Kate's+Journaling+Page

10/27/2010 A great "warmup" activity (used to be called anticipatory sets back when I was in school!) with the iPads being used today...Using Google Maps, I am having the students "tour" Florence, Venice, and Vatican City. It allowed the students to see the items we would be discussing in activity prior to them learning about them. (Duomo, Canals of Venice, St. Peter's Basillica). Using the auto-tilt feature and layers, they were able to get an unbelievable view of these places. It also allowed them to witness the geography of the area and how it impacted the historical development. Very Cool. And, they were absolutely freaked out by the fact that Google Earth could locate the exact spot of their iPad on earth. So naive... ~Rich / Kate

10/28/2010 The iPad experiment continued today, with 2 classes being introduced to the technology prior to our first major assignment using them. We took part in a Google Earth Warmup Activity, and then allowed 15 minutes for them to explore both Google Earth and the installed Applications. Students found the following applications to be extremely interesting: Speak It!, Penultimate, Draw, and Virtusoso. They all, of course, wanted to install applications through their iTunes account. This required a restating of the initial discussion about the grant purposes and objectives. They will need to purchase their own iPad if they want to install!

The procedures for using the iPad has proven to be challenging. With only 17 machines between myself and Ms. Ferguson, we must plan carefully to make sure that equal opportunity takes place. To make sure that all iPads are consistently monitored, and that students are responsible for their use, we have created a sign out binder for each individual machine.

We have been certain that only students in the designated classes are utilizing the iPads. Although...demand and requests for use have been extremely high! Studyhall students, other classes, and even staff have hoped to use the technology...but, the log has been created so that only Science and Global students in our classes are utilizing them.. That is all for today! ~Rich / Kate

10/29/10 Just used the iPads in my Math self contained class. The class consists of 4 students that have low range functioning. They were so excited to use the iPads! The were able to access math programs from the internet as well as prelaoded math apps. Students also went on the internet to show me their favorite singers and dancers. This allowed me to get to know the interests of the students. It was so good to see them excited about using a new piece of technology! Looking forward to having visitors from Depew and Alden on Monday! ~Kate

11/1/10 A great visit from Alden and Depew. We are starting the Renaissance Unit with a "webquest" that students complete through the iPads. Before we started the webquest, students seached Venice and Florence using the Google Earth app. These two cities were very important during the Renaissance. By seeing the geographical location of these areas, students were able to make sense of why they would be so prosperous during this time. Students are enjoying using the iPads. When given a task, they are focused. I do find that because the iPad is so fast, they are easily able to navigate to different apps as well as Safari. Rich and I are trying to figure out a way to sign out the iPads faster and with less chaos in the room. The entire task takes apporximately 10 minutes of the class (beginning and end). We are hoping to cut that down! ~Kate

11/4/10 Completely enjoyed my visit to Depew today. Mr. Wargala had a great lesson for his Participation in Government class. It was clear he knew his audience and adapted as it became necessary. Good discussion before the lesson regarding iPads and students who do and do not prefer to use them. Great idea with the video, but understand how it wasn't effective without earbuds. Good save! Putting it on the smart board worked perfect! I enjoyed my visit and the discussion. Job well done! ~Kate

11/9/10 Completed the assessment part of our Renaissance iPad lesson. Went extremely well. For the most part, students remained on task and off unrelated websites. It was interesting to see certain students step up and lead their groups during their assessment using the iPad. It was great to see students getting excited about correct answers and really trying hard to get a great score! Students seemed very comfortable with the iPads today. They seemed to navigate the applications and internet easily. I feel that they were able to combine their knowledge of the Renaissance with the use of the iPad to master concepts and work effectively in groups to conclude this activity. We must pass our iPads on now... ~Kate

12/21/10 Used the iPads to work with my 12:1:1 math class. Class is made up of students with multiple disabilities. The iPads were a fun change. The students loved to use doodle bug and use the iPad to search websites for a unit where we planned a trip to Disney. Students searched for airline tickets, hotel accomodations, car rental, and Disney themepark tickets. The iPads were great for showing the students where they should be or explaining websites by holding up the site they are using. It was a great activity, and the iPads were a great for helping to keep students focused and on task. ~Kate

2/10/11 In my cotaught biology class, we often use castle learning to review for tests. When the laptops were slow to get started and study and review time was being wasted, I suggested we use the iPads to review. The students quickly and easily logged on to the castle learning website, and were able to get alot of effective review. Another positive was that students were able to enlarge questions or diagrams using the iPads. I definitely saw an advantage of reviewing with the iPads over reviewing using the laptops. ~Kate

2/16/2011 A long awaited return to a major iPad project! We put together a partner centers project on the Industrial Revolution. It utilizes the internet to provide video, primary sources, and document analysis. To watch a video showing the progress of the students on this assignment, click HERE (To watch the video, you will need to open it using Apple Quicktime. It is in Mp4 Format.) ~Rich / Kate

3/23/2011 There is a huge push for students to read, read, read. This can be overwhelming to a special education teacher that has many students that read at about a 4th grade level. I quickly thought of the iPad, and was able to find the text that was going to be assigned, and realized that it iPad could read to them! So relieved!

3/24/2011 We are finishing up our last day with the iPad World War I project, and I have many observations regarding the progress that both myself, my collegue (Rich Violanti), and my students have made. As I watched the students work through this assignment, I realized that their comfort level with the iPads had reached a very natural and comfortable point. They were able to navigate, troubleshoot, and complete given tasks, with very little assistance from us. The iPads have been so valuable to the course for us. Just as the students have learned to naturally depend on them, so to have we, aas we plan each unit that we teach. It does not seem "forced" to use the iPads in our classroom, but has become a natural and important teaching tool that we rely on on a very regular basis. Their are no problems "logging on", and students can complete tasks much quicker and with much less frustration than using a laptop. In the beginning of the year, I thought I would be fine with or without these things! Today I fear going back to having to teach without them. They have been a true asset to our classroom! ~Kate

6/6/2011 As I begin to reflect on this past year, I feel that the iPads have allowed to develop as a teacher. They have given students an opportunity to use technology that they otherwise would have not. They have served as an alternative was to present and review information for all types of students. Having the iPads in the classroom has been extremely convenient and advantagous to myself, my cooperating teacher, as well as the students. I feel that teh Google Earth app has been the most valuable educational resource. To be able to show the students where we are learning about, to be able to show them waterways and land forms that have stories behind them. To be able to show them large structures that they have only seen in pictures, this has been a great opportunity. My confidence in using technology has definitely increased because of the iPad. I feel comfortable using them and teaching others how to use them. This grant has opened my eyes to the future and the endless possibilities that are ahead. For being given the opportunity to participate in this experience, I am so truly greatful!

~Kate