1-14-11+iPad+Pilot+Debriefing

iPad Pilot Debriefing: 1/14/2011: Learning Support Ctr. Doug Kiang: facilitator Present: Terry Y-E, D. Len, S. Matias, L. Cowell, C. Labrador, C. Ligner, D. Ching, D. Peterson, D. Sweeney, T. Demura-Devore, Tedd Landgraf

20 iPad set: can be used in pairs

Comments:
 * Adult luxury toy.
 * Excellent for travel.

1. How might iPads work in a classroom and/or individualized learning environment? Ideas re: classroom activities involving use?
 * Great apps for anatomy.
 * Easier to do group work than w/ laptop: like a mini-smartboard.
 * More visible to teacher in re: ensuring on-task tech behavior; limits distractions and back and forth screen-switching.
 * Intuitive, even for non-tech people: kid-friendly.
 * Convenient, light, portable: works better in lifestyle than a laptop, and bigger/more usable than a droid/smart phone.
 * Able to sync one's digital devices.
 * Able to get apps for laptops.
 * Flashcards have useful applications: review for group
 * Language learning games
 * Fun factor: would get kids excited.
 * Nice as an e-reading device: highlighting, annotating digital texts, "flipping pages", much more book-like, ability to review annotations and archive notes.
 * Access to many free books and educational resources.
 * Ability to draw
 * Flipboard app: customized aggregate of feeds w/ magazine layout. Very readable; content individualized to user, w/ dynamic updating. Can use w/ Google Reader feed.
 * Library database resources compatible w/ iPad and mobile devices: able to store username and password, able to access resources and search more easily
 * Wolfram app: Math/Sci
 * Polymorphic: interface of iPad shifts to whatever app you're using, unlike a laptop.
 * Easier to read than w/ a laptop, and can read at night.
 * Dropbox feature to consolidate resources.
 * Can project.

2. Cons, Concerns, and Questions:
 * Typing: keyboard not as good as w/ a laptop (though you could use a Bluetooth keyboard); landscape orientation makes typing better.
 * Quality/accuracy of apps matter: e.g. on one of the Chinese flashcard programs, printed tones for words don't match up w/ what tone speaker is producing; vocabulary games have faulty definitions.
 * Who pays for apps?: We can legally load all 20 from one machine.
 * Consumption: great! Production: more difficult.
 * Stylus/"pogo" stick needed for more controlled drawing, handwriting.
 * Built-in camera coming?
 * Not easy to switch between screens.
 * No multimedia functions at moment.
 * Apple-made adapter for headsets, keyboard, and cameras.
 * Bad for Google Documents: reading easy, but collaboration/feedback not.
 * BlueFire Reader app necessary to check out public library books via Overdrive using iPad.
 * Durability/fragility: kids would be worried re: breakage. Doug notes that one can purchase a hard case.
 * Not a replacement for laptop: polished presentation, videos need to be on a laptop. But maybe more daily use functions might be done successfully via iPad.
 * How many kids have a family computer that they can easily access at home, if we switched to iPad?
 * no Word yet!
 * Printing issue: can print, but only w/ newer compatible wireless printer.

3. Conclusion
 * Fill out survey on tinyurl.
 * Doug: $14 budget to buy paid apps.
 * Ideas for classroom use: see Tedd or Doug.
 * Doug says Bruce allowing PD funds to purchase iPads, but if you leave Punahou, need to return machine to school, though any apps purchased are yours. Dee notes that the school requires you to buy insurance, so the cost is $500+.