Monday, December 2, 2013

Using Google Drive

In 2014, students in Years 5 and 6 will be using Google Drive for document creation and storage. Here is a collection of resources that might be useful if you wanted to get a head start with Google Drive over the holidays. We will certainly need a few student "experts" as we all start to use it next year...

Your BCE student account gives you access to Google Drive and 30GB of storage space. Firstly, make sure you have installed the FREE Google Drive app on your iPad:


You can learn more about the Google Drive app for iOS here:


https://support.google.com/drive/topic/2429901?hl=en&ref_topic=2375071

Now, log into your Google Drive app using your myBCE email address and password. You can create and share documents right on your iPad. You can also use Google drive in a web browser on any computer. Your files will sync to any device where you are logged into your Google drive.

Here are some places you can find more information:

Richard Byrne has put together an easy-to-follow guide for using Google Drive on your iPad:



Google's Support page for Google Drive:



(using Google's Chrome web browser):




The Last Post

If you are a current Year 4 parent and have followed a link in the Contact newsletter 
to this 5Padwise blog, this will become YOUR space in 2014. 

Information about the compulsory
  CyberSafety Boot Camps 
can be found in the latest post

Apologies for the confusion everyone - we have 3 separate blogs now, one each for the three year levels who need information on Learning Innovations with iPads. This time of transition between year levels can be a confusing time for everyone!
---oOo---

Dear Parents of current Year 5 students, 

This will be the last post for you on this 5Padwise blog!

It's been a wonderful year of learning for your children and as they continue learning with iPads in Year 6 in 2014, you will have a NEW space to follow their news. Currently it's a blank space but you may wish to set up a subscription in readiness for the 2014 school year:


New App Required for 2014:


Next year, your children will require a new app for LOTE. Our lovely Japanese teacher Mrs Flynn has asked that her students install Morfo 3D Face Booth. Although there is a free version of this app (simply called Morfo), Mrs Flynn advises that the paid version offers much better performance and added features and it is her preference that all students purchase Morfo 3D Face Booth, at a cost of 99c.

Due to the minimal cost of Morfo 3D Face Booth, we are hoping that you will not mind arranging this purchase for your child. The app may have uses for other learning areas as well as LOTE. You can provide this app for your child in several ways:

  1. By gifting it to your child. You can do this by purchasing the app from your own Apple ID as a gift. Select "Gift this app" when you purchase and you will be provided with a redemption code to email to your child so they can install it under their own Apple ID at no further cost.
  2. By temporarily adding your credit card information to your child's Apple ID account. Do this on the iPad in the App Store app > Featured tab > scroll down > click Apple ID: > View Apple ID > Payment Information or in Settings > iTunes & App Store > click account name > view Apple ID > sign in > Payment Information. As soon as the purchase is made you should remove your credit card details by selecting "None" in Payment Information.
  3. By adding an iTunes Gift Card to your child's Apple ID account. If there is no existing credit on your child's Apple ID account, iTunes cards can be purchased in packs of 3 x $10, 2 x $15 or individually in $20, $50 and $100 amounts. This can be a useful stocking filler. Stores often offer discounts on iTunes gift cards. Keep your eye on the Gift Cards on Sale website for information on current iTunes card offers.
Please email Maria if you have any difficulty with this request for 2014:
mmead[insert 'at' sign here]bne.catholic.edu.au

Have a great break and don't forget to keep safe online. If you are unable to supervise your children during their iPad use over the holiday break, turn off wifi or use "Airplane Mode". You may also use Restrictions to turn off Safari, YouTube etc.

Remember, it is NOT an invasion of your child's privacy to check their sent and received emails occasionally, including attachments. This is what we call "appropriate supervision" for children of primary school age. By monitoring email use regularly you are helping to keep this method of communication a safe and positive experience for ALL of our students, and helping to educate your child in good digital citizenship.