Booklists and Apps Lists

Last week you would have received the Year 5 Book list for 2013. Hopefully you noticed how sparse that list seems to be. Every effort has been made to keep the items required (in addition to your child's iPad) to an absolute minimum. Most stationery items such as sharpeners, scissors, coloured pencils etc will be supplied by the school and stored centrally in the learning spaces as shared class resources. This arrangement suits our contemporary "Innovative Learning" model.

The $30 levy designated for "iPad Learning Resources" will cover the Paid Apps that the school is purchasing on your behalf. Redemption codes will be supplied to you:
a) when the school has made the apps purchases
b) when receipt of the $30 levy has been confirmed
Additional apps may be required throughout the year. A list will be published at the commencement of each school term. No further funds will be required from you to cover apps for 2013.

Despite the school purchasing all paid apps on your behalf, an iTunes card is still recommended to create an Apple ID (to avoid using your credit card). In the interests of flexibility and individualisation, apps may be occasionally be recommended by the teachers to support your child's learning needs. Similarly, your child may find additional apps to meet their individual needs. A small denomination iTunes card would therefore be useful. So keep your eyes peeled for those specials - you rarely have to pay full price for these!

Which Apps do I need to install? 

The initial list of iOS apps for your child to use next year is the result of a long process of research, app trials and consultation.

Some are paid apps...

All paid apps will be purchased by the school on your behalf, to take advantage of the cost reductions available through Apple's recently released Volume Purchase Program. Once we have finalised these transactions and the $30 levy has been paid (via your child's 2013 book list), you will be emailed redemption codes so you can install these apps. Please ensure that the school has a record of your current email address for this purpose.

...and some are free apps.

The free apps your child will need are listed below. You will need to install these before the first day of Term 1 in 2013. It's a long list but we hope that this will minimise the need to ask you to install apps throughout next year. We don't anticipate that your child will use every app by Easter - some of these apps may not be required until later in 2013.

App prices can change without warning. At the time of posting, these apps are all free. If by the time you install them, you find that there is a cost involved, please email Maria (mmead@bne....) and the school will arrange a redemption code or find an alternative app for you. Please download as early as you can to avoid these issues.

Tools and Utilities

• Skitch
• Evernote
• Dictionary Free
• Scan (QR scanner)
• Socrative Student
• Dropbox
• SkyDrive
• Quick Voice
• Australian Curriculum

Religion, Prayer, Christian Meditation

• Bible+
• Mandala HD Lite
• Koi Pond HD Lite

Literacy

• Spelling Free
• SpellingCity
• Grammar Jammers (for iPhone)

Numeracy

• Woolworths
• King of Maths
• King of Maths (Yes, there are two apps here with the same name. May as well install them both as they will be useful and we wish to avoid confusion!)

Science & Geography

• Google Earth

Creating & Communicating

• Fotobabble
• (for iPhone)

• Videolicious
• Voice Thread
• Aurasma

Drawing & Thinking

• Glow Draw
• Popplet Lite

iPad 2 only

• Dragon Dictation (a substitute for the dictation tool on the iPad 3 keyboard)

*Please note: To find apps denoted "for iPhone" you will need to select the iPhone tab in the App Store app. Otherwise they will not appear in the list.

Screen shot of the top of the App Store search window

Apps can be difficult to identify by name alone. When searching, ensure that you enter the app title exactly as it appears. To make it easier for you to identify the correct apps from your App Store search results, we have created an illustrated version of the above list which includes the app icons. You may view and print this from the link below.

Year5FreeAppsList_Term1_v2

   

Not sure how to find and install apps? 
Here are some simple steps to follow:

Step 1: Locate the App Store app

Step Two: Search for an app 

Step 3:  Click  'Install'.

When prompted, type your Apple ID password. 

You will not need to re-enter your password unless you leave the iPad idle for more than 15 mins.

For further assistance, come along to school on the evening of Tuesday 27th November for a demonstration and some more personal support from our resident 'experts'. If you would like to join us and have not yet returned your form, please email Maria asap.
(mmead@bne....)

Lifelines - Options for iPad Support

OPTION #1

Your first port of call - AppleCare Protection

When you purchase any Apple product, you get 90 days complimentary support from AppleCare Protection. Click here for more information about iPad support.

