More on iOS7

As I continue to use iOS7 on my iPad and iPhone, I have grown to love the upgrade. But there are many features that might be leaving you frustrated as you try to figure out where previously used options have gone. I have found this great resource to find some of the most difficult to find features, and it also includes the method to revert back to iOS6 if you find yourself lamenting the upgrade.

Meraki Device Management

I am using this opportunity to point out that in the Document Tutorials Archive I have listed all the tutorials that either I have made or been given by others.  

Today, I sent out a tutorial on registering iPads with Meraki.  This offers some nice (FREE) features that allows the IT Dept. to:

1. Push apps that the school buys for your use directly to your iPad (they install for you, wherever you are and you don't have to do really anything) - otherwise you'll have to take it in to them or get codes from Kathy and I and install them yourself - I don't believe you like those options as much.
2. In the case of someone stealing your iPad, with this the IT Dept. can lock your iPad, locate it, or erase the data so you don't have to worry.
3. In the case you misplace your iPad, the IT Dept. will be able to locate it for you (if it is connected to a wireless network).

You can download the tutorial here.

Transfering files, assignments, modules, etc between classes you teach

I teach Honors Biology and Biology.  Much of the course content (Power points and assignments) is the same between the two courses.  I found a way to copy the content from one course to the other in Canvas so I don’t have to upload the files twice. Here is my version of a tutorial to help you if you need this feature. 

After uploading content into one course (Honors Biology)

Open the course you want to put content into (Biology)

Click on Settings in the lower left.

Click on Import Content into this course button in the right hand column.

In the drop down select Copy a Canvas Course.

Search for a course and select the course where the Content is coming from.  (Honors Biology) 

In the options section click the check box that says Select migration content.

Press Import button.

Then you can select the content you want.  Press the blue Select content button and use the check boxes for what you want to copy.  Whatever is checked will copy.

See example:  I use the Modules so if I copy the Module then all my assignments and or things I’ve loaded in the module will be copied.

Press the Select Content button.  Wait for it to turn blue and then go check your class.  It should all be there.

A few hints:  You do get the entire list of everything in your course.  So if you start at the bottom and check on the way up you don’t have to keep scrolling down.

If you use modules then click add the module and it will only upload what hasn’t been previously uploaded (all the assignments and files, etc).

If you don’t use modules then just click on the content you desire. (Assignments, files, etc and it will be uploaded.)

Let me know if you need help or have questions!  Cheers!!

Does your instruction cross the "Red Line"?

Even though I am no longer at RJ, my heart and spirit still reside there. At my new job, much like this blog, I am creating an Ed Tech Newsletter for the folks in my district.  I recently shared one of these newsletters with Jason and he asked if I would post it here for all you to read.  Of course I grasped at an opportunity to still be a part of the RJ community!  So here it is.

I know most of you are already aware, or at least have heard of the SAMR Model of instruction.  However, is your instruction crossing the "Red Line" into the realm of Modification and Redefinition?  This answer is not always clear and I suspect most of us are crossing the line, at least some of the time.  But the real question is, can you cross it most of the time?

Does your instruction cross the "Red Line"?

Education in a Changing World Conference, by Gretchen Kessler

I attended the Education in a Changing World Conference in August in Watsonville, CA. Monte Vista Christian School, which hosted the conference, was the first school in the country to go to iPads for all students. As a faith-based school they have focused on keeping their charism at the center of what they do while adding a whole new level of technology to their identity. All textbooks are in e-format….some are teacher-created while others are from a variety of publishing companies. Many of the apps that seem to be of interest to us are exactly what they are using. When talking about flipping the classroom, one speaker said that if the teacher’s brain is the most active one in the classroom, then we're not doing our job.    If all we do is flip the lecture and worksheets, that isn't flipping the classroom at all.   It is a technique that can be used  to maximize the time we have in the classroom with them with applying the knowledge and guiding. They spoke very clearly that pedagogy must drive technology, not technology driving pedagogy.

From one speaker to the next, they referenced such apps as

·         Explain Everything

·         Knowmia

·         iMovie

·         Socrative

·         Thinglink

·         Doceri

·         Timetoast

Take a look at www.flippedday.org and www.flippedclass.com for some ideas on flipped classrooms.

AND if you’d like to follow one of my favorite blogs on iPad Apps for Schools, go to http://ipadapps4school.com/ and subscribe.   This guy is great!  I’ve been following him for a few years on his regular tech for teachers blog and now this one dedicated to iPad use.

iOS7 and AirServer

With the update to iOS7, many features have changed and one, in particular, affects the previous tutorial I made on using AirServer.  I have updated that tutorial here (you can also view it and other tutorial by clicking on the appropriate tabs below the title of this blog - Document Tutorial Archive, Video Tutorial Archive).

Request for Training

While working on more systemic training in preparation for next year's 1:1 environment, it is helpful also to get a "pulse" on what would help you right now.  There are certain apps that have more flexibility (use by more than one department), others that have more power (Dropbox, for instance, can work with almost every app that would benefit from importing and exporting files), and others that have more teacher appeal (Explain Everything, Class Dojo or Socrative).  We want you to have a way to tell us what you desire training on (so we don't offer trainings that no one shows up to) and a way to tell us how you desire that training (live, video, document tutorial).  This form even includes the capacity to tell us you would like training on something we haven't anticipated.  So please fill it out whenever you experience the desire/need: