Monday, May 9, 2011
Assignment #1: First Impressions
While everyone seems to be enjoying the iPad as a new classroom tool, not all teachers have had the same experience. What has been the hardest/easiest/most surprising part of your experience with using the iPad? Please comment to this post and answer all three parts of the question in as much detail as possible. Don't forget to enter your name when posting.
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I don't own an iPhone or iPad, but I found it incredibly easy to learn the basics of the iPad. It is so user friendly; all of my students know how to use it as soon as they pick it up. I am extremely surprised how students react to the iPad. I thought the "coolness" factor would wear off after a week, but the kids still stop and stare when I bring it out, and they fight over who uses it. Even a simple task, like word processing, becomes exciting on the iPad. And simple tasks are all that I've been able to use my iPad for in the classroom. That has been my biggest difficulty: finding a way to productively use one iPad in the classroom. I think it will come in very usefully during short term, though. I already have some educational apps in mind.
ReplyDelete-Ben
So far, I've really enjoyed having it handy for things like current events (being able to up whip it out to look up headlines and updated news articles) and poetry class (pulled up a bio and picture of a poet I didn't have other reference books for in the classroom). I'm reading a free download from my nook library. I look forward to using the ipad for all my readalouds next year. I can mark where I am in the book AND any paperbacks can go out to the kids who really need to read along.
ReplyDeleteMy only frustration has been finding an app that helps me keep track of homework. I really wanted a chart (like a chore tracker) but I can't find one that lets me write in notes that lists ALL the kids at once. Maybe I just need to hunt a bit more. I like Bento as a means of keeping a digital portfolio on each kid (definitely going to test drive that come next year) and TeacherPal for keeping easy track of things like Bill of Rights violations. I think it will be easier to see patterns emerging in terms of reoccurring behavior and/or issues that don't resolve between two kids over time. I guess my only complaint is that I kind of want one app that does it all...and I haven't come across it yet or found a way to modify one into an all purpose app. I've also revived an old edublog to keep all these entries in one place so I have a reference for myself for next year about what worked and what didn't. -Elisa
So far the most difficult things have been finding stuff that missed it's window and not finding stuff that I know I want. For example: wolfram alpha is a great product, especially for math visualization. But my classes are all on review right no, so the window of opportunity for that app has passed. The other problem is that there are certain things that I know what I want this iPad to do (for example allow students to trace hiragana or katakana) but the apps either are out there yet ot aren't quit what I am lopoking for.
ReplyDeleteThe easiet thing has been finding ways to waste time.
The most surprising thing has been (repeatedly) remembering that the iPad is not a computer in th classic sense. While it may be able to do most of type things a computer can do, I always have to remember that fact when I think about the interface.
The hardest part is finding ways to apply cool apps and such in the classroom. Since we only have one ipad, it's still rather challenging to share it with more than a few students at a time.
ReplyDeleteThe easiest thing, likewise, is to share it with students. They take to the ipad like ducks to water, and I don't think it's just that it's the latest cool thing. I think the interface is more intuitive, and the device is more convenient than either a laptop or a netbook, so they work with it readily and easily.
The most surprising thing is how complicated it is to apply and assess the ipad. I'm working it as a single device and finding applications for it in the classroom, but like Martin, some nifty possibilities will just have to wait until next year, and it's impossible not to wonder, "What would we do with a classroom set of these things?" Vroom!
The hardest part of having the ipad is finding time to use it on my own. I am completing parent conferences and writing evaluations, so having time to sit down and explore is a challenge. Once I do turn it on, I really have fun and find that an hour goes by quickly.
ReplyDeleteThe easiest part is getting kids involved. They are quite eager to get their hands on my ipad. I made a few rules: Clean hands; no food or drink; and remain seated. I am letting my 5th grade math students use the ipad once their main assignment is complete. This means a student gets about 10 - 15 minutes to use one of the downloaded apps. The next day is someone else's turn.
The most surprising part is how fun the apps are for me. I spent quite a while turning the tangrams pieces, slicing into fractions, and diving for pearls. Plus I love having Pandora. I am surprised not to be intimidated.
Hardest - finding books to place on my ebook bookcase
ReplyDeleteI don't want to spend my gift card solely on books and leave all of the app possibilities left unturned (although there are some pretty good free apps out there). It seems like the good books aren't free.
Easiest - portability
I find that I carry the iPad with me everywhere I go! Now that I have a good case I feel comfortable taking the iPad with me throughout the day. The down side is that I haven't used it as often as I expected. Which leads me to the surprise
Most surprising - not much in class use, yet
I think the end of the semester made it difficult to incorporate a new tool but I've found some neat apps for my students that I think will make short term and Fall semester more manageable. I'm looking forward to it!! ~crystal
Hardest- finding good contemporary art image apps. I ordered Art Authority and it has a wonderful and extensive collection of masterpieces, but the contemporary art collection is thin.
ReplyDeleteEasiest- as stated before portability. I have been playing with The Sketchbook express and am finding it easy, fun, and full of possibilities.
Most surprising- ease and portability as discussed before.
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ReplyDeletethe most challenging aspect of the Ipad is rearranging my lit curriculum to better fit the offerings on the Ipad. also there are a great deal of apps that just miss classroom applications. I also would love to get the other attachments so that they can be used with the active boards and printers.
ReplyDeleteWhat I LOVE about it is the way kids have gravitated to it and its usability. many of the kids are coming to me talking about apps( and games) that would help make class more enjoyable. I have enjoyed having kids help out with lectures and fact checking. The kids love the keyboard and helping scribe and film. I will be giving reviews of apps on the google doc page later this term.
