ForAllRubrics (A Rubrics Maker)
With the A to E reporting and the need to show how we came to that decision - many of us are using Rubrics for our grading. Not only does it show the students where they need to go and how to improve - it also gives us "proof" of how we came to such a grade. There are many Rubrics makers ( both online and as download). One I will mention is one that can be used on our iPads. It is called "ForAllRubrics".
It is a free online Rubric Maker that can be used on the ipad. It is web based but you can make it sync with the ipad, add it to your home screen ( so it appears as an app), and then use it off line. You can save your class on line to store your results ( sharing with the students if that is your preferred method), download them or print them.
You can construct your own, use some from their online library ( or modify existing ones). Although an American site, they also have Australian Curriculum outcomes ( but not NSW Australian National outcomes) to add to your Rubrics.
Definitely one of the better Rubric makers I have come across and the ability to use it off line with your ipad makes it a winner.
https://www.forallrubrics.com
Just recently there has been a second program added to the interface - "ForallBadges". You are able to issue badges for activities or scores.
Well worth having a look at.
With the A to E reporting and the need to show how we came to that decision - many of us are using Rubrics for our grading. Not only does it show the students where they need to go and how to improve - it also gives us "proof" of how we came to such a grade. There are many Rubrics makers ( both online and as download). One I will mention is one that can be used on our iPads. It is called "ForAllRubrics".
It is a free online Rubric Maker that can be used on the ipad. It is web based but you can make it sync with the ipad, add it to your home screen ( so it appears as an app), and then use it off line. You can save your class on line to store your results ( sharing with the students if that is your preferred method), download them or print them.
You can construct your own, use some from their online library ( or modify existing ones). Although an American site, they also have Australian Curriculum outcomes ( but not NSW Australian National outcomes) to add to your Rubrics.
Definitely one of the better Rubric makers I have come across and the ability to use it off line with your ipad makes it a winner.
https://www.forallrubrics.com
Just recently there has been a second program added to the interface - "ForallBadges". You are able to issue badges for activities or scores.
Well worth having a look at.
Google Apps for Education
Have you ever considered using " Google Docs for Education" in your iPad deployment ? It can be very handy for students who share iPads with other students.
Those of unfamiliar with "Google Docs for Education" I will do a quick explanation. It is a suite of web based apps that are under your own google school domain. Each student is able to access apps such as Docs, Slides, Sheets ( equivalent of Word PowerPoint And Excel), Sites (web sites), Gmail as well as Drive (storage). There are other apps that you can activate or leave off as you wish. Each student has storage of 30 G and it is available on any computer, tablet, ipad weslor device that can run a web browser. Under this domain - you have total control. The cost is nothing. All DEET schools already have this available ( see your IT admin people) and other systems can apply ( takes a month or so) and you only pay for your domain name ( about $25 a year). My school has a domain " stjohnslambton.org" and we have 2,000 logins ( for a school of 200- future proofs it). All staff have unlimited access - handy for lesson storage and unlimited email. Due to system restrictions the students have their email restricted to only the domain ( they can email the teacher and each other). This is fantastic for one on one programs, bring your own device, or any use where you want students to have access to files 24/7.
Now to the iPad.
The suite now has a number of separate apps - Drive, Docs, Sheets,Gmail, and soon to be Slides. These are the main ones. This allows the students to make Docs or spreadsheets directly on the ipad that can be picked up and worked on elsewhere. They also can be shared with the teacher ( for marking or proof reading) or other students.
The real beauty of Google apps for Education is Drive. This online storage allows the student to save any file ( not just google files) to it. Working in Pages or Keynote - go to " open in another app " - select " Drive" and it will upload. Working in iMovie - save it to your camera roll and then upload to Drive.
The Pages documents save as a zip file on the iPad. This is not an issue on iPads as you simply go to “open in” - select Pages and they open. If you open them on a Mac you will need to download the file first before opening.
The other big advantage of Drive is the ability to sign in and out of it. In other words - if you are sharing the iPads among a number of students, they can sign into Drive - save their work while they have the ipad. Sign out at the end of their session, ready for the next student. A big advantage for classes that share a number of iPads.
Have you ever considered using " Google Docs for Education" in your iPad deployment ? It can be very handy for students who share iPads with other students.