Parents of St Catherine's 1:1 iPad students are welcome to phone the Education AppleCare support line for help for faster service tailored for school students.  Even if it is as simple as trying to work out how to load photos on to the iPad, connect to your wireless network at home or make an iMovie for homework!

Education customers have their own phone number : 1300 968 979
Hours of operation for phone support are as follows:
9am - 9pm Monday to Friday
9am - 6pm Saturday

[Image source: http://bestclipartblog.com/clipart-pics/telephone-clip-art-7.png]

OPTION #2
iPad setup night at school


Keep Tuesday night November 27th free for a special opportunity to 'drop in' and pick up a few tips and 'how to's for using your iPad. Year 4 students are also welcome. Arrive in time for a 7pm (sharp!) start and stay as long as you need to. We have a few 'experts' coming in to help show you what you need to know - our school "mac" technician Trevor Weatherhead, our Next Byte representative Elizabeth McKellar and several St Catherine's teachers. There'll be various tables set up for help with specific aspects of iPad management so we need to know ahead of time what kind of help you're after. Keep an eye out for a note that will be sent home with your child next week. The note will have a response form to help us cater for your needs and reduce your wait time on the night.

The school venue will be decided when we have a better idea of expected numbers. It would be great if we had a few experienced iPad users come along as well, to assist us in helping other families. So please consider coming along as a helper, even if you don't require help yourself. We can use all hands on deck to make everyone feel comfortable managing their device.

Finally, don't feel that you all have to be 'experts' on all aspects of iPad use. Your children will be 'learning on the job' throughout next year. They will amaze you with their competence and creativity. But they do need a responsible adult to manage the account side of things - purchasing of apps and parental supervision of content and access. These aspects will be our most important focus on the "iPad setup night".

[Image Source: http://phpbizonline.blogspot.com.au]

SOLUTION #3
Here's another all-round option for support with your family's digital learning...

Brisbane Catholic Education provides subscription to Atomic Learning for all teachers, students and families. This is a fantastic resource that we hope you will turn to for any support you need.

At Atomic Learning you can access a collection of thousands of short video tutorials on just about any software application you can think of. The account details cannot be published in this space but check out next week's Contact newsletter. Then you can log in and see what's on offer.

Here's a sneak preview of the collections on iTunes and iPads, for example...

With access to Atomic Learning you can teach yourself how to use any number of software applications - for FREE!

Purchasing Apps

Last month Apple released their Volume Purchasing Plan (VPP) in Australia. This means that educational institutions can save costs when purchasing 20 or more licenses for the same app through VPP. We expect that most of the apps your child will need in 2013 will be available through VPP. We would like to pass this saving on to you by purchasing the necessary apps for all our students (to be reimbursed through a resource levy) so please hold off on any school app purchases until we advise further. 

[Image Source: https://facultycommons.macewan.ca/resources/ipad-in-education]

When the school purchases an app for students via VPP, we receive a redemption code which we can email to you. You can then use this code to install each app on your child's device. An Apple ID is required to redeem these codes (or purchase apps) on the iTunes App store. Ownership is retained by your Apple ID so you keep the app when your child leaves the school. Please note that individuals under the age of 13 are not legally permitted to create an Apple ID. You can read the iTunes Terms and Conditions for more information.

To install any apps (even free ones) on your child's iPad, you must sign in to the App Store with an Apple ID. More information about Apple IDs can be found here. 

You have a couple of options for setting up the iPad with an Apple ID:

Option A

Use your own (new or existing) Apple ID. You are entitled to install any purchased apps on up to five personal iOS devices (iPhones and iPads). If you don't already have an Apple ID, it is quick, easy and free to create one. Click here to create an Apple ID.

Benefits of Option A

• Any of the apps you already own can be installed on your child's iPad. 
• Likewise, any apps you purchase for your child's school needs on this account can also be installed on your own devices.

Cautions with Option A

• Best not to turn on "automatic downloads" on your child's device or every app that you purchase will automatically be installed on your child's iPad.  Some of these may be distracting or inappropriate. 
• By the time they reach their teens (if not already!) your child may want to purchase personal apps, music etc with iTunes gift cards. For this they will require their own personal Apple ID. None of the apps they have been using at school will be owned by this account so they will have to purchase them again with their own Apple ID if they wish to keep using them.

