iPad Cart Managment and Deployment

I am so proud of my team for presenting iPad Carts at ISTE. The team presented iPad Carts to just under 100 visitors. Some stayed and listened, some politely asked questions, and a few grilled us. Our team responded thoughtfully and patiently to every request.

SIGTC Annual Meeting

SIGTC Annual Meeting- National Tech Directors/Coordinators Group

This was great! I sat at the iPad management group table. Below are my notes. It was great to hear how each school or district managed this. We had everything from schools with 5 carts to schools that are 1:1 with 2000 iPads.  I want to investigate having students work as our own Genius Squad.  Here is the link for the iTunes class: 

https://itunesu.itunes.apple.com/enroll/JQ5-8N9-HDE

Free mirroring app for iPads D15 column

Table discussions -

Casper per device yearly fee

1500 $9 per device per year

1850 devices switching from profile manager 

Got away from assigning devices in Configurator

Profile Manager used to wireless 

800 iPads 

Meraki - set network, proxy, profiles for faculty and students, access to App Store via email.  Set up account without with no payment (see web for explanation.), Meraki will let you push out VPP.  Still have to sign in to every iPad.

Students get their own Apple ID and buy their own app

350 rental

25 students are trained as Geniuses Genius Squad

Update the iPads, still have to touch each device. 

Buy teachers iTunes cards...

Download the profile from Meraki to configurator 

Airwatch

Virtual Manipulative for Teaching Algebra with Dr. Mike Charles

Virtual Manipulative for Teaching Algebra with Dr. Mike Charles

www.algebraicthinking.org

Algebra is the gateway to college and careers

Alarming failure statistics

Virtual Manipulatives- addressing student misconceptions

Apps focus on one concept at a time

Trick of the day math- teach the formula practice look up the answer

Rate for T rate for H wait

Intelligent successive approximation.

Flabido-

We tested out six of the apps. They were almost all free and terrific. I hope to meet with the Math ILs to share with them.  Below is a page from the website which is outstanding..

Virtual Manipulative for Teaching Algebra with Dr. Mike Charles

www.algebraicthinking.org

The Center for Algebraic Thinking has two resources related to technology use in the classroom: 

Instructional Technologies Database and iPad Apps

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES DATABASE

The Instructional Technologies Database is a description of technological tools that facilitate the development of students’ understanding of challenging topics in algebra. (Click here to view the database)

The database includes:

• a description of a technology
• connections to Common Core State Standards,
• the domain and mathematical topic it addresses,
• platform (Mac, PC, web based, iOS, Android, etc.),
• cost,
• a rating in regard to how well it facilitates students’ development of concepts
• a rating in regard to how well it helps them practice skills
• how it might be useful in helping students develop an algebraic concept, and
• any research that explored its effectiveness.

If you have a technology that you find useful in developing students’ understanding of an algebraic concept, please fill out our survey so we can add it to the database. You can find the survey atwww.tinyurl.com/algebratechnology.

APPS FOR THE IPAD/IPHONE/IPOD TOUCH

The Center for Algebraic Thinking is developing mobile applications to facilitate middle and high school students’ algebraic understanding. These apps change learning algebraic concepts from static to dynamic. Students interact in game and learning modes to construct meaning with important algebraic topics. These are not apps that are intended for students to "play" with for hours but apps that focus on development of specific concepts for a short period of time. Most of these apps are meant to be easily integrated into instruction rather than used for drill or fill time. If you have feedback about our apps and/or ideas for new apps, please let us know: algebrathinking[at]gmail.com. Most apps can be found for FREE on iTunes. All work on iPads. Some work on iPhones. We are working to create apps for Android as well.

We have a number of teaching resources to help teachers implement Center for Algebraic Thinking apps in their classroom that you can get at the following link:

TEACHING RESOURCES

 

The following apps are available on iTunes for FREE! 
(except Math Flyer is $0.99)

LINEAR MODEL

Students that learn how multiple representations of mathematical ideas fit together have more comprehensive understanding of a concept. Linear Model has an adjustable line, a function input and y-intercept input, and an x-y table. Any adjustment of the line, equation, or table automatically changes the other two representations so students can see how they are connected.

This linear grapher has several options and features: an adjustable line, a function input and y-intercept input, and an x-y table. The adjustable line has three points along it. The point in between allows the user to move the line when touched and dragged, changing the y-intercept and the base value of the function. The other two points allow the user to rotate the line, also changing the y-intercept and changing the multiplier of the function.

Aside from changing the graph via the line itself, the user also has the option of changing the line by entering values in the y-intercept field and in the function field. If the user enters a function that is not in y=mx+b form or in ax+by=c form, the app will not utilize and will give the user a warning that the app cannot use the function.
Programmer: Kameron Schadt

POINT PLOTTER 

One misconception that students develop in algebra is that there are no points or a limited number of points between two points on a graph. This game uses students’ knowledge of the 2D coordinate system and ability to recognize patterns to develop the concept there are an infinite number of points between two points. The premise is simple: you are shown a line segment, and you must identify as many points as possible that lie within that line segment. But you have just two minutes per round to do that. Submit enough correct points and you will make your way to the top of the High Scores let. With three difficulty levels you will be challenged no matter what your current skill level.

The ultimate goal of this app is to give students the opportunity to discover for themselves the relationship that exists between all of the points that lie along a line. For that purpose, all correct points that a player submits are collected into a table. After the game finishes, we encourage players to take a look at that table and try to describe how those points are related. Can you come up with a way to accurately predict other points that lie on the line? If you were given a random coordinate point, could you develop a test that would check to see whether or not that new point lies on the line?
Programmer: Doug Neil

MATH FLYER

DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH SHODOR (SHODOR.ORG/MATH FLYER)

Traditional education uses static, motionless graphs to indicate the relationships between variables. While this works for some concepts, a student with a function and a picture of a graph gains no intuitive sense of the elements of the function and the relationship of each to the shape of the graph. With Math Flyer, a student can plot a graph and manipulate all of the variables and constants in that graph, allowing him or her to see the relationships firsthand. Math Flyer plots polynomials, all of the trig functions, exponentials, absolute value, square and saw waves, and so much more.

SLOPE SLIDER

DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH SHODOR.

Easily compare lines and manipulate the slope and y-intercept dynamically to develop understanding of key elements of a linear equation. Free/Basic version of Math Flyer.

Hop the Number Line

Drag the Bunny across the number line of carrots to answer addition and subtraction problems in this fun race against the clock math game. 

Levels 1-4: Two term integer equations
Levels 4-8: Three term integer equations
Levels 9-11: Three term decimal and fraction equations

LION GRAPHER

Develop students’ understanding of slope and y-intercept with this game environment which requires students to write equations to get a line into a lion’s mouth. Multiple features in this great app that helps students use and construct meaning for all aspects of a linear equation.
Programmer: Sean Sharma

 

 

 

ACTION GRAPHER

Three apps in one! Students often have difficulty understanding the relationship between axes in a graph and how the two variables interact. They tend to believe the graph will look like reality. To develop a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic taking place in graphs, each of these apps challenge the student to explore how the information from each axis influences the graph. In Bicycle, the user takes a bike on a journey up and down a hill and sees different graphical representations of what is going on based on considering different variables.  In Flask, the user draws a flask of any shape, watches it fill up with water, and sees how the graph is influenced by the shape of the flask.In Doodle Pad the user can draw an action and instantly watch two distinct graphs appear, demonstrating different representations of what is happening mathematically.
Programmer: Shodor

COVER UP

In math classes we tend to ignore students' intuition when helping them learn how to solve equations. Sometimes, their intuition is more likely to help them find meaning than rote procedures. Young students can solve complex equations when they don't have to rely on a mechanical use of the order of operations. Cover Up helps students develop a strategy for solving algebraic equations that is more intuitive than the traditional use of order of operations. Given an equation that is “messy” with fractions, exponents, square roots, etc., students cover up the challenging part of the equation to make it more intuitive to solve. Five different levels of problems are included. A great way to develop confidence in solving challenging algebraic equations in a way that makes sense!
Programmer: Code Monkeys