I love it!
I am just beginning. This is the busiest time of year for me and I haven't done as much set up as I would like to. I did buy 2 apps (i-studiez and flashcard pro) They look like they'll be very helpful in the fall with student organization and study skills. This has been the most challenging part of it. The easiet part is carrying it around and how quickly it comes on. Still working it out. Love my case. The internet base of it is still surprising, and now I know what it means. You can't use it any other way.
ReplyDeleteNisha
Hardest -- figuring out how to use it in a library setting, rather than as an individual personal device. Remembering (like Martin said) that it's not a full-fledged laptop computer. Organizing files and getting them off the iPad for printing.
ReplyDeleteEasiest -- getting used to reading iBooks. My son loves the VoiceOver function to listen to a book while reading the text.
Most surprising -- how much I WANT this to work.
Hardest: Finding the time to go through all the apps, and then, after downloading them, finding the time to play with them. I feel that it should be so obvious as to how I could use the ipad and apps in/with a class but it is not.
ReplyDeleteEasiest: Once I do start "playing" with the ipad, time just flies by.
Most surprising: I have enjoyed it. It is different than just working on a computer. I have also enjoyed checking out the ebooks and just "thinking/brain storming" as to how I could possibly use the ipad with a class.
Hardest: Hardest for me has been finding time to explore. I have tons of students papers right now to look at, it seems, and parent conferences are just winding down, and somehow I just feel extremely inefficient. I really want to explore, but I always feel I have other things I have to do first before I get to the fun stuff, and I often don't ever get there. I also haven't figured out how to use it so well in the classroom, but I am getting there. I also have found that there are things I just don't remember...basic stuff such as where the volume control is. I will learn, however!
ReplyDeleteEasiest has been having huge chunks of time go by when I do get to the device. I was up until 12:30 last night because I didn't notice the time going by! There are about a gazillion apps out there, and I have downloaded some, and a few have been quite intriguing/fun for me (though the apps I found that I got excited about...such as Algebra Champ and Dragon Grammar (I'll post those this weekend)... did not find such enthusiasm with my student testers -- they said they were fine and could be helpful, but they were not fun like actual games).
Most surprising for me has been the same as what a couple others have said...that it functions a bit differently. I haven't figured out, for example, how to go back a page unless there is a little box that says "Back," and a few times my hands have been in the wrong place, so the keyboard pops up and I hit something random. The whole touch screen is taking a bit of getting used to. Some aspects of that I really like, but it does take me by surprise. I was also surprised (sort of) when I found that many of the free apps only allow the lowest level of use, so you have to buy the full app to get to try the higher levels.
-Becca
I ipad is easy to use, and I find myself willing to sit down and read a document (bood/article) on the ipad when I normally wouldn't using a just a laptop. The number of apps is overwelling: I think I have spent just as much time cruising for apps as I have used the ipad for original work! I have found a few good apps to use in my classroom, but thought there would be more - although I'm not quite sure what it is I hope to find. I am really disappointed with how difficult it is to share documents between the ipad and my laptop. I find myself just wanting to work with my laptop because I don't want to have to deal with trying to move documents around.
ReplyDeleteHardest: finding the time to use the ipad and explore what is out there. Kind of a busy time of year to work in. Also, some of the coolest APPs I have seen that would be good for my courses are WAY TOO EXPENSIVE and I don't have the money in my class budget to buy them this year or next.
ReplyDeleteEasiest: I love the you can APP the websites that you want so all you have to do is touch on the icon to find them. I also really like the graphics and the screen
Most Surprising: How hard it is to transfer things to my computer.
I love the visuals, the touchscreen, the ease of downloading apps. Using a stylus has been seamless. An overwhelming amount of apps. It is rather hard to wrap my mind around the whole not-being-able-to-actually-GET-my-documents thing without emailing them though. I do not have wireless at home to download/use apps, so I can only use it here. Also, I have had a hard time finding Administrative-type apps and training. But I love the opportunities this will bring to the classes and to the school.
ReplyDeleteOH, OH! I love the Stanford University ITunes books/music/lectures - lots of free, free, free, extremely valuable information.
ReplyDeleteHardest
ReplyDeleteI was already using an ipod touch in class so I had some apps and material already purchased. Re-syncing and setup wasn't hard, just a pain.
Oh, and installing the Zagg screen protector.
Easiest
The easiest part was incorporating the ipad into my daily routine. Like I said, I was already using an ipod regularly, now I have a bigger, faster version that can be used with/by the students.
Surprising
The attention it receives during class.
Example: I was teaching Pythagorean Triples. As I went through problems, I pulled up a list of Pyth Triples using Wikipedia and propped the ipad up to display it. Everyone could see it and everyone was looking (at a list of numbers). I bet that if I had written the list on the board, I would not have gotten the same level of attention. Students also got to see how to find the information themselves.
The hardest thing for me so far is keyboarding. I thought I would do most of my documents on here, but I find the keyboard differences between this and the laptop frustrating. I also use my laptop in my lap more than I realized. While this is easier to hold while doing touch screen things like checking email, I need a table for keyboard work.
ReplyDeleteThe easiest thing so far ( don't laugh) is the Weight Watchers app. A breeze compared to the online version. For the classroom, the easiest thing is calling up information: I can get quick answers or visit websites much more quickly than with the laptop. I also love the fast access to my Wiki.
The most surprising thing is that I can so quickly add links to the Wiki. I'm also surprised that the students are not drooling over this. They seem to see it as just another tool (which it is) and don't seem as wowed by the novelty as I expected.