Almost a year since the last entry and hoo-boy has a lot happened!
Firstly, the world didn't end so the year started off better than expected. :) - Although this storm happening at the moment is pretty intense...
An update on the iPad situation at our school. It was VERY popular, and the children loved it. (does this surprise anyone?) The principal and deputy principal bought another set of 20 iPads for the library, with which I was to teach K-4 classes twice a week. (The first set of 30 were for years five and six only.)
They are also trialling a 1:1 iPad system, and one lucky teacher will be receiving a class set all to themselves!
I found apps that allowed students to create to be the most effective and engaging. I was also able to integrate Minecraft into lessons, (eg, Thinking about what buildings may look like in the future, and collaboratively designing them within the Minecraft universe.) and although these were pretty successful, unfortunately students continued to play this game during the classroom teacher's lessons and so it was requested that it be removed.
Other apps which students loved to complete tasks with were, Educreations, Toontastic, Splice! and iMovie.
However, with such limited time per class to use the iPads, I feel that the novelty still has not worn off. It will be interesting to see how the 1:1 trial class goes. I'm guessing that within the first week or two the students should get 'over it' and they simply see it as another classroom tool.
More updates to come!
