IPad2: the Cool School Tool

Being a Curriculum Tech Partner in the Grand Forks Public School District is so much FUN!  On Friday, we were given an IPad2 to "play with" and "personalize" for students.   Our director and his staff have a vision, that our students will be educated and ready for 21st Century jobs.  It is clearly a "BIG" job.  First, as a tech group, we created a new login account on our macs to sync the Ipad2,  then separate "school" accounts for google and AppleID,  and lastly set up our Facetalk.   Our job now is to independently go forward discovering apps that will help engage and launch our learners into the 21st Century, find a way to keep our "personal - personal" and our "school business- school business", and become familiar with this cool tool that opens the door to global communication, collaboration, and visual media.  So I delved in.  I installed a bunch of free apps and played.  I stuck to those that were educational with a ranking of 4 or 5 stars.  It wasn't long before I realized that the ranking system wasn't based on any systematic rubric.  It was simply a popularity contest.  So I deleted them and began again. This time,  I searched for all apps... and it wasn't long before I was "overwhelmed" with the question:  What makes an app a "GREAT" app.  I'm reminded of best practice, effective lesson design- UBD, RTI, the 3 C's (create, communicate, collaborate)... and I set down the cool school tool. At this point, I vegged into a serious reflection session.   This job is  HUGE.  As I play,  I realize that clearly the Ipad2 needs to be customized for the learner using it.  I guess that's why it obviously needs to be referred to as a Personal Learning Device.   How is this managed?   Can I personalize this for one student(grade level) and personalize it be for groups?  If so, what grade level?  What needs?  How can they collaborate? Yikes!   I need direction.  I need to converse with people who've gone before me with the same issue.  So I turned to my Personal Learning Network for advice.

The following is a link I found on a blog 

that will help narrow the search for the "great" apps.

Click on the link:

http-::www.diigo.com:bookmark:http%3A%2F%2Flivebinders.com%2Fplay%2Fplay%2F26195?gname=classroom20

Click on the arrow tiny arrow on the bar above the post.

You should now see this page.  

Navigate the tabs you're interested in then select from the menu.

This site offers tons of resources 

for students and educators.

Enjoy!