Wow Factors with iPads

We have started our 1:1 iPad trial at Jakarta World Academy. Up until this time at Jakarta World Academy, I have been using my iPad with various classes and the mobile set of iPod Touches. Yesterday I got to teach with the iPads in K2. In this trial program the students were issued with an iPad each which they can take home. What I want to learn about is how we can build a system for these children to archive their work easily (probably at this stage by emailing the teacher) and to use these devices effectively in all learning areas.

Wow factors

The iPads have such a large tactile interface which make them perfect for younger learners. What I saw yesterday was a lot of interaction between learners and a lot of fast modelling. Yes the iPod Touch have that touch interface but the screen is small and you really need to hold the iPod in your hand to be able to use it successfully. This can make it hard to look on as the screen must face the user so that they can be accurate with their input. With the iPads what I saw was the child could have the iPad in from of them and the teacher was able to tap and guide without moving the device. This gave the child greater ownership as they could seamlessly have the activity modelled without having to hand the device over.

The second thing that I noticed was how easy it is to cater for differentiation. There are only 6 students in this class but each child was able to work on an activity suited to their level with complete engagement at the same time. Yes I know that this happens in the non-technology classroom - but the level on constant engagement was very intense as the children moved through the task at a pace suited to their own needs.

Yesterday we used many Maths Apps but Lobster Diver was particularly popular. Lobster Diver is a free app and can be found here Lobster Diver

ANPS - Collaboration Online

I have been preparing for my next presentation which will be at the next ANPS Forum for Emerging Leaders on the 30th April. I am trying to make a more dramatic kind of presentation by using the skills that I learned at the recent ADE Institute in HCMC. I am trying to break out of my slideshow habit and engage the audience by telling a story but using visuals as a support.

As a part of my preparations for this workshop I have been interviewing the technical support at my school to find out about the current size of the Internet bandwidth and how many users that can support at the same time. We are indeed fortunate to have 8 megabit bandwidth.

One of the biggest problems that the local schools here in Indonesia face is access. Most schools still use computer labs which offer limited access for teachers other than the computer teacher. On top of this the Internet access is barely sufficient for the teachers to access let alone the students.

This issue of computer access and Internet access will be the deal breaker for most national plus schools. It is very costly often costing more than other school needs - never less it is essential.

Things can only change here if schools consider computer and Internet access as equally important as staffing. It needs to be considered as an integral part of the school and not just 'added value'.

ADE Institute Hochimin City - Thinking about Personal Branding

I feel very honoured to be a member of the ADE Asia Advisory Board. There are nine of us on the board and we have been a part of the running of the Class of 2011 ADE Institute. Currently we are half way through the Institute for 2011 and I feel that I must write about the experience - even though it is not over yet.

The first day was intense. Each member of the board was asked to present their personal branding. I did not attend the Class of 2010 Institute where personal branding was introduced to the ADEs there. I have struggled to get a video made in time. I knew that if I didn't push myself to get something done - that the process to get it ready could go on for some time. As a part of the Apple Institute, all of the ADEs were given a book as a guide about personal branding. I was sent a copy and it was a helpful start but I ended up abandoning it and found it much easier to talk to my husband who knows me both as my artistic self and as my teacher self. I know that these shouldn't be separate but I don't associate the artwork that I do with my teaching practice. My husband helped me to focus on the 'now' and not so much on the past. Indeed as I sit here typing this post - I am already thinking about my version 2 video and how that will look. I already have the concept and how I can make better use of 2 minutes. Less is more ....

I am really interested in how technology can be best used in Kindergarten and younger. In fact I am interested in how it can be used with Toddlers (18 months). I have developed a way to make the iMacs in the Toddlers classroom more accessible for that age group by using programs designed for very young children (such as keyboard bangers) and by making those programs easy to click on through use of big picture icons. These young children cannot talk but they are very comfortable using computers as they are often introduced to them by their parents. My goal is to set up the computers for the teachers so that the students can use them independently. I have started to notice a pattern as these young children develop quickly and soon grow out of using the keyboard banger programs to progress onto more mouse directed games. From this the kids are introduced to creating content and so the progression continues.

And because of this ...

I would love to share what I have developed over the past year in my position as Tech Integrator for Toddlers-Gr5 at JWA and SWA.

Looks like I need to get back to Jakarta so that I can begin making PB video #2

Personal Branding - janeinjava ADE 

I finally finished the first version of my personal branding video. Here it is for you all to take a look:

Mother Tongue Week

Soon it will be Mother Tongue Week at school. I thought that I'd get a jump-start on things and make a story together with my youngest son in his Mother Tongue which is Indonesian. Today is a public holiday so we went to explore the river at our housing estate. My son likes to play there and catch little fish. We made a story about this. I plan to get it printed up with hard back binding.

Ikan-Ikan Kecil (Little Fish)

Google Translate App for iPhone - Seriously Cool!

Wow what a fantastic app!! It was just last week that I helped the Chinese teachers at school to get a Google account so that they could use Google Docs as an aid for translation/enhanced communication during staff meetings and training sessions. At the same time I showed them Google Translate - http://translate.google.com The teachers were so excited by the prospect of using Google Docs together with Google Translate. Since that session, some of the teachers told me about how useful it has been for them to be able to use Google Docs during meetings combined with Google Translate. It has really helped them to keep up with what is being discussed.

Today via my Twitter feed @javajive informed me about the newly released Google Translate for iPhone http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/google-translate/id414706506?mt=8



I immediately downloaded it to try out. I am so impressed. The App can translate text between 57 languages and translates by speaking (not typing) for 15 languages. It will also speak 23 languages from written text.

I am thinking of all the ways this App can support language learning. How exciting!!!

Digital Stories for Inquiry

Today in Grade 1 the class continued to create a digital story about the habitat at school that they have been studying. The students have been studying the Koi pond at school and the story that they are making is about about the Koi fish that live in that pond.
Here is one of the stories in progress:


Where the Koi Fish Live

iPads Apps for Jakarta World Academy

We are preparing the image for our first trial use of iPads at Jakarta World Academy. I have selected a few apps from my own image to test use at the school. Here are just some from my selection. The age range for these apps are K1-Gr 1.

JWA Apps

Weebly Portfolios

The Grade 4 and 5 students at SWA have been trialling the use of Weebly portfolios. Last quarter the Weebly sites were started and the expectation this quarter is for all subjects to have a page for portfolio work.

At SWA the Grade 4 and 5 students are in the 1:1 laptop program. This gives them easy access to be able to create most of their school work in a digital format. It is a natural extension to make the portfolios in digital format.

Originally the students made their portfolios in either Keynote or iWeb on the laptops. This made it difficult to access in that students had to have their laptops in order to see the portfolio. By having the work online, it has allowed parents to keep up to date with their child's work as often as they like.



What's Good About Weebly
Weebly allows the teacher to access the student websites from inside the admin controls for editing. It also allows for a class password to be used which gives extra privacy for younger users. It has an easy drag and drop interface which is simple for even the most tech-challenged to use.
I personally like that students can upload a video directly to their sites without having to host it elsewhere and embed it. Weebly is also integrated with Scribd.com so that Word or Pages documents can be directly uploaded to be embedded in the page. There are many options for photo displays with galleries or simple photo+paragraph choices. For more information - check out the video overview of the site

A Digital Story from a Kindergarten Kid - he is only 4!

This wonderful story was created by a Kindergarten student. It is about playing together and includes a moral.