The 5 must have apps for a class set of iP@ds

In the next few days, I will be rolling out a class set of iPads. Below are 5 apps that will be essential to making this pilot work.

Dropbox

Dropbox is going to be key in having a class set of iPads. I had all of my students set up Dropbox accounts using their school email addresses at the very start of the school year. I created a shared folder that all students have access to. I placed all important documents in there for students to access. It allowed me to make only 180 paper copies all year and half of those were permission slips to use the iPads. Students will be able to access all documents I place in the shared folder on the iPad by logging into to Dropbox. When students create new documents or take pictures, they will be able save them in their Dropbox account. I also created shared folders with individual students that will allow them to submit assignments directly to me. I can check them and drop them back without others seeing the graded work. In a shared environment, the app allows for easy logging in and logging out. Another great aspect is that students will be able to access all of their information from a computer or on their own devices. Dropbox allows access to documents from anywhere there is Internet access. It's perfect for my iPad pilot. Without Dropbox, I'm not sure I would had pushed for the class set.

Evernote

As students do research for various projects and essays, Evernote will be a great tool for them to store websites they want for later. Also, it will be a great place for students to take notes in class. They can easily categorize information and notes in different notebooks and freely share those notes with other students. Evernote allows for web access as well and that will enable students to access their information from home or their personal mobile devices. Like Dropbox, Evernote allows students to access their information from anywhere. Information needs to be easily shared in this collaborative endeavor and Evernote is a great tool that allows this happen effortlessly.

Although a separate app, I will add Evernote Peek here as well. It's a wonderful add-on for students who are looking to study their facts and vocabulary words.

Twitter

My students will be engaged in the back channel on a regular basis. They will be using #MrPAmLit for their tweets and I can't wait to see what the stream looks like with all of my students using Twitter. Not all of my students have an account and they will not be required to get one, but I do know I have students that cannot access Twitter from their phones and they are excited to use the iPads to tweet. The students will be able to add their account and will need to delete their accounts at the end of each class. That will take some getting used to, but it will not be a large obstacle in using Twitter in class.

Prezi Viewer

I have banned Power Points in my classroom and have encouraged students to use other presentation tools. Prezi Viewer will allow students to create Prezis at home and view them on the iPad. Even better, students will be able to present their Prezi using the Apple TV connection I set up in my classroom. No longer will students have to log into my teacher station, email the presentation to me or bring a flash drive that may not be compatible with the school desktop. Prezi Viewer will allow all students to present quickly and easily.

Google

It might seem simple, but it is a must have. If I want students to quickly search for information, I will need them to use their Google App. I had students create Google accounts using their school email at the start of the year, so this app will allow students full access to their Google Apps. This was a nice bonus to having students create Blogger accounts. Whether my students are doing research for a project or working on a Google Doc, this Google App will give my kids access to information and tools that will allow them to be engaged in their work.

These are just 5 of the apps I intend to have my students actively using in class. Stay tuned for more details as I pilot this class set of iPads in my American Literature and Composition classes.

- @TheNerdyTeacher

Dropbox and Shared Classroom Tablets

I've been very lucky to get a class set of iPad2s for my classroom to pilot this year. I have many fun and exciting lessons to try out on the tablets, but my first concern was having students access documents quickly and easily.

I've been a Dropbox user for a few years now and love it. I was never able to access my school documents from home. With Dropbox, I have access to all of my documents from anywhere. With my iPad, I can access, edit and send them without hassle. This is what I want for my students.

I spent a day in the lab having students set up accounts using their school email addresses. I walked them through Dropbox and what it can be used for and how we will be using it for class. Many of the students were interested in the process and even asked if they could use Dropbox for other classes. The thought of not having to constantly email things back and forth was a huge plus to my students. They no longer had to worry about presentations being too large to email. I could see that some of my students are really going to enjoy using Dropbox.

I created a shared file for American Literature and shared it with every student. I will now be able to drop files I want students to access easily from my desktop. When students use the Dropbox app on the iPads, they will be able to log in and access the files. They can edit the files using DocsToGo and drop them into their personalized folders.

If we do group work, students can create group folders and easily share work at their desk and then share the final project with me. With the Apple TV setup in my room, students will be able to open their project and present using the projector without having to leave their desk.

It's taken me a little while to figure out which apps will work best with Dropbox on shared devices. Students will have to remember to log in and log out of the devices, but I'm not too worried about students accessing other students' files. Kids can just log others out without a problem.

