iPad Accountability

Using the iPad in the classroom presents the opportunity for inquiry-based, collaboration amongst the children.  This video shows a really great example of how a kindergarten class integrates technology into their unit on butterflies: http://youtu.be/Y5b6y7DJuYk

On a smaller scale in the one iPad classroom, you can hold children accountable for the apps they are "playing".  Directing them toward choosing a math facts app, for example, is one thing, but how do you monitor this?  Require children to take a screenshot of their results screen when they get to the end of a learning session on an app.  This will give you the assessment you need to gauge their level of understanding.  To make it even easier, the free Dropbox app will automatically transfer the pictures they take on the iPad to your computer!

Here's how you can do it:

Screenshots can be taken on your iPod, iPad, or iPhone by pressing the home button (at the bottom middle) and the power button (top edge) at the same time.  This will take a picture of whatever is showing on your screen and put it into your photos.

Dropbox- Once this app is installed on your computer and on all of your devices, they are linked together to continuously update.  You won't have to waste space on your iDevices by keeping all of your pics and videos because they are updated via Dropbox automatically.  SO... you take a picture on your iPad and it instantly gets transferred to your dropbox on that device and every other place you have dropbox installed.  You will have to signup to create an initial account and make a username and password (login with this to Dropbox on your iDevices and computer and you're connected).  You will also have to download the Dropbox program to your computer from their website: https://www.dropbox.com/

Futaba!

Have you heard of Futaba yet?  Bizarre sounding name, I know, but it is the perfect app for the one iPad classroom.  It turns your ONE device into a game board for 2-4 players.  The device asks a question in its rotating center and the students race to respond correctly.  Win 3 rounds to get a futaba (which apparently is a little seed!?)

You have the option of using questions they supply (grade level k-5 specific) or your own.  You create a teacher username/password so it's easy to write and send out your own unique questions to one or as many iDevices as you want!  That means you can adapt it to any grade or subject and can even be used by the resource classes!

It's pretty pricey compared to some apps ($6.99). Luckily for you however, it is available through the Volume Purchase Program, which means I can buy it for you (OR, should we say, thanks to Ms. Hurst... we still have some $$ in our account from last year :)
Let me know if you're interested and how many iPads you have and I'll e-mail you the purchase code (once you "Redeem" this code, Futaba will automatically load on all of your devices).

To learn more, watch this how-to video or go to their website: http://www.inkidseducation.com/futaba/ 

Teacher Created Resources has some similar apps that turn your iDevice into a multiplayer game board.  These are geared toward 2-5 grades, but are more ELA based and the kids love them.  Check out this link to learn more: http://www.appannie.com/company/teacher-created-resources/ (those are available through the VPP as well :)

Save the Tree Octopus!

In the classroom, I believe it is more important than ever to set clear research standards when teaching internet responsibility, reliability, and, especially nowadays, gullibility.   It's stressed often that, "what's published on the internet, stays on the internet," but we also need to emphasize that just because it SAYS it on Google, doesn't mean it's a FACT.  You can show the kids examples all day long of "good" websites and how they can tell they are reliable places, but as Julie McNey says, it's often the NON-examples that can be the most helpful!

Linked is a page that has a list of bogus websites that you can use for teaching purposes with your students.  These sites look and read like creditable, informational pages, but are in fact fake.  My favorite to use is the Tree Octopus one.

After an intro to our animal research project and explaining to kids how to identify valid material on the web, I pulled up this website and asked the children to rate it.  Lots of facts about the tree octopus (check), tons of pictures and even videos (check), nonprofit links on how YOU can save the poor endangered animal (check), FAQ (check), a .net address (check), updated recently (check)....  There was a resounding "YES", this is a fabulous site and every single hand went up that they would reference this page in their research.  To which I replied, "The TREE Octopus? Really??"  Hook, line, and sinker... ALL of my children bought into the fake website to the point that they were brainstorming fundraising ideas to "help the cause!" Once they realized it was all fiction, we had a really good discussion about spotting the validity of information.  It definitely made them more critically aware of what they were reading on the web!

Here is a couple of helpful places for our young learners to start their research that would provide them with a narrower, reliable search field:

kidrex.org is a Googled powered, kid-friendly search engine.  It links quality results that are child appropriate.

NC Wise Owl- encyclopedia type reference material that is child appropriate as well (this can be accessed through the school internet without entering a password)

Support the Tree Octopus