Learning with the iPad
Goal
Provide students with engaged learning opportunities that not only transform delivery, assessment and differentiate the delivery of instruction, but change how students and staff create, collaborate, communicate, as well as develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a globally connected environment. Students and staff must develop new literacies–skills, strategies, and dispositions–that enable them to engage in the 4Cs–Creating, Collaborating, and Communicating as they hone Critical thinking and problem solving skills (Source: http://p21.org/overview).
Need
Students need increased differentiation to engage them, and educators need to be able to assess that differentiation in efficient and robust ways. New technologies and increased connectivity, the twin requirements for trans-global communication and collaboration make old technologies increasingly obsolete. Essentially, education leaders (e.g. teachers and administrators) and students must employ technology in such a way as to redefine how they approach teaching, learning and leadership. This means a radical departure from what we’ve done as educators and students in the past, shedding preconceived notions of what a classroom looks like, feels like, and how it operates.
In fact, it is not enough to be able to evaluate web sites, synthesize information, but important that students and staff be able to create and craft compelling narratives—digital stories—that encompass, as George Lucas shares, the “language of images and sound.” Text is no longer enough, and new literacies require a level of fluency that teachers today have not yet grasped systemically in K-16 education.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this endeavor is defined in the following ways:
In the Classroom:
Provide students with engaged learning opportunities that not only transform delivery, assessment and differentiate the delivery of instruction, but change how students and staff create, collaborate, communicate, as well as develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a globally connected environment. Students and staff must develop new literacies–skills, strategies, and dispositions–that enable them to engage in the 4Cs–Creating, Collaborating, and Communicating as they hone Critical thinking and problem solving skills (Source: http://p21.org/overview).
Need
Students need increased differentiation to engage them, and educators need to be able to assess that differentiation in efficient and robust ways. New technologies and increased connectivity, the twin requirements for trans-global communication and collaboration make old technologies increasingly obsolete. Essentially, education leaders (e.g. teachers and administrators) and students must employ technology in such a way as to redefine how they approach teaching, learning and leadership. This means a radical departure from what we’ve done as educators and students in the past, shedding preconceived notions of what a classroom looks like, feels like, and how it operates.
In fact, it is not enough to be able to evaluate web sites, synthesize information, but important that students and staff be able to create and craft compelling narratives—digital stories—that encompass, as George Lucas shares, the “language of images and sound.” Text is no longer enough, and new literacies require a level of fluency that teachers today have not yet grasped systemically in K-16 education.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this endeavor is defined in the following ways:
In the Classroom:
- Classroom usage of iPads will reflect student creation of content, rather than content-consumption of instruction. For example, instead of watching math videos, students create them.
- Students and staff create interactive videos of projects and mini-lessons to increase differentiation and easily make them public online.
- Students and staff create and use online student surveys and audio/visual apps to voice their emotions, curiosities, and academic goals.
- Students and staff employee district-hosted and cloud-based storage solutions, as well as websites such as Google Docs and Edmodo to create a faster feedback loop. Since these sites (e.g. GoogleDocs, Edmodo) utilize color coding, instantaneous feedback, and automatic student grouping, they facilitate data analysis.
- Students and staff will develop multi-media presentations to communicate concepts and theories.
- Students will increase research and global connections as they access information portals and network with other students in other places around the world to research curricular topics.
- Students and staff will be able to use online texts enabling them to annotate and highlight materials for their personal reflection as well as writing research.
- Students and staff will be able to share writing from rough draft to finish copy in a highly efficient way.
- Students and staff will share presentations and respond in real time to presentations given by the teacher and other students.
- Students and staff will interface data collection probes to collect experimental data in the laboratory setting.
- Students and staff will collect, organize, analyze, and report experimental data, results, and conclusions in an efficient and professional manner.
- Students and staff will participate in, as well as design, online quizzes and exams to test knowledge and evaluate understanding.
In the School Leaders’ Offices
- Develop and implement online assessment tools that provide anytime, anywhere access to data for analysis
- Evaluate student and staff performance in the use of technologies that facilitate achievement of the 4Cs (e.g. http://www.lengel.net/ipad/)
- Enhance productivity in the use of online resources.
Online via the iPad
To support robust use of iPads as learning and creativity devices, the Curriculum & Instruction and Technology Departments will design an app that facilitate access to critical curriculum resources for students and staff alike. Specifically, this involves creation of the following:
- A “redefined” curriculum–blending in the new Technology Applications:TEKS and the 4Cs–that takes advantage of the iPad-based creativity tools and fosters new literacies among students and staff.
- The creation of an EC Hornet iPad App that provides quick access to resources as they become available.
- A robust wireless network to support mission-critical usage of network-based iPad apps (no “standalone iPads” disconnected from the network are allowed).
