PBS Article "How Will the iPad Change Education?"With an age in technology where it is so quickly changing and advancing, tablet PCs would revolutionize the classroom for everyone as students could have the current book in front of them each day! From saving millions of trees, to lost/stolen/damaged books, the classroom would house the entire student’s locker, and then some, on a tablet that can be accessed at any time, not just during class. Moreover than a book, the levels of engagement can be higher. Many schools have laptop initiatives; however there is a struggle of mobility that is not seen with iPads. Although the tablet has an initial cost, the ability to rent books rather than buying will save districts, in the long run, lots of money, which is necessary in a time of tighter budgets in education.
T.H.E. Journal Article "Measuring the iPad's Potential for Education"Very similar to the PBS article (Reynolds, 2010), it talks about the benefits of the iPad in the classroom. Although it is an older article (back in early 2010) with the release of the first iPad, the point that really stuck out to me, and I agree often, that the students in progressive K-12 educational settings have better than average access to technology. I really am proud to say that I teach at a district that sees this as a benefit for all, preparing students for their “digital native” future. Having PDF books that are up-to-date on a more frequent basis will allow for a more engaged audience with animations, movies, videos, and other multimedia that can’t be duplicated by a textbook.
5 Additional Articles:
Illinois Wesleyan University Article “Educators Find the iPad a Useful Aid in the Classroom”Released only 2 weeks ago, the article posted by a prestigious school, Illinois Wesleyan University, talks about the visual tool for the classroom. The simplicity to share data and websites is greater than with computers websites failing because of a URL, logging in time, thus giving immediate hands-on experience.When it comes to the teacher, they have a portable grade book when walking around the class, as well as the ability to link with other technology sources that the chalkboard and dry erase board are limited by. With “mini” computers located in the Smartphone’s students carry with them, this is a bigger, better, and mobile device that is helping BOTH students and staff mainstream their learning and teaching.
KnoxNews.com Article “After three months in classrooms, iPads eliminate excuses and change learning”With a 10hour battery life, it is often difficult for students to even use the excuses of the past. Distractions are minimal, attendance has risen, students falling behind are less, and breaking/tech problems are minimal. All good things have happened for every 4-12th grade student at Webb School in Knoxville. With substitutes not always being able to teach the content, podcasts allow for the iPad to be the teacher, and the sub to be a remote control and classroom manager. It allows for the teacher to not lose a day if gone. For students out sick, they don’t have to fall behind as the worksheets are uploaded, podcasts viewable anywhere, etc.For a computer teacher, I agree with the frustrations for disruptions and lost class time when gong to a computer lab, whereas the iPad turns on in 15sec. or less.
Huffington Post Education Article “Many U.S. Schools Adding iPads, Trimming Textbooks”Heavy textbook-laded backpacks are being replaced with iPads preloaded with the textbooks for students this year Woodford County High will be the first school in KY to give the entire high school one iPad to each of the 1,250 students. With the goal of long-term investment over textbooks, Principal Larkin in Boston says “I don’t want to generalize because I don’t want to insult people who are working hard to make those resources, but they’re pretty much outdates the minute they’re printed and certainly by the time they’re delivered.”I really liked that the article did state how it is difficult are hard to feel great about preparing the future as some districts can’t afford these tools for students. I guess I relate it to as the rich get richer, are we going to see a greater division in educational outcomes? Time will tell. Also, with such a great tool, it still does NOT replace the backbone of solid curriculum and effective-skilled teachers. With the costs rising in textbooks, the school can then save $13 dollars per algebra book with the $60 license over the $73 paper copy. Long-term investing for districts here.
Huffington Post Education Article “A Day in the Life of the iPad Class”While many classrooms are rolling out the iPads at the beginning of a new school year, teachers in San Francisco were able to see a spark and change of interest as their 1:1 initiative rolled out mid-year last year. “This is not a magic wand. This just makes it more fun for them to learn,” said Jeannetta Mitchell, a veteran teacher of 20 years. Whiteboard instruction, questions, videos, group discussions, students did not have the time to sit back and tune out the teacher or play games. With many books, my accounting ones included, it would be wonderful to see the step by step of how transactions are journalized with video rather than just a picture. Although it won’t produce Einstein, the use of iPads will keep students engaged as well as not drop, but hopefully raise test scores as students see this interactive device as a learning tool and not JUST a toy.One thing I really liked was the student comment “Sometimes I don’t understand the step by step the teacher gives me, but I watch the videos over and over again and I can get it when I need the help.” Videos do not led to learner helplessness that often happens in textbooks as they have character, tone, and most importantly, visual engagement through motion.
Huffington Post Education Article “Auburn School District Decides All Kindergartners Need iPad 2”A school in Maine is having each of the kindergartners come to school with Kleenex, markers, and an iPad. While the students and teacher are excited as to what this tool will bring, some community members are skeptical as to a $600 tool being used with 5 year-olds. This learning tool is seen as “essential” says Superintendent Tom Morrill as he finds money in the budget as well as through written grants. What I was surprised by is that the school board voted unanimously. I would have thought this would be a controversial issue, but I would love to see how this pans out in about 10 years from now. I think that the tax payers have a valid point in not liking it, but with the attached video to the article, they are older individuals, often set in their ways and have a hard time relating to the benefits of a 21Century classroom.
For this App, students will be able to access EVERY accounting term used in the accounting world, for only $2.99. For free, the students can download and use terms starting with A,B, and C. I have and will use this with students as they can have a database of terms at their disposal, and they can be sorted, put in folders, and added to favorites. FANTASTIC database!
When I am able to teach Personal Finance, a huge passion, I will require this app be used! It is an amazing tool where students can link their accounts, scan in receipts, and track expenses and generate reports that will better show how they are spending their money. Great Personal Finance tool.
Another wonderful free personal budgeting tool for students to track expenses. It also allows students to track income, thus giving a great graphic as to income vs. expenses. The graphics are much nicer than Expensify, however, students will not be able to link their accounts to the app, so tracking/remembering purchases can be more difficult.
For stock market discussions, tracking, investing, and comparing of how the general market is doing, this app is a great live shot of how the DJI is doing. Students can track specific businesses or industries, add favorites, and see 1 day up to 5 year timelines.
A great source for students to read current events, track stocks, see how currencies, commodities, futures, and bonds are doing via charts/graphs, articles, and even podcasts. With adding a current events writing/sharing component to my accounting class, this is a great source for students, and I, to access information.
This is a great tool for transferring files from computer to iPad, since there is no USB port. Cloud based, up to 2GB, documents will go anywhere once uploaded to the host computer with the downloaded software (simple, fast, free). Folders can be created to better sort data and pictures. A MUST for mobile teachers, students, and needed documents that are accessed in many times, locations, and times of the day.
Created from the popular Web2.0 presentation web based software from prezi.com, students can view and show their prezi once uploaded. It allows for final presentations to be viewed anywhere. Students can even download and save their ‘favorites’ once viewed. I really like this tool from the computer, so it was a no-brainer to get! The only drawback is that they need to, and are probably working on it right now, add the ability to CREATE a prezi from it, and not just view completed ones.
A very popular music video/presentation creator tool, the Animoto app has come along way from just being able to view videos, to actually letting you create! Awesome for students to make engaging presentations with minimal experience, this is a great free way to upload pictures, type related text, and select music to create a great photo/video production, for FREE! The only negative I have with this app now is that it is for the iPhone/iPod but not yet for the iPad, yet.
This tool is wonderful for sharing video clips of some incredible people talking about awesome advances in technology, education, medicine, music, business, government, etc. There is over 900 videos available on the iPad and are added regularly. It is better and easier to navigate, share, and comment on than the popular website. Almost anything on TED is engaging, current, relevant, and worth sharing to students about the world they live in!
Dedicated to sharing all new content that comes from Mashable.com, this app is great for students to see new articles about digital culture, social media, and technology. How it affects students, their future, the world, and its uses is great! Videos, articles, podcasts, and application to real life are present. With current event articles incorporated into my curriculum, I use this as a top source for students when looking at what is new and cool in technology and social media. Some are fun and goofy posts, but they all relate back to their core mission.
First of all, this is ADDICICTING! I am always playing challenging users with this free digital scrabble game! I know that there is a free Scrabble game, but this is easier to view, links to Facebook and Twitter, so users of those social media platforms can still play even though they don’t have an Apple device.
Similar to HULU, this iPad app allows for users to watch free movies and tv shows, with limited commercials. I really enjoy the fact that there are 10 free episodes a month of Seinfeld on there. Also, the movies aren’t too bad, but they can be a hard to come by a good one at times.
As one that currently does not have ANY tv services, free or paid versions, I have a dvd player connected to my tv. This ABC Player app is ideal for watching the latest episodes of some of my favorite ABC shows: Once Upon a Time, Modern Family, and Man Up!
It is just a fun way to search, select, and view my uploaded music. The app mirrors a solar system to select desired music. The visual is fun to watch!
For someone that doesn’t like to play video games because the motion makes me nauseous, which I still conclude is a great asset, this is appeals to the golfer-enthusiast in me. Although you can pay for more upgrades, tournaments, challenges, and skills, I like the ease of the app compared to the actual game, which I CAN play on the PS3 without becoming ill. Graphics and motion are great for the iPad device. Very easy to use, and since I don’t wish to pay for the 3G coverage, I can play this EVERYWHERE, which I love!
Action Assignment #4: Audiobooks/E-Books 1. Three Cups of Tea - e-book (personal use)
Amazon.com Summary:The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard. Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.
I have “purchased” this e-book for personal use from the West De Pere School E-Library that was created for this purpose, free versions of e-books for student and staff to read. I will have to re-check this book out in 2 weeks if I do not finish it so that it can go back into digital circulation for others. It will sync and be taken out automatically which is great for me. Also, there is a 2 book max for checkouts as there is only limited copied for the digital edition to be checked out at any given time (often 1 or 2). I read the first 2 chapters in a paperback copy from a friend, but returned it after I realized that I could read it on the iPad, for FREE! This is one less ‘thing’ I have to carry around.
2. Steve Jobs - audiobook (personal/professional use)
Amazon.com Summary:Based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years—as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues—Walter Isaacson has written a riveting story of the roller-coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing. At a time when America is seeking ways to sustain its innovative edge, and when societies around the world are trying to build digital-age economies, Jobs stands as the ultimate icon of inventiveness and applied imagination. He knew that the best way to create value in the twenty-first century was to connect creativity with technology. He built a company where leaps of the imagination were combined with remarkable feats of engineering. Although Jobs cooperated with this book, he asked for no control over what was written or even the right to read it before it was published. He put nothing off-limits. He encouraged the people he knew to speak honestly. And Jobs speaks candidly, sometimes brutally so, about the people he worked with and competed against. His friends, foes, and colleagues provide an unvarnished view of the passions, perfectionism, obsessions, artistry, devilry, and compulsion for control that shaped his approach to business and the innovative products that resulted. Driven by demons, Jobs could drive those around him to fury and despair. But his personality and products were interrelated, just as Apple’s hardware and software tended to be, as if part of an integrated system. His tale is instructive and cautionary, filled with lessons about innovation, character, leadership, and values.
Being a business teacher, and one that likes to read about leaders in industry, I have heard that I should read this new best-seller. I decided to go the audiobook route as I have little attention span and time to actually sit down and read. With travel over the holiday season, I plan to listen to this in the car on the longer trips!
Bibliography
Greg Mortenson, D. O. (2007). Three Cups of Tea. New York City, NY, USA: Puffin Books. Isaacson, W. (2011). Steve Jobs . New York City, NY, USA: Simon & Schuster.
Suze Orman is America’s most recognized personal finance expert. “The Suze Orman Show,” which airs at 8pm Saturday s on CNBC, covers today’s hottest financial topics, helping people make the connections between self worth and net worth. In a format that’s fast-paced, down-to-earth and entertaining, Suze candidly tells her audience the truth about money so viewers can change the course of their financial destiny – to have more and be more. Episodes range from 43-44 minutes in length. Recent topics include: Holiday Help!, Layaway Lure, Annuities, Roth Do-Over, Real Estate Stupid, Know the (Credit) Score, and Money Lessons of 9/11.
I chose this because I think that there are some fantastic episodes that speak directly to students, their current financial statuses, and the problems that they are currently encountering or will be encountering soon (car, school, etc.). The language that Suze uses is not above the students that I have in Accounting or Personal Finance which the students gain a sense of pride as they watch these “adult shows” but understand the language behind it. It’s a wonderful show that reinforces some of the topics that we discuss, and there may be other/better applicable examples that Suze can give with the show and with the guests that call in for advice.
As a weekly show, this is a perfect tool for 45minutes each week for students to watch this either in class and/or at home to bring in for discussion, project sources, or papers. I may incorporate this into my bi-weekly current events article review so that students can be exposed to this show, the benefits of ‘real-world’ situations, and the application of our classroom discussion to better protect the student(s) from making the same mistakes that many adult-Americans are currently faced with.
With credit card debt at an all-time high, Americans have been losing control of their financial lives in record numbers. Learn the ins and outs of staying free of debt and building savings. With short audio clips, ranging from 3-7minutes, this iTunes U gives a nice quick and dirty explanation of some pretty important financial topics, such as: Credit Card Offers, CC Fees, CC Fine Print, Credit Piggybacking, Bad Side of Savings, Interest, Emergency Savings 101, Debit Cards Down Side, Making Cents of Annuities.
I like that the iTunes U clips are really quick and dirty with short clips for students to access. I also like that students and I can find resources that are created by people and NOT a textbook. Speaking in common language, the pod/vidcasts in iTunes U are very broad. I wish that there was a better filter to find EXACTLY what I am looking for as the iTunes U accounts can be class projects, outdated, or not continuing. Besides just “Googleing” it, iTunes U provides a great source of information that can assist, better explain, and be the audio/visual connection the student is missing.
I plan to add these quick clips to my site on MyBigCampus so that when students are working during class, and at home, that they can access the different audio/video of how important it is to establish, build, and protect their credit so that from a personal budgeting stance, they are not going into debt, but building a sound financial future with a supportive savings plan Action Assignment #6A: YouTubeEDU
Kathy Taylor began working in the public sector in 2003 with Governor Brad Henry as secretary of commerce, tourism and workforce development. She led the recruitment of Dell's second largest U.S. facility to Oklahoma and co-chaired the Governor's Economic Development Generating Excellence Project, a statewide effort to build a visionary economic development plan. In 2006, Kathy was elected Mayor of Tulsa. During her term, Tulsa completed the BOK Center, passed the largest investment in streets in Tulsa's history, consolidated five city facilities into a stat-of-the-art City Hall, acquired the City's first public hospital, completed a new hangar for the city's largest employer and built a new downtown ballpark through a public/private partnership. She completed her term in December of 2009
TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences -- the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford UK each summer -- TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Project and Open TV Project, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, and the annual TED Prize.
Action Assignment #1: Websites and Articles
Initial 2 Articles:
5 Additional Articles:
Works Cited
Barseghian, T. (2011, January 30). A Day in the Life of the iPad Class. Retrieved November 12, 2011, from Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tina-barseghian/ipad-class_b_815165.html
CNN. (2011, April 9). Auburn School District Decides All Kindergartners Need iPad 2. Retrieved November 12, 2011, from Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/09/maine-ipad2-kindergarten_n_846948.html
Fields, K. (2011, November 3). Educators Find the iPad a Useful Aid in the Classroom. Retrieved November 12, 2011, from Illinois Wesleyan University: http://www.iwu.edu/CurrentNews/newsreleases11/fea_iPad_01111.shtml
McCrea, B. (2010, January 27). Measuring the iPad's Potential for Education. Retrieved November 12, 2011, from THE Journal: http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/01/27/measuring-the-ipads-potential-for-education.aspx
Reitz, S. (2011, September 3). Many U.S. Schools Adding iPads, Trimming Textbooks . Retrieved November 12, 2011, from Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/03/many-us-schools-adding-ip_0_n_947927.html
Reynolds, R. (2010, January 27). How Will the iPad Change Education. Retrieved November 12, 2011, from PBS TeacherLine: http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/blog/2010/01/how-will-the-ipad-change-education/
Rupp, A. (2010, November 7). After three months in classrooms, iPads eliminate excuses and change learning . Retrieved November 12, 2011, from knoxnews.com: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/nov/07/after-three-months-in-classrooms-ipads-eliminate/
Action Assignment #2: Applications
Lesson #1: Why buy the cow (apps) when you can get the milk (same/ beta apps) for free?!
10 (Content Specific) Education Apps:
5 Personal Apps:
Action Assignment #3: Lesson Plan
Business and Marketing on Prezi
Action Assignment #4: Audiobooks/E-Books
1. Three Cups of Tea - e-book (personal use)
- Amazon.com Summary:The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard. Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.
- I have “purchased” this e-book for personal use from the West De Pere School E-Library that was created for this purpose, free versions of e-books for student and staff to read. I will have to re-check this book out in 2 weeks if I do not finish it so that it can go back into digital circulation for others. It will sync and be taken out automatically which is great for me. Also, there is a 2 book max for checkouts as there is only limited copied for the digital edition to be checked out at any given time (often 1 or 2). I read the first 2 chapters in a paperback copy from a friend, but returned it after I realized that I could read it on the iPad, for FREE! This is one less ‘thing’ I have to carry around.