TORTOISE AND THE HARE ALGEBRA

One of the most challenging topics to understand in algebra is rate of change. This app helps students explore the effects of different rates of change on the classic race between the tortoise and the hare. Students can manipulate how many feet per second each racer travels, including a little nap time for the hare and then watch the race be animated. Students can also change perspectives between seeing the overall map of the race and watching the individual racers up close and see how the rates of change for each racer look in each context.
Programmer: Code Monkeys

CARD CLUTTER

Help students develop understanding of the relative values of numeric expressions.  We know from research that students have difficulty understanding the relative values of integers. In this game, you have a bunch of cards with numbers and other numeric expressions, and your pesky friend has put them in the wrong order on a table. Your job is to pick up the cards in the order, so you can put them away. Each level is one table full of cards, and later levels introduce more complicated expressions. Levels either have 5 or 10 cards, so the difficulty can be increased without transition to more complicated expressions. Each session keeps track of total time. Mistakes do not remove the card, but do add to your total time, thus decreasing your "score" (i.e. your time). When the game is over your score is recorded and you can enter your name in the leader boards.
Programmers: Brian Mock and Ashley Fisher

FUNCTION MYSTERY MACHINE

A simple, fun way to practice algebraic functions. Choose a level or go head-to-head with a friend as you try to guess the mystery function. The game supports algebra functions ranging from simple “x + 5” equations to ones such as quadratics and “x + a” for two-players.
Programmer: Kameron Schadt

DIAMOND FACTOR

Diamond Factor helps you to learn how to factor trinomials of various difficulties through the use of a diamond. Players can practice levels which range from trinomials with small positive coefficients to larger, negative or decimal coefficients. Players can also factor trinomials in game mode which keeps track of accuracy and time.
Programmer: Stephanie Jones

CLASS RESPONSE 

(AVAILABLE NOW! HERE!)

This laptop/desktop based app functions on both Mac and Windows to deliver formative assessments to students’ iPads. The app allows teachers to either create their own assessments or use problems from the Center Formative Assessment Database. Results are tabulated and graphed instantly for use in instructional decision making. Email the project for a copy of the app. This is currently in beta version. The final version should be available by May 2013.

SUBMARINER ALGEBRA

Develop students’ understanding of points on a line, slope, and y-intercept with this game environment. Similar to the game “Battleship”, students graph submarine paths (3 lines) for a competing student to find. Dropping depth charges (x,y points), students seek the submarine paths. After a couple of hits, students use the points to identify the equation of a line to determine if they have found one of the submarine paths.
Programmer: Eoin Sinclair

 

LIST SELECTOR

This app allows teacher to randomly select a student or group. Also, it randomly creates small groups of 2-10. Teachers load class lists into the app and the app does the rest!
Programmer: Eoin Sinclair

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALGEBLOKS 

This is more of a game than for developing any concepts in algebra. Algebloks is a game that plays similarly to Tetris. The user has sets of Bloks in specific shapes. Each of these Bloks have a number, a mathematical sign, or a variable. The object of the game is to line up Bloks so that they make a coherent mathematical equation, such as 3x + 3 = 9, among others. The user forms these equations either horizontally or vertically.

When an equation is made, the set of Bloks will have a bright outline. If the user taps this set of Bloks, the line will disappear, and the resulting equation will be stored in a Queue. After the first equation is made, the user then must make a Blok set that solves the equation for the given variable(s). For example, if the user has made an equation like 2x = 4, the user then must make a set of Bloks that read x = 2, either horizontally or vertically. After the user is able to do this, they will either win points or come closer to progressing to the next level, depending on the mode they are in.
Programmer: Kameron Schadt

Beyond the Apps: A Pedagogical Approach to the IPad

Beyond the Apps: A Pedagogical Approach to the IPad

Below are my notes from this session. I like the idea of building lessons on editable websites, where students can access materials 24/7. Tim and I discussed how difficult this may be due to the union.  I am also not as dogmatic about Madeline Hunter as he is.

Aaron Svoboda

@Mr_Svoboda

Uses the Hunter Model as the framework

Not app centered... Showing web tools that work well on the iPad

ITIP Lesson Design Template and Wikispaces and Google Sites

All lessons and materials are put on a wiki so that students can revisit 24/7

For Aaron it is all about engagement 

Use Socrative , wall wisher, quizlet for anticipatory set

Use google forms for Objective

Instructional Input: Use slideshare, YouTube, websites...

Modeling: you tube slideshare- must be correct

Guided Practice

Independent Practice 

Closure: Socratic etc...

Teacher feedback: 

The design helps differentiate the instruction, serves different type of learners 

Kept them engaged and accountable for everything 

Hands on

Fun to use

Interactive

Paperless 

Immediate feedback

Visible thinking 

Final Day Thoughts

I spent time in the poster sessions today. I think I want to spend more time in the posters next year because that is where the rubber hits  the road with ISTE. I am always impressed with what other teachers and schools are doing with technology.  Today I was at a third grade STEM booth, where a school partnered with a university and another school in Canada to compare the ecosystem of a yard of soil in their respective school yards.   Another booth has high school students who build 20 ft steel rockets and launch them every year. Tim and I went to a booth where middle school girls created apps for their culinary class.

The other part of my last day that was rewarding was sitting down and helping a fellow tech director from Long Island. She was new to the job and had come from the teaching ranks and felt a bit overwhelmed. I shared with her what my journey was like and offered to stay in touch.  I remember how it felt when other tech directors reached out to me.

Best digital tools for Writers workshop

Http://goo.gl/A8SM6

Http://goo.gl/ac2VR

Sam Patterson.  @samPatue

What are the goals do writers workshop

1- sense of audience

2- collaboration

3- voice

Sense of audience

     Traditional tools

            Read aloud and respond

            Peer response protocol 

Collobaoration

        Traditional tools 

              Paper

                   Written feedback

                   Copies for class

Voice

         Traditional tools

               Face to face reaction

               Emotional response 

               

Kindle and whispercast

Ebooks are increasing the amount people are reading. Adults read 8 more books on average.

Advantages:
1. Carry all books in one location
2.More cool factor for students
3. Can buy/get books where and whenever you want
4. Can easily look up words
5. Portability
6. Student engagement
7. Encourages young readers--related to sped or students who struggle with reading
8. Personalized learning experience-- options (font size, colors, etc)
9. Narration
10. Build advanced study features-- highlighting, make notes

Distributing content 
Whisper cast--free online tool that helps your school manage its kindles and distribute books
Admin activity: invite users
(Whispercast.amazon.com)

Student activity: opt-in

Then send books just like in amazon. Select users to send to.
--no limit to number of books but must pay for each one.

Any questions: kindle-education@amazon.com
Presentation questions: Jamie Prins jprins@amazon.com

Kindle app

Whispercast

Kindle app

10 top reasons 

1-portability

2-student engagement - increased stamina

3- encourages young readers

4- personalized reading experience - change font size

5-  bookmarks and annotations

6- acces to content

7- free ebooks- project Gutenberg, open library, many books.net, Internet archive,

8- built in reference - dictionary

9- narration

10- advanced study features - X-ray feature on iPad, high light, notebook feature

Kindle apps for byod 

Tinyurl.com/freekindleapps

Whisper sync

Distributing content

     Whisper cast.  Free online tool to distribute content and manage kindle devices, can set up profiles, block content, etc

Must have amazon account

Implementing the Common Core State Standards: Educurious (Blended Learning)

Next Generation High School Curriculum

This presentation was largely a sales pitch for educurious, a program that was funded by a grant from the Bill Gates Foundation to support the common core and bridge technology, common core and other demands being put on teachers. Educurious focused on Biology and English courses and creating project and problem based learning. They encourage educators to adapt their curriculum to your resources.

