some hard data.   

Change is slow, but it is happening.  I know the students appreciate their tech savvy teachers, and I know the teachers love the no-excuses available philosophy of Google Docs.  Going paperless is one advantage, but the real advantages are increased collaboration, efficient use of time, and immediate feedback.  Keep dockin’ and rockin’ Bellevue!  True change is just over the rainbow!  It was Socrates that said the following:

Written By:  Jennifer Krzystowczyk

@jennykbps

Let's Run to School

As I listened to @angelameirs keynote at #ettipad in Atlanta this spring, I related to many things she said.  At one point, she made a point of saying, “don’t you wish school was a place that kids want to run to?” and then she popped a photo of her young kids beaming faces on the first day of elementary school and contrasted that with them on the first day of high school.  As a mother of four of my own kiddos, I can relate!  I want each of them to run and skip to school and come home so enthralled with that they learn that they self start and keep learning.  Students enthusiasm for school seems to decrease as their age increases.  It begs the questions, how can we create a school where kids want to get up and run to it each day?

Creating a student centered learning environments is the key.  Twitter was my go to place this summer to learn more about personalizing and individualizing instruction from experts around the world. I learned more about the flipped classrooms, student centered classrooms, project based learning, authentic assessment, and genius hour.  Thanks to my PLN, I joined a MOOC, read Teach Like a Pirate , and found the #tlap chats on Monday nights where I lurked as I sat at baseball games!  

What did I learn?  

Three things:

1.  Kids need to be able to use tools from this century to explore, create, collaborate, and learn course objectives in the order they wish when they wish (asynchronously) .  

2.  Teachers need to be able to individualize instruction and create a classroom environment to make this happen. Often this means letting go and allowing students to take the lead.

3.  Time, revision, choice, trust, and collaboration are essential to student centered classrooms.

Creating this environment. iPads are the tool that can make this happen!  We can provide students their own individualized learning plans (IEPS’s) and let them choose how they learn, what they learn, and when they learn.   Teachers are the key to crafting the learning environment, conferencing with students, providing students the content to interact with, enabling them to teach others, share what they learn, and as a result, teach them to love to learn.

This means teaching and learning looks different.  

Instead of this….	Transformed to this...
lecture	teacher curates content and pushes it out to the iPads via  ITunes U courses and iBooks
teacher in front of the room	teacher conferencing with students individually on creating artifacts that support their learning on the iPad while others are working independently
grading papers during plan time	assessing projects together, providing critical feedback, providing time for revision, and publishing to the web
failure is frowned upon	failure is the springboard to growth and risk taking is embraced
students in desks, sitting most of the period	students choose to learn where they will learn best, movement is encouraged
a few students share	a connected classroom where all students are have voice with back channels, collaborative docs, and connections to the world
covering objectives sequentially	freedom to work on any objective and move through the curriculum asynchronously
the teacher is the fountain of knowledge and main person delivering information	reciprocal teaching a regular occurrence; teachers teaching students, students teaching students, and students teaching teachers.
working with classmates physically in the classroom	working with classmates virtually around the world; sharing and creating projects that are web worthy with others who may or may not be in the physical classroom
course work created for a teacher to assess	course work created, revised, discussed, revised again and published to the web
teacher centered	learner centered

Written by Ann Feldmann
@annfeldmann1
 

13 Ideas to Start the School Year

Idea #1 – Improve Google Search Skills

Have students hone Google Search Skills using GoogleA Day at http://agoogleaday.com/

Idea #2  - Get Kids Blogging

Publish student work to a real audience using KidBlog at  http://kidblog.org/home/ . 

Idea #3 – Use Google Docs

Use Google Docs to create a running agenda of class work and assignments.  The Doc is easy to update and available to students via Google Drive.

Idea #4 - Pinterest

Join our collaborative district Pinterest boards!   Pin resources you love and inspire others.  http://pinterest.com/bpstechies/ 

Idea #5 - Twitter

Connecting professionally with other educators is a fantastic way to learn and grow.  Some of the best FREE PD I receive is from Twitter.  Get started by creating an account and follow a few hashtags like #tt4t, #bpsne, #edchat, #flippedlearning, and #nebedchat to name a few.  You can also follow your tech trainers:  @annfeldmann1, @jennykbps, and @catlett1.

Idea #6 – Google Drive Workflow

Go paperless with student writing using Google Drive.  Have students create a folder for your class.  Call it something fancy like writing or period 2 and their last name.   Have them share the folder with you.   From this point on, they create a Google Doc in the folder and it is automatically shared with you.  Grade these documents paperless-ly by accessing the shared Google Drive folder and use the comment feature to provide comments AS students write, not AFTER. 

