Graphic Novels, In App Purchases and The Walking Dead

So I think I've figured this out, and it should be no problem but I had an issue today with some purchases and I wanted to share. 

One of the main uses for the iPads at Turning Point is as an eReader. The pads hold many more books than we can fit on our tiny bookshelf, they are current and shiny to our readers, and because we can share one iBooks account library among 10 (maybe more) iPads it is more cost-effective than buying a class set of books. 

However, that last bit of math only works if you can actually share your library. It took us a little while to figure out how to share the libary across a class set of pads, but I think we've done it. So wasn't I surprised when I stumbled upon a different way many companies are choosing to sell their eBooks. 

Now I should briefly explain - I've been a proponent of graphic novels in the classroom for some time. I think they're interesting for some reluctant readers, but also think that they're simply a new part of the canon that deserves to be discussed in a classroom much in the same way we study poetry, drama and the novel.

Knowing that, it is no great surprise that I investigated options for graphic novels. Now you can buy graphic novels at the iBooks store, and I did that first. But some of the most current material is published by more independent book sellers - companies like Dark Horse press, and IDW publishing - as well as comiclogix, the publisher of the eComic "The Walking Dead". Now these companies, for whatever reason, don't sell their books via the iBook store. Instead, they each develop their own app, or potentially, for a serial like The Walking Dead, they develop the series its own app - the Walking Dead app looks like this...

You download the app (no problem for us - download it to the account at iTunes and it pushes the app to the class set of apps) - and then you download the books inside the app, for a few dollars an issue (like a comic book) or a few more for a collected set (a volume). Originally I was worried about this because I wasn't sure how well I'd be able to share these books. Unlike iBooks the comiclogix app is a little more secure and passwords and accounts can be cumbersome at best. Nevertheless, so far it is working out well. I have successfully logged onto the same account on two different pads with no problems - the purchases volume was waiting for me when I opened the new pad. I will now try to install it on all of the pads. 

I will let you all know how it goes. Does anyone else have any experience with the in app purchase option presenting a problem to their classroom? Any benefits? 

Turning Point Blogs!

BLOGGING - Makes me feel like I'm on the Bridge of the Enterprise!

While it is much more nerdy and C21 I can't help but feel like a pirate radio privateer from 40 years ago. While this job is done with much more assistance (most bloggers don't codde - we don't even know how to spell it!) I still love the idea that like a pirate radio station what we create will be appreciated by our select audience, and that it could potentially help any number of people who happen by the blogs. I admit  it, I may be stretching it.

Nevertheless, Turning Point now have a couple of blogs! In addition to this one dedicated to the TLLP process, I mean. As of last week every assignment currently available for grade 11 and grade 12 college level English (ENG3C and ENG4C) can be accessed via our new English blog - TurningPointEnglish@blogspot.com. As many of our students are also working full time hours, an ability to access their assignments remotely is a major boon. Moreover, students can use the iPads (or the computers) to access their electronic assignments while at school - replacing the dated filing cabinet and photo copier methods.

The online format also provides a very user friendly platform for sharing assignments with other teachers. Keep in mind that Turning Point runs as part of the alternative education umbrella at the HWDSB. We are a ram-shackle crew of 30-40 dedicated teachers spread out over a dozen sites all trying to deliver every credit with some modicum of credit integrity, standardization, and differentiation. The blog platform can be accessed by anyone - and we are already making connections with other alt. ed. teachers out there who need resources and who have resources to share. Our teaching world is unique, but that doesn't mean that we all need to reinvent the wheel.

So I know we're slow learners, and I know that educators have been blogging since the early days - but I'm still proud of myself for learning another way to connect with my students. This isn't a game changer, and it isn't even really that tied-in with the iPads, but it's still development, still progress, and it needs to be celebrated and encouraged.

Check out our first curriculum blog TurningPointEnglish@blogspot.com and let us know what you think. Also keep checking for new subject specific blogs, we'll continue to work on it, but we're very open to suggestions/tips.

Early (Modest) Success

(Photo/Flickr Flickingerbrad) 

Well the fun has really begun at Turning Point. A few weeks ago we started encouraging students to use the class iPads using some of the new lessons/assignments we've developed. For the most part, the feedback has been positive. Everyone says they're 'neat' and they paw at them like groggy eyed kids on Christmas morning - and while they do get a little disappointed when they realize they aren't set up for gaming or social media-ing, no one has turned one down yet. 

