It's the first day of school. Twenty five students have their iPads open. You're pretty sure they're smirking at you just a little bit . You've been asking yourself a lot of questions during the summer...how will I know they're on task? Don't the students know MUCH, MUCH more about these things than I do? You know how to use "Watch ESPN" and play "Angry Birds", but what happens when (and you know this WILL happen) there's a technical issue in the class? And you don't know how to fix it? It's always been YOUR classroom, your little corner of the world, where you're in charge, where you know more than the adolescents...hasn't that always been the truth? And now, they gave you the....iPAD! Just when you had it at least partially figured out, they sprung this one on you, didn't they? But wait a minute! Before you decide to use that little machine as really expensive book end (wouldn't that be a conversation starter?) or serving tray, hold on...be patient because, before long, I believe that you're going to view that machine as a tool, as a friendly mechanism helping you do what you've always done: guiding and cajoling and helping these students become the loving, intellectually competent, open to growth, religious young men who are prepared to contribute significantly to society.
iPads will not revolutionize education. BC High certainly does not need a revolution to teach its young men...the school has done a pretty fair job for the past 150 years. Instead, the iPad offers the classroom teacher a wide supply of user friendly resources designed to assist you in your daily job. You'll find some of the resources very helpful, others not so great. There is no pressure to become an Apple Genius overnight...or ever.
The iPad Resource Team has produced three iBooks, each targeting a different level of iPad experience and knowledge. Hopefully, within these three books, you'll find some practical strategies and ideas that you'll be able to incorporate into your classroom. If you're unsure about this whole iPad experiment or uncomfortable with the machine itself, take a look at iPad: The Basics. It provides an excellent overview on using the iPad, as well as explaining many of the machine's basic functions, and troubleshooting strategies.
The second iBook, iPad: The Apps, focuses mainly on content specific apps that you may find helpful within your subject matter. These apps represent suggestions from the iPad Resource Team...there are many other apps that you may already be using. Many are free, so why not download a couple and make your own determination?
The third iBook, iPad: Classroom and Beyond , moves beyond subject specific apps and investigates social networking, web curation, flipping the classroom, going paperless, and exploring new media. In other words, almost anything you needed to know about the full incorporation of the iPad into the classroom.
Enjoy the iPad, explore how it can be employed to further your students' learning. Remember, it's not a revolution or brave new world...it's a really effective, well designed, user friendly machine that can enhance your teaching and help you better connect with your students. The iPad Resource Team, Kara Brennan, Eric Gartside, Amie Kuzara, Jen McLarnon and Jack Travers will be around to listen and help.
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