Safe with Griffin #EdTech

I'm happy to share with all of you a review of some great cases from Griffin. Below you will find my thoughts on some great products Griffin sent to me to review and share with my readers. Here is what I thought.

Survivor Case for iPad

I've always been curious about the heavy duty iPad cases. I wondered why people would need such protection for their iPads. Were these people using them as frisbees or cutting boards? Then I had a son. Everything made so much sense after that.

For those of you out there with young children and iPads, you know that you do need a military grade  case to keep everything safe. I felt very confident as little Leo ran across the kitchen with the iPad in his tiny hands to show me his new drawing. He dropped, bumped and drooled on the iPad and it was perfectly safe in the Survivor case. I couldn't be happier with the protection my iPad received while in the Survivor case. I do not expect my son to be running around with my iPad all of the time, but I do travel often with my iPad and the TSA can be rough with my bags. I have always been worried about what might happen to my iPad when I do travel. I did not worry one second while using the Survivor case.

Some people might think the $79.99 price tag is a bit steep, but the security of having a safe and secure iPad is worth the price. For people that travel and take their iPad all over with them, this is the perfect case for them. It adds some to the bulk of the iPad, but that is ok because it is going to keep it safe and that is what is most important.

The Survivor Case for the iPad Mini ($59.99) is just as awesome as the full size version and would be perfect for those who travel with their Mini.

For those that will be traveling often with the Survivor case, there is Survisor Harness Kit.

The Survisor Harness Kit is a great way to carry the iPad with you without taking it in and out of a backpack over and over again during a trip. The iPad hangs nicely across the chest and can be used while being worn. I wore it around the classroom one day to see how comfortable and easy to us it was and it was nice. Moving in and around the classroom and the hallways without having to hold the iPad as I needed to do other things was simple. Also, the rain cover was very nice as well as the spot to put a stylus. It has everything I could have needed as I used for the day. It's a nice addition to the Survivor case for those who travel and take their iPad everywhere with them. $49.99

#2 Pencil Stylus

Stylus + Pen

These are two different stylus pens that worked great when I used them in class and at home. The #2 Pencil Stylus looks like a regular pencil and is great to use. Leo loved to use it to draw on the iPad and play his games. I like it because he will learn to use a pen and pencil and holding this stylus will not force him to hold it differently. It fit nicely into the Harness Kit and worked great on the iPad screen. $19.99

The Stylus + Pen was great in the classroom. Despite all of my efforts to be completely paperless, there are some things that still require my signature in real ink. This stylus allows me to just pop the top and sign or write what I need. It was nice to have when I needed it and I keep it in my pocket whenever I walk around with my iPad. $24.99

KaZoo MyPhones

The last thing I wanted to share was these awesome headphones. What I love about these headphones, besides the adorable design, is the fact that it keeps the sound at 85DB. This is perfect for keeping ears safe from loud music and games. I wish all of my students had these in class. I can often hear their music int he hallways as they pass between classes. These headphones are just the right thing for classrooms. Young students who want to sit quietly and listen to books, work on projects or any other audio required items will love these headphones and parents and teachers will feel good knowing they're not letting the students melt their brains with loud music. For $19.99, these are perfect for anyone with young kids who are worried about their hearing health. 

In a few days, I will be sharing my review of Slim Folio, IntelliCase, SeeSaw, and the Griffin Multidock.

This is what standardized tests fail to assess #EdChat #PBLChat

Since I made the switch to Project Based Learning, I am always amazed at the different projects I receive from my talented students. These projects manage to show me a depth of understanding that a multiple choice test could never reproduce.

Recently, students were asked to create their own project and rubric for The Great Gatsby. I received some really good projects, but this one struck me as something really special. All projects needed to be approved before the students were allowed to start work, but I never expected this when my students asked to write a song for the book. Here is Maddie V's completed project,

Maddie wrote the music, played the piano and wrote the lyrics for this song. She did all of this while rehearsing and performing in the school's Spring Musical. For me, this is one of the best projects I have ever received for this unit. She gave me permission to post this on my website and tweet it out. I had to share this with all of the other teachers out there wondering about the value of projects over tests. 

There is no doubt that Maddie could take a test on Gatsby and get an A. She is very bright and it would have been very easy for her. However, what would she have walked away with after acing the exam? With the project, she still has an A, but she has something she accomplished. A beautiful song she will have with her the rest of her life. When she thinks about Gatsby or the green light, she can think about a song she wrote and shared with the world. I'm always looking for reasons why people should dump their tests, and this is one of the best examples to date. 

Maddie is going to go on and do some amazing things out there. How many kids are not being given the chance to express what they have learned because the multiple choice test is the "best" way a teacher can think of to assess? As teacher, we need to look for better ways to get the most out of our students. For me, projects have opened my eyes to the very different talents my students have and they have made me look at assessments in a different light. I hope this song is a light bulb for teachers considering Project Based Learning in the future. 

If you liked the song, take a moment and leave Maddie a comment on YouTube or send her a tweet at @MADdy_skillz.

Chemistry Class and a @LivescribeK12 Sky Pen #EdChat #SciChat

Here is a post from Jessica Haggerty (@gpschemistry) who is a Chemistry teacher at Grosse Pointe South High School. I gave her a Sky Pen and was curious how it would work in her classroom. Here are her thoughts. 

I use the Livscribe Sky Pen almost daily in my chemistry classroom.  Especially during units heavy in problem solving, it is extraordinarily helpful for students who were absent for lessons or students who need extra reinforcement when working at home to have access to the lesson at home.  Before using the Sky Pen, handing a copy of the notes where I had solved a long problem to a student left them only confused searching for how I got from one step to another and where I took specific numbers from.  The learning that can take place where they can listen to an explanation and solve the problem without me being present is incredible. 

Personally, one of the greatest things about the Livescribe Sky Pen for me is that when I am unable to be in class for a day, I do not have to “miss” a day in my curriculum.  I can go through the lesson at home the night before and have the lesson ready for my substitute teacher the next day.  It allows me to stay up with my curriculum even if I have to miss days.  On the same note, it allows me to give the students more supplemental material and reviews that they can view on their own time. 

The students have become accustomed to having their lessons online and regularly use them.  Many have even come to me, seniors especially, about purchasing their own pen to take to college as a resource.  I highly recommend using the Livescribe Sky Pen to all educators, especially in the math and sciences.

Here are some examples that Jessica has created using her Sky Pen:

12HC12.7MolarityandStoich

brought to you by Livescribe

12HC10.10 IOnic bonding

brought to you by Livescribe

12HC10.1EConfig

brought to you by Livescribe

Jessica Haggerty is in her 4th year of teaching and teaches honors and regular Chemistry. She has a Chemistry degree and a masters in teaching and curriculum with a technology endorsement. You can follow her on Twitter at @gpschemistry

I Will Not Let An Exam Result Decide My Fate by @SuliBreaks #Edchat

I'm very happy that I found this on Twitter yesterday. This was a great spoken word poem that I shared with my students. They were very impressed by Suli Breaks. It lead to a great discussion that is worth having with students. Take a moment and watch the video and share it with your staff and students to start a conversation.

Gripcase Review - It's Awesome for Kids #edchat

One of my biggest fears I have when I set my iPad down in the house is whether or not my son is going  to pick it up and make a run for it. Now, I love using the iPad with Leo, but I worry that he is going to drop it throw it or do any of those other things that 2 year olds do with anything in their hands.

I'm not much of case guy, but I knew I needed something to protect the iPad, but no be too cumbersome for a little kid to handle. That is where Gripcase comes in.

The Gripcase has been the perfect solution to my iPad damage related worries. Leo can easily take the iPad and run from one couch to the next and sit down and play his favorite games without a care int he world. It is not heavy and the special made handles allow him to easily hold on to the iPad with his tiny little hands. The drop in nature of the iPad means if he were to drop it face down, the handles prevent the screen from hitting the surface, make the iPad very safe for the less coordinated. 

I watched Leo run across the kitchen floor and carry it up the stairs without a worry. He feel very comfortable using the iPad with the Gripcase and I feel comfortable letting him carry it around. It was only a matter of time before he took over the iPad mini, but at least I know it is safe and secure in the Gripcase.

Here is a video with more information on Gripcase and you should check out their website as well.