MSMS iPads

Make sure to check out the Marshall Simonds blog for a recent post about how the school's iPads have been used at MSMS, Pine Glen, and Burlington High School this year:

Marshall Simonds and iPads

How Do I Do That - May 2011

There will be two sessions of the How Do I Do That technology series in May.

On Tuesday, May 10 Paula Weldon from Memorial Elementary School will feature several important topics for teachers. Mrs. Weldon will cover the use of the network folders for Burlington Public Schools and how to appropriately save to these folders. She will also cover Dropbox cloud based storage and how teachers can use this great free resource. Mrs. Weldon will spend some time on Google Docs and how teachers can use the online applications for their curriculum.

On Tuesday, May 24 Jeff Bolduc from MSMS will feature Mac applications Garageband and others from the both the iLife and iWork suites. These applications are all available for Mac and most are also available on the iPad. They provide some of the best creative applications for music, photography, and video as well as document and presentation creation.

How Do I Do That - April 2011

We will have two sessions of the Burlington Public Schools How Do I Do That technology series in April.

On April 12, we will feature the new iPad 2. We will discuss new features and ways to use iPads in a 1:1 classroom environment. Burlington High School teachers are encouraged to attend with questions and to receive some help in preparation for the 1:1 initiative next year.

On April 26, we will feature Twitter and Skype. New users can learn about these tools and set up accounts. Twitter is a great resource for collaboration and personal professional development. Skype has many features that are perfect for education. Both tools enable students and teachers to communicate with the world, learn from others, share and connect to authentic audiences everywhere.

Please contact me with any questions:

villano@burlington.mec.edu

First Look

As most of you know by know, the Burlington School District is looking to implement a 1:1 solution next year for high school students. we have been looking at many devices including Laptops, Minis, tablets, and iPads. Cisco announced earlier this year that they would be introducing a tablet to the market, nicknamed Cius. Though the Cius has not officially been released to the public yet, the nice guys over at Cisco knew that we would be interested in seeing their product in person. The Specs are as follows: Intel 1.6Ghz Atom processor, 1Gb ram, Android 2.2 OS (Honeycomb 3.0 when available), SD card slot, wifi only only or 4g models, mini Hdmi output, front and rear facing cameras, and a 7 inch screen. We only got to play with this device fr a little while, but we are planning to demo a handful of these devices for at least a week very soon. These devices combined with Cisco's device management center, would allow us as a district to "manage" the applications, content, and access allowed to these devices but also provide us with internal resources such as video conferencing, silent calls, and data that the district could provide. Very promising device, but we'll know more when we really get our hands on it.

How Do I Do That - March 2011

I am excited to announce the topics for three March sessions of the Educational Technology staff workshop series – How Do I Do That. When I started to develop the How Do I Do That program I hoped that we would be able to feature sessions just like the ones coming in March. The three sessions are great examples of teachers teaching teachers. We have teachers leading sessions about topics that they are both experts on in the classroom and passionate about in their own lives outside of the classroom.

On March 8, I will lead a session featuring three of the best free apps available right now for students and teachers. These three apps form a foundation for web based productivity. The apps are all available on any device and provide powerful collaborative opportunities. These three apps are also great tools for our 1:1 iPad initiative at Burlington High School.

Evernote is a outstanding productivity app that can be accessed by almost any web enabled device. Evernote provides students and teachers with note taking, web bookmarking, and archiving of data from nearly any source.

Dropbox is web based app that provides 2GB of free cloud data storage that can be accessed on web enabled devices. Dropbox is a simple and fast app for saving and sharing. Dropbox provides a cloud data folder similar to BPS network folders and U Drives.

Diigo is a powerful web based app that allows users to bookmark websites, collect and highlight information, and share and collaborate with others. Diigo can be used on Macs an PCs and now features a great iPad web highlighter.

On March 15, Andy Dexter will lead a great session on digital photography and Adobe Photoshop. Along with being a permanent substitute at MSMS, Mr. Dexter is oil painter, graphic designer, and illustrator. Mr. Dexter will provide his expertise on the powerful Photoshop application and answer questions about digital photography.

Click here to view Mr. Dexter’s art blog.

On March 22, we will feature a great session on blogging and social networking led by MSMS music teacher Jeff Bolduc. Mr. Bolduc has created several outstanding websites and blogs for both his classroom and personal music business. Mr. Bolduc will provide an introduction to blogging and using social networking for educators.

Click here to view Mr. Bolduc’s music blog.