- A robust document sharing solution via WebDav (WebDAV is a web protocol that enables file reading and writing via the web) that eliminates the need for students and staff to save confidential information via cloud-based storage (e.g. Dropbox, Box.net) and OwnCloud.
Implementation Phases
Although a timeline is provided to frame the implementation, one can observe the progression via multiple phases (shown below). Since this project has superintendent approval, seeking approval is not included below.
Prior Planning: Mobile Learning Team Selection (Start: May, 2012)
A) Develop a team of stakeholders responsible for ensuring implementation success. The team members should include the following:
- Executive Planning Team – Facilitator: Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction
- Meeting Frequency: As determined by facilitator.
- Members:
- Instructional Technology Specialist
- Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction
- Director of Technology
- Technical Planning Team – Facilitator: Director of Technology
- Meets weekly regarding Phase 1 technical items.
- Members:
- Network Specialist
- Account Management Specialist
- Instructional Technology Specialist
- Director of Technology
- Professional Development and App Selection Team – Facilitator: Instructional Technology Specialist
- Meeting Frequency: As determined by facilitator
- Members:
- Campus-based staff as outlined via the m-Learning wiki at https://sites.google.com/a/ecisd.net/m-learning/participants
B) Establish an email group and wiki to facilitate information sharing among 3 teams. Schedule weekly meetings to discuss progress.
C) Revise relevant acceptable use policies and administrative procedures (Appendix B)
Phase 1: Acquisition
Acquire student/staff (424) iPad devices for use in schools along with necessary peripherals, such as carts, bluetooth-enabled keyboard sets for classrooms, and iPad cases.
Phase 2: Technical Preparation
This phase has various technical components, including the following:
a) Setup of additional wireless devices in classrooms to support one to one, heavy usage;
b) Increased bandwidth through the adoption of new Internet Services Provider (ISP);
c) Preparation of RFP, bid review and selection of a mobile device management (MDM) solution;
d) Creation of a VLAN or separate network for iPads; WebDav Server to facilitate document sharing;
e) Setup of mobile EC Hornet iPad app through external company after image and web site development;
f) Set District wallpaper on iPads
g) Adopt iPad insurance plan
Phase 3: Professional Learning Planning and Curriculum Re-Design
This phase involves instructional design and outlining of activities for face to face and online professional learning for staff to take place. More details are provided in Appendix A: Professional Learning Plan. This includes available iPad-related conferences to maximize exposure.
Phase 4: Selection and Development of a Virtual Learning Environment
This phase involves selection of an virtual, or web-based, learning environment (VLE). There are various choices such as Moodle, Sakai, Edmodo, CollaborizeClassroom, Schoolology, and Project Share. For the purposes of the m-Learning initiative, the District has decided on Edmodo to serve as an online repository and learning interchange.
Development of the VLE focuses on the development of appropriate groups and activities that will support student and adult learning as needed.
Phase 5: Implement Professional Learning Plan
This phase will be marked by 3 opportunities for professional learning, occurring in June and early August, 2012. It will be sustained by regular webinars to be offered throughout the school year and on-site campus support as needed.
Phase 6: Traditional and Social Media Communications Plan
This phase is marked by establishment of media contacts, creation of relevant blog and entries, podcasts with key staff and students on a monthly basis to document the iPad-based experiential learning, as well as the use of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to facilitate information sharing via Real Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds.
Phase 7: Periodic Assessment and m-Learning Showcase
The Executive Team will develop criteria and metrics for assessing progress on the objectives outlined in this proposal, as well as require the sharing of student and teacher creations online for the public/community. Presentations to the school board will also be made that showcase student and teacher work. Teachers will develop web pages/wiki pages that document student progress and methods through the use of iPad-created videos and content.
Key Areas to Implementation Success
This plan considers 3 areas to be key to the implementation success of this Initiative. Those areas include the following:
Infrastructure and Technical Support
- Sufficient wireless access for iPad deployment
- Mobile Device Management (MDM)
- Email Archiving to ensure archiving of student and staff communications
- Single sign-on (SSO) to ensure ease of use for students and staff to multiple district systems
Professional Development Support
- Professional Development for ECISD Curriculum and Technology Staff
- Staff Development for ECISD HelpDesk staff to provide end-user support
- Presentation to appropriate personnel to disseminate information and expectations.
Communications and Public Relations
- Social Media usage and regular documentation of what is happening in the m-Learning Project.
Assessment and Evaluation
- Ongoing assessment–focus groups, monitoring online activity–during the process. Assessments will be jointly conducted by the Curriculum & Instruction and Technology staff.
