1:1 iPads in Grade 2

Grade 2 was our first elementary class to have a 1:1 device. Last year, grade 2 students shared an iPad cart with one or two other classes. For the 2014-2015 year, we assigned each student an iPad mini at the beginning of the school year.

In preparing for this year’s roll-out, we had an trial of a 2 iPad minis in each Grade 2 class for two months last year. The purpose of the trial was to see how students worked with the iPad mini over the regular sized iPad, and to see how the iPads could be used in day to day teaching. The feedback from the teachers was that the size worked fine for their students, and having the iPads accessible all the time allowed them to integrate it into lessons, mostly for research but occasionally for creating. They wanted more iPads for more meaningful integration into the curriculum. Their greatest concerns were managing workflow and supporting students in using the iPads. We decided to meet at the beginning of the year and make some decisions about iPad management and use in the classroom to help make the implementation smooth. I outline our agreements and plans below. I’m interested in hearing about the steps that you took in implementation, and suggestions of agreements/structures/processes that will facilitate the effective integration of 1:1 devices like iPads in the classroom.

At the beginning of the school year, I met with all three Grade 2 teachers to discuss Digital Citizenship Agreement (DCA) training for Grade 2 students. Our goals were to come up with common language for managing iPad use in the classroom, and to schedule student training in the use of the iPads. From that meeting, we developed a list of tasks to structure our use of iPads in the classroom:

• number iPads (TA; IT can do this in future)
• assign iPad numbers to students (teacher)
• personalize wallpaper (student)
• put class and student name in About section (student)
• link Digital Citizenship Agreement to school’s skills and behaviors – link iPad expectations to classroom routines (teacher/DLF*)
  • make sure that classroom expectations address choices that students make when online (teacher/DLF)
• teach the terms digital citizenship and digital footprint, emphasizing the opportunity to create a positive digital footprint (teacher/DLF)
• teach basic care instructions (teacher/DLF)
  • unplugging: practice unplugging safely – don’t pull wire, hold as close as possible
  • plugging in: plug in when below 40%
  • headphones: be careful pulling them out
• Review new tech and workflow skills throughout the year (teacher/DLF)
• Manage classroom passwords for easy retrieval (teacher)

We also talked about students bringing their iPads to specials. We got input from specialist teachers about student use of iPads in their classes. We came up with the following agreement:

• Special teacher should send a message to the classroom teacher in advance – teacher will remind students in classroom meetings
• For (occasional) last minute requests by specialist teachers, talk to the classroom teacher and leave a note on the classroom door reminding students to bring iPad to the special

We clarified Classroom Management Expectations specific to the iPad:

• Storage – put it away in the cabinet when done using it
• Charging – check battery percentage when using iPad and charge at 40%
• Use around the classroom/school – can use the iPad outside the classroom for authentic uses, with teacher permission (no bathroom, outside recess, cafeteria use in general)
• How we care for the iPads
  • get microfiber clothes/wet clothes
  • close apps when done using them (home button in the app if applicable, then iPad home button)
  • quit apps from multitasking display (double click home button, swipe up)
    • important to do if an app is frozen or if iPad gets slow
• Messages on the iPad
  • Ask a teacher before clicking anything if you’re not sure what the message means

We identified a list of Skills for orienting students to using the iPad:

• Turning on and locating specific apps
• Turn off keyboard clicks (Settings -> Sounds -> Keyboard clicks)
• Under settings→ general → about → change name to class + student name (ex. 2M Lucy)
• Under Settings -> Mail (change signature) to Sent from Name
• Gestures
  • zooming in and out e.g. in Google Earth
  • Closing an app (home or 5 fingers)
  • Quitting an app (multitasking bar)
  • scrolling
• Plugging headphones and managing volume
• Taking photos/editing (cropping, saving, mailing, etc.)
• Taking videos (framing, stability, focusing, etc.)
• Accessing sites using QR codes – a few websites that you may use throughout the year
• Adding email addresses to the Contact list
• Using Explain Everything
  • reviewing tools
  • importing from the photo library
  • exporting to DropBox
• Using Doodle Buddy app – creating an image and saving to the camera roll to be uploaded into other apps to support projects
• Making an iMovie – bringing in photos and videos made previously, taking and shooting photos and videos within the app – save to photo library
• Developing a system for organizing information electronically – folders and tags in Google Drive and/or Dropbox
• Sending email – to who, when, what
• Moving items between iPads
  • explore Airdrop
• Getting an item from Dropbox or Google Drive
• Naming files – label with information that allows for easy access later
  • Format: class name, student first nameLast Initial, name of task/item,
    • e.g. 2M LucyM SummerHoliday
• Renaming an item in Dropbox
• Saving an item to Dropbox or Google Drive
• Shared Photostreams for home-school or teacher-student sharing
  • explore by teachers

Lesson Plans for use in DCA Training Throughout the Year

• ** Student Bootcamp Sessions – https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/uploads/pdfs/1-to-1-phase3-studentbootcamps.pdf
• Planning DCA Training during the Year – https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/lesson-calendar
• Common Sense Media DCA Scope and Sequence – https://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/scope-and-sequence
• Educational Videos from Common Sense Media – https://www.commonsensemedia.org/video/educators/student-videos

Resources for 1:1 with iPads

• http://teachinglearningipad.wikispaces.com/Getting+Started
• iPad Deployment Tutorials – http://training4ipad.weebly.com/
• 14 Smart Tips for Using iPads in Class – http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/07/14-smart-tips-for-using-ipads-in-class/

*DLF = Digital Learning Facilitator