For the most part students are using them as an updated library (books and videos) as well as a curriculum resource - completing assignments created in educreations, utilizing educational apps, and via the net on our new blogs (more to come on these soon). Which is pretty much what we had intended when pitching the project.

So far it's working out well. The library is more secure (they don't take them home the way they did books) but more interesting (newer titles, hook-y ebook format), it contains a much more streamlined media library (our computer population is pretty tired) and they don't complain when they get a new assignment (not right away, anyways).

We still are interested in what we can do with these in regards to assessment and student creation - we've asked them to explain their learning with an eductreation - but it's not perfected yet and we're still playing around with ways and means.

Ultimately the iPads do something that we expected but are still pleased with - the iPads make our students excited about being at school, maybe for the first time in a decade. These learners, our students, have, for whatever reason, not had success at some point in school. When they realize that they still have a chance to graduate with a meaningful diploma, they get excited. And when they learn that they also get to work with advanced, premium quality resources, they come back. It isn't a panacea by any accounts, but it doesn't hurt to remind students that learning should be interesting, even fun. The iPads will no doubt continue to be used in more innovative and enriching ways, but already they are helping our learners get the job done.

Progress Report Season

I had a lot of hope during this progress-report season.  The iPad has been a versatile, portable device allowing me to take pictures of student work, take video of their presentations, and record audio of conferences.  I think this three months has seen me procure way more assessment information than I normally would.  My thought back in October was, "This is going to be great; I can show parents EVERYTHING their child is doing."


Ah, then there's the "IF." If I only had more memory space.  If I didn't have to export files to my personal laptop.  If I could find an app that could manage all of the data.  What was originally going to be me opening up each student's Evernote "note" to show to parents became the traditional "this is what is happening in our class, this is what your child is doing."  Actually, this was the year that students directed their own interview, but that's another story.  Back to my wishes and reality, part of the issue is Evernote.  It's a good app.  However, when I learned that it couldn't hold video, I needed a resource for storing video to include with Evernote.  Another teacher informed me about Vimeo.  It is a web portal for storing video which you can access through an http address.  Upside?  I have a place to store all that video instead of my own laptop.  Downside?  Unless one decides to pay to upgrade their user status, they're limited to uploading only 5GB per week.  With recording presentations and evidence of collaborative problem-solving, I could bump up against that barrier in one day...easily.

I am leaning toward purchasing the annual Vimeo upgrade.

Conferences did go well.  Parents enjoyed listening to their child talk about their learning, their strengths, and their chosen areas to improve in.  They also appreciated watching and listening to recorded evidence of their learning.  It wasn't as "tablet-based" as I would have wanted, but it was the best set of progress report interviews I've ever had.

Syncing and Growing Pains

The learning curve in this project is quite exciting, if frustrating. We now have most of our hardware in place - the most exciting of which, at least for this avid typer, are the various bluetooth keyboards we are trying out with the pads.

We only have a few different kinds - one that is also a case, one made by HipStreet that the pad sits in, and two wireless apple keyboards. We're testing them out to see which we prefer, in different applications, in case we decide we would like more. And so far they are working well. Or, should I say, well-ish. One issue we're starting to realize is not uncommon is syncability (I make up words all the time, it's a condition) - the ability for disparate software and hardware to work together with the iPad.

For instance - we are using the Cloudon app as a cloud based storage space and document generator. We like Cloudon because it not only allows you to view .doc/.ppt/.xls files, but you can create them as well (you can't do that with the pads while using Dropbox/Google Drive - so far as we can tell). However, the first time I tried to use the HipStreet keyboard with Cloudon - it was essentially a non-starter. After a while I realized that you need to be very particular with the order in which you do things for the keyboard to work - and the arrow keys (something I desperately miss on the touch pad keyboard) are always a little funky.

I'm sure this will improve - with lots of parties involved (Cloudon people, apple people, HipStreet people) there is sure to be some communication woes - but as the pads become more of a known commodity in our world, and as accessory companies have longer to play with them, I am sure these inks will get ironed out. In the mean time we're finding the best combinations and running with them.

The BIG news is that our pads are now in the hands of our students - which will speed up this whole learning curve in a big way as well, I am sure. Wish us luck!

Has anybody experienced any "syncing" problems with other apps/accessories? Just curious. 

