IPad 2 vs, iPad mini

IPad 2 vs. iPad mini

Two years ago I began implementing iPads into my kindergarten classroom. We now have some iPads in the Child Development Center and several in first grade. Recently all teachers were given an iPad to allow them time to become familiar with how the iPad works in hopes that we will continue adding iPads to each class sometime soon.

We are looking at investing on either iPad 2 or iPad minis for the media center. I am on the technology committee and we have been assigned with the task of researching iPad management, storage, and transportation from room to room. The BIG question that needs to be decided on first is ..... What version would work best for our school? Do we want to purchase iPad 2 or iPad minis? I am looking at it from a K-3 perspective since I teach kindergarten.
iPad mini is a 7.9 inch screen $319
iPad 4 measures 9.7 inch screen Costs $499
iPad 2 $399 Doesn't have retina display or Siri- which we don't need anyway
Concerns:

• The iPad minis require a different charger than what we're using now. It's just easier if everything is interchangeable.
• The screen size is smaller.
• The iPads are heavy for the younger children.

Benefits:

• The iPad has a larger screen which is great for creating and playing learning games. The keypad is a good size for little hands that are still mastering fine motor skills.
• iPad has better productivity software
• IPad mini would be easier to manipulate when the children are doing projects that require them to take pictures or video. They would also be useful for listening centers.
• The iPad mini going is easier for the younger students to hold and manipulate when playing games.
• The mini can do everything that the iPad can do.
• We can use the same apps because the mini uses iPad apps.

Ipad costs $499 where the mini is $329
We could purchase and store more minis at a lower cost.


These are the pros and cons that I've come up with. If anyone has anything to contribute that would help make a decision please comment below.

Teaching Math with iPads

I have been working on implementing iPads into math in my classroom. Slowly but surely I'm finding apps that the kids like that coordinate with my curriculum. I wanted to share a few of these apps and give examples of ways that I've used them with my class.

Math Magic App

This app provides an encouraging way for kids to work on their math facts! Students simply tap on the answer, and even if it is wrong a voice will express appreciation for the try. After 5 correct answers student gains a colored star. Teacher may adjust the level as well. The students love receiving stickers, cookies, and prizes when the get the answer correct. They will set goals to reach 100 correct and accomplish their goal within a few minutes.

I had the children use bear counters to demonstrate their understanding while working each problem.

The students used the iPad as a camera to take pictures of playdoh math work.

Doodle Buddy

I had the students to Draw a ten frame and add stickers on Doodle Buddy app to represent groups of 10's and 1's

Doodle cast app

This drawing app records students' drawing process as well as their voices as they are drawing! This easy to use app offers many colors and prompts to get students started. These can be shared with friends and family!

Popplet

We used popplet app to record different ways to make the number of the day.

 

iPad Boot Camp

Last week our Kilby faculty took part in iPad BOOT CAMP! In trying to integrate new technology in our school, our teachers received new iPads. Some of our teachers were already familiar with iPads and iPhones but we had several teachers who were completely new to this type of technology. I served as co-presenter in this presentation. While Mrs. Hellums, the Media Specialist,  presented the information, I went from teacher to teacher, helping them get used to their iPad. In this post I am going to show you the slides that we used in the PowerPoint. We got through the first 1/2 of the presentation and will be finishing up in another session. Our teachers are very excited, as they should be. They were charged with practicing with their iPad and trying out new apps to be incorporated in their classrooms.Hopefully, by the end of this year, Kilby will house a new class set of iPads for student use. This should be a smooth transition for our students because our Kindergarten and 1st Grade classes already have student iPads. Check out the slides to see what our teachers learned in BOOTCAMP!

Chapter 5 The Seeds of a New System of Education

http://popplet.com/

I used the "popplet app" on my iPad to create a graphic organizer that includes the different ways in which learners are learning and the new structures that are contributing to the change in education.  There has been growth in home schooling, workplace learning, distance education , adult education , learning centers, educational television and videos, computer-based learning software, technical certifications and Internet cafes.

Check out this great TED talk about digital learning. 

Learning has now become a lifelong process that extends to all areas of our lives.  Research has found that student achievement differences in state to state comparisons show that  learning activities done in the home are most important.  There are so many new learning options that are available outside of school for students and their parents.

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The Development of American Schooling

This chapter is significant in the understanding of the part that technology played in the development of American schools.   Until the 19^th century apprenticeship was the main form of education which meant that the responsibility of schooling was left up to the family. 

The invention of the printing press was important as it made it possible for knowledge to be spread throughout the land.  This allowed more people to have access to books and further their education.  

