Hopeful Train the Trainers Skill Block

In hopes and preparation of a Train the Trainers Skill Block, I've created this GoogleDoc Form for you to fill out and submit so Kathy and I can begin to formulate a plan for trainings, etc.  We invite you to throw your expertise into the pot and we will form a faculty teaching one another, not solely teaching our students (I feel a "Focus on the Family" - the Faculty that Trains Together...).

Planbook

My Planbook (and of course you can customize the colors)

If you are looking for an app to help you do lesson planning on your iPad, I use Planbook. There are versions for Windows, Mac, and the iPad, and they can all sync through Dropbox. For more details on the various versions, check out the website.

File management on iOS

One of the challenges getting started with an iPad is that you have years (decades) of files saved on your computer that aren't on your iPad. Not to mention the filesystem (or lack thereof) on iOS can be a challenge for those of us used to saving all of our documents in folders as opposed to iOS's app silos. 

The best way to bridge this gap: using a cloud-based storage service for your files. In my training sessions last week I talked about Dropbox, because that's what I use. But much of what makes Dropbox useful would apply to any number of online services, including Microsoft SkyDrive or Google Drive. In a nutshell, you would install one of these apps on any computers you use, save your work-related files in that app's folder, and then the accompanying iPad app will let you access all those files on your iPad. The helpful "Open In..." command in iOS lets you open, for example, a PowerPoint or Word document in Keynote or Pages.

Jason Beyer found this helpful overview of the different options and their distinguishing characteristics, and these charts from last spring are useful. I know Jason and Kathy are planning on offering training sessions to get more in-depth, but I'd recommend just trying one of these out first and seeing what problems you run into. They are all pretty easy to get up and running, but I'm happy to help if you have any questions. 

iPad Level 3 Training

In case any of you from the training are looking for the site I set up with GoogleDocs, or if you are simply interested in what we did in Level 3 training, follow these instructions (NB: you will not be able to take the Socrative Quiz nor follow my Nearpod presentation unless you set up a time with me to do this in person or via the internet):

1.  Install a QR Code Reader on your iPad - I use: http://goo.gl/2yxbzo
2. After this is installed, use it to scan this image in (if you cannot do this on another computer screen, click here - I want to give you an experience of using a QR code if this is new): 
   

Flipping your Classroom - Pt. 1

For Part 1, I'll give you tools for what Jonathan Bergmann has dubbed "flipped class 101".

A few teachers at Regis Jesuit are currently experimenting or diving completely into the flipped classroom world (talk with Candace Busselmeier if you're interested).  This exciting development in teaching is supported by technological innovation, particularly with some apps for your iPads.

First, to help your transition YouTube offers a simple way to extend the length of videos you may upload (last year, Anne Etling uploaded teaching videos during an absence - but due to the 15 minute limit she had to cut them into 5 segments, which is laborious).  Click here for the page instructing how to do this, and note it assumes you already have a YouTube channel.

Second, there is a powerful app that makes video creation more easy.  It is called Explain Everything, and is available in the iTunes Store for $2.99.  Believe me, for what it does, this is an amazing app at a cheap price.  Essentially, if you are familiar with EduCreations, or even if you are not, it combines digital whiteboard slides with video production.  Essentially, take your old PowerPoint presentation, imagine each slide now being a whiteboard slide allowing manipulation (like drawing), and then add in the capacity to record your voice as you present the material.  The beauty of Explain Everything is that you record each slide independently (so, if you mess up on slide 23, you only need to re-record slide 23 and not the previous 22 slides - and those 15 minutes - again).  It even supports video within your slides that you can draw on and discuss.  Here are a few resources to help you understand this exciting software - homepage, video guides & tutorials.

Third, and final for this installment, you might pair the videos with a GoogleDoc Form (3-2-1 questionnaire for example), a Canvas Quiz, or a simple Pre-Assessment after the bell rings.  When you post the video using FAWeb, Canvas, Edmodo or whichever LMS you are using this year, simply include a link to the GoogleDoc Form (for example) and you have a "lecture" for homework.  Class now becomes the work zone and you now have time to work with each student in their learning.

Touchcast

This is one of the most interesting apps I've come across.  Essentially, Touchcast is a video creation tool that allows embedding images, web links, polls, and a variety of other things directly into the video itself.  That means live web stream data when the viewer watches the video, not when I created it!  It does this with "VApps" (Video-Apps).  A math teacher reviews it quite thoroughly here, including screen shots.  

Click here to download it to your iPad for free, and here for the website to see examples and tutorials.  

This is an example of my using it for the first time: TouchCast - How to make an amazing cherry pie!

How to Import Regis Jesuit's Main Calendar into your iPad's Calendar App

I'm getting this question and it likely will be one repeated by many - so here is how you set up your iPad to have the school calendar on it:

1. You need a Gmail account - and for it to be registered on your iPad (meaning: in your Mail program, so you are receiving Gmail messages on your iPad)

2. You need to open in Safari ON YOUR iPAD your gmail - so go to mail.google.com and Sign-In.

3. Now go to our Regis Jesuit Main Calendar: https://www.regisjesuit.com/page.aspx?pid=212 (if you go to this on your iPad - you MIGHT need to hit "Month View").

4. Click on this icon in the bottom right corner of the Calendar:

5. It will ask - "Do you want to add these calendars" -- make your selections of what to add.

6. Now, ON YOUR iPAD, open Safari and go here: 

https://www.google.com/calendar/syncselect

7. You should now see "Select calendars to sync to your iPhone/iPad/iCal" and "check" each calendar you want to view in your iPad calendar

8. Scroll down and click "Save"

9. Go into your Calendar app, click on "Calendars" in the top left of the screen and if they do not appear under your Gmail account, click the reload button - top left of the menu, looks like a line with an arrow at the end of it that has been twisted into a circle

Bill Kehrman has kindly volunteered to help you if you need anything during this process.