Blogging away

One thing that has been a nice addition for us. Is the integration of blogs based on our subjects. These blogs are led by the teachers and contain assignments for the students to work on. As a background many of our students do not have the ability to come to school everyday. The reasons could vary from parenting duties, employment to mental health issues. These subject based blogs allow for students in those situations to keep up with their studies. It also lets students work ahead if they choose or catch up if they miss school for various reasons.

Need a date?

Part of this project has been trying to improve productivity between my peers and myself.  We are a small team of four who have little time to meet throughout the week. Since we are also a program that has limited support administratively, it is imperative that we communicate and be organized as a group.  There are student intakes, course add/subtracts, counselling, graduation ceremonies and all around administrative duties to be done. The best way to do this is through productivity apps.

We started to improve our productivity through the google suite of software.  The reason for this was two fold. One, we were introducing the google suite to the students as it is a free web based software so it is something they can all use for life, no matter if they own technology or not.  While doing this we became more immersed in the programs ourselves. From that point it was an easy extension to see the benefit of the google suite for our productivity as a staff.

Though we use the google software regularly, there were some issues synching it to the iPad. The one area that stood out was synching the staff calendars to each other and the to individual iPads. The issue that became apparent was that items put into your google calendar synced to your iPad but items entered into your iPad calendar did not sync to the google calendar.

The solution was to get a calendar app that did this. After reviewing a few apps I ended up purchasing the app "Calendars". It is a simple install and syncs great to the google calendars. It is a great app for overcoming the Apple vs. Google software battle.

iBooks Oops! Finding Limitations With iBooks.

If this project is about learning, then I guess I'm doing well. And if the root of all learning is making mistakes, perhaps epic mistakes, then I am excelling! Let me explain. 

I am an English teacher, and as an English teacher in an alternative setting, I am always looking for books. Not just any books, though. They need to be high interest (I have reluctant readers, mostly). They also are received better if they are new(ish). Perhaps most importantly, they need to be cheap - like most English departments, the book budget starts small and shrinks daily. Thus my excitement when the possibility of using iBooks came about. 

This near perfect solution would work in so many ways: they could be current; they could be high interest; and they could never be stolen/lost/damaged (we allow students to sign out paper books, but we do not let them sign out the iPads). It seemed like a perfect system, and I still think it will work out great. But I have identified an issue. 

I recently stumbled upon this issue in a round about way. Here's my story.

I started by preparing a list of books I wanted to buy, and I downloaded the samples of these books - this way I could peruse the material, determine if it was suitable for class, and go from there. So I chose a book - From Hell, a graphic novel by acclaimed artist Alan Moore. The reviews were convincing - the text was compelling (the story of Jack the Ripper), I liked the idea of using a graphic novel. Great. Until I got home one day and decided I had better read the whole thing - all I'd read was the prologue (what was included in the sample you can download before purchasing from the iStore). So wasn't I surprised when I read the 3rd page after the prologue, and found a rather explicit (if short) sex scene! Now my students are almost all over 18, so this may have been fine - if I didn't get a GRAPHIC NOVEL! 

Nowhere in the description to the book did it mention these types of scenes, it wasn't rated for Adults Only, and without the ability to browse through the entire book (as you can with a traditional book in a brick and mortar book store), I was taken completely by surprise. The prologue included a pair of old men talking and walking by the shore, how was I to know what was coming? 

Needless to say, my students won't be reading From Hell, at least not as part of their school library. I went through the iPads and deleted it from them all. Fortunately, iBooks doesn't require you to purchase a class set (up to 10 iPads can share one purchase - so a "class set" is much cheaper this way) - but I will be more leary going forawrd, particularly when it comes to buying Graphic Novels. 

Does anyone have any ideas for previewing eBook purchases before spending any money? Am I going to have to go to a brick and mortar store, peruse the hard copy book, then retire to my quarters and purchase the now vetted title via the iBook store. I think it's my best option at this point - I just don't want to spend any more money unnecessarily. C'est la vie. 

#ECOO12

I had the opportunity to attend this year’s ECOO (Educational Computing Organization of Ontario) in Richmond Hill this past weekend.  I went with the mission of learning as much as I could about how teachers are currently maximizing student assessment and feedback with technology, particularly with the iPads.  It was also an opportunity to hear about how the education paradigm is shifting...from the top-down, hierarchical “Sage on the Stage” model that most of us probably experienced in our elementary and high school to one where the teacher is a facilitator and coach; students can access anything they need to know in a matter of seconds, but they still need to learn how to be effective in their search for, and use, of information.  

