Are you a Dropbox user?

I love it when developers and innovators listen to consumers and adapt their products to suit, Dropbox have done just that.

Dropbox is one of the few tools I have the paid version of - I couldn't be without it. I have a super fast Macbook Pro and I keep it that way by not saving a thing to it......I save everything I do into Dropbox, all my photo's and movies or digital objects I have created (everything that's not created in my Google Drive that is). I received an email this week which informed me that you can now add comments and collaborate on documents!

This is a copy of what they sent:

We know working with multiple people can be difficult. With conversations scattered across email threads and chat windows, feedback can get lost and it can take forever to get everyone on the same page.

That process just got much simpler. Now you can post comments to files on the Dropbox website — so conversations stay organized in one place, and you can gather feedback in just one step.

To bring someone into the loop, just type "@" followed by their name or email address. They'll get an email notification with both your comment and a link to go right to the file.

To try it out, go to Dropbox.com, click on one of your files, and add a comment on the right. To learn more about this feature, visit our help center.

Try it out

iPad - "I Can" resources

I'm going to attempt to share a resource on this blog every day.
Here's the first one,

iPad - "I Can's"

In the above folder you will find 3, iPad I Can sheets, 1 for Year 0-1, Year 2-3 and Year 4-6.

PLEASE make sure you go 'File' - 'Make a Copy' and then rename for yourself.

These sheets are what I think are the base line 'must be able to do's' for each year group - just the basic skill things that you need to know to start getting the best out of the functionality of your device.

These sheets are coloured as I have the 'paperless' approach and would have students accessing this sheet on their device either via a blog, or Google Docs, or Dropbox (whatever you use in your class)......or if you are not quite there yet, print it out but change to black and white first or remove the colour blocks.

How you choose to use them is totally up to you........but here's some suggestions

• You could use the sheets as a Bingo board
• With littlies you could learn one a day (putting a sticker or tick on the square as you learn it) and then put it into practise that day so that the learning sticks.
• You could do the 'Tell me, Show me, Ask me' approach (Print out one sheet, chop it up and pull one square out at a time asking children to 'tell me' if they know it, 'show me' (the person beside them), 'ask me' (or the person beside them) if they have no idea.....which hardly ever happens as there is usually at least one person in the room that knows!  
• You could peer or buddy teach - pairing up those that know and can show.

So many options.....It's a great starting point when you are new to iPads or new learners start in your class that haven't used them before. Always good to refresh each year too as we forget what we don't use.

2015

So much has changed for me..........a new address, a new business, a new role, a new title, a deleted website, a stagnant blog!

I'm now full time in Te Akau ki Papamoa School, I own a motel down the Mount - Blue Haven and life has changed dramatically!

I've just been recognised as an Apple Distinguished Educator which is super exciting and I've decided to get this blog up and running and for it to become a place for me to share, to springboard ideas and reflections off.


Where am I going for my professional learning and for inspiration?

As always Pinterest is my 'quick fix', I'm a very visual learner and I can get ideas here without having to troll through loads of sites packed with advertising, I pin things for later and find its a great energiser!

If you are a teacher and you are not currently connecting via Facebook with the closed group NZ Primary Teachers then I strongly suggest you do......yes it's a time waster, yes some questions and queries do get repeated, yes you may have to sift through content to meet your needs but honestly its such an inspiring space - with over 8000 teachers connected the resources, experiences and thoughts shared are worthy of visiting.

What's happening at 'my' school?

We have just been recognised as a Apple Distinguished School which is a HUGE accomplishment and Glen and Monique Storey have also gained ADE status!

We are well on the journey of 1:1 and have the last of our classes (the Year 2 team) on board in the next week. Every learner has their own blog (Wordpress) and every iPad has the Easy Blogger app installed to make this a smooth process.

What do I wish I had more time to do?

I wish I had more time to finish an iTunes U course I have started but have not got back too. Creating iBooks and individualised learning experiences, delivered digitally through the iTunes is such an unbelievably powerful tool! More to come......

Term 2 Week 1: Blog versus Facebook

The year is quickly disappearing. Schools are booking their 2015 teacher only days already and E-Learning PD seems even in higher demand than previous years, which is a sure sign of the times that the ICT landscape is ever evolving and we need to be well informed and prepared.


I have a wee dilemma, I have found that my Facebook page gets far more hits and interaction that this blog and also I seem to update the Facebook page more regularly. I can connect Facebook with other online tools too  e.g. Scoop it - and because of this, it's more efficient! So if in doubt make sure you are connecting with

https://www.facebook.com/SwitchOnNZ#

Insight - Te Akau ki Papamoa

Insight - Te Akau ki Papamoa School Open Days 
Term 2, Week 8 - Thursday. Friday 26th/27th June
READ THE FLYER AND REGISTER HERE



I have been a little absent from this blog this year and in all fairness it is not totally my fault....let me explain.

I am based in Te Akau ki Papamoa School (0.5 of my time - 'odd' weeks of the term) and I'm sure by now that you have heard we are in the depths of implementing a 1:1 iPad programme (totally school funded which makes us unique, apparently the only NZ Primary School to do so).

Read some of the media hype below - not always accurate but it has generated HUGE interest.
Much of the spin off from this we hadn't even thought about - we are now on 'Apple's' radar, App Developers want to adapt their apps to meet our needs, Resource companies are knocking on our door relentlessly wanting us to use and promote their products.

Much has gone on in the background to ensure this implementation is successful. We didn't simply head off to the local store on a whim and purchase 250 (soon to be 600!) iPads and thrust them in the hands of our learners - this has in fact been a  journey that has taken several years. Our school was ready (infrastructure and systems), our teachers were ready (well supported and willing to be 100 percent on board), our students were ready (achieving at our targeted levels and armed to succeed with rich learning opportunities regardless of the device).

If you are interested in finding out more about how we have done this and and hearing our thoughts on the journey so far - 

• Our Vision
• Our funding
• Our data
• Our implementation plan
• Our management of the devices (VPP, MDM)
• How we deliver individualised learning via the iPad
• How we provide ongoing online formative assessment 
• How we personalise learning (Design iBooks and iTunes U courses)
• Which apps have been responsible for impacting on student engagement and achievement
• Our 'mis-takes' and learning opportunities

Come along to INSIGHT - Te Akau ki Papamoa Open Days - Term 2 Week 8 - Thursday and Friday 26th/27th June.

Read more about it and register HERE

Media Hype - 

NZ Hearld Article - "School gives an iPad to every pupil"

Bay of Plenty Times Editorial: iPads should be provided for all

By Annemarie Quill

Bay of Plenty Times - "School gives all students iPads to avoid have nots"

Johnny's post on Monday, 10 February 2014

This is a 'test' post created within the Easy Blogger Junior app using a newly created User Profile. I am wanting to find out what happens when I choose the 'review posts' selection. Watch this space!


Well, that worked perfectly.
'Johnny's' post was in the blogs draft folder waiting for the 'teacher' to approve.

Easy blogger Junior App

This is a screenshot of the 'posting' screen of the Easy Blogger Junior App. These two talented kiwi blokes - working in a Singapore school have created an app for both blogger and word press blogs. Two different apps - make sure you download the right one! This app is an absolute godsend ! I can't talk highly enough of it, it saves so much time, it adds value, it enables kids to add voice instantly to their photos and blog straight from the one app. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT.

At Te Akau Ki as part of our 1:1 roll out we have just purchased 300 licenses so that every year 4 to 6 student has it on their ipad and can ' go forth and blog' with ease and confidence. Brilliant.