Our iPod Touches in Action!

So FINALLY, our ipod touches are here after over a year of planning and preparing. We actually decided to wait a month for the brand new iPod Touch 4 version as it has a camera built in among other features. We will be using it with a class of 20 Grade 3 students to help create a 1:1 environment.

We started by introducing it to the kids as a really big deal and they have proven to be very responsible and interested in technology. Also, that it's an "experiment" for the school to see how it can be used as a learning tool and to teach other students in the school how to use it as well. The kids were super excited but were very responsible with them. We had them explore the apps and record their wonderings and questions in Voice Memo.

Here are some photos and videos of it:

For now, we have just added free apps but working on purchasing more. Here is a list of ones we are using so far.

Getting Started with iPod Touch

Whoohoo! First post of this blog here:

So the year is about to begin and we just found out at the end of the last school year that our iPod Touch Pilot Program is a go for this year. We have budgeted for approximately 21-22 iPod Touches to be used in one Grade 3 classroom! We are very excited to begin this program.

Luckily, myself and Jake Cross (Grade 3 Classroom Teacher who will be using them) met at the end of last year to do some planning. Here is what we came up with for our introductory lessons:

-Basic skills (lessons, practice, etc)

-Starting Apps (dropbox, voice recorder, Safari, email, photo, music, google docs, podcasts)

-Agreements/Rules for students: Keep very structured initially, possibly have a morning routine (DOL)

-Care/upkeep

-ebooks, audiobooks for Language Arts. Nice way to differentiate and integrate into reading

-Letter to parents-surveys for comparing attitudes (pre/post)

-Blog-A professional blog will be used to communicate learning throughout the year

Questions remaining?

Do we send them home with students?

Can we set up email for students?

How do we do a screencast with ipod touch?