But, to my concern at hand.  I learned about two apps frequently being used to collect student work and allow the ongoing feedback with peers and teacher, and even parents.  Edmodo (@edmodo) (http://www.edmodo.com) is a Facebook-like social media platform that teachers are using with their classes to collect assignments, provide automatic and digital feedback, and post in a safe, social way.  I was familiar with Edmodo a few years ago but the format seemed difficult.  I’m sure the honest reason is that I was afraid of the learning curve I would have to work on.  I will be having my students create accounts and join my site this week.  

Evernote (@evernote) (http://evernote.com/) is an amazing app, available for tablets and traditional computers, with the mission of “Remember Everything.”  As a teacher struggling to keep track of anecdotal feedback using the Notes app on the iPad...read that as, I could handwrite this just as quickly but I wouldn’t be able to read it later on, and I’d probably lose the paper...I was immediately interested in Evernote.  It was easy to find to download to my MacBook Pro and I also found the app easily enough through iTunes.  There are several add-ons for Evernote but I won’t get in to them this early on.  I can’t really describe Evernote with justice, so immediately from the application itself, “Put everything in one place - your notes, images, documents, web clips and audio notes. Find what you're looking for using our powerful search. Sync makes your notes accessible across your devices.”  Again, the app looks daunting.  I’m sure I will find myself frustrated at times this year as I will be learning Evernote alongside my students.  I think it will be good for us as a class though, and good to see that even as I experience frustration and the desire to quit, I need to stick with it for the good of the group.  Part of my contribution to this blog will be to document my learning and trials with these, and other, apps.

All in all, this was a good conference, with some presentations that floored me, and others that underwhelmed me.  I came away with a lot of information that I am still trying to distill.  Please use the hashtag #ECOO12 to read the ongoing commentary that happened with, and among, educators and presenters over the length of the conference.      

Making Progress...Slowly

So we have finally made the last step - we've been cleared by our board to go ahead, purchase apps, books, and films, and get these iPads into the hands of our students. We have been waiting to get cases, but since the roll out will begin with a very few number of selected students, we don't want to wait any longer to wait for cases to arrive. 

In hopes of minimizing purchase duplication we've decided to distribute our purchases. We've divided our 20 student iPads into two groups. All of our apps (paid and free) will be available on all pads, and any free iBooks will be available on all pads as well. However, we've decided to denote half of our pads (#s 1-10) as iBook pads (where we've placed our purchased iBooks) and the other half of the pads (#s11-20) as film pads. We set up two Turning Point iTunes accounts for this purpose, and will make purchases from those accounts accordingly.  

The iBooks has been wonderful. We have a desktop at the back of the classroom that we use for purchasing (signing in and out of itunes accounts as need be) and as soon as I purchase a book from the iBooks store it is automatically pushed to each of the iBooks pads (#s1-10). Some of the graphic novels took a little time to transfer - but not more than a minute. 

I wish the films were as simple. We are starting slowly with the films (because they cost more), and have only purchased two (Paul Haggis' Crash (2004) and Gary Ross' The Hunger Games (2012)). Everything worked very well during the purchasing - clicked "buy", downloaded them both to the iCloud, and they both showed up on the videos "purchased" file on the pads. But when it came to actually downloading the films onto the pads - we've hit a roadblock. Or, rather, a huge puddle of molasses. Now we are choosing to download these wirelessly (we have a rather robust wireless network here at the college) - so that may be slowing things down a little, but this is taking forever!

Currently I am monitoring 3 different pads as they download those two films - and it's coming up on an hour with moderate progress so far. The saving grace is that this, like many other 'teacher tasks' is likely   only onerous on the front end (we don't imagine we'll be purchasing films everyday) - but it is something to keep in mind. The thought that we'd be able to identify a students' interests, locate an appropriate film that also fit said interests (proper DI), download the film and hand the pad to the student. That clearly won't happen. 

It's not the end of the world at all - and once we get the 10 film iPads loaded we should be fine, but there must be a faster way. Any ideas? Is this the best way to accomplish this task? I feel I'm aging as I sit here. 