Mac Server

Recently the district has purchased a new MAC server. With a few books and the help of some apple techs, the server is now (semi) functioning. Unlike Microsofts's "Active Directory", Apple uses "Open Directory" or "OD". OD will allows us to authenticate apple computers in the district and push policies, software updates, calendars, printers and much much more. Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg. With the district going 1:1 in the upcoming year, the MAC server plans to play a big role with distributing software, Itunes Volume Vouchers, and podcasting.

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February How Do I Do That?

Burlington Public Schools Educational Technology has some upcoming events for February.

The How Do I Do That program will be held for bothBurlington staff and parents on Tuesday, February 8. The sessions will feature iTunes and iPads. These sessions will be an introduction to the set-up and use of iTunes and iPads for both the classroom and for our BHS students next year. There will be two sessions on February 8. BPS staff members can attend from 3-5:30pm and parents can attend at 6:30pm.

Another February session for BPS staff members will feature the Microsoft Office Suite. Linda O’Leary, MSMS Instructional Technology Specialist, will host the session on Tuesday, February 15 from 3-5:30pm at the MSMS B10 computer lab.

Please contact Dennis Villano, MSMS Media Specialist, with any questions:

villano@burlington.mec.edu

February 8 Sessions:

February 15 Staff Session:

Great iOS Apps for Special Education

Along with the exciting plans for a 1:1 iPad learning environment at Burlington High School next year, all Burlington schools are starting to explore iPads in the classroom. While iPads have some great potential for every academic area, perhaps one of the most powerful uses will be in Special Education. iPads have many of the best accessibility tools built into the device's iOS. iTunes and the App Store also feature hundreds of apps for Special Education.

Burlington Public Schools Educational Technology is dedicated to provided our students with the best tools for all learners. Our schools have improving access to products such as Read Naturally and Dragon. Burlington schools are also using more web-based services like Bookshare.

The iPad is now the premier device for accessing applications that help with assistive needs. The list below highlights some of the great games, learning tools, and productivity apps from the App Store for Special Education.

Please contact me if you have any questions about iOS apps for Special Education or Bookshare.

Dennis Villano

villano@burlington.mec.edu

iPhone, iPad and iPod touch Apps for (Special) Education

February Parent Technology Night

Burlington High School Principal Patrick Larkin has scheduled the next Technology Night for Parents. Mr. Larkin and MSMS Media Specialist Dennis Villano will present a session on iTunes and iPads.

From Mr. Larkins' blog:

A reminder that our fourth Technology Night for Parents will be held on Tuesday night from 6:30-7:30 at BHS in the Staff Development Room (between the Guidance Office and the Main office).

We are thrilled to offer parents a session that is also being offered for staff members called How Do I Do That - iPads and iTunes. BHS will provide the iPads for up to 50 attendees to utilize. It is a great opportunity for parents to see first hand the device that all of our students at BHS will be using next year as we become a 1:1 school.

Please join us!

Click here for Mr. Larkin's blog.

How Do I Do That? iTunes and iPads

There are two upcoming sessions of the Burlington Public Schools Educational Technology workshop series How Do I Do That scheduled to feature iTunes and iPads. Each session will cover similar features of iTunes and iPads so participants do not need to attend both sessions. There is also no requirement to notify us or sign up for sessions if you are planning on attending.

Tuesday, January 25

Marshall Simonds Middle School Media Center (3-5:30pm)

Tuesday, February 8

Burlington High School Data Office (3-5:30pm)

Both sessions will cover the steps in setting up an iTunes account and using iTunes. The potential of iTunes as a classroom resource is growing all the time as more educational content is added to the catalog. iTunes is a powerful tool even if you are not using an iOS device.

If you are new to using iTunes, take some time to look through the digital content now available. iTunes has content far beyond music and podcasts. iTunes is a simple tool for finding great videos for the classroom. Discovery Channel, History Channel, PBS, and many others have content available. Some of the content is even free.

iTunes U is also a great resource for educational videos. While most iTunes U material is geared towards high school and college, more and more K-12 institutions are creating and posting content on the system. Resources on iTunes U are free.

We will also look at the basics of the iOS operating system that runs on Apple iPods, iPads, and iPhones during the two iTunes and iPads sessions. We will work hands-on with iPads and cover the outstanding potential for this device in our classrooms.

If you are new to iTunes and iOS devices, or just looking to expand on your current use of these great systems, make sure to check out some of the following resources:

TiPb - The iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch blog

TiPb has some great videos, links, and how-to guides for iOS.

Apple

Apple provides some of the best resources available as support for using their devices and applications.

iLounge

iLounge provides some very detailed walkthroughs and tutorials for using iTunes and iOS devices.

