iPad+Trial

__The Trial__
Our School received 31 iPads to trial for two terms.

**__Our hypothesis:__**
The iPad would be a versatile tool in enhancing the curriculum and engaging the children. With our pedagogical methods and teaching style, there would be utility in both making the iPad a shared resource and a 1 to 1 deployment. In addition, budget constraints of many schools (ours included) may force us to find cheaper and sustainable alternatives to a 1 to 1 scheme.

**__How can the iPad be a useful tool to enhance the curriculum and engage the kids?__**
It's in the pedagogy. The iPad is unlike a computer or desktop (until recently) in that it comes with a suite of applications that the teacher must become familiar with and learn to work with. There are to date (June, 2011) 400,000 apps in the Apple App Store, and counting. The speed of new apps coming to the market make it difficult to identify apps that are necessary for classroom use. An app that is proven useful today could be superceded by a better or cheaper one tomorrow. Thus, it is up to the teacher to identify what apps would be necessary for his or her teaching, rather than the iPad be armed with a suite of pre-loaded apps. Just as teachers learn about web tools, teachers will need to learn about apps. They have to seek out, network and actually use the apps that they themselves will use with their kids.

**__Our Pedagogy:__**
We subscribe to the CHILDREN-centred, SOCIAL-constructivist pedagogy, where learning is created by LEARNERS working in small groups to construct new schemata (facilitated by more able peers, a.k.a teachers).

__Group Work with the iPad__
The iPad has proven to be a versatile tool in class group work. I employ a routine of activities in my literacy and numeracy lessons, in which groups of students rotate through. One of those activities uses 6 iPads that supports the lesson.

Sample Literacy Lesson with the iPads. Teaching Point: Characterisation in Narrative Spelling || pairs || Use keywords on character to create and quiz each other on the day's spelling ||  ||
 * Activity || Mode || Purpose || Reflection ||
 * Character Development || Whole Class - Partner || Guided Character Development using Nobody Own's the Moon by Toby Riddle || Analysis of two opposite characters gives children an easy understanding of character development in a story. ||
 * iPad: Puppet Pals || pairs || Create a short animation on two developed character || Puppet Pals' ease of use is excellent for the kids to create stories. Great as partner work as well. ||
 * iPad: School A to Z
 * Grammar Point: Adjectives || Individual ||  ||   ||
 * iPad: Draw || Individual || Use the iPad to draw your own character ||  ||
 * Creative Writing: || Individual || Using a close friend, create a charater ||  ||

A slideshow showing the iPad embedded in a Math session
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