Cases Cases Cases

We've been shopping for the ideal ipad case for the classroom. Though there are a plethora of choices out there to choose from, finding the one that is best for your class environment might be a bit more challenging. We are testing a couple of bluetooth keyboard cases to evaluate their usefulness in the classroom setting. Early results seem to suggest that if you are just using the ipads within the classroom and on desktops then the keyboard cases can be quite useful. However, if you are moving around a lot with the ipad, or have to use it while standing or in unconventional environments then the cases tend to be a bit cumbersome.

A work around can be just buying a couple of cheaper bluetooth keyboards (tigerdirect.ca is cheaper than the Apple store) that can be interfaced with any ipad. Then you just buy some cases that offer protection and versatility.

Elementary, My Dear Reader...

I was excited when talk of my joining this TLLP project began.  I differ from the other members in that my teaching area is in the elementary field.  I had, at one point, considered myself a fairly tech-savvy person, but I lacked either the creativity to adapt technology into my daily practice, or, I didn't have the technology available to me.  I transitioned to a new school last September and, by some accounts, it is one of those schools facing the "app gap."  I tried making use of the Smart Board on the rolling cart but the lack of wireless connectivity, the need for a 50' ethernet cable, and the logistics needed to move desks and kids to enable the movement of that juggernaut around the classroom proved difficult.  We also have one computer lab shared with approximately 600 JK - Grade 8 students.  How could I help my students bridge into 21st Century Fluencies when I was lacking the technology piece?

Fast forward to this summer.  I began to look at the functionality of 1 tablet in the classroom.  Luckily for me, I had accumulated an array of people on my Twitter PLN (professional learning network) who had experience with tablets in the classroom.  There were also several people posting links to "1 Ipad in the Classroom" websites on Pinterest and other social media venues.  When the opportunity to utilize more then 1 tablet presented itself, I felt like I could embark on my own learning journey, help others in the same situation, and more importantly, help my students.

My focus for the use of the tablets in the classroom is two-fold.  First, and probably least important, is to cut down on the amount of paper used, and hanging, in my classroom.  I love chart paper but, being an adult with attentional and distractibility issues, it can overwhelm me.  If it has that impact on me, I can imagine what it means for some of my 9 and 10 year olds.  With students creating, solving, and sharing on the tablets, and recording or saving these endeavours, I could have evidence of their curriculum and learning skills progress that would be of benefit during reporting.  

The most important reason, and also the main focus of my contributions to this blog, is for me to increase the amount of feedback and assessment my students experience.  The more they are able to engage in that feedback loop of teaching and on-going assessment, they are bound to make stronger gains.  I was familiar with feedback early in my teaching career but it was certainly improved and heightened by this summer's reading of How To Give Effective Feedback To Your Students by Susan M.  Brookhart (2008, ASCD).  My goal is to give my students more, and better, feedback this year and it is my intent that the use of tablets will help me in this endeavour.  I look forward to your reading about my journey and welcome your comments and questions.

Brian      

To Tweet or Not To Tweet

Well, I guess we know where this is going. By now, most of us know what Twitter is, or at least we know that it exists. Like Facebook, and MySpace before it, Twitter exploded onto the psychic consciousness of my students far faster than I could adapt. Leave it to the TLLP to bring me into C21!

As part of this project we have added a Turning Point twitter account (@TPointHWDSB) - and we have been slowly learning how we can use this. Fortunately, the Twitter app for iPad is extremely easy to use and we have learned how to "socialize" without too much trouble at all.

For now we are using the Turning Point twitter account as an announcement tool - since we are only two classrooms within a much larger college, and since our alternating schedule means that we don't always see every student everyday, it can be difficult to inform all of our students about upcoming events. So, we use Twitter for that - with it we can 'tweet' out to quickly advise students about changes to the day, to celebrate milestones (credits completed, OSSDs earned, etc.), and for various community notices (job postings, college presentations, etc.). Since most of our students have either a smart phone or a computer (often both) at home, and because Twitter is used on both devices, it's a fairly simple way to get ahold of our hard to get ahold of students!

We are also considering using it as another curriculum delivery tool, but we have some reservations. Because it is such a new medium, the board is not yet equipped with a Twitter policy, and the only advice we've received from the scant teachers using Twitter in class is that it's important to ensure students only 'tweet' the school account with a 'professional' Twitter account. Sadly, because our students are often transient and usually scattered, this extra step has the potential to slow this process down to the point of making it cumbersome.

Thoughts? Any advice on using Twitter as a curriculum delivery tool would be welcome. 

