August 2015
iPads can be powerful learning tools! Let's get ready to improve teaching and learning by getting more familiar with the basics of using an iPad. We'll also take a look at some research on iPads in the classroom, and download some apps for our August 13th workshop.
Need help? Contact me with questions.
Learning Outcomes for This Web Tour
- Teachers will demonstrate knowledge basic iPad functions, including opening apps, using the keyboard, taking screenshots, and adjusting settings.
- Teachers will locate lessons, printouts, and posters they can use to help students learn the basics of iPad operation.
- Teachers will review research about iPads in classrooms and draw conclusions.
Before you get started on your tour, let me do a quick introduction...
Getting to Know the Hardware
Click the targets on the image below to read some information about iPad's buttons and ports.
Getting to Know iOS
iOS is the iPad's operating system. The most currently version is iOS 8. The 4 minute below features the Home screen, gestures, app switching, Control Center, and search.
Watch the 2 minute video below to see how to delete an app from your Home screen. You'll probably be more interested in the second part of the video, where you learn to rearrange icons and move them between screens.
The next video shows you how to take a screenshot. You'll also see how to crop an image in the Photos app. Screenshots can be a way to capture student work.
Now, let me tell you about iPad's keyboard. I'll show you how to deal with autocorrect, select text, copy, paste, undo, and type hidden characters.
In this last video for Getting to Know iOS, I take you into the Settings app and make some suggestions for auto-lock, keyboard clicks, speech, and privacy.
Setting Up Email
Guess who I email more than anyone else? Myself! I often email something from my iPad to myself so I can open it on my laptop.
Let's get your email set up so that it's ready for when you need it. If you already have email set up on your iPad, you can skip this step.
- Open the Settings app and choose Mail, Contact, Calendar.
- Click Add Account.
- Choose Google.
- Enter your Google email and password.
- Click Accept.
- Leave at least Mail turned on. You'll probably also want to leave the other items on. Click Save at the top right of the screen.
Considering THE Research
Choose two of the articles below to read. Consider what you've read and be ready to share your conclusions.
- iPad improves Kindergartners literacy scores
- Reading with iPads – the difference makes a difference
- 8 Positive Findings from 4 Year 1:1 iPad Initiative
- What the research says: iPads in the classroom
- The Positive Impact of Launching a 1-1 iPad Project – The Data from Hove Park School
- iPad-equipped medical school class scores 23 percent higher on exams
- iPad a solid education tool, study reports
- Improving reading fluency
- Use of iPads in Charleston County schools show mixed, mostly positive results
- iPad study released by Oklahoma State University
- iPads improve special education at Coon Rapids school
- The iPad as a Tool For Education - a case study
- Parents give mixed reviews to school iPad program
- The iPad in education: uses, benefits, and challenges
- iPads Improve Classroom Learning, Study Finds: Tablets can help students with tough concepts like space and time
Joining Edmodo
Edmodo is a classroom management system that works great for second grade on up (and it's free!). Think of Edmodo as like a Facebook group for your classroom. Edmodo is designed for classroom by teachers, so it's great for posting classroom information and collecting student work.
We'll use Edmodo as a place to discuss teaching, learning, and iPads. Please join the Edmodo group I set up for Julesburg educators for this very purpose. Open your web browser to Edmodo.com. You'll need to sign up for an Edmodo account. Choose a Teacher account when you do. After your account is set up, click Join a Group from the menu on the left side of the page. Enter the group code qrrant.
When you are in the Julesburg group, find my post that asks: You've read through some research. Now please tell us your conclusions and how you'll use this information in your classroom. Keep in mind that everyone in our Julesburg group will be able to read what you post.
Tip: So that you aren't emailed each time someone posts to our group, while logged into Edmodo, click the Account menu at the top right of the page and select Settings. Click Email & Text Updates on the left. Uncheck all the options so that you do not receive any emails from Edmodo. Click Save Updates. Or, you can click Group Settings on the Julesbur group page and uncheck Send Email/SMS updates.
Installing Apps for August 13
Open this webpage on your iPad. Click the link for the first app. From the App Store page that opens, click Get to install. You will probably need to input your Apple ID password. Then return to this page and install the rest of the apps in the same way. Be sure to bring your iPad and charger August 13th.
Submitting Your FORM
One last thing to do! To check yourself to make sure you've done everything in the 7 steps on this page, please click this link and complete the form.