One to Watch: Show Me

As we are progressing with our integration of the iPads there are applications that come along and seem to fit into our program with ease.  Show Me (free) is one of these apps.

Show Me is an interactive whiteboard for your iPad.  Students can record a voice-over as they are demonstrating a concept.  For example, in mathematics students can solve a math problem and explain the steps they are taking as they do so.  In music students can demonstrate the knowledge of notes.  For science students can draw a picture of a cell and describe it or chose an existing picture of a cell and label the parts.

Within the app students can draw or write using black, grey, red, blue, green, orange, or purple. They can erase individual components of their board or erase the entire screen at once.  Photos can be inserted.

These short clips can then be uploaded to the Internet for public or personal viewing.  The finished products can be embeded in a blog, a wiki, or on a website.

The steps detailed below explain the process of posting and embedding your Show Me creations!

On the iPad:

Install and launch the Show Me application.  Create your own short clip by pressing the record button and drawing on your whiteboard.  When you finish a menu will appear asking if you want to name and

save your clip. After you complete this step it will prompt you to upload your Show Me clip to the Internet allowing for public (within their directory) or private (viewable by only those you share the link with) views.    If you don't have an account you can create one from the iPad or from your computer.

On the Internet:

1. Visit Show Me's website at http://www.showme.com/

2. If you are new to the site click the "sign up" link and create an account.  After you have an account you'll select the "login" link.

3.  Once you are logged in click on the "my profile" link near the upper righthand corner. 

4. From here you will see all of the Show Me clips you have uploaded from your iPad.  Select one of your clips. When selected the video rendering process begins automatically.

5.  After your video is rendered and ready to go you will see a screen where it can be played right away.  You can also edit the settings (title, description, etc.).  If you are interested in embedding your Show Me clip click on the "embed" option and copy the code.

Examples of an embedded Show Me clip are below:

Here's a link to another blog post on using Show Me:

Internet Safety Reflections

During our Internet Safety Presentation we learned ten tips about staying safe on the Internet:

1. Anything posted on the Internet can be traced back to the sender. 
2. Once it's online it can stay there forever (or be altered or passed around). 
3. Always log off of accounts even on your own personal devices. 
4. If you wouldn't say it to your parents or teachers don't say it online!  
5. Don't post pictures of yourself or your friends on the Internet. 
6. Never post your full name online (stick to your first name/last initial). 
7. Think before you post! Don't let anger or frustration cause you to post something you will later regret. 
8. Block and report anyone you feel is threatening you. Tell a trusted adult right away. 
9. Don't open emails from people you don't know. 
10. Don't be mean! 

 Which of these tips do you think is the most important? Do any of them mean something to you?

Internet Safety at MCA

Internet Safety is everybody's business!!  Below is a presentation that was shown to our 5th & 6th grade classrooms to make sure they stay safe on the iPads.  If you can't view the presentation below it can be found at http://prezi.com/b3vxxlfei4n4/online-safety-at-mca/.  If you are interested in seeing the information and contract that was sent home to parents please visit http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/70104499?access_key=key-zx2omjg78v9otp8dq2i

Online Safety at MCA! on Prezi

Student Survey CPS

Hi Students. As you know May Community Academy is fortunate to have iPads due to a grant we were awarded through Chicago Public Schools. Last week you took a survey for us, this week you need to take a survey for CPS. Please follow the link below to get to the survey.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHdxcnZfdFBXeTVta3JyNGtpeFZXcFE6MA

Rolling out the iPads

Today was the first day of iPad roll out at May Community Academy.  The teachers and I have been meeting on a regular basis to establish procedures for this week.  Ms. Beckom's 6th grade class, room 203 were the first to receive the iPads.

Today the iPads were brought up by me in bags (7 per bag).  Ms. Beckom had the students make signs that listed their name and iPad number prior to my arrival.  These would be taken with a photo of each student and made the background for each iPad.  This provides more ownership by each student and makes it quick to identify who's iPad belongs to whom.

When I arrived I simply had to call out an iPad number such as B-7 and the students came up to collect their iPad.  The distribution went smoothly.  I demonstrated for the students the basics: home button, using the camera, maps, how to zoom, and volume control as well as how to save a picture as a background. Students quickly adapted to the iPad and found Photo Booth right away.  They seemed to enjoy browsing through the other apps, stopping to practice math facts in the Math Ninja app!

The final part of today's roll out was to take the iPad survey embedded as a post in this blog. This is a survey unique to MCA; they will complete iPad grant surveys later in the week.  The plan is to take screen shots of the survey results and allow students to interpret data based on the responses of their classmates.  Check back in a few weeks for that post.  

Three students (along with 3 alternatives) were chose to be responsible for picking up, distributing, collecting, and reconnecting the iPads daily.  Those students did a great job today!

iPad Survey for Students

Initial Thoughts

So....what are your initial thoughts on the iPads?  Do you think you will like them?