Where to Begin?

These iPads sure are great...there are so many features, so many APPS, so many nifty things you can do with them to enhance both your work and play. But that's actually my problem. There are almost too many options! Actually, take out the almost...there are too many options. I do use it for administrative tasks, and have found it to be very user friendly and helpful, but in trying to figure out how to incorporate these iPads into my teaching I have come to feel overwhelmed and even lost, at times. I don't know where to begin, mostly because I feel like I need a year or so to get a handle on everything this spectacular little machine can do. And we all know that in a year, these will be obselete anyway, so I'd better get a move on.

I guess the best way to begin is just to begin. But then I get caught up again at 'where'? Searching, reviewing and rating APPS that are useful to my subject is an easy one, but that doesn't feel like I am taking full advantage. Another initial idea is to use Educreations to have the students teach me what they know on the topic...but I'll have to master that myself first. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about using the iPads. I just feel a little 'behind the 8 ball' so to speak, and I want to be able to maximize their use in my class. So it seems like the only thing to do is just to dive in. By the end of the month, I vow to have used an iPad with my students, to enhance my teaching. There, I said it. There's got to be an APP for that...

Gauging Progress

How do you know if you're getting enough done?

This is a question that is floating around the front of my head today. I suppose it's proof that the TLLP project is truly a rich learning experience; I am learning about a new technology (the iPads), I'm learning more about my students (how, specifically, they learn best), and I'm also learning about the specific tasks of completing a project like the TLLP.

We had a good meeting today. We stuck to an agenda (sort of), we divided up duties, we made action items, we attached completion dates to tasks, and we came up with a comprehensive list of future meeting dates (weekly updates and monthly/bi-weekly task specific meetings). But is this enough? For some reason we all generally feel somewhat frustrated that we are not further along.

Part of the problem may be the fact that our project is somewhat dependant on purchasing technology (iPads and the gizmos and gadgets that will maximize their utility as well as keeping them safe and secure). We've had the pads for a few weeks now, but until we get cases and keyboards we are reluctant to begin using them with our students yet. In the interim we have been getting to know the hardware and software, but there is still some disappointment that our students have not yet been able to weigh in on the usefulness of this new technology.

So here is our question: how do we know if we're maximizing this great learning opportunity? We've set a deadline of November 1st to get the pads in he students' hands, and between now and then we will work to develop iPad based experiences/lessons.

If nothing else, we are receiving a great lesson in empathy - our program is self-paced, which means that students are responsible for determining due dates for their work. Many struggle with this new task and struggle at the beginning until they learn how to be the masters of their own time. The fact that we are now struggling with the openness of the TLLP process is it's own valuable learning experience that will only help us better know our unique learner.

Just curious - is anyone else going through this?

TeacherKit, the almost perfect teacher app!

So we've just finished the first week of school, and so have wrapped up our first week of using the tablets in the classroom. So far, the iPad is performing well - great even. Battery life, functionality and portability are all even better than anticipated. Last year we were using a combination of paper files and Lenovo laptops to do the same job - and the weight and battery life are both night and day improvements (no offense to Lenovo. They make a great product but it's apples and oranges).
So far, the app I've been using the most is a free one from ITWorx, it's called TeacherKit. It's a slick looking teacher app that will hopefully replace my paper attendance as well as my mark book.
So far I have set up my classes and entered some marks...manually entering each student into each class is tiresome, but we usually have to do that anyways in our alternative setting since we are not directly connected to a school board server. One of the many joys of working in a satellite site.

Also proving frustrating, I can't figure out how to produce any reports with it (monthly attendance reports would be great) but otherwise it works very well. The interface is very nice looking and so long as my pad is not loaded with excess stuff (I had to delete some movies) it runs well with little to no lagging. It would be nice to be able to move students from class to class, but the grade book is super easy to use and allows for a much more portable platform - useful for observational reporting (the bread and butter of the alt ed classroom.
I'll report back in a while, but so far this app gets a level 3. ;)

Networking for Dummies

Now that we have the pads and we've started to cull through the app world for useful apps for our program we are now preparing to sync our pads to iTunes accounts. The question remains, how and how many. If this process proves cumbersome, or unwieldy, it could stall out the project and in truth if this process gets in the way it may prove too much.

