The ISTE SIGIS group have put together a 1:1 survey that will be of great benefit to all of us as educators and advocates for 1:1 programs. Would you please either respond to this survey or send this along to the best person at your institution?
This 1:1 Snapshot Survey aims to inform educators about 1:1 initiatives and programs across the country.
Teachers are loving the iPad app, Nearpod. Nearpod allows teachers to add lesson content (like texts, images, and video) to pre-built slide templates, and then push the slideshow presentation to the entire class. The students then receive a student version of the presentation. This set-up allows teachers to set the tempo and pace of their lessons. One teacher from Miami said “It’s like Powerpoint on steroids.” Beyond just the slide sharing aspect, teachers also appreciate the interactive elements that the app provides — like tests, quizzes, polls, Q & A, and other assessment pieces mid-lesson. Another huge plus — a little red light appears on the teacher’s Nearpod screen when a student has navigated away from the slideshow. They’ll think you’re psychic!
Nearpod is free and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.1 or later.
According to SmartBrief on Ed Tech, Amazon unveiled Whispercast, a service that lets schools manage a fleet of Kindle tablets and e-readers from one website. The service is part of the company’s push to get the Kindle into more classrooms. It allows educators set up and monitor students’ user accounts and limit what students can do with the device, the company said. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.)/Reuters (free registration) (10/17)
Hmmmmm….am wondering how public and academic libraries will fit into this scheme. Let us know in comments if you know or have thoughts….
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (NCBLA) has created a free Presidential Campaign and Election Kit to help parents, family members, teachers, librarians, and community leaders to engage young people in informed discussions about the presidential campaigns and election, to teach them to think critically, and to energize them to learn more about the political process in America. The Kit includes:
Exclusive articles regarding such topics as presidential job requirements, the history of presidential campaigns, and the evolution of voting rights.
Activities to use with young people in the classroom or at home.
Discussion questions you can share during class, around the dinner table, and at a Scout or club meeting.
Stimulate your students’ creativity with Story Patch, a new application for the iPad that children can use to create their own picture books. With hundreds of included images, easy-to-use controls, and the ability to import photos, your students will be creating fun and engaging stories in no time. This app is compatible with iPad, requires iOS 3.2 or later, and costs $2.99.
Partnering with libraries for visioning, advocating, and educating