Option B

Create a new Apple ID for your child. 

Benefits of Option B

• Your child will retain ownership of their school apps throughout secondary school and beyond when they eventually take over the management of their own Apple ID. 
• Your child's school apps will remain separate from your own or family apps and can be managed separately for school purposes.
• You can still manage your child's apps via iTunes on your own computer (Mac or Windows). With automatic downloads activated on your child's device, any apps you download for them via the App Store in iTunes will automatically install on your child's device.

Cautions with Option B

• Legally, this Apple ID will be owned by you until your child reaches the age of 13. In any case, you should keep the password secret so your child will not be able to inadvertently make inappropriate purchases. 
• You will need an email address to create an Apple ID. You can create a free one at Gmail or Hotmail (for example).

Stay tuned for the apps list, and more information about our optional "iPad Setup evening" at school on Tuesday 27th November, to support any families that may be new to iTunes and iOS in setting up your child's iPad ready for school.

The Time has Come

To ensure delivery before the end of term 4, we have to place our iPad order within a week. That means, if you intend to order through the school, we need your orders emailed to Maria Mead or sent to the school office by 3pm this Friday 12th October.

[Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org]

All the information outlined in our previous post, iPad Purchasing Options, is still current. Please scroll down to find the post, or click the link to read it again if you need to refresh your memory. We have added one more option however. As production of the iPad 2 is now closer to ceasing, with a fourth iPad model expected early next year, the school has decided to purchase iPad 3s for their own stocks. Therefore, the bulk pack pricing of both iPad 2 and 3 will be made available to parents.

We assure you that the iPad 2 will be sufficient for your child's needs for duration of the school program and will perform all necessary functions. The school's decision to purchase the iPad 3 is based on requirements for multiple users from all year levels and viability for longer than the 2 year period.

You are still absolutely free to purchase your iPad yourself from a different retailer, or to use one that you already own - for as long as the battery will last a full school day. Please be aware that retail stocks invariably run low towards Christmas and that if you do require support from the school for setup, these "iPad support" evenings will be held at school towards the end of term (dates will be finalised very shortly) so it would be necessary to have your iPad by then. If the purchase of this school requirement will cause financial difficulty for your family, please contact Paul Leeson to discuss some options.

In summary, you have the following options for purchasing your child's iPad:

1. Purchase either the iPad 2 or iPad 3 from your choice of Apple reseller.
2. Purchase the iPad 3 bundle through Next Byte (including case, dongle and AppleCare Protection Plan) with credit card - Complete order form "Student 1-1 Credit Card Flexi Idea"
3. Purchase the iPad 2 or iPad 3 (without retail packaging) from the school (reimbursement via cheque only) - Complete order form "St Catherine's - In School Only Chq" to order the iPad 2 or "St Catherine's - In School iPad 3" to order the iPad 3
4. Pay off the iPad 3 bundle via Flexi-Rent over 12 or 24 months - See "Flexi-rent brochure" and "Ready Reckoner". Flexi-Rent is only available with the iPad 3 bundle. Simply tick the Flexi-Rent box on the iPad 3 Bundle Order Form and you will be contacted by Flexi-rent for credit approval.

All necessary forms and information can be viewed or printed via the links in the list above, or from the thumbnails below:
Student 1-1 Credit Card Flexi Idea

St Catherines - In School Only Chq

St Catherines - In School iPad 3docx

Flexirent Brochure

Flexirent Repayment Guide

Designing Learning Spaces

Year 4 students have been dabbling in design this term as they took a long hard look at what they need for good learning. The word "classroom" was banned for a few weeks, as we tried to envisage the perfect "space" in which effective learning could take place at St Catherine's, without our ideas being restricted by a traditional concept of a school room.

Firstly we discussed where learning takes place in our lives - at home, the sports ground, the beach, forest, backyard or park.... oh, and school of course! Students considered what works for them about these places - what makes learning happen. 

Students discussed, wrote about and drew what their ideal learning place LOOKS, SOUNDS, SMELLS and FEELS like.

