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.