Goals: 

1. Learn to apply the Educurious learning process

2. Explore 

3. Analyze student learning 

According to common core students should be reading approximately 70-80% non-fiction

http://educurious.org

Two trials available: Hunger Games and Mining Personal Histories

10 iPad Projects

Presenter Website: Http://goo.gl/huodp

A mix of apps for elementary and secondary schools divided into 10 project type categories.

Some Essential iPad skills: spot light search (to find unorganized apps), saving images to the camera roll, taking video, action arrow button.

Options for turning in assignments made on the iPad:

Dongle- plug iPad into the PC to pull off file

Email

Cloud storage- drop box, google drive, sky drive

Edmodo- social interaction and can turn in projects through camera roll app

Show me- can create folder for students to turn work in

download "Apps gone free": app that shows high quality free apps. Gives alert every day. Not necessarily education

Project Apps

1. Skitch- works with Evernote account. Saves to every device

2. Post cards- turbo collage lite, postino, red stamp

3. Movies 

-Story boarding apps: sticky board and grafio lite

-Movies: Puppet shows: sock puppets free and puppet pals, toontastic, iMovie, cute cut (free), stop motion apps: Osnap, imotion HD

 

4. Interactive whiteboard: educreation and doodle cast

5. Voice threads: voice thread app, 

6. Write and illustrate: outline, drawing pad, strip designer (comic strips with pictures), comic lite, scribble press, book creator, iBooks.  Can use some of these (like book creator to create a textbook. Can open it in iBooks or PDF without the audio).

7. Witness and report: Evernote- record and report on a student who is gaming (like pocket BMX) 

8. Build a talking museum: croak.it! And QR scan.  Students posted art work with QR scan codes next to it for audio recording done through croak it. Or use Drop Vox- voice recording that saves to drop box. Webbased- recordmp3.org, qrstuff.com.

9. Connect to your community: FaceTime, Skype, sign up genius, 

10. Get social: Edmodo, twitter, blogger

Learning Jams (BYOD session) 6/25

Learning Jams

 

website: http://istejam.wiki.pisd.edu/  *take some time to look around this website for great links to helpful sites, and examples of learning jams

 

Learning Jam Purpose: do not have too directed of an activity, let students take it. Present a question or query for students, allow for unstructured time for them to use devices in appropriate way to use devices for deeper understanding.

 

Some Web tools:http://istejam.wiki.pisd.edu/Tools 

1. polling:
1. socrative and poll everywhere polling
2. back channeling
1.  today's meet or simple meet or oneliner
2. coarkboad (now padlet)
3. wikis
4. collaborative writing
1. ether pad, google docs, scribbler, mypad (ether open source, can use paint tools and images like smart notebook, embedded apps like wolfram alpha), titan pad
5. This link will self destruct

these tools can be great for brainstorming ideas and answering questions with students as a class. works great with 1:1 in the classroom or iPad or netbook cart checked out.

10 ways to be fake and fake out your kids with iPads.

Discovery channel curiosity site

Green screen fx app   Used a folder to use the green screen. $3 app

Virtualeternity.com to create avatar

Crazy face app

Microscope on iPad

Http.linkyy.com/MDLA/halldavidson/

Binaural microphone

Multimodal learning

USB to microphone jack

Your school library mobile, flipped and curated

New Canaan librarian

What's in it for me?    Wiifm

How will tech solve problems

Empowers students

What ways can you contribute model and lead

New Canaan policy byod

Choose your tool building

98% use own device

Nothing is blocked other than porn

Keep the policy simple

Sthslibrary.golocal.mobi

Put a library in their pocket!

All of databases and apps in one area

Faturl. Good site.  Compressed resources

Lib guides

Qr codes to download apps

Access my school access my library. In App Store

Flipping the library

What should librarians flip. (Picture taken)

iPad camera tripod.   Look into it!