Idea #7 – Google Forms and Flubaroo

Utilize Google Forms and Flubaroo for formative assessments to automatically grade quizzes. Results are e-mailed to students with feedback. They know within minutes how they performed.  Spend time teaching what they don’t know instead of what they do know.  Check out details here: http://technologytools4teaching.blogspot.com/2011/10/flubaroo-google-forms-homerun.html

Idea #8 – Backchannel

Use http://todaysmeet.com  to create a backchannel.  What is this?  It is a way to have a private class discussion in 140 characters.   This gives all students a voice.

Easy to set up and use!

Idea #9 – Screencasting

Create screencasts and team teach with yourself.  Use quicktime player on the mac and upload to your YouTube channel. Too complicated?  Use ScreenR.com or screencast-o-matic.com and share the link to your videos on a Google Doc!  (your running agenda, see idea #3) !  Here is a link to Four Great Tools for Screencasting http://technologytools4teaching.blogspot.com/2013/04/four-great-tools-for-screencasting.html .  

Idea #10 – Video Feedback

Use your screencasting skills and give students video feedback on electronically submitted work.

Idea #11 – Field Trips

Take your students outside of the classroom on a virtual field trip.  Create a virtual field trip with a Google Doc and share it with students.  Use links that take advantage of the web has to offer.  For example, link to Google Maps and utilize the powerful street view feature. Provide links to videos so students can see and feel the adventure.

Idea #12 – Connect Globally

Connect your kids to other kids with #comments4kids and #quadblogging.  Bring in experts with Skype and Google Hangouts.  Collaborate with other classrooms via Google Docs.  Host a classroom debate with classes from around the world.  Check out http://eduhangout.org and get connected today! Hear @catlett1 talk about eduhangouts on EduSlam.me  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuI8oc_s6A4 .

Idea #13 – Create a YouTube Channel for your Classroom  

Create a YouTube Channel for your classroom! Add those screencasts to your YouTube Channel and they are accessible anywhere Internet is!  For details on creating a channel and organizing playlists, click HERE.

Written by Ann Feldmann

@annfeldmann1

YouTube and Your Classroom

Using YouTube? There is so much more! Come take the plunge into all that YouTube offers. Learn to manage great videos you discover, create your own YouTube channel, create, manage, and share playlists, subscribe to other YouTube channels, and create/edit video.

Check out the presentation I created and presented the following conferences: NETA (Omaha, NE), The Summer Tech Institute(Norfolk, NE), and The Google Summit (Glenwood, IA)!



 

Written by Ann Feldmann
@annfeldmann1

Tapping Together:iKids Teach iPads to Senior Citizens

Smiles brighten the room like the sun bursting out of the clouds on a rainy day as the senior citizens greet their middle school student and begin to chat excitedly about vacation destinations.

"Where would you like to go today? " asks Addie B holding up the iPad and begins to record her partner.

"I've never been to Europe, I would like to go to France," Carole Obrecht said with a twinkle in her eyes.  "It has always been a dream of mine."

After the interviews, they begin tapping together on their iPad,  soaring outside the classroom walls with the Maps app and Trip Advisor to their dream destinations.   Conversation and laughter fill the air as the partners tap, swipe, and record their adventure with the camera and Keynote apps.

Obrecht  is one of 10 senior citizens enrolled in the seven week intergenerational computer class, Tapping Together, offered by Bellevue Public Schools and the Bellevue Community Center.  The course met every Thursday afternoon this spring from 2:00-3:00.

Not only is the class is unique because of the age of the learners, but also because the 6th grade students are the teachers!  The magic happens as the iKids slide into the drivers seat and share their iPad expertise with their senior citizen partner.  These connected partners capture the essence of teaching and learning. They are eager, engaged, and joyful and the room buzzes with activity.  Students have a two day per week commitment.  They are learners on Mondays, and then become teachers on Thursdays.

This spring, the course centered around the theme, Oh the Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss. Go has several meanings for these learners.  Over the seven weeks, the partners plan and go on a virtual vacation as they go new places on the iPad by utilizing a number of apps that come standard with the iPad and several paid apps too.   They also go on a journey in friendship.   These relationships develop into friendships that often go beyond the end of class.

The course concludes with a Celebration of Learning when the partners share their adventure.  The course will offered again in the 2013-2014  school year.  There will be one course in the fall and spring and senior citizens can register by contacting Robert Ingram at 402-827-1840.  For more information, check out the course website at http://www.intergenclass.weebly.com.