The more I play with Dropbox and the other apps that connect to it, the more I like what I see. Although iPads were not designed for collaboration, they are great tools at facilitating collaboration. I cannot wait to share the work my students will be sharing with each other.

I'll keep you posted on the pilot as it develops.

- @TheNerdyTeacher

Tablets and TVs in my room

For some time, I've been talking about my want to get a class set of tablets to try some fun things with my class. Well, after some nudging, begging and soul selling, I will have a class set of iPad2s for my students ready to roll in the next couple of weeks. I will have them in the morning and some very awesome friends in the Science Department using them in the afternoon. I'm very excited about the possibilities for my students as I move forward with this project.  I will be documenting this adventure for the rest of the school year, but I wanted to share one exciting part of the project that has me very excited. 

I read on a blog somewhere (Sad I can't remember.) that it is easy to connect an Apple TV to your projector with a simple converter. With Apple TV set, the iPad2 (With OS5) can mirror what is on the screen. Well, $160 later and I have an Apple TV setup in my classroom.

 

 

I did a simple Amazon search for HDMI/VGA converter and found one for $40. Apple TV cost $99 and the rest was for the cords I needed (VGA and HDMI). For that total, I am completely able to move about my room and project whatever I want on the screen. I used it on Friday and the kids were very excited. I was able to move about and discuss the day's topic and write notes on the iPad and have them projected onto the board. 

What is even better, is the fact that any student can jump onto the board if I want them to. When students are working on their iPads in groups or on their own, I can direct any of them to show their work on the board without getting up from their desk. 

I see students working on presentations at their desk and showing their work to the class. Students can annotate a page from a book and share their thoughts with their peers in a seamless transition. No longer will time be wasted as kids access their files on the school computer and talk about their project. Sharing is now a quick and painless process. 

There are some people out there (even in my own school) that think that tablets are just fancy tools that will not really help students learn. I strive to make my classroom a collaborative environment where students can share and learn from each other, not just with me. The iPads will allow for more collaborative projects and sharing in ways students have never experienced. 

I'm excited to share more of what we will be doing in the future. Keep an eye out for some fun projects and crazy commentary. 

@TheNerdyTeacher

Will blog for tablets...

Creative Commons by: Sean MacEntee

 Ugh.

Double Ugh.

I'm hitting wall after wall in regards to funding my tablet experiment.

I'm being pretty flexible with the type of tablet and even the number of tablets (I'm ok with just 30 and my two classes will just share every 6 weeks or switch at the semester.)

Heck, I'm even not stuck on tablets. The Nook Color could be awesome in my classroom. It doesn't have a camera, but I can easily work around that minor issue. The price it is good and it has the same types of apps I would need on traditional tablets. Since this is an English class, a Nook might be a better option.

I've reached out to business to see if something could be worked out, but I've received "Not at this time" and "No money for this type of project" types of answers.

I'm frustrated because I know that this is a great project, but nobody can/will fund it. Money is spent on so many stupid and insignificant projects by federal, state and local government, but when worthwhile projects come along, wallets close. It forces teachers to fight over a limited number of grants in a short period of time. If I have a good idea, like this one, but do not think of it at the right time of grant proposals, like I did for this, I'm out of luck until next year.

I'm going to keep plugging along and I'll probably be missing from Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus as I work on this project.

I'll be out in San Francisco in two weeks speaking on a panel of teachers at the AP Annual Conference, maybe I'll meet some like minded people out there interested in helping me with this project.

I'll keep everyone posted on the project as it evolves. Keep educating the crap out of those kids everyone. They are lucky to have awesome people like you. :-)

- @TheNerdyTeacher

My Playlist for The Great Tablet Experiment

Here are the songs I will be listening to while I upload the apps to the tablets I WILL get despite the lack of funding available in my district and my school board's decision to cut vital technology staff.

Better Days - Goo Goo Dolls

Waiting on the World to Change - John Mayer

All These Things I've Done - The Killers

Stand by Me - John Lennon

Good Riddance (Time of your life) - Green Day

These are my motivational songs when things get tough and a tad bit down when dealing with school stuff. I share them with all of you because I'm sure many of you have a similar mix. Keep working hard PLN and know that I will be doing the same.

- @TheNerdyTeacher

P.S. - I feel like "Everything I ever learned about education I learned from watching 'Can't Hardly Wait'" is coming very soon. Stay tuned.

The Great Tablet Experiment FAQs

The Great Tablet Experiment FAQs

I've talked to some people who have wondered why I'm spending my time on this project. Here are some of the most common questions I've received and my responses to them.

- Isn't this just a huge waste of money? 

I don't think this is a huge waste of money. These tablets are not going to be used once and tossed away. They can be used with/without wifi and still provide a wealth of information and content creation tools that far surpass what a traditional textbook can provide. The tablets are not confined to one classroom all day. They are given to students to use for the year. That allows them to be used in different content areas. An Language Arts book would be useful in English class. A tablet can be useful in all classes. Short term, it will be expensive, but in the long run, the tablets will be worth the expense.

- What are you trying to prove?

I'm trying to prove that there are others ways to approach teaching and learning. There is value to the traditional teaching models, but there is room for innovation. Tablets allow for many different and creative ways to present content. I spend time trying to convince educators that there is value in integrating technology into the curriculum. The tablet experiment could provide "real world" experience to the teachers and administrators that could persuade them to look at technology and education in a different light. 

For the students, it will allow them access to technology they might not be able to use otherwise. As we prepare these students for college and the job market, any extra experience with different forms of technology will prove beneficial. Also, the tablets will allow the students more computer access than the average student in my school because of the limited computer lab space. 

- Who do you think is going to pay for this? 

I would love it if some big company swooped in and offered to pay for the entire experiment. I guess that is possible, but not super likely. I've made friends with various tech companies, but I don't think they have the money to spend on this project. 

I would like to see this be a joint venture with my district and local businesses. I feel that community involvement is key in supporting upgrades in technology. The commitment from the community can also sends strong message to the district about the value of technology integration in schools. 

I'm still lacking funding, but I will be talking to my district in a couple of weeks to see what type of funding they could provide and that will help me see what alternative funding I will need to make this tablet experiment happen. 

- Why should your students get the tablets and not others? 

I think all of the students in my building should get tablets. Sadly, that is not possible. Students are assigned classes based on their scheduling needs. Some students get to be in my class and others do not. It's luck of the draw and I think it is fair. I'm sure there will be students who want to transfer into my class to get a tablet, but those issues will be dealt with if/when we need to.

- Is this really going to be good for the students? 

I think it will be great for the students who get to use the tablets and for future students in the district. I have confidence that I will put together a great curriculum that integrates the tablets seamlessly into the classroom. There will be bumps in the road, but the success stories that will come from the tablet use will hopefully encourage enlarger investment from the community and district in the years to come. 

Technology integration is a marathon, not a sprint. Small steps need to be taken to change the minds of teachers, administrators, school board members and community members about the value of tech integration. 

My goal for The Great Table Experiment is to change the perception of these important education stakeholders by trying something new. I have the passion to do it, so I'm going to try. 

I'll keep everyone posted as I make progress. Please keep the questions coming and I'll do my best to address them all. 

If you are interested in helping bring tablets to my classroom, please feel free to contact me at OneNerdyTeacher@gmail.com 

My Tablet Based Curriculum Lessons #TGTE

I would need tablets that have a camera, word processing apps and other content creating and sharing apps. I would also like a tablet that could be easily connected to projectors.

For each unit, I will detail how I would do it without tablets and how I would do it with the tablets. Not every lesson in each unit will detailed, just the big ones.

Essay writing refresher

Without Tablet (WOT)
We would spend time in class going over the writing format and students would take notes and work on their topics in their notebook. I would need to schedule lab time once the students were ready to work on their essays. (Important note: No class may use more than 3 computer lab days in a row due to the lack of available labs) Students will work on their essays in theblab and move from seat to seat to peer edit and provide feedback. Once students are ready, they will submit their essays to Turnitin.com to be graded and reviewed by the teacher.

With Tablets (WT)
I would review the format of the essay and students would start to work on their rough drafts on the tablets. Students would trade tablets with their peers to edit and critique their work. Students would have more time to work on the writing and have more feedback from the teacher in the pre-writing phase. Student examples can be quickly shown by connecting the tablet to the projector. Students can cut and paste their completed essay to submit it to Turnitin.com. No lab space would be needed allowing other classes to use computers.

Declaration of Independence and the Student Declaration

We cover the Dec of Ind in class. I love spending time with the it and really looking close at the language.

(WOT) Like all texts we use in class, students are not allowed to make notes in the book. If I want students to do a close reading and annotate , I would need to make many copies.

For this unit, we would read the Dec together and the students would take notes while I annotated the text on the Smartboard.

After discussing the text, students are broken into groups and they work to create a list of student grievances based on my classroom rules and the school rules. Groups would narrow down their issues and create a Student Dec on a poster board to present to class.

(WT) Every student would have a copy of the Dec. It could be uploaded as a PDF file or they could have access to it in App form. By connecting the tablet to the projector, students could see the annotations I made and make then on their tablet. Students could work in groups and then explain their annotations to the class using the projector.

Using Google Docs or corkboard apps, students could create a master list of grievances for everyone to view. These grievances could be divided up amongst groups and students could create various multimedia projects to convince me to change classroom rules. With a camera, students could record video Declarations and share them with the class. With the tablet, the students will have more options for presenting their Decs without needing the computer lab.

The Crucible

(WOT)I would pass out the play and the students would read aloud in class and answer discussion questions posted on Turnitin.com. Class discussions would center specific scenes and lines from the play. Students would write an essay on the different conflicts in the play.

(WT) I would still do most of the same stuff with tablets, but I would not have to pass out the plays. Students would be able to annotate their texts and share their ideas using corkboard apps or a class wiki. Students would be able to access the discussion boards in class.

In the past, I used to have students write an update of the play and set it in high school. I used to have more time to let the kids create, but the curriculum got full. With tablets, I'm going to have more time to tackle this project.

Breaking up the class into groups, I can have kids update the script and record the re-enacted scenes using the tablets camera. Completed scenes can be uploaded and shared with others.

The Gothic Lit Unit

Students are going to read selections from Poe, Hawthorn, Irving and others.

(WOT) Students will find the stories in their 10 pound text book. The students will read the stories and answer discussion questions. Various assignments include writing an updated Faust legend, creating diary entries for "A Rose for Emily", creating an ad for an Elixir of Youth for "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment". These assignments are completed at home and turned in to the teacher.

(WT) Students would have access to all of the stories on their tablet and will be able to annotate and take notes. These notes and annotations are easily shared with other students.

Instead of traditional print ads, students could create full infomercials for the elixir of life and even infomercials "selling" the themes and symbols of the stories.

Students would also be writing essays and could write on their tablets and pass them around for peer editing.

Transcendentalism

(WOT) Students will read selections of Walden in their text book and create a poster board that matches pictures and significant quotes from Walden. Posters are presented in class.

(WT) Students would have access to the complete text of Walden on the tablet. Students could annotate on their tablet and share notes and ideas on a corkboard app or class wiki. Students could also connect their tablet to the projector and share their annotations with the class.

With the camera feature, students could create a complete multimedia presentation using various apps. These presentations could be shared with the class and uploaded to a class site for others to see.

Huck Finn

(WOT) Students will receive copies of the book. They will read and answer discussion questions online. Students will take notes and write an essay on Twain's use of satire and his view of slavery and racism.

(WT) Students will have access to the book on their tablet and will be able to annotate it as it is discussed in class.

The big project for the semester will be a mock trial. Huck Finn has been in the news recently for having it's language changed to make it less offensive. Some argue the book is racist and should not be taught in schools. In my courtroom, Twain is going to be charged with writing a racist book meant to inflame the masses. There will be a prosecution and defense team made up of students in class. Each side will be able to call witnesses to testify. Using tablets, students will be able to collaborate on their cases. The trial can be skyped or u-streamed to the public who can act as the jury. Students could use their tablets to Skype with Twain experts and submit testimony without having to leave the classroom.

I would no longer be constrained with the computer lab time limit and students would be able to collaborate all class period.

With tablets, students would be able to dive deep into the text and meaning behind Twain's classic work. This project will end the first semester.

Semester exam

(WOT) Students would sit and take notes to review for the final. We could play a game or two to help with the review.

(WT) Students could create review apps and collaborate in large groups to prepare for the final. With access to all of their annotated  notes in the stories, students will be able to review more in depth.

Bonus

(WOT)
Students would need to carry around multiple books, notebooks, folders and assignments.

(WT) Students could download multiple apps that will enhance what they are learning in class. Their backpacks will not be as cluttered and heavy. Students will be able to create and work on other projects in various content areas. Tablets will allow them the opportunity to collaborate outside of the classroom.

2nd Semester will include The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, Death of a Salesman, Women's Lit and the Harlem Renaissance. A tablet could work wonders on all of these units.

I would love to have two sets for both sections or American Literature I would be teaching. Certain tablets start off at 400-500 dollars. Just getting the tablets could cost as much as $33,000. Adding various apps could cost another 400-500 dollars.

My goal is to find companies that are willing to sponsor this tablet experiment. If I can show my district that there are people willing to chip in, I think I can get them to chip in for the cost. If I can find companies willing to cover 15-20 thousand, I think my district, and parent groups in the district, could fund the rest.

I'm excited to get started and will be contacting tablet makers to see if I can get bulk pricing to lower the costs.

How can you help?

1. If you are connected to a company that might be willing to sponsor this experiment, please contact me at OneNerdyTeacher@gmail.com

2. If you have contacts with tablet makers that would be willing to work with me on this project, please connect us.

3. Spread the word of my tablet experiment. Your tweet or blog post might reach someone who knows someone who knows a guy etc.

I appreciate all of the love and support I have received over the years and I can't wait to share this crazy adventure with all of you.

Have a great weekend everyone!

- Nick

The Great Tablet Experiment

The Great Tablet Experiment

Yesterday I posted that I was Done Waiting. I refuse to just talk the talk, so I'm going to start walking the walk. 

In a perfect world, next year would find me teaching 2 sections of Honors American Literature in the morning and working as a tech integration specialist the second half of the day. I'm still hoping my district will follow through and post that position. 

With two classes in the morning, I would love to get my hands on 65-70 tablets for those students. These tablets would be used by the students all year in all of their classes. I want to help them integrate the tablet into their school work and their lives. Most of all, I want to show my district, and other districts, the value of mobile devices in education. 

Where to start? Well, I'm going to need a way to fund these tablets. I will either need a generous donation from a company that makes tablets,  generous donation from a company that can afford to donate the tablets, or multiple donors working together to bring the tablets to my classroom. 

I've never taken on a task like this before and I'm kind o excited to start reaching out to groups and companies to show them what is possible when you have a vision to improve education. 

If you have any suggestions as to where I should start, please drop me a line. If you are a company that would be interested in helping bring tablets to my classroom, please send me an email at OneNerdyTeacher@Gmail.com

I'm very excited to start sharing this new project with all of you.

- Nick

Done Waiting

I'm on my flight back to Detroit from #ISTE11 and I have had some time to reflect on the my time here.

This past school year has been the busiest of my professional life. I chose to take a completely different approach to the way I presented my lesson. I incorporated technology in ways I never thought were possible. I made connections with educators all over the world so my students could look at literature from different points of view. It was a ton of work and it was a success. It might have been my best year of teaching and I know I can do better.

I also spent time providing professional development to teachers in my district. I showed many how to use their Smartboards, Prezi, Skype, Blogs, Twitter and many other tools.

I kept up a blog sharing web resources with teachers across my district. I kept this blog updated twice a month on my own time because I felt it was important to connect with as many teachers in my district and share the amazing things I find every day.

I also worked on a technology committee that was supposed to come up with a new technology plan for the district. Our goal was to become a leader in educational technology that other districts would look to as an example of excellence. In my opinion, we ended the year exactly where we started. We want to be a leader, but we have no plan. (No plan that has been shared with me at least and I was at every meeting.)

Early this week, I read that my school board passed the budget for next year. I read that technology was cut. Ugh. I know that budgets are tough to put together and other important areas are cut. I'm not going to say that technology is more important than other areas. I don't understand how a district can expect to be a leader in educational technology when they cut money from technology. This is an area where you cannot do MORE with LESS.

I was told there was going to be a posting for a part-time tech integrationist. I was told to apply for it when it gets posted. I fear that posting may never come. Teacher after teacher has told me they want more help, but my district has failed them again if they choose not to post this position and continue to cut funds. Every idea proposed by myself or others are met with, "we do not have the funds." So, I'm done waiting.

I'm done waiting for others to make decisions that will impact the students in my class.

I'm done waiting for the possibility of funds in the future.

I'm done waiting for the plan that never seems to come.

I'm done waiting for someone to step up and lead.

I'm done waiting.

I'm going to go out and use the connections I made to get the tools I need for the students in my classroom.

My new project is going to be getting tablets for my students. Which students you ask? All of them if I can swing it. I'm going to do it because I'm tired of waiting.

What are you waiting for?