Talk about iSchool in Granite, the iKHS million dollar grant project, apps for questions we are frequently asked, and the last hour will be hands on time with the iPod Touch’s.
High School Student Travis AllenViral video-how he would change education.Steve Job, ”It is amazing.” Watch the Video.From this idea came the iSchool Initiative, including a collaborative Ning for teachers, Facebook pages, listserves, and even consulting services.In Granite we were looking for a creative “new” way to engage students and we started to talk about the notion of iSchool. We began with two schools in each level, elementary, junior high and high school. The school received a mobile cart of 40 iPod Touch’s that could be checked out. These carts charge the iPod Touch’s and sync applications on the touch. 15 teachers were trained at each school on the ways in which these devices can support core curriculum. It was a good start, but at Kearns High, I had 49 teachers and administration participate. We had two carts rather than one, but we quickly realized that for the remaining 3 months of the school year, classrooms would only be able to use the carts twice. And this wasn’t going to be enough time to make any difference in student learning.
And so, the notion of iKHS was born. We wrote for a grant and was awarded just over a million dollars to implement iSchool properly. And to quote Steve Jobs, one more time,,,,,it is going to be amazing! Every one of our 1600 students will have their own device for customized learning, all teachers will have an iPad and document camera. Teachers will be talking about the same strategies, and the largest PLC (everyone in our building) will be collaborating in a way never done before.Focusing on 21st learning skills (communication, creativity, life skills, for example) we are looking for creative ways to engage students in learning. So we would like to share with you some of the applications we will use and answer some of the questions we get asked about our project.
Let’s just get this question out of the way right now……Not only is it not the most interesting part of our project, but it isn’t a teacher issue.Textbook checkout costs, possibility of insurance, deposits….Based on the eMINTS model, students receive their devices until November so we have a few months to figure all that out. We will have time at the end to discuss more of the nuts and bolts of how the project will be implemented.
Written and spoken communication. Communicate clearly in a variety of forms and contexts. Use multiple media and technologies.**High School: Dropbox for file access anywhere, DocstoGo for editing those dropbox docs (numerous apps for editing docs exist – but - Quick Office for OS4 which is free today, Use ** i-clicker which I am using today for presentation notes. Elementary: Doodle Buddy, Quick Office, Skype**Adults: social networking such as facebook, email, **textFree
Brainstorming, articulate ideas for written and spoken communication. Create new and worthwhile ideas. Act on creative ideas to make a tangibleand useful contribution to the field in which the innovation will occur. Work Creatively with Others.Music Creation-original soundtracks for presentations: folder of music applicationsPodcast creation: audio booPhoto slideshows: animoto, built in slideshow tool with traditional note cards**Elementary: Storykit, Art Applications (Drawing Pad), Mind Maps**Teacher: flashcards, wiki, eclickr
High School:Google Survey ,** Lynda.com, CTE can use program tutorials (students can come to class having watched the videos), Rachel needs a thirdElementary: Pop Math, Feeedler RSS, *Brain QuestMover, Bump, ** iTunesU (how we will be publishing our professional development content online)
High School: Great Books, **Classics, eTextbook reader, etc., Quick ReaderElementary: How to train your dragon, iBooks, **Tales2GoTeacher: Real Tips for iPhone and iPod Touch, **Wiki How, Local Books
Rachel: Angry Birds, Couch to 5K, **TEDShauna: **Word Warp, Box of Socks, wordweaverMisty: **Screen cleaner, Words with Friends, Lineup
High School: Great Books, Classics, eTextbook reader, etc., Quick ReaderElementary: How to train your dragon, Kindle, iBooksTeacher: Real Tips for iPhone and iPod Touch, Wiki How, Library Thing/Book Bazarr