Implementation Timeline
The following timelines outlines who will do what by when, as well as designates who is responsible for checking up to ensure work is done. It also outlines the decision-making.
| WHO will do… | WHAT by… | WHEN | CheckUp or CheckBack |
| Participate in Organizational Meetings | 02/27/2012 02/29/2012 |
||
| Ms. Mary Ray | Facilitate Appy Hour Training Sessions | 03/05/2012 03/19/2012 04/02/2012 04/16/2012 |
|
| m-Learning Planning Meeting | 04/04/2012 | NA | |
| m-Learning Team | Visit Eanes ISD to view their implementation | 04/17/2012 | NA |
| Order new iPad, reallocate iPad 2 as needed | 04, 2012 | ||
| Order InTouch 40 Tablet Cart from Spectrum Industries | 04, 2012 | ||
| Technical Team | Review MDM Solution Provider proposals and make recommendation selection | 04, 2012 | |
| Consider registration ($25 for TCEA members or $50 per non-member attendees) at the Eanes ISD iPadPalooza to be held Tuesday, 06/19/2012. | 04, 2012 | ||
| Revise AUP to reflect Responsible Use Policy | 04/30/2012 | ||
| Develop m-Learning Proposal | 04/30/2012 | ||
| Technical Team | Ensure wireless access points have been ordered, purchased and scheduled for placement. | 05/05/2012 | |
| Review m-Learning Proposal | 05/03/2012 | ||
| Executive Team | Finalize Professional Learning Plan (PLP) for Summer Session | 05/05/2012 | |
| Executive Team | Finalize selection of PLP consultants from NorthEast ISD | 05/10/2012 | |
| Principals’ Leadership Seminar Proposal | 05/11/2012 | ||
| PD and App Selection Team | Make specfic app recommendations | 06/30/2012 | |
| Technical Team | EC Hornet App | 07/01/2012 | |
| Technical Team | WebDav Server Setup | 07/15/2012 | |
| Technical Team | Prepare and provide training to district technicians on MDM for iPads. | 0720/2012 | |
| Finalize outward facing web site/wiki featuring recommended apps, workshop materials, video lessons/tutorials and Edmodo groups | 07/01/2012 | ||
| Schedule webinar sessions and meetings for m-Learning campus participants | 07/15/2012 | ||
| Communications Team | Create social media accounts to facilitate sharing of information, ideas, projects online | 07/15/2012 | |
| Executive Team | Schedule school board presentations | 09/01/2012 | |
Conclusion
Prompt approval and implementation of this plan will ensure successful implementation. While no plan can anticipate with 100% accuracy the issues that will arise, we can anticipate the support structures that need to be set in place. This plan seeks to do this, and your feedback is invited.
Questions/Suggestions?
Please submit questions you may have or suggestions for improvement to the following staff….
Appendix A – Professional Learning Plan
Event #1 – m-Learning Teacher Academy
The purpose of this Academy is to model effective use of the iPad, delineate expectations, and is organized as if the teachers were the students. Only Day 1 is proposed below since it may be helpful to spend Day 2 & 3 working on curriculum and apptivities.
8:00am to 8:15am Welcome and Introduction
8:15am – 8:30 am Predicting the Future
Defining expectations for today’s session, curriculum redesign
Divide into learning teams
8:30am – 10:00am Redefining Your Approach to Instruction
- Read article–Redefining Instruction with Technology: 5 Essential Steps and discuss with learning team partners.
- Create Your Own Video
- Share Your Video with the whole team
Activity Instructions: Create a Video
Interview three colleagues and video record their response to, How might you use an iPad in your role as an educator?
- Splice 2.0 Tutorial – Getting Started (Video)
- Download the Splice App for iOS (Note: this is optimized for iPhone, but works well on iPad.)
- Shoot some video!
- Edit the video, export to camera roll, then upload to YouTube.
10:00am – 11:30am Mathematics and the iPad
- As a learning team, read this blog entry, App-tastic Middle School Mathematics and reflect on how you would
- Select some of the math apps and create a video of how you encourage students to create a math-relevant activity.
Activity Instructions: EduCreations Interactive Whiteboard
Model how you would use a math app as if you were a student in response to the video you created with your learning team.
- Educreations Tutorial (Video)
- Get the Educreations Interactive Whiteboard App from iTunes
- Download math iPad apps relevant to the lesson you want to facilitate
- Record process of using it
- Share the video with others.
11:30am – 12:30pm Lunch
12:30pm – 3:30pm Curriculum Re-design
3:30pm – 4:00pm Session Presentations
Event #2 – iPadPalooza
Participants attend iPadPalooza then present back to the rest of the team on what they learned.
Event #3 – To Be Developed
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Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure
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So glad someone else is seeing web dav as a possible solution- what is the platform of your server?This is a very thoughtful approachAlso curious about what you mean re NO ATANDALONE IPAD?
So glad someone else is seeing web dav as a possible solution- what is the platform of your server?This is a very thoughtful approachAlso curious about what you mean re NO ATANDALONE IPAD?