iPods in the Classroom

Click here to find the session resources.

Set up all of he iPods all at one time. Using iTunes, load and name each ipod. Then select all of the apps and then load them on all of the ipods.
et up Apps for Education, evernote, etc on computers at school to familarize students with them before using iPods.

What Apps?

• They use Evernote as an app for notetaking.
• They use Evernote and Google Docs for collaborative docs. You can download a google Doc to see it, but changes need to be synced online on a computer.
• Equiz- Can take practice quizzes- science, social studies, - applicable to many of the subjects.
• Periodic Table
• Graphing Calculator
• Microphone App- purchased microphones from Amazon- MiniMic
• Conversion
  
• Edmodo Group CXT747
• Use the mic to run Skype
• Animoto for education
• My eTextbooks
• imindmap
• SAT math prep
  

How do you purchase apps ?

• District will cut checks to buy iTune gift cards.
• Use district credit cards
• Cut a purchase order

What about student work on the ipods?

• Is it cleared?
• Students upload all of their content.
• Not a problem to have voice notes, evernote notes on ipods.
• Attach files to Edmodo.
  

3 A's: Access, Analyze, Apply

Act 48 Code: VL062199

Comic Creation and 21st Century Peofessional Development

How can comics provide an avenue for providing professional development?

Quite often we are teaching teachers, but not teaching them the way we want them to teach.
The goal was to use a different model to have teachers learn about technology, think deeply about content and become engaged.
This was based on a graduate level technology course. Many of the comics were created by teachers who didn't want to be there.

Why comics creation?

• Builds visual literacy
  
• Sustains interaction with content
• Enhance motivation
• Has potential for dual controversy
• Values multiple perspectives
• Appeals to males

It allows:

• a forum to voice concerns
• honest observations
• safer- non-threating environment that allows for expression, questioning

When you are trying to get teachers to break out of the model of teaching they way they do, you need a way in through the strong barrier that already exists. Decker, 2007, identifies a "Comic Pedagogy" which identifies these elements about comics:

• Sustains the question until the learning has a place of understanding
• Attends to complexity and discourages the search for the simple
• Embraces a 'punch line'- the counter-intuitive option

PD Structure with Comics

1. Choose a comic making tool
2. Partner on content
3. Start with a single panel prompt
4. Introduce an "in-service question"
5. Then try a multi-panel comic

Comic Builders
Comiqs- Online pc version of Comic Life
Bitstrips - school account available
Pixton
Make Beliefs Comics
Blabberize
Zwinky
Voki


Act 48 code: AL052162