Writing Essays with iPads (students surpass the teacher)

My biggest concern since I found out we were getting 1:1 iPads has been essay writing.  I love the document sharing capabilities of Google Docs, but I knew the share feature didn't work on iPads.  My mission became finding another way to do peer revision and essay grading electronically.  99% paperless is my goal since I am not yet using iPads for testing.
I've heard the quote about the student surpassing the teacher for years, and I am finally experiencing it with technology.  Since I had no solution for document sharing for essay peer revision/editing purposes, I asked my students if they had any ideas.  They didn't even hesitate so say, "Why don't we email it as a PDF, open it in Smartnote, revise and edit, and email it back?"  Here is the process broken down:

1. Write essay using Pages app. MLA format can be used, we found double spacing, tab, etc.
2. Email to peer as a PDF
3. Student opens PDF document in mail, clicks the square with an arrow icon (does that have a name?), click "Open in Smartnote"
4. Smartnote app opens, students choose which notebook to open it in (they already have an English notebook)
5. Click the widgets icon (the duck), click "page tools," "insert PDF document," a box of document choices pops up and they click the correct one.   They will get a notification that the document has been added to the next page of their notebook.
6.  Students can now use a colored pen or highlighter to mark on their peer's essay and email the edited pages back to the author for final draft revisions.

It has worked like a charm.  As a disclaimer, I have to say their science teachers are having them import a lot of PDFs into Smartnote so the students are familiar with the process.  It definitely helps when multiple teachers use the same tools.

I did play with ios5 on the iPad yesterday and it looks like document sharing works in Google Docs.  I'll check into it more after student iPads are updated.  For now, this process is working for us.

Developing my Philosophy of Honors Classes

It's been a seven year fight, but we finally have honors English classes at each grade level.  After a brief victory dance, I had to face a frightening reality: I don't know how to teach an honors class.  For seven years, I have had classes with freshmen through seniors whose reading levels ranged from third grade to college.  Now I have one class (my biggest at 36), all students who scored advanced (or very close) on their ELA CST and got and A or a B in language arts in middle school.  In August I was faced with creating a full curriculum using 1:1 iPads, and then figuring out how my honors curriculum would differ.  All I knew is I didn't want honors to just be more work, I wanted it to be different work.

I found part of the solution at Cue Rock Star in August at Minarets High.  Dr. Mark Wagner brought up the idea of using Google's 20% business model in class.  I immediately knew I wanted to try it, especially since my students would have iPads.

The idea in action: I had my honors class start reading Of Mice and Men and after the first chapter we had a discussion about the setting, especially how time is just as important as place.   We brainstormed what they knew about the Great Depression, taking notes in Smartnote (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smartnote/id362165952?mt=8).  Then I gave them a list of topics related to the Great Depression (i.e. the Stock Market crash, poverty, education, etc) and they had to find a partner and choose a topic.  These days are fun because topics are first come, first served and we end up with bribes and rock-paper-scissors match-ups.  I then give them one day/week to work on the project.  The only direction they get is they have to create a presentation in iMovie or Keynote to present to the class.  I want them to use creativity that's not restricted by assignment requirements.

What I'm using so far. . .

There have been hurdles to overcome in the implementation of a 1:1 iPad program, but we have finally found our groove.  All of my students can access their accounts and have basic knowledge of their iPad.  I am so excited about all the possibilities, I feel like I'm throwing something new at them every day, but they are definitely rising to the occasion.  Some in-class uses for the iPad so far:

Google Sites: I created a site (www.alisonlopez.com) with a page for each class.  I had my students set my announcements page to their homescreen (this creates a quick link that looks like an app) and this is the first place they go when they come in the room.  I add a new post daily (almost daily, at least) with the opening activity, in-class work, and homework.

Blogging: All my students have Blogger accounts and know how to create a post, embed images, and publish.  We are also using the Blogsy app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blogsy/id428485324?mt=8 to compose posts.  I love this app because it makes embedding videos and images really simple.  You search, drag, and drop.

Collaborize Classroom: This site allows me to create a poll or forum question that students can all vote on and answer.  They can also reply to each other's comments and see the poll results in a pie chart.  One example: After my freshman honors class had read the first chapter in Of Mice and Men I asked them if they thought George and Lennie's dream would ever come true.  They voted "yes" or "no", then explained why in a comment.  If they clicked on results, the site created a pie chart of their answers for all to see.  This simple poll created a very thoughtful discussion.  I also really like this site as an opener because they can do it quickly and independently. You can find more information at www.collaborizeclassroom.com.

Keynote: My students picked up this app really quickly.  It is really easy to navigate and edit.  The only flaw is I wish there was a share feature so they could do group presentations like they can in Google.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good:
Some really exciting discoveries about 1:1 iPads- amazing apps like Shakespeare in Bits.  I'm using it for  Romeo and Juliet.  It's an interactive study of the play. Think Sparknotes on steroids.  It's perfect for EL students because it reads the play to them, has a cartoon video accompanying the reading, and highlights the text as it goes.  It also has sections on characters, plot, themes, important quotes, etc.  We shouldn't even have to crack open the book for this one. 

There are also some good self-quizzing apps like Grammar Up.  I like that students get immediate results they can email me and the app tracks their progress. 

Consistent access to my class information:  I have a Google site where I've created pages for each subject, as well as a page for the class I advise.  I can post all important information, as well as the daily agenda and any links I want them to visit for the lesson or project.  The daily agenda and work due will be on the embedded Google calendar as well as an announcement page that will be archived so they can always find old information if necessary.

The Bad:
Although we planned on getting iPads to students by the third day of school, some of the equipment won't arrive in time so we are stuck figuring out how to fill a week. 

The Ugly:
Google Apps are not completely compatible and we have been using them on Netbooks and in the computer labs for over a year.  This is our biggest headache right now, but I am told "they" are working on it.  Hopefully "they" figure it out soon. 

How did we get here?

Our tech guys, administrators, and a few teachers have been in discussions for over a year about how to create a 21st Century high school. Two years ago the freshman teachers created a cohort. We decided the best place to institute real change would be at the beginning, with the freshmen. We held meetings to discuss common problems and possible solutions, as well as common expectations we have (or should have). Over time, things developed into discussions about how to best reach our students and after visiting Minartes High School (with a 1:1 Macbook program), we were on the technology bandwagon. We couldn't afford Macbooks for all of our students, but we thought Netbooks were a possibility. We attended the CUE Rockstar Academy in August at Minarets and were really excited about all the possibilities that come with student laptops.

As is often the case, Netbooks were delayed until January, so we had one semester of traditional textbook classrooms before we got to use what we had seen over the summer. I jumped in with both feet and went almost completely paperless second semester. I had a class set of Netbooks and I was prepared for all my students to have their own next year. About the first of May, I got a cryptic message from my tech guy saying, "Just wondering, what do you think of student iPads instead of Netbooks?" Say what?!

Apparently someone found out a couple schools are using iPads, made some visits, and the decision was made. All of our 9th and 10 graders will be issued an iPad2 in August (including my oldest daughter). Within 3 years, all students will have iPads. I am in the process of searching millions of apps to find the ones I want my students to have. All I can say is this should be an interesting year. . .