Written by Ann Feldmann
@annfeldmann1

Check out the video of the course from spring 2013 below.

ISTE 13 - Post 1 - It's All About Relationships

I am passionate about people! Bottom line, life is all about the relationships.  When I was in the classroom, I loved being with my students.  It brought me great joy and happiness to be able to create an environment that was supportive, friendly, and upbeat.  It fired me up every day that I can make someone’s life better because I went to work.

I was passionate about helping them realize that kindness, patience, and acceptance are the keys to working successfully with others.  I loved working with kids who needed a teacher the most; the ones who struggle.  I loved watching their confidence grow week by week .  It fired me up that by believing in them, they learn to believe in themselves.  It ignited a fire in me to craft the best possible lessons so my students can have a learning experience that is incredible and left them wanting to come back the next day.   I loved instilling in them a drive to own their learning and do the best job possible because they want to, not because they have to.  I loved helping them set their own learning goals and then have them prove to me they are learning by showing me evidence of how they reach those goals.   I loved watching them reflect on their learning and revise their work.  

Now I am fired up about collaborating with my colleagues so we can lead and inspire others.  I know that listening and sharing are key components in growing as an educator.  We all have so much to share and so much to learn.  And, like driving, we can continually learn more.  Our craft can always be improved.  Exceptional educators are always learning, connecting, and growing.  In that same cycle of reflection, we learn and grow just like our students.

At ISTE13, The Blogger’s Café became a hub of collaboration, reflection, meeting, sharing, and thinking for me.  It was incredible to connect with so many wonderful people, some people who were part of my Twitter PLN, those who I knew from meeting face to face, and new friends that I just met at the conference. 

Sue Gorman (@sjgorman), Shannon Soger, and I were reunited in the Blogger’s Café after being part of the Apple Academy back in February in California. It was fantastic to see them again and catch up!  As we visited, Sue invited me to attend her session with @msmageria the next day.  That will be part of the next post!   I also reconnected with Jon Samuleson (@ipadsammy), who I had met at a Tweetup in Atlanta!

Next up in the blogger café, the founders of Kidblog.org (@kidblogdotorg). Dan Flies and Matt Hardy were a delight to meet.  We have several teachers blogging it up using Kidblog.org site, so it was a treat to meet them face to face and share with them some stories from Sharae Gelde’s (@sgeldes) and Laura Swanson’s (@lswanson79) ‘s classrooms back at home in Nebraska.   Sharae and Laura had classes that blogged regularly this year since they had regular access via the iPads and they had people around the world leaving comments for their students on their blogs.  It is nice to share with the founders of kidblog how the kidblog.org platform was instrumental in motivating kids to write, read, share their stories, revise their work, and leave comments for other kids.   

As we were talking, who should walk over but THE CYBRARYMAN!  When my colleague, Brent Catlett (@catlett1) and I started on our Twitter adventure over three years ago, we found ourselves at Jerry Bloomgarten’s (@cybraryman1’s) web page.  We were trying to figure out what all the buzz was about hashtags.  He was the expert that we sought that steered us not only to hashtags, but to chats, people to follow, and tremendous educational resources.  He is so genuine and kind and full of great advice.  It was an honor to meet him and tell him how much we appreciate all he is doing for all of us educators everywhere.  He is our go to person for all things Twitter. 

As I turned around to leave, who should I see, but Kevin Honeycutt (@kevenhoneycutt) seated on a couch in a crowd of people.  Kevin shared an inspirational message to all of us at the NETA (@yourneta) conference in Nebraska last year.  Sometimes people make a difference in your life and they never know it.  I enjoyed the chance to tell him face to face how his message spoke to me, motivated me, and as a result of his keynote,  spurred me to start my own #365 project.

The bloggers café was also a special spot as I met a lot of new people there too! It was fun to ask the question, “What great things are you doing in your district, “ and see the pride well up as educators answered the question and talked with such passion about ways they are doing great things for kids.  Our schools are lucky to have so many educators who are so dedicated and willing to take time in the summer to attend ISTE.  It is invigorating to be surrounded by people who are all wanting to learn, share, and grow and ultimately go back to our schools around the world and make a difference in the classrooms.   


Relationships are the glue that creates the network of minds that share and learn together. Twitter is that network of great minds sharing perspectives on so many topics.  Just as I believe in my students, my PLN believes in me.  It is from that sharing that causes me to have new ideas, be validated, revise my work, and bring my staff and students the very best ME every day to work.  Relationships are the key and the Blogger’s Café at #ISTE13 was the venue to foster relationships and provide fuel for the 2013-2014 journey! 

Written by Ann Feldmann
@annfeldmann1