Those of unfamiliar with "Google Docs for Education" I will do a quick explanation. It is a suite of web based apps that are under your own google school domain. Each student is able to access apps such as Docs, Slides, Sheets ( equivalent of Word PowerPoint And Excel), Sites (web sites), Gmail as well as Drive (storage). There are other apps that you can activate or leave off as you wish. Each student has storage of 30 G and it is available on any computer, tablet, ipad weslor device that can run a web browser. Under this domain - you have total control. The cost is nothing. All DEET schools already have this available ( see your IT admin people) and other systems can apply ( takes a month or so) and you only pay for your domain name ( about $25 a year). My school has a domain " stjohnslambton.org" and we have 2,000 logins ( for a school of 200- future proofs it). All staff have unlimited access - handy for lesson storage and unlimited email. Due to system restrictions the students have their email restricted to only the domain ( they can email the teacher and each other). This is fantastic for one on one programs, bring your own device, or any use where you want students to have access to files 24/7.
Now to the iPad.
The suite now has a number of separate apps - Drive, Docs, Sheets,Gmail, and soon to be Slides. These are the main ones. This allows the students to make Docs or spreadsheets directly on the ipad that can be picked up and worked on elsewhere. They also can be shared with the teacher ( for marking or proof reading) or other students.
The real beauty of Google apps for Education is Drive. This online storage allows the student to save any file ( not just google files) to it. Working in Pages or Keynote - go to " open in another app " - select " Drive" and it will upload. Working in iMovie - save it to your camera roll and then upload to Drive.
The Pages documents save as a zip file on the iPad. This is not an issue on iPads as you simply go to “open in” - select Pages and they open. If you open them on a Mac you will need to download the file first before opening.
The other big advantage of Drive is the ability to sign in and out of it. In other words - if you are sharing the iPads among a number of students, they can sign into Drive - save their work while they have the ipad. Sign out at the end of their session, ready for the next student. A big advantage for classes that share a number of iPads.
Daily Notes by Ramki
If you need an app for keeping a record of interviews, tasks, jobs to do - you can't go past "Daily Notes". I have been using this app for a couple of years and they just revamped it recently - which made it even better. It has a nice clean interface that makes it easy to use. It has a tab structure (I made one tab for each week of the term and another for staff meetings) and is linked to a calendar. Because it is linked to a calendar I can use the same tabs for each term (colour coded) - the dates will change. I can have a tab " Week One", which will have dates 27th- 31st Jan (2014) and 28th- 2nd May (Term 2). I also have the same set up for Staff Meetings. Entries can be tagged for easy finding. It has a "Tasks" tab. It syncs to Evernote (very handy). Email or PDF export. It cost $6.49 A Very useful notebook that is a delight to use (sounds like an ad !). |
iDoceo
I have to thank our music teacher for this one (thanks Jeanette). This is a Grade book, planner, diary, resource manger - all in one. It even has a spreadsheet that will calculate averages as you input assessment data. It requires no internet connection - which is great for most schools - how often does the network go down when you really need it. This app was also revamped recently which has made it even better. You can do a seat plan for your class - I have imported student photos for a better visual of how my seating plan will work. You can have multiple classes (if needed) that each have their own NoticeBoard (for pinning notes, worksheets, programs etc); Grade book; Planner; Annotations. This one is a bit dearer ($8.99) but considering what it can do - well worth the expense. Here is an example of how to use Airserver
|
There is a new " mirroring" app on the block called "Mirroring360". There are a number of them now and they all do similar things. That is they mirror an ipad to computer, which may be attached to an Interactive Whiteboard or projector. This one can mirror ipad and android phones and tablets. It is $6.99 for one licence that can be installed on a mac or windows laptop. These mirroring apps you install on the computer - the iPad uses it's built in Airplay to find the app. Both need to be on the same network. It is made by Splashtop and you can use Splashtop Classroom to display to a number of iPads.
Find it here : http://www.mirroring360.com Does this new product replace program's like AirServer ? I think AirServer still has the edge. With Airserver you can have a number of students share your screen ( multiple iPads can be displayed at the one time - the screen splits to accommodate). You can also record video and audio of your display. AIRSERVER
A very handy app for mirroring your iPad through your laptop attached to a data projector. This app will run on a mac or windows machine. Great for schools who have iPads but still have windows machines. You download this app to your computer. It can also be used for multiple iPads. Your students can mirror their work through the data projector. It costs $8 for an educational licence. |
iBooks Author
The many reasons to use iPads. The list could go on and on (I will list them in a separate post). But the secret weapon of iPads, in my view, is iBooks when using iBooks Author. iBooks Author is one of the most under-utilised aspect of the ipad – and one of its strongest features. I'm surprised a lot more people aren't using it. There are a lot of eBook type apps and program's out there ( on all platforms) but none come anywhere near iBooks Author. The richness of content that it is able to display is fantastic and can't be matched.