Responses were many and varied of course - as are learning styles and preferences. We decided what we need at school are spaces that are comfortable, interesting and above all, flexible.









The students participated very thoughtfully and enthusiastically in a presentation by a visiting designer whose job is designing learning spaces and libraries for schools and universities.

She talked about the process involved in designing, testing and building furniture and showed us lots of pictures of interesting learning spaces. She also explained what recent research has revealed about how students their age learn best: It is important for students to have the flexibility to move around, changing their body position regularly and to make choices about how, where and with what tools they investigate and create.

Students were very engrossed in the final session when they spent time designing their ideal learning space, especially considering the digital tools they will be using. Their aim was to create more flexible spaces with less clutter and more room to move, with comfortable furnishings that will allow a variety of choices for different learning activities.

Some students even designed their own multi-functional pieces of furniture, such as hanging 'pods' for reading in, tables with wheels for easy relocation, write-on surfaces and chairs with fold-away storage compartments. It was exciting to see so many budding designers in action, full of creativity and purpose!

Won't it be great to see how the students' own ideas are incorporated into the design of their Year 5 "Learning Spaces"?

Which cover? Choices... choices...

It's a tricky decision but we'd like to leave it up to students and parents to personalise your iPad within your own budget and considering your own needs and tastes. This question is covered in the FAQ document but here are a few more options to consider...

The "Fold-away"

Cost: $12.00 from an eBay store

• Protects screen and iPad back
• Can be folded to stand iPad two ways: vertically for display, or slightly raised for ergonomic use of keyboard
• Attractive leather-look finish which is easy to keep clean
• Good clearance for camera
• Easy to hold in one hand for camera use
• iPad fits snugly inside envelope fold which means it is not likely to slip out
• Magnets in the case switch screen on and off when opening and closing cover

Stands vertically

Raised for typing

Can hold with one hand for camera use

Large hole so camera is not obscured

The "Keyboard" Case

Cost: around $70 from an eBay store

• Includes keyboard to increase typing speed
• Hard aluminium does not absorb shock if iPad is dropped
• Hinges may loosen with excessive use

iPad fits into case above hinged keyboard 

Allows typing with actual keys

There are many, many keyboard cases on the market but they can be very expensive.

Thanks very much to Paula C, who uses the Trident KRAKEN case at her school, we know this model also comes highly recommended.  Check it out on Spectronics. The Kraken costs around $90. It is recommended for young children as it offers excellent protection of the back and edges of the iPad while still allowing access to the camera, controls, microphone and speakers. 

The KRAKEN offers 3 layers of protection.
[Image Source:  http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/images/product/tridentc/AMS-NEW-IPAD_Layers500.jpg] 

[Image Source: http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/images/product/tridentc/AMS-NEW-IPAD-RD04bg.jpg]

There are lots more cases to check out on Spectronics  as well.  It's worth a look at the website.

Please use the comments below to make your own recommendations if you have been using a particular cover that you would like to share.

Remember, the cover does not need to cost a lot to be functional and do the job. We will have keyboards available at school if your child ever needs to do large amounts of typing so a keyboard is certainly NOT essential. Your child will quickly become accustomed to the onscreen keyboard and this is quite adequate for the volume of typing they will need to do. Your main aim is to protect the iPad from accidental damage.

Here's one last pic for your enjoyment...

The "Retro"

• for a little nostalgia! (ha ha)

[Image Source: http://www.slipperybrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/typescreen-ipad-150x150.jpg]

Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers!)

Earlier this term, a document was sent home with your child documenting some frequently asked questions about the concept of a 1 to 1 program, and in particular, using iPads for learning at St Catherine's next year. Since the original document was sent home, we've published answers to a few more questions. These were sent home on a separate sheet after our information night. In case you missed these or ever need extra copies, here's a link to the complete FAQ document online. You can preview it below, or follow the link to print a copy for yourself whenever you like.

Parent FAQs iPads at St Caths


Don't forget, you can use the comments function below to post any further questions or responses.
If the issue is particular to your child or your own family, please contact Maria via email

mmead_bne.catholic.edu.au 

Please note that you will need to substitute @ for the _ in the address above. 
(Just trying to avoid nasty spammers!)