Yet another reason why I'm moving to Charleston, SC

Check out this pilot initiative taking place in two schools - 2,500 IPads distributed to 2 schools in Charleston County Public Schools.  Do you think they might be on to something????

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/apr/26/board-oks-ipad-trial-in-2-schools/

Top Teacher (& Student) Math Apps

Here is the first installment of "Favorite Apps" from our IPod Touch Pilot.  Using the App Rubric (see earlier post), teachers rated their top math apps.  In the coming weeks, look for additional app reviews in other content areas.

Here are our favorite fourth grade math apps as rated by Lauren Haber, one of our pilot teachers:

http://embedit.in/C3JZ8RWqZr


Here are our fifth grade math favorites as rated by Kay Antley, another of our pilot teachers:

http://embedit.in/pocERMcnC2

Please give us feedback on our selections or offer up any of your favorites. 

Evaluation Rubric For Apps

How much longer until we reach one million IPod/IPad/IPhone Apps?  Right around the corner, I'm sure.  To help separate some of the wheat from the chaff, I created a rubric for teachers and app developers so that a common language and structure could be used to evaluate the efficacy of educational apps.  It is now being used in by schools, universities and organizations in eight countries, 26 states, and the District of Columbia, has been presented at numerous conferences, can be found on 52 websites, and will be included in two books to be released later this year.  While I maintain intellectual property rights to the document, I encourage anyone who has an interest in using the rubric to contact me.  The cost?  Free.  All I ask in return is feedback on its usefulness.  You can find a PDF file of the rubric on Tony Vincent's website.  If you do not follow Tony's work, you really need to.

Here is the link: http://learninginhand.com/blog/evaluation-rubric-for-educational-apps.html

Coming Soon - Teacher's Favorite Apps

We have had a number of requests from folks regarding which apps our teachers have found to be the most effective in their work with their students. We are in the process of compiling a list of favorites and evaluating each in relation to our app evaluation rubric. Check back late next week for our list of best apps.

Patch.com Feature - Sandy Plains IPod Pilot Program

http://dundalk.patch.com/articles/elementary-students-learning-through-ipod-touch-pilot-program

BCPS Education Channel Interview - Harry Walker, Sandy Plains Elementary & Chris O'Neal, UVA

Sandy Plains IPod Pilot - WBAL TV News Feature, Baltimore