IPADs - Getting started

IPADs:  What a scary matter!

When I was approached to take part in a pilot project using IPADS, to be honest, I was scared and hesitated to take part. I could not imagine using IPADS any differently than laptops. I honestly thought IPADS were no different and I saw it as yet another thing I was expected to add to my plate of things I needed to teach my students. I wasn't crazy about the idea but I figured what better way to challenge myself, so I decided to take this project on and I'm glad I did! I have discovered wonderful things with the IPADS.

In this first blog on IPADS, there are a few must do's before starting any project with students:

FIRST: Create a dropbox account before class[maybe a day or two, remember you will be providing your students with the e-mail address and password] and make sure the IPADS have the DROPBOX app. Then have students link their ipad to it - this should be the very first thing you do with your students on the ipads. [this will be the way students' send you their projects]
* if IPADS have a DROPBOX APP, have students click on the app and then enter the e-mail address and password [you will need to give this to them, it needs to be the e-mail address and password you used to create the dropbox account] 

* make sure that if IPADS are shared in your school that at the end of class students unlink the dropbox from the IPAD, this is done in the same matter as above.

** CAUTION: students will have access to their classmates projects as well, this is one of the disadvantages of using dropbox but I found it the most easiest for  getting their projects.  Students are pretty good about not check their classmates projects.  I found that students were so busy working on their projects anyway that when it finally was time to send me their project there were no problems.

SECOND:Make sure that the screensaver on the iPads have the iPad number on it, this makes it easier for the students to know their iPad number. It also helps to have the iPad number on the outside of the iPad. Then provide students iPad numbers [this will help you keep track of the ipads] I decided to keep track by giving students the iPad in terms of what number they fall under in the roll call. So Johnny was number 1 on the roll call, so he got iPad 1.

THIRD: Provide enough time to hand out and get iPads back, even though iPads aren't as slow as laptops in shutting down, the first two times I kept forgetting how long it takes to hand them out and to get them back.
An idea have students start on a quick little activity while they are waiting to receive their iPad e.g put a picture on the overhead and have students write a number of words that come to mind when they see the picture.  Or have them write a few sentences about the picture they see.  Or better yet have them have a one minute conversation with the person next to them about the picture [in the target language]
Or have them get started on their homework or a short quick exercise when they have handed their iPads back to you.

Also get a student to help you hand them out and put them back in place.

FOURTH: if you have a chance before having students use an app, check it out yourself and see how it works, you don't need to be an expert but at least know some of its functions and whether it can be sent via dropbox, can you download pictures onto it...can you record voice?? etc...

Remember that you don't need to be an expert, I often found that students would ask me things like how do I delete a picture on bookcreator...I didn't know so I was honest and told them I wasn't sure....but then I asked outloud and sure enough someone in class knew how!
Sometimes I wasn't sure about something and there was always one or two students who knew what to do, so I had them be my technology assistants.

FIFTH:  When possible make sure you show your students how the app works, don't assume they know, because most of the time there maybe one or two students who know. I always put my iPad under the document reader and showed my students how they could record...add photos etc.. This really doesn't take all that much time to do.


** most of all remember that you don't need to feel like an expert enjoy learning with your students.
** Don't overwhelm yourself with having to use so many different apps, I focused on using two apps and my students did numerous activities using the two different apps.  There is so much you can do with two apps!
*** Try to have a focus for using the iPads: My focus was being able to have my students develop their oral skills and trying to incorporate as many skills in a project as possible.