2. Steve Jobs - audiobook (personal/professional use)Bibliography
Greg Mortenson, D. O. (2007). Three Cups of Tea. New York City, NY, USA: Puffin Books.Isaacson, W. (2011). Steve Jobs . New York City, NY, USA: Simon & Schuster.
Action Assignment #5: iTunes U
The Suze Orman Show (PODCAST)
Suze Orman is America’s most recognized personal finance expert. “The Suze Orman Show,” which airs at 8pm Saturday s on CNBC, covers today’s hottest financial topics, helping people make the connections between self worth and net worth. In a format that’s fast-paced, down-to-earth and entertaining, Suze candidly tells her audience the truth about money so viewers can change the course of their financial destiny – to have more and be more. Episodes range from 43-44 minutes in length. Recent topics include: Holiday Help!, Layaway Lure, Annuities, Roth Do-Over, Real Estate Stupid, Know the (Credit) Score, and Money Lessons of 9/11.
I chose this because I think that there are some fantastic episodes that speak directly to students, their current financial statuses, and the problems that they are currently encountering or will be encountering soon (car, school, etc.). The language that Suze uses is not above the students that I have in Accounting or Personal Finance which the students gain a sense of pride as they watch these “adult shows” but understand the language behind it. It’s a wonderful show that reinforces some of the topics that we discuss, and there may be other/better applicable examples that Suze can give with the show and with the guests that call in for advice.
As a weekly show, this is a perfect tool for 45minutes each week for students to watch this either in class and/or at home to bring in for discussion, project sources, or papers. I may incorporate this into my bi-weekly current events article review so that students can be exposed to this show, the benefits of ‘real-world’ situations, and the application of our classroom discussion to better protect the student(s) from making the same mistakes that many adult-Americans are currently faced with.
American Public Media Presents - Money 101: Credit, Debt & Saving (iTunes U)
With credit card debt at an all-time high, Americans have been losing control of their financial lives in record numbers. Learn the ins and outs of staying free of debt and building savings. With short audio clips, ranging from 3-7minutes, this iTunes U gives a nice quick and dirty explanation of some pretty important financial topics, such as: Credit Card Offers, CC Fees, CC Fine Print, Credit Piggybacking, Bad Side of Savings, Interest, Emergency Savings 101, Debit Cards Down Side, Making Cents of Annuities.
I like that the iTunes U clips are really quick and dirty with short clips for students to access. I also like that students and I can find resources that are created by people and NOT a textbook. Speaking in common language, the pod/vidcasts in iTunes U are very broad. I wish that there was a better filter to find EXACTLY what I am looking for as the iTunes U accounts can be class projects, outdated, or not continuing. Besides just “Googleing” it, iTunes U provides a great source of information that can assist, better explain, and be the audio/visual connection the student is missing.
I plan to add these quick clips to my site on MyBigCampus so that when students are working during class, and at home, that they can access the different audio/video of how important it is to establish, build, and protect their credit so that from a personal budgeting stance, they are not going into debt, but building a sound financial future with a supportive savings plan
Action Assignment #6A: YouTubeEDU
Kathy Taylor began working in the public sector in 2003 with Governor Brad Henry as secretary of commerce, tourism and workforce development. She led the recruitment of Dell's second largest U.S. facility to Oklahoma and co-chaired the Governor's Economic Development Generating Excellence Project, a statewide effort to build a visionary economic development plan. In 2006, Kathy was elected Mayor of Tulsa. During her term, Tulsa completed the BOK Center, passed the largest investment in streets in Tulsa's history, consolidated five city facilities into a stat-of-the-art City Hall, acquired the City's first public hospital, completed a new hangar for the city's largest employer and built a new downtown ballpark through a public/private partnership. She completed her term in December of 2009
TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then its scope has become ever broader. Along with two annual conferences -- the TED Conference in Long Beach and Palm Springs each spring, and the TEDGlobal conference in Oxford UK each summer -- TED includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site, the Open Translation Project and Open TV Project, the inspiring TED Fellows and TEDx programs, and the annual TED Prize.
Action Assignment #6B: Animoto/OneTrueMedia
Animoto
OneTrueMedia
Action Assignment #7: QR Codes
Mr. Turner's Class PBWorks page (Digital Media Tools)