Something that has always interested me is using the iPads for differentiation! I'm going to do this by creating assigned iPads for each student. I've never assigned students a specific iPad and haven't ever had a problem. BUT it occurred to me that IF I tell students which iPad they can use, I can put specific apps for the kids that will be USING that iPad! DUH! So I created these cute number wallpapers (that match my classroom!) for my 6 minis! I used photoshop, dropped them in DropBox and then opened them on each mini! Save the the camera roll. Hold down your finger on the image and click "set as wallpaper". It will then ask you to scale the image (just make sure you can see what you want to see) and then it will ask you if you want to also use the image for your home screen. I say "use as both". Easy peasy!
The next thing I have to do is group my kiddos (6 iPads = 6 groups). I've seen where some teachers will give the kids who use THAT iPad a passcode to access it. I love that...HOWEVER, I teach Kinder which is a pro and con in this situation. Con = they will never remember a passcode. Pro = they want to please their teacher and wouldn't even THINK of using an iPad they weren't supposed to use! :) I love my Kinder babies! I *MAY* do a simple passcode like 1111 on iPad 1 and 2222 on iPad 2. I could probably even tell each group that their code is a secret and they shouldn't tell anyone else who isn't in their group ;) They would love that, but it's totally unnecessary.
On each device, I am going to have a folder named "EVERYONE" and then a folder with each student's name. In the EVERYONE folder, I will have apps that EVERYONE can use. In the "Bob" "Mary" "Sue" folders...I can put some special apps for each child! These will be apps to help them work on specific skills. I have students who come in reading on a 2nd grade+ level, ESL students with very little (or no) English, and others who are still working on letters and sounds in March, so this is going to be GREAT! :) Everyone will get what they need! I only wish you could put apps in more than one folder :( i.e. if I wanted Mary AND Sue to work on a specific app, but I guess that's when the EVERYONE folder comes into play!
I also put a folder on each iPad with my name. The kids know that they don't need anything in this folder and they shouldn't go in it. It's where I put all those random apps that you can't delete and won't use in a classroom. I also put the settings shortcut, app store, etc. in this folder.
What are some organizational tips YOU do for your iPads?!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete