I found this article very interesting. Mr. Schaefer shared it with our faculty so I thought I’d pass it along to our blog readers.
http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Teens-and-social-media.aspx
Grammar Test Review Using the iPad
Today we reviewed for our Unit 2 Grammar test. We began our review by going over pages from our grammar workbooks (in paper print) then moved to a grammar app on the iPad. Students had to show mastery in three categories: Subjects, Verbs and Types of Sentences (all covered in Unit 2). Within a short time, most students not only indicated 100% mastery in all three categories, but also uncovered numerous grammatical errors in the app itself! Obviously, we are still in search of a great grammar app, so suggestions are welcome! Students have access to a document in Google Docs that serves as a collection of book or app suggestions. Parents are welcome to chime in as well! We’ll post a few reviews of the app in our blog tomorrow.
iPad Pilot Program at Durham Academy Middle School
As part of the Durham Academy pilot program with personal devices, our students have spent the last week setting up their iPads for use in the classroom and at home. With the Middle School Technology coordinator, we have met as a class for the past week to accomplish the following goals:
1. Discussing best practices for iPad use. Topics included the physical aspects of care, cleaning, charging, and storage. For the purpose of the pilot, students are not able to add or remove apps on school issued iPads. We also discussed acceptable use of the iPads including: permission of other teachers to use in their classes, how to handle peer interest in the device, distraction vs. learning tool, photography feature (permission to photograph other people and proper use of photos taken), recording feature (permission and appropriate use), following parental rules and guidelines at home, web surfing and appropriate use, and academic tool vs. toy.
2. Set up their First Class Email accounts through the First Class app.
3. Set up a note taking app called Evernote.
4. Subscribed to the Room 211 Language Art Blog using Edublogs through an app called Blogsy. Posted their first blog that is first edited, filtered and published by Mr. Schaefer and Mrs. Williams.
5. Experimented with Office HD to access Google Docs. Began a collaboration document to suggest books and educational apps that should be added in the future.
6. Today students took the iPads home for the first time. More news to follow tomorrow!
Hello Sixth Grader Bloggers
Photo credit: clarita from morguefile.com
Welcome to our classroom’s new blog.
We will go over some of the many tools and tips as well as how to use this blog to reflect and think about what you have learned. Like most tools there are ways to use these tools that help create community, and others that destroy the sense of community.
To get started, simply log in with the user name and password that was emailed to your FirstClass account.
For assistance, visit our comprehensive support site, check out our getting started with Edublogs guide or stop by The Edublogs Forums to chat with other edubloggers.
You can also subscribe to our brilliant free publication, The Edublogger, which is jammed with helpful tips, ideas and more.
