Every day this February break I am going to post an "iPad Time Warp" post that goes back to some of the events that occurred this year before I began this blog (to help you get caught up) - kind of like a #throwbackthursday (#tbt).
Today we will start with the process of the carts arriving at the schools.
Today we will start with the process of the carts arriving at the schools.
Some of the schools in our district already had a cart. Last year I was the art teacher between two buildings. One school had a cart of ten iPad 2s and the other did not have any. Our principal had ordered the iPad cart and it arrived near the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year.
Of course, being an iPad enthusiast myself and having owned one for a few months prior, I was really eager to get my hands on these iPads and use them with students. You would think it would be as easy as signing them out. It wasn't. There was a lot that needed to be set up before we could actually use them. I will peruse many of these issues at greater length in the future but for now let's take a moment to glance over these mini roadblocks before going into our present day situation.
Of course, being an iPad enthusiast myself and having owned one for a few months prior, I was really eager to get my hands on these iPads and use them with students. You would think it would be as easy as signing them out. It wasn't. There was a lot that needed to be set up before we could actually use them. I will peruse many of these issues at greater length in the future but for now let's take a moment to glance over these mini roadblocks before going into our present day situation.
Cases
The iPads did not come with cases and we were all nervous (Principal, Computer Lead Teachers, Library Media Specialist, and myself) to put these in the hands of students without any protection. We needed to figure out where the money would come from for these cases and then which case would best suit our needs. It took months for this as well, mostly because we were new to the process.
Ordering Apps
The iPads did not really come with many apps installed. It took weeks if not months to get our first app on the iPads. All district iPads are loaded on from a central office so we weren't just able to go to the store and download it right there. We also needed to make sure the apps were free, mainly for ease in the app order negotiation process- can't say no to free! I had been eager to use the SketchbookX app that Tricia Fuglestad, my techie girl crush, had used and posted on her blog Fuglefun. Please check her work out if you have not already. She is so creative and inspiring with her use of technology.
Filling our Cart
Ten iPads in a cart is not ideal but it is a start. In order to get more the Library Media Specialist, Erin, and I knew that we needed to show off the power of the iPads in terms of addressing the curriculum, engaging students, and providing an unparalleled experience. So we co-taught a lesson and invited the Principal and the Instructional Technology Chairperson from the district to watch. Our principal was so impressed that she ordered 15 more iPads (these were iPad 4s) in June of 2014.
During the summer of 2014, a head honcho in the district decided to purchase one cart of 10 iPads for each of the five elementary schools. In September, the technology department asked Erin and I if we would be interested in teaching a fifteen hour iPad Institute through the staff development center. We agreed and were also charged us with the task of reviewing a list of must-have apps and choosing the apps that would be loaded onto all elementary apps.
And some time in October of 2014 they were finally ready.
And some time in October of 2014 they were finally ready.