We began allowing “in-library” checkout of the five iPads we were given Monday, and after only three days, word has gotten out. Our kids are clamoring for the chance to use them.
My Biggest Surprises:
- Not a single complaint from students about the inability to download apps
- Not a single argument about having to stay in the library
- No one complaining about kids “hogging” the few iPads we have (five)
- The utter sheer delight some have had over the ability to explore the Mobile Discovery Education site (and yes, even watch streamed videos)
- Their contentedness at using them despite limited apps.
Successes so far:
- Being able to provide Internet access to classes scheduled that just did not have enough workstations
- Showing the kids my favorite apps
- LEARNING from the kids – they have amazed me with their mass of knowledge in the short time they have handled them
- Feeling so good knowing that I am able to put an iPad into a student’s hands who will not have the opportunity to handle one anywhere else due to circumstances beyond their control
- Loving to tell teachers yes, they can
playlearn too, but only in the library. (I did promise one teacher she could take one home over night. But remember they were given to me because I promised student learning beyond just exposure, so our implementation is leaning towards a student-use focus.)
- Was told today the powers that be are sending me one more iPad–we’ll have six!
- Still trying to wrap my head around how a device meant to be personalized will work in my teaching context, a high school library
- Finding an adding apps that will help kids learn. Right now they want game-like apps, and we have given them a few. But I don’t want them used only for games. We are looking for educational apps too, but this week and next are going to be exploration time, and kids are allowed to make recommendations using the notepad app. When they turn in the iPad, I take a screenshot of their list and clear it away.
- Once the newness of the concept wears off, will the desire to check them out decline? Time will tell, and this could be manipulated with timed releases of apps.