MeetingNotes

=Albemarle County Public Schools iPod Seed Project Wiki=

Notes from the 9/28/2009 meeting:
__Overall Updates__
 * Management Laptop – we will provide a Mac with QuickTime Pro to each of the seed project schools – they are currently being distributed to schools (we are still waiting on the license key for QT Pro)
 * Discovery Streaming Videos – must use QuickTime Pro to convert from .mov to .mp4
 * Flash Player – not available for the iPod Touch platform (you will see what looks like a LEGO brick on some web sites)
 * Taking iPod Touches home – I will send out a form within the next week or so, please work with me before sending them home!
 * Best microphone – the Thumbtacks are not working very well. DART will order several different varieties so we can make a recommendations. Include the iPhone ear buds with microphone in this test.
 * Review app licensing for “paid for” apps. Some apps require you to purchase a copy for each iPod Touch!
 * DART will ensure new iPods have “sync only selected X” checked. They should not be synced to any library.
 * Becky will set up a GoogleDoc for sharing ideas and feedback about apps
 * DART will make sure all iPods sent out have been updated to version 3.0. See Settings à General à About to check your software version. If it is <3.0, let me know!
 * How will we know that these are making a difference for kids learning? Mae’s project may actually allow us to collect data on this!
 * Becky will follow up with each of you on your deliverables as your project schedule allows.

__Updates from Individuals__

Mae Craddock – Monticello
One to One in English classes for reading device, Twitter (as exit slips), sharing documents, PPT to video, note taking, dictionary look-up Export PPT as a PPT show to GoogleDocs and display on iPod Touch using Mighty Docs (contact Mae for more info), book project (KiwiTech is formatting out-of-copyright texts for the iPod Touch and Mae is field testing these using Classics2Go). Planning on podcasting and there will also be an option for her students to take them home with no Internet access or access to the App store.

Jeff Prillaman – MESA
Still in the box – will we be able to send them home? Currently using RemotePad as a remote mouse. This is a 2-part install – a “server” for your computer and an app for the iPod Touch.

Paula White - Crozet
We are sending them home with kids. We have them loaded with lots of different apps in all subject areas. Motion X Dice and Coin Toss are favorites. The first month has been practice using them and to see where the interests are. A lot of teachers are looking for Science applications. A favorite is WhiteBoard – this shares a “whiteboard” screen between two iPods. MetaSquares is an example of a “brain bending app” – we’re really looking for apps to help with visual thinking.

Joan Ackroyd/Laurel Gillette – Red Hill
Grades 3 – 5 have been learning how to use the iPods through the Media Center. Some students have been reading audio books on the iPods. There’s a lot from iTunes U. Joan has several student forms for permission and record keeping. Astronomy Picture of the Day, Planets, Stars, GoogleEarth, etc. They are also doing Touch Lunches where kids are coming to the Library to spend more time with the iPod Touches. WaterSlide was installed and then removed for management reasons. They have had problems syncing. There are also problems keeping them clean. Paula recommends skins and screen protectors from Wal-Mart. Will load with student-made videos.

Diane Harding – Stony Point
You cannot sync a cart full of iPods on a PC, you must have a Mac. The 3rd grade team is going to have students create podcasts and install them on the iPods for use with the nature trail at the school. Diane just received a Mac, so she will sync them all and is working with the principal to plan for sharing them with the faculty.

Madeline Sales - Burley
I won’t be able to make the meeting this afternoon as I teach until 7pm. However, I would love to hear what comes out of it. As a quick debrief from me: 1. I enjoy using the touches for audiobooks 2. I’ve found a free app for basic math practice that the kids enjoy ( I think it’s called simply Math Drills ) as well as a 99 cents typing tutor game that has improved their skill with the keyboard. 3. I’ve had issues with using anything online that requires flash. I was hoping to use Brainpop, but that hasn’t worked. 4. I plan to use the Discover Learning videos. 5. I’ve used them to have kids orally respond to questions, then go back and write exactly what they wrote to analyze their grammar.

Donna DeGroat - Cale
I will not be able to attend but I wanted to give you an update. At Cale, we are systematically introducing them to each grade level—with the expectation that teachers will follow up on their own. There was a snafu with getting the microphones for the engineering project and we are still waiting on them. However, in the interim—I have experimented with a lot of different applications. Currently, I really like TalkingPics—seems like you could do a lot with this—tours—steps of a problem, etc. We have a ton of applications for use by young students to older students. The challenge seems to be how to really thoughtfully extend their use Teachers want to feel that eventually there is just a seamless use into content of all types. There is a check out system that allows us to document usage and syncing has been going fine. Our next steps will be to really focus on the intent of the grant related to the engineering projects and the documentation of student thinking. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Rob Dent - Jouett
I’m not able to make it to the meeting this afternoon. The seventh grade history teachers and I have been using the iPods successfully in class; we haven’t been checking them out to students yet. There’s nothing we’re really struggling with at this point—it’s been going pretty smoothly. Sorry that I won’t be at the meeting this afternoon.

Jill Bratton – Jouett
I had much of the same feedback-- the need for QuickTime, inability to use BrainPop due to lack of flash, and problems with thumbtacks were items at the top of my list. On the positive side, I had good luck with the apple earphones with the built in microphone. My students also enjoyed using the Touch for fluency practice. They've used the same applications as Madeline's kids plus a few more but I haven't added any new ones due to the licensing questions. I think that's it for now. We're about to do our first vodcast which I hope to put on the touches so that the different blocks can comment on each others work and we can share with Madeline's group at Burley.