using social media to expand the classroom community
Archive for May, 2011
by derrickwillard on May 31, 2011 at 7:25 pm · Filed under blended classroom, iPad, paperless classroom and tagged: digital backpack, iPad, students
In my last post, I told you I’m heading to Costa Rica June 6th-17th with a colleague and six students for a summer school travel course in tropical ecology. Today, Matt Scully (our IT guru) started “packing” our “digital backpacks,” what I’ve decided to call our iPads. I’m trying to meld an intense 11 day Life 1.0 field trip with the latest in Web 2.0 digital tools to shape a unique learning experience for our students. Part of what I’m doing here is laying out the logistics and reflecting on what transpires. So, how does “packing” work?
Well, first I created an “image” of a student “digital backpack” on my iPad (most of the apps are listed in my previous post) I also added course related videos, TEDTalks, podcasts, and ITunes U lectures and some related reading via Diigo. Then, I synched it with my computer. Then, I synched each student iPad with my computer. Now, I didn’t give them access to my entire library or all my apps. The beauty of the synch system Apple created is that I select and upload (synch) just what they need. Tomorrow is our trial run. The kids are coming in to learn how to use the iPads, as well as some basics on how to use a wiki and how to post on a blog. Stay tuned…
by derrickwillard on May 25, 2011 at 7:19 pm · Filed under iPad, paperless classroom and tagged: digital backpack, iPad, paperless
So, I’ve managed to get my hands on six iPads (1st generation) for my students in a summer school course. As I mentioned in a previous post, I’m trying to get my head around how to use the tool to accomplish learning tasks or student skills. I’m trying to think of the device as a “backpack,” and now I’m trying to fill it with things my students will need to in order to read, write, calculate, capture, create, share, and publish without paper. So far, I think I’ve identified some good apps to use:
Reading via iBooks, Google Books, Diigo
Writing via Penultimate, Noteshelf, or Evernote
Draw/create via SketchbookX
Calculate via Graphing Calculator 3D
Share pictures/video via Flickr
Create/publish via WordPress
The course is about tropical ecology of Costa Rica (yes, we are going there too) and runs June 6-17, 2011. You can find our class wiki here. You can find our class bog here. This will be a pilot for a year-long class next school year…stay tuned.
by derrickwillard on May 10, 2011 at 12:18 pm · Filed under digital texts, iPad, paperless classroom and tagged: iPad, paperless
Someone showed me this short TEDTalk on “a next-generation digital book.”
Wow. What if all texts were like this?! As an environmental science teacher I can’t help but drool over this one. When I learned of E. O. Wilson’s plans for the first digital biology text a few months ago, I thought it would still be a year or two before such an amazing resource would be available for use. Now, I’m dreaming of a paperless environmental science class that incorporates such a text for our units on energy resources, air pollution, and climate change…and it looks like we might get a pilot off the ground here at PDS for next school year. I don’t want the class to be about the tech tool and I wrote about this idea a few months ago…still trying to get my mind around the why and the how.
by derrickwillard on May 4, 2011 at 10:45 am · Filed under random and tagged: why
Yes, I’m still around. I haven’t been able to blog much lately as commitments in my classroom have consumed my time-prepping students for the AP exam, releasing our trout, and prepping for a trip to Costa Rica….whew. I need some time for reflection. I just wrapped up a neat project where my seniors taught Kindergarteners and 1st graders. I hope to be back to share soon.