30 Ipad cart at BHS

As most of you have heard by now, BHS is planning to go 1:1 with student devices, next year. We already have many PC Minis in the district that have been in use for over 2 years. Minis are very familiar to most people because they are simply put, a "mini" Windows Laptop. Some of our concerns with implementing Mini's in a 1:1 solution are battery life and the IT management of said devices.

This week, BHS acquired a mobile cart with 30 Apple Ipads. The cart allows teacher to sign out the solution, wheel it in and out of their rooms, while also providing a safe place to store and charge them. This week, the cart is in Mr Calvin's room. Mr. Calvin's students are using the ipads to collaborate online for classroom projects. The picture above was taken while the kids were working in class.

Every other tuesday, the 1:1 group meet at BHS to discuss the future of devices in Burlington. Check out Patrick Larkin's Blog, for more 1:1 information.

http://burlingtonhigh.blogspot.com

http://burlingtonhigh.blogspot.com/2010/11/becoming-11-school-edition-1.html

1 device

After some recent conversations with Tim and Josh, our minds got to thinking. Could we function with only 1 device? Always trying to stay ahead of the game and have the newest and coolest tech devices seemed so fun. Now we could check our email on an Ipod Touch, do attendance on an iPad, and then the rest of our activities could be juggled between a laptop, a desktop and a cell phone. But we could so our daily routine with just one device? Obviously we would need our phones for business and personal use, so we're talking about just 1 computing device.
We have a few experiments going on right now to put our theories to the test. Josh and I, will be using our laptops as our main devices. That seems like it should be simple since laptops are meant to be mobile, and both of us are always on the run. I think we have the easier task in front of us.
Tim on the other hand, will be using an iPad for his daily tasks. Everything from attendance to teaching will be done from the 10 inch, touch screen device. We'll take some notes and share what we could and could not do with our devices, and how we worked around any issues that arose.

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How Do I Do That?

The How Do I Do That program will help teachers learn and develop skills about many of the technology hardware and applications available to them in our schools. The program will include monthly sessions featuring technology topics for every curriculum and grade level. The program will also provide teachers with time for individualized technology tutoring on areas of need.

Dennis Villano, Marshall Simonds Media Specialist, and Instructional Technology Specialists from Burlington schools will be covering topics such as the SMART Board and SMART Notebook, iPads and iTunes, Eno Interactive Whiteboards, blogging and creating personal learning networks, Aspen Student Information System, and many free Internet basededucational and organizational applications such as Evernote, Dropbox and Google Docs.

Teachers may attend as many sessions as they want and PDP’s will be available based on contact hours completed. Teachers may attend for any amount of time they wish as the program will serve as an open house for technology education on a Tuesday afternoon every month through May 2011.

The 2011 How Do I Do That workshop series will begin in January. There will be two January sessions that will feature iPads and iTunes for the classroom. Please stop by if you are interested in learning more about iPads and iTunes. The sessions will be open from 3-5:30pm and teachers may attend for as much time as the can.

Date: Tuesday, January 18

Location: Burlington High School (Data Office Room 106)

Time: 3:00 - 5:30pm

Topic: iPads and iTunes

Date: Tuesday, January 25

Location: Marshall Simonds Middle School (Library)

Time: 3:00 - 5:30pm

Topic: iPads and iTunes

Check back here on the Burlington IT Blog for information about each upcoming session.

The flyer below has information regarding this year's program:

How Do I Do That 2011

Dropbox

For those that don't already know, Dropbox is a free online service, that allows you to save and share files. The standard Dropbox account, which is free, gives you 2GB of online storage. You can go to www.Dropbox.com to view more details or to download the application. If you are interested, here is a referral link, https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTY4MDgyNDI5?src=global0 (If you are trying to download or install Dropbox on a BPS owned device, please contact your building tech person)

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iPads @ Marshall Simonds

Three days…

Three months have now past since I first brought our school’s fifteen student iPads to a class. They have been used for all but three school days since then.

In my role as media specialist at Marshall Simonds, I have been involved in the introduction of many new devices and products to our staff. We have added all the things that educators now believe are vital pieces of technology in the classroom. We have added lots of stuff including SMART Boards, Eno Boards, LCD projectors, laptops, netbooks, FlipVideo cameras, iPod Touches, Mimios, eInstruction systems, Elmos, Discovery Education Streaming, and much more…

I have written on this blog before about how proud I am our staff. The teachers at MSMS have always been willing to try new things. Some of our teachers are very tech savvy and new devices like the iPad are an easy fit into their practices. However, just like in most schools today, many of our teachers are not as comfortable with technology. The great thing about teachers at MSMS is that they always seem willing to try and learn about new things. The staff response to the iPads has been great.

