Blocking Access

After syncing a couple of times and having some great difficulties, we decided to restrict access to iTunes and the App store. We decided the last time to give them access to itumes, but keep the App store restricted. This seems to have helped us with our syncing problems and yet gives the students the opportunity to download their favorite tunes.

Things I didn't anticipate, but should have

We are pushing forward with our use of the ipod touches. The students enjoy doing their agenda entries and homework assignments on their touches and we continue to add to their vocabulary flashcards. We are getting better at the syncing process, although it is still not as quick and easy as we had hoped for.

One of the issues, I hadn't really thought through, was what do when touches are lost or stolen. Since our students are each issued a touch, they are taking them home every day. We have had one that we believe was stolen from the sync cart (we have become more strict about cart access) and two students have now lost theirs. We have a couple of extra and so far we are just letting students borrow those for use in class, but not letting them take them home. One of the parents is willing to pay for a lost one. Do we allow this, even though everyone can't afford this solution? It is difficult to know how to be fair to all.

As a treat for our students, we put a couple of free Christmas games on their touches and they are thrilled with them!

Technology - Love it or Hate it!

Well, it is after 2:00 in the morning and I have spent the last 5 hours trying to get my slideshow of our Class Stations to work on our Blog. At first I created a PPT and then could not get that to work in the blog. So then I tried google docs and the Photos I wanted to use made the file too large to download. Then I went to Flickr and it was easy enough to upload the photos there. The problem has come up with the Blog. I follow the directions to add the Slideshow as a gadget and it appears everything is good, and I save it; however, the blog just has a white square where the photos should be streaming through. It is strange because it will allow me to use other people's slideshows from Flickr, but not mine.

Anyway, I am exhausted, so I am signing off for now. I will have to deal with this problem later.

Good night! (Or is it good morning?)

Stations

We have been working diligently to modify our teaching strategies to focus on small group instruction and more opportunities for students to collaborate and use the new technology to support their learning through a variety of learning stations. We strive to help them understand that computers and mobile devices are extremely useful tools and not toys. But...who says you can't have fun. The students have worked in a variety of stations to reinforce the learning in their core subjects. They have used the minis and the iPods to make comments on our classroom blog. They use them to research scientists and mathematicians as well as watch podcasts. They enjoy practicing their math skills using the computers and continue to build content area vocabulary. They use the iPod Touches to increase their organizational skills by keeping daily agendas, homework and important reminders, such as tests and projects. We are including a few photos to showcase some of the learning stations in our classroom.

I purchased a Flip video camera, so I hope to have time over the winter break to play with that as well as time to create a podcast or two.