How are educators using apps and ipads in a one to one situation? Do you like the ipad or a computer in your classrooms?

[Maureen Miks]

We are doing research to determine if we will proceed with a one to one initiative and I want to know if media educators are liking the ipad 2 or a computer for classroom use. There isn't much research out there yet and I would appreciate any information.

 

[Digitalkatie]

I have a presentation available on Slideshare that might be of use if you're thinking of using iPads with younger pupils or pupils with additional support needs: 
http://www.slideshare.net/mobile/digitalkatie/slide-to-unlock-slf11...

There is also an older version (from the BETT conference in January) with an audio track:
http://www.slideshare.net/mobile/digitalkatie/slide-to-unlock-unloc...

Kate

[Karl Steinkamp]

Dear Maureen,

 

We are implementing a 1 to 1 iPad program in the high school next August (pilot program with the sr class in January). If you head to our schools web page there is a ton of information on how the program will be implemented (http://www.dalat.org). In regards to the teachers we spent a long time deciding if we would give the teachers an iPad which would then belong to the school (like the laptops we give them now) or figure out a way to have them own them. We decided to try and figure out a way to have them own them because unlike the laptops an iPad is such a personal device - so many apps are personal. This in itself is a challenge as people who are not sure if they want to start using an iPad in their classroom is surely not interested in paying for it.

 

What we went with was an optional program. The school will buy the iPad and then over the next two years the teacher pays back the school in monthly installments from their paycheck (simple small deduction). After the two years they own the iPad (in the meantime it is actually theirs as they can do whatever they like with it). For those that do not want to do this they could have the school give them an iPad but then it is the school's property and is then turned in at the end of each year (and the iPad is locked down so only can be used for educational purposes at school). With this optional program all the teachers will have an iPad for use in the classroom. Interestingly enough only 3-4 teachers out of 35+ teachers went with the school owning it option and the rest went with the pay to own. We launched it a month ago and all the pay to won teachers have iPads andtheir is a buzz in our teachers as they are all quite excited about the iPads. We had looked at some major PD with the iPads but am finding that the teachers are doing all of this on their own with most of them investigating ways to use them in their classroom next year / semester and then sharing and collaborating on it on a daily basis. In my 17 years in technology I have never had this much buy in from a tech integration program. Hope this infor helps. If you want more info I can get you the specific details of the teacher program.

 

Karl Steinkamp

Director

Dalat Int'l School