Along with our outstanding classroom use, we have five iPads that we sign out to teachers. Teachers are able to take an iPad for an entire month and explore however they want. We started this in September and the five teacher iPads are now scheduled through April.

Not too long ago, both Bob Cunha and I wrote posts here on the IT Blog about what we hoped would be the potential of iPads in schools. So far, after three months of implementation and use, I am convinced more than ever that iPads are exceeding my expectations.

Since I have worked as the media specialist, nothing we have done has come close to the response for the iPads. They are used everyday, often in different classes throughout the day, and for many different tasks. They have been used in science, social studies, math, and English language arts classes as well as some of our exploratory subjects like music and health. They have been used after school during the Math Olympiad program with Ms. Arcabascio (grade 6 math teacher). We even have a new Activity Block set up by Mrs. DiSipio (grade 8 history teacher) and Ms. Phillips (art teacher) that features the iPads.

I have asked students and teachers what they like and don’t like about the iPads. Many of the concerns often revolve around limitations solved by the recent iOS update. Some other issues are usually more about personal taste. People also often mention concerns that are easily solved or actually just potential problems.

“It can break so easily.”

“I need a keyboard.”

“What if it gets stolen?”

The things people like about the iPads are almost too numerous to write about in this post. For me, what stands out the most is how people constantly mention the simplicity of the iPad and the way that it quickly gets students on task whether they are working on a specific app or online.

“It’s easy to get started with the class.”

“The kids are so excited to use them.”

“The apps are great.”

“They are wicked fun.”

Of course, the kids also say they the iPads are “cool.” I have heard that before from students. Many of our kids think SMART Boards are cool, FlipVideo cameras are pretty cool, even regular iPods are still cool. But this is different…

When was the last time you brought a cart of devices into a classroom and actually heard kids clap? When was the last time your students displayed uncontrollable excitement for the chance to use a device for educational purposes?

Anyone who has taught with iPads knows that they provide fast and easy access to the Internet, great apps that can often be tied directly into the curriculum, and a truly hands-on approach to learning. The iPads have proven to be simple to introduce, simple to teach people about, and easy to explore. I also don’t think there is anything wrong with incorporating a device that gets kids excited to learn partially because it’s so cool.

So what’s my favorite thing about the iPads? The kids using the iPads are excited about and engaged in learning. I have never had students so engaged using a technology product in class. Nothing even comes close.

students using Ipads

Stopped by FW to assist with ipads. Students as well as teachers seem to really enjoy using them for education.

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New posts coming!!

I've just installed the Bloggr app on my Droid. I cant go anywhere without my phone, so now I will have no excuse not to contribute a little more to this blog.

Aspen Quick Reference and Training Notes

The following is a reposting of information about our Aspen system. Please use the included training guides and tips for help while you use Aspen:

Burlington Public Schools has begun to use a new student information system from X2 Development called Aspen. Aspen is currently used in many districts throughout Massachusetts and is highly regarded as one of the premier data management systems available to public schools.

Aspen will help update all information services for BPS. All student and staff data will be held within the system. Over time, Aspen will significantly streamline data entry, help improve communication, reduce paper usage in every building, and allow better parent access to student progress.

Thanks to the efforts of Josh Murphy, Burlington High School teacher and BPS Aspen Conversion Coordinator, the X2 Aspen Student Information System training began at BHS this week. Josh's extensive planning and coordination enabled an Aspen trainer, Josh, and myself to train BPS administrative, guidance, and secretarial staff throughout the week on the new system. BHS teachers were also prepared for the February transition to attendance recording through Aspen.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the training sessions. It was clear that BPS staff members are excited to learn about the new system. Josh and I hope that the participants in the training found the sessions to be productive.

Please contact us with any questions and we will try to provide a quick response. We look forward to working with MSMS and elementary staff in the coming months on training for Aspen. It is very important to us that the transition to Aspen will be as positive as possible for everyone in Burlington.

Josh Murphy: jpmurphy@burlington.mec.edu

Dennis Villano: villano@burlington.mec.edu

Below is a collection of notes and important reminders for staff. I created a short list of training tips and shortcuts for Aspen. Also included are documents provided by X2 on how best to use the system with your computer.

Part of the information describes how to disable pop-up blockers in your web browser when using Aspen. Aspen uses pop-ups for many important menus and lists.

Click on Fullscreen to expand and zoom in or out with the buttons at the bottom. You can also print:

X2 Aspen Training Tips and Reminders

Login Directions with BLINK:

Aspen and Blink Login Directions