Session 2 - iPads for Learning

In exploring the iPads this week in year 5, we started with a warm-up activity.  Those who were new to iPads last week were given a task (see below).  They each chose an "expert helper" from the class but the helper was not allowed to use their hands - helping hands were locked behind backs!  Helpers could only speak when spoken to, in response to a question from their "beginner buddy".  These students did so well at the task, they are clearly not "beginners" any longer!

The Warm-up Task:
The "beginners" had to choose two or three of their spelling words to practise, by writing them out in a drawing app.  They each managed to locate the "Drawing" folder and chose an app.  Whiteboard Free, Whiteboard Lite, Doodle Buddy, Rainbow Draw Free, Doodle Board and Draw were popular choices.

Here are some of the results:

The students agree that practising their spelling words in this visual and tactile way might help them to remember them.

What problems might happen with using the iPads in a classroom?

The students used a collaborative whiteboard tool called DabbleBoard to create a mind map about problems we might experience using the iPads.  It was the first time we had used this tool.  We found that our ideas were sometimes not recorded.  Perhaps 8 groups was too many to have using the tool at one time...?

Here are the ideas we came up with:

This is the Mind Map we created collaboratively using DabbleBoard

What rules should we publish to keep the iPads safe, clean and working well for us?

After we discussed the problems, we thought of some rules that would prevent these problems from happening.  We tried to make our rules:

• positive (avoid saying "Don't")
• few in number (though we thought 8 rules might be too many, at least this allows one rule for each group to publish!)
• cover more than one problem
• clear and concise

Here are the rules we decided on.
We may edit the wording when we create the posters to publish them.

1. Ask a teacher before using the iPads. 
2. Always power off when finished
3. Wash and dry your hands before you use the iPads
4. Always close the iPad lid when not in use
5. Be gentle and handle the iPads with care
6. Keep food and drink away from the iPads
7. Respect other people's work.
8. Charge the iPad when it is below 20% and remove from charge when over 90%

Next Week:

In our next session we are going to publish our rules using the app Pages.  We had a quick look at pages today and we plan to use the poster template to publish each rule.  We will take photos or create drawings to illustrate the rule.

Here are some pictures of us exploring Pages and planning our Rule Posters:

The Launch in 5 Blue

Today in 5 Blue, we had a 40-minute "iPad discovery" session.  Students in groups explored the iPads to see how they might be helpful in learning at school.  More than half the class had used an iPad before.  Seven students out of the class of 26 use one regularly at home.  A small group of students had never used one at all.  The students were grouped according to their prior experience.

We used a Backchannel, Today's Meet, to allow groups to share their thoughts by recording comments, discoveries, wonderings and worries.  People asked great questions as they explored.  Others gave great answers too and shared what they learned as they went.

Some of the questions that were recorded during the session are listed below in Red.  The responses that were discussed with the whole class, following the "Discovery" time have been added in Blue:


Is there something like word or excel?

We have Pages which is a word processor.  You can save your documents as pdfs or ePubs which means they can be accessed on the iBook shelf and read on the iPad.  We would have to sync them to all the iPads though.

Does it have the internet?

Yes, the iPads connect to our school wireless.  Safari is the internet browser but some of the other apps use the internet as well.

Are there any educational games?

Games can be very good for learning, depending on how they are used.  There are very many games installed already but if you need others, say, to help you learn your tables or spelling rules, then we will search for others to help you.

Can you get photo booth on the iPad?

Yes, you will find PhotoBooth on the Home screen.

Here are some of the discoveries people shared during the session today:

• I think it's a touch screen [not heat sensitive] because if you put them in front of heater nothing will happen!
• cut the rope helps for maths
• we learnt that the ipad has apps for free and apps that you buy
• did you know the ipad has a compass
• We learned that you can play many games without using the internet
• there are files [folders] which have smaller things [apps] inside them.  
• If you are having trouble finding some apps go to the Search screen [swipe left from the Home screen] and search for the app

What a great session Year 5BLUE!  Thanks very much and I look forward to seeing you again next week (and 5 ORANGE on Wednesday!) Next week: We will have a brief session to learn about the camera and other common apps we can use to create with images, sound and text.   We will learn how to email or send what we create to a teacher.   We will learn how to turn the iPads off to save the batteries as well as how and when to charge them to keep the batteries working well for longer. We will discuss what rules we should have to keep the iPads safe and working well for us.   Please add a comment if you have ideas about iPad Rules already!