That being said, it seems straightforward from this vantage point. Our setup is as follows: we have a few desktops in our classrooms on which we have loaded iTunes (we don't want to have iTunes on the pads because it may prove too tempting for the students (and staff) and we want to keep the pads uniform, fast and uncluttered) and will hopefully be able to load books/apps onto those accounts. Then, the process of moving the chosen and vetted content onto all of the pads begins.

It remains to be seen whether or not we'll be able to accomplish this easily. It also remains to be seen of we'll be able to share a few accounts for 20 iPads. We've been told by other colleagues already working with iPads that apple is pretty good; that 10 pads per account is generally permissible. That would be great, but of not, it would be expensive and tedious to manage 20 accounts. We'll keep you posted, and if anyone has any advice/experience to share please let us know.

Math Ref

Math Ref is an app that contains 1400 mathematical formulas with explanations. Very handy app that includes calculator. This app could be used with any subject that includes math.

The Google World

One of the concepts we will be working with this year is the google universe. Is it effective to introduce our students to the google family of  applications?  StudentS often come to us with childish email addresses and no access to a personal computing device. With the google world we could look at setting up an adult. Email address that could be used for school and employment. As well,the google universe will allow us to introduce them to time management applications like calendars and reminders. Google will offer them a place to store work without needing a USB key, or any personal device through their email. The students can learn google drive, current, blogger, I google, and google+.

Hopefully, the google world will give students who do not have personal access to home computing a chance to experience all the possibilities the tablet world has to offer.

iPads. So then, why iPads?

So if there's one thing we're learning, it's that this process is all about decisions. Not "what am I going to have for breakfast?" type decisions - these decisions need to be weighed out and considered, because a plethora of other decisions will depend on these early ones.

In all honesty, the decision to go with the iPads was only complicated by one caveat. Ever since they were introcuded we have been taken with Google's suite of applications, namely Google Chrome (and their virtual favourites bar), Google Drive and Google Docs. The potential of sharing and accessing work remotely has great appeal to our population. As we were approaching our purchasing deadline there was lots of talk about Google creating iOS supported apps so we inevitably went with iPads anyways, more on that later.

When all was said and done, we chose to go with Apple iPads for this project fora few reasons:

1) Apple is universally regarded as having not only more, but superior apps, many of which can be easily tailored to education. iBooks, iTunes U, and Newsstand all provide potential opportunities for an Alternative classroom that from the outside seem almost too good to be true. One of the goals of this project will be to determine if these apps actually do improve the classroom experience for teachers and students alike.

2) The iPads offer a completely integrated package of hardware, software and networking setup and for a program like us, with little to no tech. expertise on site and limited opportunity to spend time learning new equipment, the user friendly (famous for not coming with an instruction manual) iPads won out.

3) Finally, the ease of ordering the iPad with our board (HWDSB) pushed us over the edge - after seeing an official release supporting iPads in HWDSb schools we decided to go that way. By ordering through the board purchaser we avoided any red tape regarding education discounts, we sped up the process of getting out money, and we should even get a deal on our HST.

As we've already stated, our first batch of iPads arrived a few weeks ago and we're still getting used to them and their unique iOS systems, but so far we're pleased with out decision. The Google Chrome and Google Drive apps are already installed and seem to be working well, and while we await Google Docs to be created/released we have found something that does the same thing (CloudOn - see app review elsewhere in the blog).

As always, we'd be interested to hear anything from teachers with similar experiences. Let us know what you think of the blog.

Zite app

The Zite app we believe will be useful for our students. It is a news app that over time you can mold it into following news stories and themes that are appropriate and of interest to out students. When you use Zite, you can create custom headings for its news search engine to find. These articles will be sent to your Zite. When you read them, you have the opportunity to ask for more from that author or along that theme. As well, you can state you didn't like the article. The app will continue to search for articles based on what you read and what your response were to each article. Eventually, you have a custom news source for your students.

Teacher Pal app

We were looking for a good app that you could use for attendance and other admin duties. The Teacher Pal app is very basic. It does allow for easy attendance and mark tracking. Though it will not be that advantageous to our set up as well will have to enter attendance into the school board system separately. Thus creating duplication. There is a PowerSchool app that is available and next year our board will be using that as their main data entry program. So hopefully, this will improved once that takes place.

Cloudon app

We discovered a free app called Cloudon. This app allows you to view all document formats on the ipad. As well, you can view and alter google docs. This may be a game changer for us in regards to ipad use. Many of our students will have a Google account that we will use for school. The concern was that the ipad would not view these documents. That problem is solved. As well, Cloudon can view PDF files.