Anyone doing a 1 on 1 program would be doing themselves a disservice by not using this program. You are able to design a whole course, in a book format, to distribute to your students. It can contain text, video, keynote presentations, audio, quizzes and 3D shapes. If, for example, you are doing a unit on "Gold" (every stage 3 teacher is NSW is at some stage). You probably already have some videos, photos, powerpoint presentations, quizzes, worksheets and information filed away. I know I have and hey - who wants to keep reinventing the wheel ? You could create an iBook (using iBook Author) to present your work. The students who work quickly - aren't held up, the slower ones can keep going back over what they need. You could have a video introduction (yourself explaining the unit or an archive film to introduce the unit. The chapters could be the various strands we often teach (The discovery of Gold, The Eureka Stockard, Chinese on the Goldfields, the White Australia Policy, Immigration, Life on the Fields etc). Embedded in each chapter can be your information (text), any keynote presentations, video or pictures from the Australian archives (use Scootle for this), a self correcting quiz, and any set tasks you want your student s to do. You can even include 3D images of mines, equipment used etc (use Sketchup for this).
Sounds like a bit of work - but it isn't really - you already have most of the stuff there.
Even using a cart batch of iPads or shared iPads it is still usable. You can upload your iBook to the iPads, the students use it when it's their turn to use them. You just delete the book at the end of term to gain space back.
The catch with iBooks Author ? It is only avaible on a Mac. You have to make your book on a mac. This program is so good - I strongly advise you to beg, borrow (don't steal !) a mac to make your books. The new operating system (Mavericks 10.9) even has iBooks on it (originally your had to test your books on an iPad) - so you now can preview your books directly on the computer (it will show you what they will look like on the iPad).
Students, themselves can use the program to make books to show their work (we have a batch of macs at my school).
Some of the Australian book publishers are now starting to use the program for their text books. There is a limited range and generally only for secondary but they look fantastic. So interactive and well laid out. Have a look in the iBook store and look at a few samples.
There are fantastic examples of both teachers and students work on the net or in the iBooks store. So have a look.
What about using it for a school report ? Show parents what the kids can really do - rather than just a NAPLAN result. Have a look at the video below. Very inspiring.
The many reasons to use iPads. The list could go on and on (I will list them in a separate post). But the secret weapon of iPads, in my view, is iBooks when using iBooks Author. iBooks Author is one of the most under-utilised aspect of the ipad – and one of its strongest features. I'm surprised a lot more people aren't using it. There are a lot of eBook type apps and program's out there ( on all platforms) but none come anywhere near iBooks Author. The richness of content that it is able to display is fantastic and can't be matched.
Anyone doing a 1 on 1 program would be doing themselves a disservice by not using this program. You are able to design a whole course, in a book format, to distribute to your students. It can contain text, video, keynote presentations, audio, quizzes and 3D shapes. If, for example, you are doing a unit on "Gold" (every stage 3 teacher is NSW is at some stage). You probably already have some videos, photos, powerpoint presentations, quizzes, worksheets and information filed away. I know I have and hey - who wants to keep reinventing the wheel ? You could create an iBook (using iBook Author) to present your work. The students who work quickly - aren't held up, the slower ones can keep going back over what they need. You could have a video introduction (yourself explaining the unit or an archive film to introduce the unit. The chapters could be the various strands we often teach (The discovery of Gold, The Eureka Stockard, Chinese on the Goldfields, the White Australia Policy, Immigration, Life on the Fields etc). Embedded in each chapter can be your information (text), any keynote presentations, video or pictures from the Australian archives (use Scootle for this), a self correcting quiz, and any set tasks you want your student s to do. You can even include 3D images of mines, equipment used etc (use Sketchup for this).
Sounds like a bit of work - but it isn't really - you already have most of the stuff there.
Even using a cart batch of iPads or shared iPads it is still usable. You can upload your iBook to the iPads, the students use it when it's their turn to use them. You just delete the book at the end of term to gain space back.
The catch with iBooks Author ? It is only avaible on a Mac. You have to make your book on a mac. This program is so good - I strongly advise you to beg, borrow (don't steal !) a mac to make your books. The new operating system (Mavericks 10.9) even has iBooks on it (originally your had to test your books on an iPad) - so you now can preview your books directly on the computer (it will show you what they will look like on the iPad).
Students, themselves can use the program to make books to show their work (we have a batch of macs at my school).
Some of the Australian book publishers are now starting to use the program for their text books. There is a limited range and generally only for secondary but they look fantastic. So interactive and well laid out. Have a look in the iBook store and look at a few samples.
There are fantastic examples of both teachers and students work on the net or in the iBooks store. So have a look.
What about using it for a school report ? Show parents what the kids can really do - rather than just a NAPLAN result. Have a look at the video below. Very inspiring.