Camtasia relay by techsmith share in

Go into edu vision in state of Iowa 

Fuse is also piece of camtasia

Tuxpaint app

Upper grade making learning playlist instead of reading list.    Learnist, edcanvas and mentormob

Used powtoon to help flip better

Popcorn maker

Resource evaluation lesson by new Canaan 

Used Moodle to flip the resource evaluation 

Why curate?

Digital libraries to school libraries.

Collection is not what you won but what you use!

Used Pinterest for 1st grade summer reading 

Educlipper

Go to lib guides to look at what other librarians are doing

Scoop it and mentor mob

Second life sight to add character

Library created wiki for tech help at home

Thinglink app for curation

Instagrok used in the pre search phase

Symbaloo app social bookmarking sight 

Organized all classes k-12 in symbaloo

Smore app makes online newsletters

Use padlet as well

Edcanvas is another app to bring together resources

Mackinvia. App to bring resources together used to collab with teachers to gather resources

Easy bib another app

Google drive

Easybib, Facebook - created groups for every class, destiny quest used mostly in new Canaan 

Learn to Code: Creative Programming

   ** Try code monster (first day of computer programming?) **
webpage: www.computersforcreativity.com/resources
Amy, Tim, and Matt took this BYOD class together. Below are Amy's notes:

questions: #iste13code
Sheena V.
sheena@computersforcreativity.com
@Sheen1010 (twitter)

Computer programming ---> math ---> art

CSTEM (name of program) in Los Altos School District: program for sixth graders where every student learns to code.

• Does some hardware but mostly programming
• C stands for creativity, collaboration, and computer science
• Uses edmodo (evernote is other trick). Has 19 groups that are very active. Uses to engage and assign work, post finished projects, comment on other posts, ask questions after class, homework/quizzes, class discussions 

photo from world war 2

As an instructor keep in mind:
Girls are interested in saving the world with computers and programming.
Boys are just interested in computers. talk

" Every child learns to talk. Whey then should a child not learn to "talk" to a computer?

www.khanacademy.org/cs
1. click new program on the right
2. enter the same program and see what you get
3. splash on color with a background, add a new line at the bottom of your code background
4. Move color block to the top
5. Add fill (255,0,0); --  in the middle of the to rect boxes, which fills everything below it.
6. Introduce commenting: (//-- this is for humans to read)

What you should learn: 

• Syntax is important (computers are picky about spellings and punctuation. the semicolon is very important!
• Order matters

7. Add an ellipse for the moon. 

8. Scroll down and will see code for other javascript (you are using processing.js-- javascript
implementation of processing language. same IDE as Arduino- physical computing, robotics). You are using functions, parameters, coordinates, geometry

9. Create your own house or something else (examples: iPad, car, people)

10. introduce the draw loop 

draw=function (   ){

} whatever you put inside this is getting done again and again. example

MIT's new Scratch 2.0: why? 

Community, community, community

millions of projects, teachers sharing lessons, conferences, workshops, videos-- lots of resources!

Curriculum: based on research 

Survey students-- student feedback

1. what do you think about coding?

Sheena emailed us the following update after the conference:

Thank you for registering for the ISTE 2013, BYOD session "Learn to Code: Creative Computer Programming through Math and Art" on Monday June 24. I enjoyed sharing lessons I use in my classroom, and I hope you learned something from the session.

1. Key points from the session, along with the session handouts are at

http://www.computersforcreativity.com/resources/iste2013

2. As indicated in my session, I am creating a 6+ week lesson plan in Scratch 2.0. Some of you emailed me about your interest, and I will be sending you details in a separate email this week. If you have not emailed me, please reply to this email and let me know if you are interested.

3. I hope you were able to fill out the ISTE feedback for the session. In addition, I welcome any other feedback to me directly, would love to know how I can do better!

Some of you were unable to use the Khan Academy and Scratch websites during the session since you were using iPads. They do not work with iPads! Sorry.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at sheena@computersforcreativity.com

Sheena

-----------

Sheena Vaidyanathan

www.computersforcreativity.com

sheena@computersforcreativity.com

@Sheena1010