Friday, September 28, 2012

iOS upgrades - impact on use in Schools

iWorks apps file transfers upgrade
This will make working with the iPad so much easier, the ability to save your Pages, Keynote or Numbers document to another App or location.

Upload photos from iPad to websites
We can now upload photos from the camera roll to websites.  Great for students working with the iPad and collaborating via Blogs and Wikis.

Guided Access feature
With this new accessibility feature you can lock the iPad into a single App and can also disable certain App functions that you don't want the student to use.

Finding your Apps
Now when you search for your Apps in Spotlight it will show you the folder you have put your Apps in.  Great for many of us who have soooo many Apps in folders.

Updating without passwords
This will be good news for schools with class sets, you won't need to rely on your one IT or tech support person to do updates.  Teachers will be able to do it themselves when convenient.

Improved Proxy bypassing
Our IT staff say this will solve a lot of problems they are having with things that need to operate over a proxy server.  So it should improve our access and functionality with the iPads even more.

Improved Open in functionality
Instead of limiting us to a few Apps you can open your document in, you will now have unlimited  options.

Youtube and Maps
When you upgrade to iOS6 you will no longer have access to the native Youtube App.  So you will have to go to the App store and download the Youtube App.  It has been well discussed that the new Maps App has some problems, so we will have to use it with caution and wait for updates to fix soem of the problems.

AppleTV
With all the hype around iOS6 it was easy to miss that there had been an upgrade also to the Apple TV iOS.  Brian Van Vlimmeran from our IT area alerted me to a great new feature in the upgrade.  The ability to set an onscreen code (as opposed to the current password setting).  What this means is that you can require anyone wanting to AirPlay to have to input a code that will pop up on your HDTV screen.  This will stop students and others from inadvertently (or on purpose) taking over Airplay in your classroom. See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5517 for more information.

1-1 iPad forum

Learning Exchange  held an iPad forum on 7th September 2012 with representatives from schools who either already had 1 to 1 iPad programs in their schools or where moving towards such a program.
The program for the day was:
  • 2012/2013 schools to provide a 20min overview of their schools planning or journey to date,
  • Summary of Brisbane Study tour
  • IT Support including Caspar
  • Pedadogy - guided discussion
  • Policies and procedures required
  • Resources available
  • PD strategies to support schools
Shared information via Google Doc
The shared discussion and links were collated in a Google Doc by Ron Van Vliet, available to staff who attended on the day.  Access to other staff is available on request to ron.vanvliet@parra.catholic.edu.au

Overall summary of the day
A collection of the Twitter Feeds by topic is collated in the following slideshare.



IT Support
Our IT area has an 'iPad deployment for CEDP schools' available on OSCAR for our school which provides extensive support information around implementation of iPads in our schools.

Pedagogy
Ron led a discusssion on the TPACK and SAMR models.
TPACK Radio/Video Show ISTE 2010 from Punya Mishra on Vimeo.


SAMR


 Lisa shared some resources to help integrate the use of iPads in your lessons.

Create your own Playlist on MentorMob!


Policies and Procedures
We talked about the poliicies and procedures you should develop and consider:
  • Acceptable Use policy (CEDP have a new policy "Responsible Use of ICT and Social Media" available from OSCAR.)
  • Copyright - iTunesU - with schools able to develop their own iTunes courses schools need to be careful that material they develop to load to iTunesU complies with copyright. See University of Melbourne information on iTunesU and copyright.
  • Copyright - iBooks - with teachers and students starting to develop their own iBooks, our educational copyright licences will not apply to content in iBooks created and shared on sites that are not password protected, for eg iTunes or iBooks store.
  • OHAS - make students and teachers aware of good ergonomics, awkward postures and safety when using iPads.  See our CEDP OSCAR page 'iPad safety" on this topic

Resources for Schools
Useful Websites, iBooks, Twitter feeds etc for schools



Ongoing PD and other support
Learning Exchange is looking at a variety of ways to provide ongoing PD support.  Also Phil Stewart from St Columbas created an Edmodo group called CEDP iPads in Schools to share information among Catholic Education diocese of Parramatta schools.  To join please request the group code via email to lisa.nash@parra.catholic.edu.au.

Monday, September 10, 2012