A Beginning...

We are sending our iPads flowers.
Yup, so far it's love at first swipe.

Alright, our apologies for the delay between the last post and now, the regular "end of year chaos" took over and we thought of nothing besides culminating tasks, credit rescue, report cards and finally graduation. But all of that business is done, and so our aim is being redirected towards this project.

Since we last spoke we also received shipment on our first batch of iPads. It took only 6 days all the way from Longhua, Shenzen, China, and we tracked them all the way! It was like Christmas morning, only hotter and without any indoor trees. We will discuss why we ended up choosing the iPad vs. other tablet options in a later post.  

Since receiving the first batch we've been performing plenty of experiments and making discoveries on a daily basis. Culling the free apps from the good apps and determining how these little toys can make our jobs easier is all we are thinking about. We also need to determine what accessories we'd like to pick up - perhaps a few keyboards? One of us feels strongly about stylus use, so those are getting a good look over. We will try to update this BLOG regularly and keep you all up to date re: our discoveries and our defeats.

Test Drivin'

Hey there, so today is an exciting day. Post #2 on this lovely young blog sees me sitting at my desk trying to figure out how to type on a touch screen. Yup - we have our first iPad, or more accurately, we are borrowing one for the day to see how it works. Early learning includes:
1) Super cool! The wow factor delivers on this machine and I can see what all the hype is about. There's something oddly satisfying about the wipes, the scrolls, the page turns. Nice!

 2) No manual means intuitive? Sure, but there are normal things that I don't yet know how to do, like upload a pic to this blog! I'm confident that it will become more innate, but what I wouldn't             give for my arrow keys.

 3) Already I want a keyboard - searching for punctuation is not fun, and could even result in reluctant users (of punctuation) to abandon it altogether. Did I mention that I'm an English teacher?

4) Is the screen always going to be this dirty? Seriously - we work with up to 100 18-21 year-olds, I wonder if we can get a salad bar sneeze guard for our precious screens.

 5) The first thing I did was jump on google. You see, long before the TLLP came into our lives we were planning on implementing a Google based course delivery system using their cloud and Google Drive - how disappointed we were when we learned that our much beloved Google platform would not work seamlessly with the iPad. There is talk of chrome and drive being available for iOS products in the coming year. If it arrives soon enough we'll share our thoughts on the potential for pairing the two items.

Those are just some of our initial reactions. As mentioned, we haven't yet purchased any tablets, but we are leaning towards the iPads. If anyone has information on using an android powered tablet in a secondary classroom (or any classroom, for that matter) let us know what you think.

Alter Ed Tablets? Huh?

A traditional classroom - perhaps a dream version. 

So this is where we will begin; it's not the beginning, but it's close enough. Turning Point is an "alternative" setting - which doesn't mean that our students are dangerous, or lazy or any of the other labels they receive - it simply means that they have not had success in a traditional school. (To learn more about Turning Point be sure to click the About Turning Point tab.) Not having success in a traditional day school can mean many different things to many people. The one common theme, however, is that due to some issues a student will not complete their OSSD in the expected time frame.

Since many alternative education students are not mainstreamed, they need to be put somewhere. This can look like many things - depending on the degree of separation required and the resources available at the school. In any event, the act of pulling students out of traditional schools gives them many things: a greater chance to focus, more access to teaching support, more flexible scheduling, etc. But of course, with these gains there are also some deficits.

Typically, alternative education sites do not have the standard additional learning environments, namely: libraries, art classrooms, computer labs and science labs. The classes may be located in the basement of a church, the empty wing of a large high school or an 'off-site' school board building that hasn't traditionally housed learners - so it is not an oversight, it's simply a reality.

Which is where this project started. We have an atypically great alternative site - we're located in a local college, and our students have more access to learning environments than what is 'typical' of an alternative site -  but we do NOT have a reading library, a computer lab, an art classroom, or a science lab. This is a burden felt by the students, but also felt by the staff - coming up with 'other options' is an ongoing project at every alternative site.

It is with these shortcomings in mind that we decided to investigate the efficacy of tablet technology in the alternative classroom. Throughout the project we will work to determine whether or not tablets (and all of the wonderful possibilities they promise) are more effective at delivering curriculum to students in an alternative setting.