Views from subject teachers on wireless devices – laptop / iOS or Android tablets – in classrooms.

We’re looking at laptop/android or iPad at our school – and I suspect so are many others… I went around to find out what requirements might be from colleagues:

istory (STH/KDA/GHO)
– Research of Internet. Ability for students to research the Internet.
– Write up group notes and then share for Home Learning.
– collaborate on presentations
– photos and screenshots
– videos – inclduding storyboarding
– resources – device per group enabling groups to work at different speeds

Geography (JFU)
– as for History
– need Bing Images

English (MHA)
– Brilliant!
– Internet research – independent finding out meanings and sharing.
– electronic work eg. Word processing – both groupwork and targetted individuals
– Revision eg Bitesize in the classroom

Science (PWH)
– Research of Internet – eg. Use of Autology. Also view that tablets easier than laptops
– access to past papers
– Photos
– videos editing and browsing
– presentations
– revision sites
– access resources and opens up independent learning without the teacher as a bottleneck
– looked up datalogging – only connects to tablet PCs not tablets
– specific apps

Maths (ECR)
– My Maths – uses flash so not on iOS.
– graphical software – eg. autograph – needs windows – workaround here  / http://www.tsm-resources.com/ipad.html
– thinks ipads would have more engagement and happy to look at alternative apps.

Health and Social Care (JHe)
– research etc
– iTunesU
– Twitter and ways of using collaborative ways of working

Drama (CSI)
in a rough order of priority:
connectivity – Most importantly – it’s no point having any of the following if we can not share it.
– Ability to record and playback instantly
– Ability to annotate video easily and quickly and share this via email,printed copies – Scribbeo is ideaslly suited on iOS
– A good quality camera that can record in low light levels and a faily high quality mic – HD is not necessary!
– A good sound recorder and mixer – Garage band is ideal on iOS as  this has a user friendly interface and many presets.
– There are a range of Apps that are indusry standard available on both Android and iOS – currently most theatres and technicians are using Ipads.

MFL – Using mobile devices (BDA)
– Voice recording- followed by peer assessment
– Online dictionaries
– Discussion forums- a lot of MFL activities are about giving opinions, this is a powerful way of sharing, debating points of view. One device per group could be a great way to facilitate this kind of activity.
– Research- cultural knowledge/references- from Y7-13 students would be able to access information about the country/language/culture they are studying.
– Grammar support- there are many online grammar exercises, which could be accessed in class, on devices to support a lesson
– Presentations- students collaboratively producing a presentation about the topic covered in class
– Brainstorming vocabulary- padit etc
– Filming presentations, role plays
– Watching clips of films/conversations.
– Accessing the online course material from Y7-13- expo/studio etc.
– Edmodo
– the main point is that we need to move away from having to book a room/set of computers- this may provide some more spontanaiety. I say this, but at the same time am very grateful for the access to the computers in MFL.

Summary and thoughts from these points:
Access to websites in lessons
Electronic capability for groups of students – notes / collaboration /
Crucial to consider 1:1, 1:2 or 1:4 and then sharing of resources at end of lesson – online storage?
Interoperability of software in lessons and out of lessons eg. If use an android/iOS app in lesson, can you use the content for your home learning.
Awareness of specific Apps.
Known/unknown – New ways of collaborating – padlet/edmodo

Threats:
Speed of Internet crucial
Training / support from Digital Leaders
Useability out of the box/case crucial – battery life/charging.