So How Much Do You Know About Tablet Use?

I found this infograph (don't you just love these things!) on the Staples website. Thought it was interesting especially since we're getting more and more iPads into teacher's hands! Are you in any of these categories?

Exploring BYOD at CCHS

Here at CCHS we've begun to explore what it would be like to teach and learn in a 1:1 environment. We currently are running 3 BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) classrooms supplemented with a cart of laptops for those students that don't have their own device to use. As we collect data and begin to see how this will work within the CCHS educational culture, our technology committee is exploring what would be necessary to put it all into place. While doing some research I found a great video produced to introduce a 1:1 program at District 219 in Illinois. Click here to view. What a great way to share what they're doing! I hope we will be able to do much the same in the future!

Need Ideas for Using Your New iPad?

I found this site while reading a post on the SimpleK12 blog. Teacher Joe Dale, a UK Independent modern foreign languages and technology consultant, decided to create the site An iPad Idea a Day. Each day for the entire year he plans to post a podcast of something to do with your iPad. Some may apply, some may not but it's a great resource to see what's possible.

iPads in the Classroom

I'm just finishing up the setup of 10 iPads that were purchased with Title funds for our Academic Support Classroom. I thought it would be a bit of a tedious process but since we're only using free apps at this point I was able to make a backup of one and then update and restore all the others from that backup. Soon we'll also have a MacBook Pro so we can synchronize all iPads at the same time and a Volume Purchase Plan so that we can purchase some of the apps that will help our students. We also purchased ZaggFolios from Zagg, Inc. for each of the iPads as well as a DS-Netsafe-IPCS from Datamation Systems, Inc.

The ZaggFolio will protect the iPads and also has a Zagg Solo Keyboard to make keyboarding easier for the students. I'm curious however, if the students will like the keyboard or if this is something that only "us old fogies" think is necessary. I know I struggle when it comes to texting. Our students however are quite adept at inputting keystrokes only using their thumbs so I can't wait to find out which method they prefer.

The DS-Netsafe-IPCS is a wonderful device that gives us locking storage for up to 16 iPads and also provides charging and simultaneous synching with a MacBook laptop. It was easy to setup and now just have to wait to get the MacBook Pro so we try the simultaneous synch!

Moodle for Online Learning

The decision has been made and we will be transitioning this spring and summer from Blackboard to Moodle 2.1 for our Learning Management System (LMS). What is a Learning Management System? What is Moodle? Why are we switching?

Wikipedia defines Learning Management systems as "... a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, and reporting of training programs, classroom and online events, e-learning programs, and training content." Basically an online component for our classroom teachers to use to post assignments, classroom documents, online quizzes, discussion forums, etc. making their classroom accessible any time, any where that a student has internet access.

Our Blackboard system was such a system that is hosted through our local Kent Intermediate School District. The KISD is phasing out Blackboard and the cost was prohibitive to have our own Blackboard servers thus the move to Moodle. Moodle is actually an acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. It's open source software that allows us to build our LMS as we wish. We will be using a hosted solution through a company well known for it's Moodle management and support services, Remote Learner.

Today I at the MACUL conference I attended two sessions about Moodle and learned much about setting up courses. I'm excited about the move and think that, once our teachers go through training in May and June, they too will find the system extremely useful and customizable.

Have any of you had experience with Moodle? How do you feel about the move and what suggestions do you have for making sure our teachers are well trained and ready to go this summer?

MACUL - Student Showcase

Make sure you check out the Student Tech Showcase, Thursday, Mar. 8, from 11-1 at DeVos Place. Students will show off some of the fantastic tech projects that they've been working on this past year. Here is an example of one of these projects.

More Info on MACUL 2012

Are you attending MACUL12? Ron Houtman, Super Technology Consultant and REMC 8 Director, just posted an awesome survival guide for those attending the MACUL 2012 conference next week. Read it, prepare your survival kit, and get ready for 3 whirlwind days of learning!