What would you do with a $20,000 grant for technology? - Classroom 2.02024-03-28T10:23:04Zhttps://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/what-would-you-do-with-a-20-000-grant-for-technology?commentId=649749%3AComment%3A828689&feed=yes&xn_auth=noGet as many iPads as you can.…tag:www.classroom20.com,2012-04-22:649749:Comment:8315422012-04-22T01:02:43.462ZBen Staffordhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/BenStafford
Get as many iPads as you can. Put them in the hands of teachers first. Also budget for some Apple Tvs and HDMI LCD projectors. With an iPad 2 this full package per teacher for $1k or less. The iPad with AirPlay as an instructional tool is amazing.
Get as many iPads as you can. Put them in the hands of teachers first. Also budget for some Apple Tvs and HDMI LCD projectors. With an iPad 2 this full package per teacher for $1k or less. The iPad with AirPlay as an instructional tool is amazing. Check this link: http://www.r…tag:www.classroom20.com,2012-04-17:649749:Comment:8293012012-04-17T23:41:48.327ZEvan Panagiotopouloshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/EvanPanas
<p>Check this link: <a href="http://www.raspberrypi.org/" target="_blank">http://www.raspberrypi.org/</a></p>
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<p>It is a UK-based company.</p>
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<p>Evan</p>
<p><a href="http://www.onlineschoolrecords.com/" target="_blank">Online School Records</a></p>
<p>Check this link: <a href="http://www.raspberrypi.org/" target="_blank">http://www.raspberrypi.org/</a></p>
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<p>It is a UK-based company.</p>
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<p>Evan</p>
<p><a href="http://www.onlineschoolrecords.com/" target="_blank">Online School Records</a></p> I agree with Mollie, Ipads wo…tag:www.classroom20.com,2012-04-17:649749:Comment:8286892012-04-17T01:20:40.303ZKate Masonhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/KateMason
<p>I agree with Mollie, Ipads would be a great purchase. I have a projector, smartboard and doc camera. They are all wonderful but an Ipad can do many of the same things (take pictures, touch screen, etc) and much more! It's also portable and can be used whole group or small group. </p>
<p>I agree with Mollie, Ipads would be a great purchase. I have a projector, smartboard and doc camera. They are all wonderful but an Ipad can do many of the same things (take pictures, touch screen, etc) and much more! It's also portable and can be used whole group or small group. </p> We have document cameras and…tag:www.classroom20.com,2012-04-16:649749:Comment:8281342012-04-16T01:38:19.785ZKate Millerhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/KateMiller
<p>We have document cameras and projectors in all of our classrooms and they are great- we can use our computers and show the kids whatever it is we need to explain, especially with our digital textbooks, and the document camera eliminates the need for making transparancies. In my graduate class we were researching e-readers and there is a high school in Florida that bought every student a Kindle so they can access their textbooks and use blogs and wikis as well as have internet access with…</p>
<p>We have document cameras and projectors in all of our classrooms and they are great- we can use our computers and show the kids whatever it is we need to explain, especially with our digital textbooks, and the document camera eliminates the need for making transparancies. In my graduate class we were researching e-readers and there is a high school in Florida that bought every student a Kindle so they can access their textbooks and use blogs and wikis as well as have internet access with the 3G version- plus they were cheaper than laptops. You can also use wireless mice and keyboards to access things like SmartNotebook- you don't need an Airliner or Smart Board to use Smart Notebook software when you buy long range wireless mice and/or wireless keyboards. You should try to create a survey for your teachers to see what they want using a free site like Survey Monkey, to get their input also. </p> You're welcome! Looking forw…tag:www.classroom20.com,2012-04-12:649749:Comment:8273122012-04-12T05:49:57.815ZCynthia Sarverhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/CynthiaSarver
<p>You're welcome! Looking forward to hearing about what you decide to do (fingers crossed for you to get the grant!).</p>
<p>You're welcome! Looking forward to hearing about what you decide to do (fingers crossed for you to get the grant!).</p> Hi Tina,
I would go for a nee…tag:www.classroom20.com,2012-04-12:649749:Comment:8270602012-04-12T05:23:54.503ZMatt Buryhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/MattBury
<p>Hi Tina,</p>
<p>I would go for a needs analysis approach. I'd look at what learners and teachers are doing with the technology they've already got so that I didn't buy the latest fad gadgets to do the same thing: Function/purpose overlap = money wasted. I'd also look for a balance between presentation hardware (teacher centred, e.g. eReaders and projectors) and generative hardware (learner centred, e.g. cameras, audio recorders and laptops). Also check that whatever hardware you buy has a…</p>
<p>Hi Tina,</p>
<p>I would go for a needs analysis approach. I'd look at what learners and teachers are doing with the technology they've already got so that I didn't buy the latest fad gadgets to do the same thing: Function/purpose overlap = money wasted. I'd also look for a balance between presentation hardware (teacher centred, e.g. eReaders and projectors) and generative hardware (learner centred, e.g. cameras, audio recorders and laptops). Also check that whatever hardware you buy has a ready supply of free educational content available. It's no good shelling out for hardware when software and content to make it useful for learning purposes is insufficient and/or too expensive.</p>
