RRR Cy Fair iPad in Leadership and Productivity

Resources for participants of the Cy Fair iPad in Leadership Productivity Session at the Rigor, Relevance and Relationships Conference.

Instructional Planning Apps for Teachers and Admins

• Planbook Touch for iPad: Link
• iPlan Lessons: Link
• Lesson Plans: Link
• QuickVoice Recorder: Link
• Dropbox: Link
• Things for iPad: Link
• Discover: Link
• Evernote: Link
• Pages for iPad: Link
• Numbers for iPad: Link
• Goodreader for iPad: Link
• Mobile Air Mouse: Link
• WritePad for iPad: Link
• iTranslate: Link
• Flipboard: Link
• Dragon Dictation: Link

Assessment and Evaluation Apps

• TOWER Mobile by Randa: Link
• Classroom Mosaic:Link
• Bento:Link
• eCove suite of apps:Link
• Classroom Walkthrough and Observation Form Courtesy of Kern Kelly and Fred Johnston: Link
• Mastery Connect and Bubble Sheet: Link 1 and Link 2
• Show Me:Link
• Screen Chomp:Link
• Explain Everything: Link
• Popplet: Link
• Videolicious: Link
• AT&T Code Scanner: Link

Grouping Apps by Bloom’s Taxonomy (also by standards):

• Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano A.K.A Langwitches’ Bloom’s Taxonomy for iPad: Link
• Kathy Schrock’s Bloom Apps: Link
• Teach with Your iPad Blog Bloom’s Taxonomy for iPad: Link
• Diane Darrow’s K-5 iPad Apps According to Bloom’s Taxonomy: Link
• Kelly Tenkley’s Bloom’s Taxonomy of Apps: Link
• Blooms App Blog: Link

Research and Information:

• The Marzano Evaluation Model: Link
• The Framework for Teaching by Charlotte Danielson: Link
• School Leadership and Teacher Effectiveness Using iPad Apps from Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland: Link
• Educational Outcomes and Research from 1:1 Computing Settings: Link
• Prince George’s County Public School TEDL Initiative (1:1 Middle School): Link
• Reviewing the evidence on how teacher professional development affects student achievement: Link
• Flipped Classroom Infographic: Link
• Neff Elementary School (Houston Independent School District): Link
• Download iTunes: Link
• iTunes U link in iTunes: Link
• iTunes U app for iPad (also available for iPhone): Link
• iBooks app for iPad (also available for iPhone): Link
• How districts can sign up for a K12 iTunes U Portal: Link

dotEPUB — Download any webpage as an e-Book

dotEPUB — download any webpage as an e-book

I am about to scream.  I love my iPad and my iPad (hopefully iPad2 within the next hour) loves me too…but today, the love has grown.  A fellow colleague, Sam Parisi shared with me today the most unbelievable site: dotepub.com.  dotepub allows you to turn any webpage into an .ePub on the iPad! 

WHAT?

I know…let me repeat this: dotepub allows you to turn any webpage into an .ePub on the iPad! Now, if I am student who doesn’t have internet access at home I can simply create an ePub of a website I need to read and then…BOOM, I have access at home.  This really works well for anyone, but great implications in the classroom and beyond.

I really like the fact that we are able to promote literacy even through a webpage.  The Common Core are coming at the rate of speed.  We need to start creating more examples of learning like this!  Students having a digital library of ALL types reading material is just awesome.  We have to THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOOK (website to follow soon 😉

Students can open the ePub in the iBooks and…

• Tap and highlight any word and get the word defined for you instantly
• Highligh words and phrases in different colors
• Maybe highlight symbolism in pink
• Highlight compound sentences in blue
• You can also tap on any word and or phrase and create sticky note.

And people don’t understand the power of mobile!  Elation…after a long hard night, this was just the pick me up I needed.  Oh, and did I mention this is all FREE!

ePubly Yours,

The Cre8tiv Mind

iOS 4.2 is finally here! What does this mean for education?

Uh…it’s is finally here.  iOS 4.2 I have been waiting, patiently for you.  This software update to the iPad will definitely be a game changer.  Creating Digital Learning Environments (DLE) are quite the rage right now.  I agree with them whole-heartedly, but I believe in differentiated technology integration based on a school’s need.  A laptop is not always the solution per se. The new OS has great implications for schools wanting to jump on the quickly moving 21st Century train.

Why can’t schools purchase the iPad, dock it into a keyboard, run the power cable to the wall (like in a lab), insert headphones and voile…a lab of iPads at a fraction of the cost.  Students will be able to consume and create information and if need be…the device is instantly mobile. 

With the new iOS we can now take advantage of:

Folders.  One of my personal favs of the update.  In schools the abyss of apps can be unnerving for some teachers and students.  Now if a “lab” type set up is done…apps can be grouped according to grade or content area on the iPad. This is a great way to set the device up when it is being shared across content areas and grades.

Multitasking.  Now with multitasking students can jump into one app and leave it running in the background and then jump to another.  Great for when research is needed.  Students can go to Safari and acquire a picture or other information and then add the data to another app.

AirPrint.  Now this is an awesome addition to the iOS.  Students and teachers are now able to print directly from the iPad.  The only caveat is that there are only certain printers that will work with AirPrint.  Here is a listing: http://www.macworld.com/reviews/collection/5806/airprint.html
 

AirPlay.  This update allows users to share digital media like videos and photos wirelessly from their iPad to a TV and or speakers via Apple TV.  I think Apple TV is very underestimated in an educational setting.  Why couldn’t a group of teachers who teach 3rd grade share an Apple TV (if they are in close proximity).  They could download awesome podcasts, videos from iTunes U and even Lit2 Go audiobooks and wirelessy tap into them and play them whole group in their classroom.

Find My iPad.  This app allows the owner/guardian of an iPad to find it if it is lost or stolen.  Another great feature, especially for schools who are concerned about theft of these coveted devices.

Well, this is my take on the new iOS 4.2 in education…I could say more, but my own iPad is beckoning for an upgrade.

Updately yours,

The Cre8tiv Mind

Can we use technology to differentiate instruction for boys and girls?

Have you ever considered whether boys learn differently from girls?  Well, there is plenty of research to support that in fact…they do.  So there is something to the whole “Venus” and “Mars” ideology after all.  Many researchers also believe that a differentiation needs to be made between boys and girls specifically in the realm of STEM areas.

The below is a listing of some of this “research”.  Let’s take a moment to explore.

Strategies for Girls from Education.com

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/best-teaching-strategies-girls/

#1 Collaborative groups encourage girls to be leaders during instructional time.

What technology tools can be integrated into the curriculum to help girls collaborate more?

• Google Apps
• iPads/iPod touch
• Laptops
• Stixy
• Project2Manage
• bubbl.us
• Dabbleboard
• Protonotes
• Twiddla
• Wet Paint
• Skype
• Thinkature
• Spicebird
• Etherpad
• and much more!

#2 Provide a more face-to-face nurturing environment rather than a shoulder-to-shoulder environment found in a coed or boys’ room.

How can technology fit into this suggestion?

• The Harkness table is a great remedy for this situation.  In a round table setting female students can use laptops, iPads, iPods, interactive slates, and Flip video cameras to have more face-to-face interaction.  Using these tools students can interview one another (enhancing 21st Century skills), work on a video project together, and use free concept mapping tools like Cmap to brainstorm ideas.

#3 Consider comfortable seating – bean bag chairs or sofas.

Technology fits perfectly into this snug suggestion, let me tell you how.

• Mobile devices like the iPad and iPod touch can be used anywhere.  Students can comfortable in the favorite chair, on a lazy couch or bean bag and utilize their mobile device to surf the internet, listen to a podcast, use the Doodle Buddy app with a partner on the other side of the room to create a cell together at the same time via a wifi connection, take an assessment and any of the hundreds of other things that can be done on a mobile device.

#4 Challenge girls as much as the boys.

Preach.  Girls many times aren’t as challenged as boys because of the stigma that boys are smarter in specific content areas…pppppffff.  GIRL POWER!

• Let’s get challenged ladies.  Challenged based learning is a great way to introduce more rigorous and less appealing content to girls.
• Make the challenging content engaging and attractive to young ladies.  Engineering, math, science and technology sound better when phrased as
  • Web Diva Programming aka Java Scripting
  • Fashion Designing aka Web design
  • Geek Chic Calc aka Calculus
  • GEMS aka Girls Engaged in Math and Science

An interesting side note: Tech crafting’s girlcentric reframing of technology, and its message that women can have their hairdo and their digital can-do, was embraced by the numerous female engineers and girl geeks who got out the vote in 2009 when Mattel posted an online poll, urging users to choose Barbie’s next career. As a result of their efforts, the 125th doll in the Barbie “I Can Be…” collection is a computer engineer. The Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering even contributed to the development of Barbie’s clothes and accessories. According to Mattel, “this digital diva engineers the perfect geek-chic look, with hot pink accessories and sleek gadgets to match.”

The list goes on.  Let’s ponder these today and look at more tomorrow.  Stay tuned…and no I haven’t forgotten the boys.  Remember: Ladies First!

Girly yours,

The Cre8tiv Mind

iTunes ♫ PDF Adder

This is an AWESOME script that will allow you to take a document and “print” it as pdf that will THEN send it straight to iTunes to your Books section for you to sync with your iPod touch or iPad…I’m out breath, can you say, “bombful!”  Ooooohhhh this takes this whole iBook thing to another level.

This post will have to be short as I am pulling up every document I own and “printing” them to iTunes.  Sigh, it’s the simple things in life that make the world go round.  Enjoy: Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes ♫ PDF Adder v3.1.

Printly yours,

The Cre8tiv Mind