{"id":197,"date":"2011-11-13T21:47:40","date_gmt":"2011-11-14T05:47:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/?p=197"},"modified":"2011-11-13T21:47:40","modified_gmt":"2011-11-14T05:47:40","slug":"ipads-six-weeks-in-the-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/?p=197","title":{"rendered":"Ipads: Six weeks in the classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"

How are the iPads being used in our district? I sit on the District Technology Advisory Committee (DTAC), which makes key decisions about directions in technology. The Superintendent posed the question and I needed to find the answer. We have twelve schools in the Innovative Learning Designs (Digital Focus) pilot. I did a quick email survey of the principals. The responses represent the perspective<\/em> of the principals of the schools–as seen from their vantage point. At the time of the survey, we were just six weeks into the school year.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Are the mobile devices being used on a regular basis (defined as 3 to 5 times a week)? If so, please give a short description of how. If not please indicate why?<\/em><\/p>\n

The devices were being used regularly in 11 out of the 12 schools. In some schools, such as Frank Hurt Secondary, the students were using them daily. At Johnston Heights, the iPads were also being used daily by the students in the 21st<\/sup> Century Learning Module. These students use them in an integrated program of studies that includes SS 11, Math 11, English 11 and Theatre\/Leadership. At a site visit to this school, the principal made the opening statement, \u201c The teachers say they can never go back.\u201d\u00a0 The teachers’ experience of teaching, using an integrated curriculum and collaborating as a team, has totally changed their teaching.\u00a0 The teachers\u2019 experience is not a result of the iPads, but the technology has created a leverage point for change in the design and delivery of student learning. As Sheila Hammond explained, \u201cIt is having a huge impact on all the teachers involved in the project. The iPads are the technology tool, but the integration of curriculum and collaboration time is having a more significant impact. The iPads have broadened the teacher\u2019s perspective on teaching for the 21st<\/sup> century.\u201d Thanks to Rob Killawee<\/a>, JH Vice-Principal for preparing the following video.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Rb9UbnUoBYM&feature=mr_meh&list=LLH44IvlN_98E52ChbpSEf8g&lf=mh_lolz&playnext=0<\/p>\n

Each of our elementary schools uses the iPads differently, depending on the educational focus of the school team. For George Vanier Elementary, the iPads are being used with the younger primary students and special needs individuals. At Hillcrest Elementary, the intermediate students are using them to create personal collages while one of the classes is embarking on a personal inquiry project.<\/p>\n

2. What impact do you perceive it is having on teacher practice (your personal perspective)?<\/em><\/p>\n

The iPads are creating an opportunity for teachers to engage in \u201cprofessional dialogue and sharing.\u201d Antonio Vendramin reflected, \u201cIt\u2019s definitely getting people to think about alternative approaches\u2014effective and transformative integration rather than simply doing the same activity but with a different tool. The project has also enhanced discussion and collaboration, since there are no true experts, and we are all venturing into unchartered territory. There is much to be learned from everyone.\u201d Another principal concluded that, \u201cTeachers are working and learning together.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. What impact do you think it is having on student learning (your personal perspective)?<\/em><\/p>\n

One principal described the iPads as \u201cabsolutely motivating.\u201d The same theme came from many other schools with students identified as \u201cvery excited and eager to use these devices.\u201d\u00a0 One principal noted, \u201cIt is forcing them to think and act differently.\u201d \u00a0Another principal analyzed it this way,\u00a0 \u201cThis technology allows many points of access. The children \u2018satellite\u2019 their discoveries and bring each other (and their teacher along as they discover new and engaging ways to demonstrate their learning\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout the comments, the themes that emerged were increased teacher collaboration, teacher exploration and student engagement.\u00a0 The project design, along with the iPads, were creating an opportunity for individuals\u2014both students and teachers\u2014to explore learning in new ways. For only six weeks into the school year, the journey has been pretty amazing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How are the iPads being used in our district? I sit on the District Technology Advisory Committee (DTAC), which makes key decisions about directions in technology. The Superintendent posed the question and I needed to find the answer. We have twelve schools in the Innovative Learning Designs (Digital Focus) pilot. I did a quick email…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,5,8],"tags":[10,11,13,18,19,52,58,56,57,287,284,55,31,32,34,36,45,286],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=197"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":203,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197\/revisions\/203"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/innovativelearningdesigns.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}