Upcoming Opening Minds Conference in Chicago

     If you happen to be in the Chicago area at the end of January (It's likely because you chose to live in the area - not the height of tourist season for sure!), The Chicago Metro Association for the Education of Young Children is hosting their annual conference at McCormick Place January 31-February 1, 2014.  Gail Conway and her crew always stage a quality conference.  I will be presenting a half day session on technology use with young children on Thursday morning with Tracey Conners from the great state of Wis-Connnn-sin (pronounced like Discount Daaable-check)  Tracey is a principal and has some great ideas about how to use iPads in schools.  Me?  I'll be tapping into the collective genius of the audience to once and for all settle the question, "How should we be using technology with our youngest learners?"  Hope to see you there.

Here is the link to the conference if you are interested in learning more, and hopefully attending:

http://www.chicagometroaeyc.org/opening-minds

Feeling the iLove in Lyndhurst, New Jersey

Students in Lyndhurst, New Jersey will be the proud owners of 1,400 new iPads thanks to the visionary leadership of Superintendent Tracey Marinelli.  Staff and students will be working directly with folks form Apple for support and professional development.  Using a four year lease-to-own contract makes so much sense to me given the rapidly developing technology market.  The contract contains a clause where Apple will update technology without an increase in the lease.  Keep an eye on North Jersey this year....

Here is the piece form northjersey.com

http://www.northjersey.com/news/business/143792856_Every_student__teacher_to_get_iPad.html

Assistive Technology Roundup

I just came across the article written by special education teacher Vicki Windman that was published last month on techlearning.com.  It provides a slew, that's right a slew of resources, websites, accessories, and programs reviews of folks all over the country doing cool stuff with assistive technology.  Check it out at:

http://www.techlearning.com/article/52193

Another Day, Another IPad District

Students and teachers in New Hampshire are getting in the game. William Allen Elementary purchased 50 IPads for their classrooms and are focused on using them in interactive ways rather than simply playing games and apps.  Students are working on research, creating projects, and developing presentations for their peers.  You can read about their project below:

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120220/GJNEWS_01/702209949/-1/FOSNEWS

California Streaming on Such a Sunny Day

A number of school systems in California are "taking the leap" and purchasing IPads for their students. Annette Alpern, assistant superintendent of instructional services at the Redondo Beach Unified School District sums it up best when she says,  "There is not a ton of debate about whether this is a direction the schools are heading." "The question is more: How quickly will the future arrive?"

Manhattan Beach Unified purchased 560 devices for a pilot project this fall.  The verdict so far: The iPads are enhancing the learning process.

Read all about it below:

http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_20001723

East Haven's IPad Reading Initiative

Teachers and students in New Haven Connecticut have a set of IPads for each of their schools thanks to a district wide initiative.  Although the article from the New Haven Register makes more references to teacher driven uses (assessment, record keeping, etc.) they are being used in small groups with kids as well.  Note to teachers - make sure the kids get to use them more than you do, please.  You can read the piece below:

http://nhregister.com/articles/2012/02/12/news/metro/doc4f385e050a0c2202663898.txt

Obama Wants Digital Textbooks

Not being the biggest fan on government intervention, I was a little concerned when I cam across this piece in USE Today. As much as I an a fan of e-textbooks and digital media, I'm not sure it's the government's role to "begin pushing publishers, computer tablet makers, and Internet service providers to lower their costs."  I am a believer in the free market and believe we will continue to see a drop in costs and an increase in availability of e-texts as dictated by market pressures.  I'm also a little concerned about government "picking winners" in this process of adopting digital texts.  At any rate, at least the transition is getting national attention and I suppose that's a good thing.  You can read the piece below:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2012-01-31/schools-e-textbooks/52907492/1