The American Revolution led to the development of schools and universities that we have in place today.   

The Industrial Revolution was another major event in our history that shaped our schools. In the Industrial Revolution farmers left their land and moved their families to work in the city.  People immigrated from around the world to work in factories.  This increase in population led to an increase of students in both the public schools and colleges. 

Over the last 100 years our educational system has resisted change.   We have been teaching students as if we were preparing them to go into the workforce of the 1950’s.   The technology revolution is here and is leading changes that are influential in preparing our students for this century.   It is imperative that educators become educated and lean into the technology revolution as a teacher and a learner.  

The Technology Skeptics' Argument

The Technology Skeptics' Argument

In Chapter 3 of Rethinking  our authors state, “School fosters just-in-case learning while technology fosters just-in-time learning.”

The skeptic resists change and questions the value that technology has on education.

"It is not that schools never change. It's that schools change very slowly!"  Two enthusiasts, Dave Thornburg and David Dwyer,  looked back at the history of education and found past issues where skeptics resisted change.  In 1815 the issue was a dependence on paper.  In 1907 educators believed that pen and ink would never replace the pencil.  The list goes on through 1988 where a science fair judge was quoted saying, "Computers give students an unfair advantage.  Therefore, students who used computers to analyze data or create displays will be eliminated from the science fair."  

Skeptic's beliefs do not focus around technology integration.  The school system has been established and skeptics like for things to stay the way they are.  Teachers are supposed to teach students basic skills and life skills. They want to focus on teaching the history of what has happened over time, rather that the latest  knowledge. One of the big problems is that the system that we are using was developed in the 1900's and it hasn't changed much over time.  This model of education

Change is inevitable and it is here.  Technology integration is necessary to educate our children for their future.  I have included a video about teaching and learning in the 21st century that is relevant to this chapter.

RSA Animate – Changing Education Paradigms

Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology

I have been reading Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology by Allan Collins and Richard Halverson.  The author's look at the path in which education is moving in order to meet the needs of the 21st century student.  I will be posting as I read through this book.   In Chapter 1 the book looks at and discusses the changes in education today, including the way we learn.  Families are leaving schools and taking the learning of their children into their own hands.  This allows them to be in charge of their learning including when, where, why and how they learn.  Parents are concerned about the school culture and what their children are being exposed to.  Combined with stresses that schools face in regards to reduced state funding, increased pressure of standardized testing, and the misconceptions many parents have about teachers has led to fewer learning opportunities at school. All of these issues often outweigh the technological opportunities that are available could be beneficial if used by teachers.

In Chapter 2, "Enthusiasts believe that by providing even more sophisticated dynamic interaction, computer-based learning environments are likely to make education much more engaging.”

pg. 10 “Enthusiasts argue that trying to prepare students for the 21^st century with 19^th-century technology is like teaching people to fly a rocket ship by having them ride bicycles.” 

Not only is the way the children are thinking but also, the way that they have begun processing information is changing.  The way that adults think and the way they work has changed.   The typical person has easily accessible technology that allows them to create more sophisticated materials.  In my building we have wireless internet that allows my colleagues and I constant internet access.   If we have a question, we can Google it.  We no longer have to rely on using encyclopedias or outdated materials to look up what we want to know. The ways in which I communicate to student's parents has changed to adapt to the technological times.  I used to send letters home or call parents on the phone.  Today I correspond mostly through text messages and emails.   Another benefit is that I can easily reach whomever I need to, because I can use my cell phone to call from anywhere on campus. 

The world of education is changing and educators do need to adapt the way they teach to meet the new and unique needs of their students.  The emphasis of technology inclusion into core subjects is growing at a rapid rate.  Educators are constantly looking for ways to incorporate technology into content areas.  Young children are exposed to digital media throughout their day-to-day routines.  Including digital media into students’ learning appears to be a necessary step in motivating learning. Student motivation is lacking because the students are bored with outdated, unexciting materials.  I have found that by incorporating technology into my classroom, my students respond and are actively engaged in my lessons.

The students of today are very different from their past peers.  One of the major changes is the use of digital technology.  Today's’ children have been immersed in the technological culture from birth.  They live in a world full of cell phones, iPads, digital books, and video games.  They are multiprocessors and can no longer focus on just one task. As a result, leaders in education have had to rethink and redesign education for the Digital Age student.  Teachers must figure out how to incorporate technology into the classroom to meet the needs of these students whose minds are used to constant digital interaction.  In addition, evolving technologies implore teachers to be aware of how the learners in their classrooms are changing and what teaching methods will best assist these learners. It is imperative that the way we teach keeps up with the way our students are learning.