Tag Archives: ipaded

#ipaded – iPad Lock screen rules⤴

from @ teachitgeek

There have been a number of excellent posts shared online with ideas for numbered backgrounds and lock screens to use on devices shared in class. I have written articles on this myself here, where I gave you access to 40 numbered iPad wallpapers.

These can be a great way of quickly identifying which device is being used by which pupil. This is especially effective in a shared deployment where it may be difficult for a pupil to quickly identify the device they were on during the previous lesson.

Technology Erintegration took it to the next level shared a post that highlighted 5 creative ways these can be used. One of these ideas was setting the device lock screen to display the rules and expectations of the iPads. The idea is that when every pupil swipes to unlock they are agreeing to the rules.

Her original idea is below:

iPad lockscreen demo

I have modified this into my own version and this is shown below:FullSizeRender.jpg

The file along with an updated set of numbered backgrounds can be found here.


#ipaded – Explain Everything ideas⤴

from @ teachitgeek

On twitter the hashtag #ipaded, is a wonderful way to categorise articles and apps that can enhance the teaching and learning and process in the classroom.

At the heart of implementing the iPad in class, is the notion that it is a creativity device. Another tool that allows pupils to share their knowledge and experience in a new and exciting way. This can be daunting for teachers sometimes as the pupils often have more technological knowledge than they do. As teachers, it has always been important that we lead the learning in our classes. Without effective teaching the pupils will not pick up a concept or skill, using the iPad is no different. These articles will allow to use the iPad to facilitate an exciting concept or skill, the main difference will be the tool that the pupils use to share their knowledge and experience with.

Before proceeding further, have a look at this video on using AirDrop as a way to share files/images in class.

It can become easy to find yourself lost in a sea of applications. There are approximately 1.2 million currently available on the app store at present, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. We will hopefully show you how you can achieve success using a select number of applications; focussing on content.

The first is the app Explain Everything, an interactive whiteboard in the hands pf every pupil that does so much more. From creating a numeracy policy for parents to having pupils create animations that tell a story. For teachers it is ideal for feedback. Import a piece of pupil work into the app and record yourself giving feedback on areas that need improvement or showing where a piece of work has been done well.

The following example shows how early years pupils can practice their handwriting skills using the explain everything app and a stylus. The paper background can be found here.

This can be very useful as it allows you to see the way in which pupils are forming the letters allowing you to support their development a little more efficiently.

Numeracy on the iPad is another area that can be enhanced using Explain Everything. I have made a template file that can be shared with pupils via AirDrop, recorded over using Explain Everything and then submitted either via AirDrop or via Showbie. The template file can be found here. Please note that this file is only compatible with Explain everything.

Here is the file for reference:

Using Explain Everything in this manner can be a very useful learning tool. Pupils can hear their own thought process, share it with others and facilitate discussion in a key concept or skill. From a teachers perspective, hearing a pupil explain their thinking behind an answer can be a useful way of determine their understanding. If a pupil is struggling in an area you can pinpoint where they are going wrong and aid their development.


#ipaded Thinkrolls 2 by Avokiddo games⤴

from @ teachitgeek

Thinkrolls 2 by Avokiddo is a follow up to the popular first version of the game; released on March 26th. Both my children were fans of the original, with its various brightly coloured levels and logic problems and this new version adds to the challenge with an additional 235 levels and 28 characters.

The game is excellent for pupils in Early Years as it increases their ability to problem solve, analysis what is ahead and plan their next move.

Here is a video of my 5 year old son playing the game and solving some problems as he goes;

This game is excellent for teaching youngsters skills that can be transferred into other subjects such as Maths, Science and Physics.

Download using the link above and let me know what you think.

 


App smashing in the classroom now on iBooks⤴

from @ teachitgeek

My first ever iBook has been published. You can download it from here.

In it I have tried to give users some ideas of how to get started using the iPad. This isn’t a book for veteran users, but is targeted more at teaching staff who are starting out with iPads in their lessons.

As I am a Scottish Educator, there is reference to Glow. Glow is a National digital intranet solution for schools and local authorities across the country. It is currently in it’s 2nd iteration and integrates Microsoft Office 365. As a result, teaching staff and pupils have 1Tb of OneDrive storage and in some cases access to 5 copies of Office365 apps.

Other apps mentioned include:
iTunesU
Book Creator
Explain Everything
Showbie

All of these are excellent apps on their own, but together they really are a great way to unlock the potential of the work that pupils can create using the iPad.

If you download the book I would love to hear your thoughts. Positive and Negative. If you don’t hear the negative from time to time you don’t know where to improve. I hope to do more of these as time progresses so please keep coming back to the site for regular updates.


Using OneDrive on an iOS device⤴

from @ teachitgeek

Teaching staff and pupils in Scottish schools are able to add items from an iOS device to the OneDrive for business storage available in Glow. Currently this storage is sitting at 1Tb which is equivalent to approximately 64 16Gb devices.

The previous version of the OneDrive for business app was very limited in its functionality. To add an image you were required to use a third party app and adding/deleting folders was not possible. Microsoft has since updated the OneDrive app to support a OneDrive for business account. This means you can still access your Glow storage but with more functionality and an easier to use interface.

You can download it from the app store here

To log into OneDrive app you must use your Glow credentials as an email address as follows:

Teaching staff and pupils
glowusername@glow.sch.uk  (for example gw08applejohn@glow.sch.uk)

Non-teaching staff
glowusername@glowmail.org.uk (for example gw08applejohn@glowmail.org.uk)

The app redirects to the main Glow sign in page, sign in as normal and the app will allow you to access your OneDrive storage.

The video below details how to sign in, add to, and share from the app.


AirDrop on iOS⤴

from @ teachitgeek

AirDrop is by far the quickest and simplest way to share anything from one Apple device to another nearby. There are no restrictions on file type or size, the only limitation is whether the receiving device can open the file that has been sent. The video below demonstrates AirDrop in action.


#ipaded idea – create wallpapers to quickly identify iPads UPDATED⤴

from @ teachitgeek

1:1 is by far the best deployment model when introducing iPads into any classroom setting, however, 1:1 is not always viable for many reasons. Costs. Staffing etc. With over 70% of UK schools having devices deployed these will be used mostly as a shared resource. This does not take away from the value of work that can be created using the device. The ability to collate and create rich media filled content is still key to the pupil development using these devices. What can be difficult is having a quick way to identify which device is being used by which pupil. There is a convenient way to solve this minor issue, use a wallpaper numbering system.

There are plenty of versions of these out on the web and I am not the first person to come up with this option. When I did my first iPad deployment, I spent a lot of time making customised wallpapers for each department teacher using iPads in their teaching and learning practice. These were based on the dark linen theme that was present on iOS. With the launch of iOS 7 and the move to gradients and brighter colours, these quickly looked out of place. I have updated these wallpapers using the default iPad Air background image. They can be downloaded from here

These images can be handy when you have a large deployment shared between classes and teachers.

 


Apps for every classroom 2015⤴

from @ teachitgeek

With approximately 70% of UK schools having an iPad deployment, and with approximately 1.2 millions apps currently on the app store, knowing which apps to use in class can become a long and drawn out process.

The image above details some applications that can be used in any classroom and any curricular area. By focussing on content rather than curriculum specific applications, pupils can share their knowledge on topics or subjects by creating rich, media filled pieces of work that can be easily shared to online storage or to other devices via AirDrop.


The research behind games-based learning⤴

from @ teachitgeek

The research behind game-based learning

IMG_1580.PNG

Games improve knowledge acquisition

Because games are active and participatory, they can motivate people to learn and increase their long-term knowledge. For example, one study in the Netherlands by Huizenga, Admiraal, Akkerman, and Dam (2009) found that students who played a game about medieval Amsterdam learned 24% more than those who used traditional methods.

Games improve grades

Numerous studies have shown learning is more effective if it’s accompanied by games. For example, Richard Blunt (2009) of Advanced Distributed Learning found that in three American universities, students who learned through games had better grades than those who didn’t: some 70% of game-playing students scored As, compared to less than 40% of non-game-playing students. At the elementary school level, Marc Prensky (2001) reported that students who played games performed 24 to 50% better in vocabulary and math than students who did not.

Via elevate


How to add a new keyboard in iOS 8⤴

from @ teachitgeek

One of the most popular new features of iOS 8 is the ability to use third party keyboards on your iPad. In Education, one of the biggest  drawbacks of using the iPad keyboard is that it is all uppercase. This can prove to be a disadvantage for young learners or pupils that have issues due to dyslexia. Fortunately there are a number of great replacements appearing the App store. I have recently installed the Lower Case Keyboard by Rubber Chicken Apps. This app uses the Open dyslexic font that can aid in readability for digital content. Once the keyboard is installed it is easy to toggle between the third party keyboard and the stock iOS keyboard.

How to set a custom keyboard in iOS 8

  1. Launch the App Store and download or purchase the keyboard you’d like to use like you would any other app.
  2. Launch the specific keyboard app that you just downloaded.
  3. You may be prompted to install a keyboard extension if one isn’t automatically installed.
  4. Launch the Settings app.
  5. Tap on General.
  6. Tap on Keyboard.
  7. Tap on Keyboards at the top.
  8. Tap on Add New Keyboard…
  9. Under Third-Party Keyboards, tap on the keyboard name that you’d like to use.
  10. Tap on Edit at the top of the Keyboards section.
  11. Drag your chosen keyboard to the top of the list to make it your default (optional).

Add a keybaord

How to quickly switch between keyboards in iOS 8

  1. Pull up a keyboard in any app.
  2. Tap and hold on the globe key.
  3. Tap on the keyboard name you’d like to use.

Keyboard switch

 

That’s it! The keyboard you chose should now appear throughout iOS in place of the built-in one that comes standard. Simply start using it.

Original post iMore