Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Technology as Teacher or Babysitter?

Mobile Device Tips for Parents

Written by Sarah Lane with Jeremy Brueck

Most children use the summer break from school to relax and play. Most parents hope their children will learn something over break, and with all the offerings of mobile technology, the options are vast—and confusing.  So which technological amusement is more teacher than babysitter? How can children benefit intellectually and academically from the many apps available on iPads, smartphones and other mobile devices?

The challenge for parents is to make sure that their children are using technology appropriately—that they are exercising their minds and not merely their thumbs. Jeremy Brueck, director of the Digital Text Initiative at The University of Akron’s Center for Literacy, offers the following tips.

Tip #1: Establish rules and stick to them. Brueck recommends establishing age-specific rules before giving children access to mobile devices.

Younger children, of course, may not be ready to set up and synchronize a device, to navigate the menus or make purchases from the app store—in which case parents should manage the device until the child is older.

For older children (about fifth grade and older), parents should consider drafting an agreement about usage. Brueck’s 13-year-old twins signed an agreement that set boundaries for “Responsible Use” and “Productive Contributions to Society.” For each family, the parameters will vary.

For children of all ages, parents should establish a “work before play” rule. During the summer, this could require children to get all of their chores done or to practice the piano before using the mobile device. In addition, families should set screen time rules, for example, “no devices at the dinner table.”

Tip #2: Don’t rely too much on built-in controls. Parents need to be aware of what their children are doing with mobile devices. Brueck approves of built-in settings and controls that censor content but warns against overreliance on these controls. Parents should take it upon themselves to monitor and intervene—especially when children are shopping for applications.

“This is important, not only in terms of censoring content, but also for financial reasons,” Brueck says. “The best system is for kids to ask for permission to purchase an app, and then for parents to review and approve the request.”

Another option, Brueck points out, is for parents to set up an Apple ID account for children without entering credit card information. Brueck recommends giving kids a pre-loaded gift card so they can buy content without spending a fortune. Meanwhile, parents should be wary of free apps that contain ads and in-app purchase options.

Tip #3: Have specific “dark” times when the device is turned off. These “dark” periods allow kids to participate in alternate activities. Brueck suggests having kids come up with their own list of alternate activities to post on the refrigerator.

“This gives children a sense of ownership, since they are choosing what to do when the devices are off,” he says.

Activities could include reading, playing with Legos or board games, drawing, or playing outside.

Tip #4: Research apps before you buy. The app world is constantly growing and changing, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse, and keeping up with what is appropriate and relevant can seem overwhelming. Parents should therefore test each app before letting their kids use them.

“Don’t be afraid to delete apps that turn out to be duds,” Brueck says.

Brueck estimates that for every 10 free apps that are downloaded, eight of them are duds.

Several online communities for parents and teachers provide app reviews from professional educators and lay users. Notable sources of app reviews include:


Brueck urges parents and kids to explore apps together. Parents need to determine how much of their children’s screen time will be spent on fun activities, and how much on educational activities. Mobile devices can be used to play games, but they also allow users to be creative and produce content. Educational apps with a gaming component, such as Toontastic, AudioBoo and Puppet Pals, both entertain and help to promote essential skill development for some children.

Tip #5: Teach children to take care of the device. Of course, parents should make sure that their children understand that their hands need to be clean and that they must not eat or drink when using the device. Parents should check manufacturer recommendations for proper cleaning and maintenance. Cleaning cloths are useful for wiping screens and extending the life of the devices.

Tip #6: It’s about parenting, not the device. Learning begins at home, and parents play a key role in their children’s social and educational development. Giving a child a mobile device is an opportunity to teach that child, through active involvement, about the responsible use of technology.  

“As a parent, you need to cultivate an understanding of what it means to be a responsible user of technology,” Brueck says. “This means that parents will need to model and guide their children and participate in device-based, cooperative activities with them. Parents who allow their children to use mobile devices should realize that this is a continued investment in the child, not just a one-time fee to purchase the device.”


Monday, May 13, 2013

Improving Literacy with Apps | Jim Harmon


Session Description

The iPad is a powerful tool in literacy instruction through the power of apps to differentiate instruction for students. Learn best practices for integration of the iPad in grades 4-12 Common Core aligned ELA instruction.

Resources

Link to Presentation

Room: 312
Time 8:30-10:00
Presenter: Jim Harmon, Elyria City Schools

Unleash Student Creativity with the iPad | Dr. William Bauer


Session Description

Creativity is a neglected aspect of student development in today's schools. In this session participants will discuss what it means to be creative, learn about apps that can be used to facilitate creativity, and develop a creative mini-project using the iPad.

Resources

iPad Creativity Apps for Students & Teachers
http://list.ly/4ea


Room: 335
Time: 8:30-10:00
Presenter: Bill Bauer, University of Florida

Using Configurator to Manage your Devices | TJ Houston

Session Description

In this session we will focus on using a free tool from Apple, Apple Configurator. Apple configurator is a tool that allows you to setup, configure, update iPads en masse. We will discuss how to deploy applications, push out preferences, and update devices.

Resources

Link to Presentation

Room: 314
Time: 8:30-10:00
Presenter: TJ Houston, Huron City Schools

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Creating and Editing Student Video on the iPad | Eric Siler


Session Description

Attend this session with iMovie already download on your iPad. Get a crash course in how to shoot and edit video on the iPad. Engage in a hands-on lesson that will further your understanding and use of creating and editing videos on the iPad.

Resources

Participants, please share your completed iMovie files with us by uploading the files at www.dropitto.me/brueckj23. You'll need to use the password "forjeremy" (no quotes). Thanks!


Room: 335
Time: 10:20-11:50
Presenter: Eric Siler

Wireless Lag and the Importance of Adequate Infrastructure in Mobile Deployments


As participants of the iPad Symposium may be discovering, wireless network connectivity is currently lagging. Many people are experiencing difficulty connecting to the wifi network. Others are having trouble loading web pages quickly. This is most likely the result of adding 150+ devices to the wireless infrastructure at the Student Union. In a lot of cases, many people are attempting to download apps that they are discovering in sessions to their iPads. As you can imagine, when 150 people try downloading apps at the same time on the same network, you are going to notice performance issues. This is why the Center for Literacy asked you to review the schedule prior to attending and download the recommended apps before you came to campus. 

While we are extremely happy that you are all finding great new apps to try in your classroom, we ask that you are understanding of the situation and try to keep the network bandwidth free for more essential tasks like web browsing, social networking access & updates, etc... All the apps our presenters are sharing are listed in the online schedule and you will be able to download them after the Symposium concludes.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Apps for Common Core | Paula Deal

Session Description

The Common Core State Standards adopted into the Ohio learning standards focus on reading, writing, speaking, research and math skills that leads to college and career readiness. This overview will share apps that support these standards, as well as resources for finding, evaluating and utilizing them.


Resources

Download Session Handouts

Room: 335
Time: 12:40-2:10
Presenter: Paula Deal, INFOhio