<p>If you have decent IT support, how about renting a dedicated server where you can install your own content management systems (CMS, e.g. <a href="http://www.joomla.org/">http://www.joomla.org/</a>), learning management systems (LMS, e.g. <a href="http://moodle.org">http://moodle.org</a>) and social networking platforms (e.g. <a href="http://elgg.org/">http://elgg.org/</a>)? Your school could have learner generated magazines (e.g. <a href="http://wordpress.org">http://wordpress.org</a>), photography sites (e.g. <a href="http://www.piwigo.org/">http://www.piwigo.org/</a>), collaborative learning projects, personal web pages, social clubs, homework groups, eportfolios, etc. The beauty of online projects is that they tend to be very learner-centred and give learners a strong sense of ownership and community. They can also make your school look really, really good. Another positive thing is that all you have to pay for is the rented server space, about $90 a month. All the software I've listed is free and open source and your hosting provider may even provide one-click installs for all of the above.</p>
<p>Of course, it'd be pretty much useless if none of your teachers do group learning or task/project based learning (TBL).</p>
<p>Before buying in any new hardware, I'd also consider the durability and serviceability. It's no good shelling $1,000s on hardware in which you can't replace parts, like batteries, when they wear out or get broken. You could quickly end up with a pile of expensive, shiny junk.</p>
<p>I also agree with Verena that professional development is vital for effective use of technology for teaching. I'd lean more towards workshops and communities of practice than sending teachers out on expensive and often irrelevant training courses. You may find that your learners can teach you a thing or two about using technology too.</p> I got one at an internship, a…tag:www.classroom20.com,2012-04-12:649749:Comment:8270592012-04-12T04:04:22.168ZCharmaine Nghttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/CharmaineNg
<p>I got one at an internship, and I've always been very happy with it. It's a little heavy to some people, but that doesn't bother me because I like my devices sturdy. The battery life is also amazing even through app usage; it lasts about 6-8 hours! I guess since you aren't replacing any old iPads, you could go with an iPad 3, but it's up to you if the minimal differences are worth it. The retina display is ridiculously high-quality and clear, and the camera & video are better, but…</p>
<p>I got one at an internship, and I've always been very happy with it. It's a little heavy to some people, but that doesn't bother me because I like my devices sturdy. The battery life is also amazing even through app usage; it lasts about 6-8 hours! I guess since you aren't replacing any old iPads, you could go with an iPad 3, but it's up to you if the minimal differences are worth it. The retina display is ridiculously high-quality and clear, and the camera & video are better, but honestly, the iPad 2 should be enough for what a school would need.</p>
<p>Hope that helps!</p> Your right. They do continua…tag:www.classroom20.com,2012-04-12:649749:Comment:8271662012-04-12T03:52:09.993ZTina Dahlbyhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/TinaDahlby947
<p>Your right. They do continually release new versions. Any drawbacks of the ipad2 that you know about? I believe that there is a lot of talk right now around my school about ipads.</p>
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<p>Thanks for responding,</p>
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<p>Tina</p>
<p>Your right. They do continually release new versions. Any drawbacks of the ipad2 that you know about? I believe that there is a lot of talk right now around my school about ipads.</p>
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<p>Thanks for responding,</p>
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<p>Tina</p> Wow, $20K?! That would be an…tag:www.classroom20.com,2012-04-12:649749:Comment:8272982012-04-12T03:26:54.835ZCharmaine Nghttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/CharmaineNg
<p>Wow, $20K?! That would be an amazing grant to receive. I would definitely pick up some iPads and e-readers and leave some money on the side for purchasing apps and books. But I would think very carefully about which device to buy since they're always releasing new versions. I'd also purchase more cameras and video cameras. They have potential for personal projects, and since nice ones usually cost a bit, they'll be even more valuable for students without the money. Also, I agree with the…</p>
<p>Wow, $20K?! That would be an amazing grant to receive. I would definitely pick up some iPads and e-readers and leave some money on the side for purchasing apps and books. But I would think very carefully about which device to buy since they're always releasing new versions. I'd also purchase more cameras and video cameras. They have potential for personal projects, and since nice ones usually cost a bit, they'll be even more valuable for students without the money. Also, I agree with the others about professional development. If that's covered by the grant, I would most definitely spend time encouraging and teaching educators about new technology.</p>
<p>Best of luck! Let us know if you end up getting it.</p> I'm doing my MET with UBC rig…tag:www.classroom20.com,2012-04-12:649749:Comment:8272272012-04-12T03:05:44.153ZVerena Robertshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/VerenaRoberts
<p>I'm doing my MET with UBC right now....in the middle of using SECTIONS a lot!!!!</p>
<p>Bates and Poole is pretty straight forward and that link I sent you was well well done!</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>V:)</p>
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<p>I'm doing my MET with UBC right now....in the middle of using SECTIONS a lot!!!!</p>
<p>Bates and Poole is pretty straight forward and that link I sent you was well well done!</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>V:)</p>
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