Staying Safe Online is a booklet and digital resource that offers ideas to help students and their parents use the internet in a positive way. The booklet includes tips from popular digital platforms including Facebook, YouTube, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Trade Me and Twitter.
Download a copy at http://www.netsafe.org.nz/
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Core Education: Deploying and Managing iPads
13 August 2014
Key Learnings
• Apple Configurator - free app, runs on a Mac with OS10. To update iPads you need to plug them into the central Mac.
Key Learnings
• Apple Configurator - free app, runs on a Mac with OS10. To update iPads you need to plug them into the central Mac.
• Enrol iPads to MDM to update iPads over wifi.
• Meraki is a commonly used free MDM.
• MDM can remotely control AirPlay Mirroring.
• When you buy licences you have a choice - codes (like the back of an iTunes cards) or licences (a token you can use in the MDM). If code is issued to a user they keep it and it can't be reused. If a licence is given to a user this can be revoked. Supervised iPads using an MDM can use codes and revoke them but licences are preferable.
• Dishracks are great for storing iPads!
Presenter: Joseph Cox, Apple engineer, cox@apple.com
Host: Core Education: http://www.core-ed.org/
Host: Core Education: http://www.core-ed.org/
Shared notes: http://bit.ly/JCoxApple
My notes:
Summary of topics
Summary of topics
• The big picture:
• Deployment of iPads
• Mobile device management (MDM - Software to manage mobile devices
• Apple IDs
• APP and Volume Purchase Programme (VPP)
The Big Picture
• More people access the Internet with their mobile phone than their laptop. This is changing the way people interact and learn.
• People in third world countries without electricity and running water have phones used to trade crops, to bank via SMS.
• 800 million iOS devices sold worldwide - 500 million iPhones, 200 million iPads.
• iPads were only released 4 years ago but are now almost mainstream (pilots, mining, health ... )
• iPads took off in the health sector when the iPad mini was released as it fits in lab coat pocket!
• iOS8 to be released shortly.
• iPads are relatively new. They run in a similar way to an iPhone but function differently to a laptop.
• iPads were designed to be a personal device not a shared one.
Why should we aim for 1-to-1 devices?
• Kids have better outcomes
• Less work for IT - control and monitoring parameters
• Key things to think about:
- Infrastructure e.g. wifi (plan for more than you think, then double it!), proxy, PD
- Caching server - saves bandwidth costs. First child downloads it, subsequent students gets a copy of the first download
- Self-service vs. Directed
- Unmanaged vs. Managed
Supervised mode
• Apple Configurator - free app, runs on a Mac with OS10. To update iPads you need to plug them into the central Mac.
• Enrol iPads to MDM to update iPads over wifi
• Apple Configurator and MDM are two different tools
• Dishracks are great for storing iPads!
• You can do this without setting up multiple AppleIDs
Device Setup
• Setup Assistant
• iCloud (probably not on shared iPads)
• Activation Lock (Find my iPad using GPS chip)
• MDM query and command to enable
MDM
• Mobile device management
• 40-50 vendors, a hugely growing industry
• Meraki is a commonly used MDM https://meraki.cisco.com
• You can configure Settings (accounts, policies eg passcodes, restrictions, iCloud), query (version, updates, roaming status) deploy and manage apps, wipe data
• Profile Manager is NOT a full MDM. It is suitable as a small to medium-scale MDM solution.
AirPlay Mirroring
• Approximately $100.
• MDM can remotely control AirPlay Mirroring.
• Prompt user to share screen via Apple TV.
• Provide destination and password.
Apple IDs
• Go to https://appleid.apple.com/ for more information.
• An AppleID is designed to be a person NOT a device.
• Students need to be aged 13+ because you are agreeing to an online contract.
• Get the parents in EARLY and involve them in the process.
• Advocate: We want to change the kid's lives. We want to set them up for the future. FAQs. An expert to talk about Cyber Safety. Have students present their work in their own words.
Apps and Volume Purchase Programme (VPP)
• iLife and iWork apps free for iPads purchased after October 2013.
• For shared iPads, claim VPP codes to receive these apps.
• Device Enrolment Programme and Apple ID for students are available in the US and are coming to NZ soon. AppleID for students programme will help you legally enrol students >13.
• What can you buy on VPP? iPhone, iPad and Mac apps. Books.
- Special pricing on apps for education.
- 50% discount for 20 or more copies.
- Developers can opt in.
• If an app is not in the VPP, contact the developer directly. On the app page there is usually an email contact.
• When you buy licences you have a choice - codes (like the back of an iTunes cards) or licences (a token you can use in the MDM). If code is issued to a user they keep it and it can't be reused. If a licence is given to a user this can be revoked. Supervised iPads using an MDM can use codes and revoke them but licences are preferable.
• Codes - assign apps and books. Email or MDM
• Licences - Managed distribution with MDM. Retain full ownership of apps, Revoke and reassign apps.
• You can convert codes to licences by putting in a request to VPP.
• Pay for licenses by credit card or VPP credit paid for by purchase orders.
• The VPP can hand out the codes/licences.
• Read the iOS6 Education Deployment Guide. It is still relevant. http://images.apple.com/nz/education/docs/ios_6_education_deployment_guide.pdf
Roles
• Program agent - allow 1-2 weeks to set up. The app stores is a multi-billion dollar industry. The VPP is a big discount. It is only done for education and needs to be set up accordingly. Enrols organisation in to the program ad manages Program Admins
• Program admin - Purchases apps in volume on behalf of the organisation
• End users - Downloads and uses the purchased content
My questions
What is a proxy?
What is a cache?
These are the same thing. Once you have downloaded a page, a server stores it. Subsequent downloads access this page rather than downloading it over and over. It saves band width. This does not apply to pages that regularly update e.g. Stuff.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
EduTech 2014: Key learnings
3 and 4 June 2014
Attending the EduTech conference was an experience I am very grateful for as it has helped me redefine my role as an educator, challenge my practise and clarify my sense of purpose when making decisions that affect students, their learning and their teachers. It provided me with the opportunity to find out about current and upcoming digital tools which will help me make more informed decisions relating to the purpose, use and future direction of ICT at our school.
The six key messages I took from the conference and have reflected on are:
• Let go the control so the students take charge.
• The power of collaboration.
• The importance of students knowing the WHY.
• Celebrate and encourage your student's creativity, their interests and strengths. Challenge boundaries to make things happen.
• Be mindful of the stifling and potentially harmful effects of national testing when compliance is the dominant culture of our education system.
• The learning potential of using Google apps.
Check out my blog posts to read out more.
Attending the EduTech conference was an experience I am very grateful for as it has helped me redefine my role as an educator, challenge my practise and clarify my sense of purpose when making decisions that affect students, their learning and their teachers. It provided me with the opportunity to find out about current and upcoming digital tools which will help me make more informed decisions relating to the purpose, use and future direction of ICT at our school.
The six key messages I took from the conference and have reflected on are:
• Let go the control so the students take charge.
• The power of collaboration.
• The importance of students knowing the WHY.
• Celebrate and encourage your student's creativity, their interests and strengths. Challenge boundaries to make things happen.
• Be mindful of the stifling and potentially harmful effects of national testing when compliance is the dominant culture of our education system.
• The learning potential of using Google apps.
Check out my blog posts to read out more.
EduTech 2014: Sugata Mitra
Key
learnings:
•
Let go the control so the students take charge.
•
The power of collaboration.
• The
importance of students knowing the WHY.
One
of the most influential speakers at the conference was Sugata Mitra. He is a
professor of educational technology at Newcastle University. He designed the
“hole in the wall” experiment 15 years ago that involved embedding a computer
into a wall a slum in India where children had never experienced a computer,
the Internet, or even English to discover what would happen. The outcomes of
his experiment showed that children can and will direct their own learning when
their interest is sparked and when they are given control over their learning
environment. He concluded that when students work collaboratively they learn
beyond their chronological age because working as a group acts as a kind of
“intellectual amplifer”. When applying the results of his experiment to the
classroom Mitra adopted the “I don’t know, you figure it out” style of teaching
within a self-organised learning environment. If students thought there was a
good reason for doing it, they would research and self-teach new topics and
concepts. The role of the teacher within this learning environment was to
provide the motivation and creative self-organising methods.
Podcast
on Sugata Mitra's experiment: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/school-in-the-cloud/5498986
Mitra’s
ideas build on many of the philosophies we value at FOS such as the inquiry
process, independent learning and modern learning environments. The challenges
for me as an educator who values organisation, sequence and (if I am being
really honest) control over what the students are doing, are to actively plan
motivating learning opportunities where they why is clearly articulated, where
students take control and work collaboratively to investigate a question or
problem. My goal is to seek support from our highly talented GATEs specialist
to help me with this.
EduTech 2014: Sir Ken Robinson
Key
learnings:
• Celebrate and encourage your student's creativity, their interests and strengths. Challenge barriers to make things happen.
• Be mindful of the stifling and potentially harmful effects of national testing when compliance is the dominant culture of our education system.
The keynote speaker at the EduTech conference was Sir Ken Robinson. He is an inspiring speaker and wonderfully engaging storyteller who reflects deeply on educational issues.In his keynote Robinson put forward the challenge that education systems need to nurture rather than undermine creativity. He advocated that diversity, ecology, fairness and care must be in place in schools in order for education to be effective and his belief is that students learning in a school with a positive culture develop resilience, talent, hope and creativity.Robinson described how children are naturally diverse and have deep reserves of natural talent saying "If you can light the spark of curiosity they will learn". As children are natural learners, curiosity is the engine of achievement. So why are there so many students who disengage from school? because they don't get anything from it and don't enjoy it. Why is this? one reason is standardised testing that focuses on core subjects like English and Mathematics and doesn't recognise the wealth of creativity children have. Robinson believes children prosper most with a broad curriculum that celebrates their various talents therefore a quality education needs to give equal weighting to the Arts, PE and the humanities, not just English and Maths.
• Celebrate and encourage your student's creativity, their interests and strengths. Challenge barriers to make things happen.
• Be mindful of the stifling and potentially harmful effects of national testing when compliance is the dominant culture of our education system.
The keynote speaker at the EduTech conference was Sir Ken Robinson. He is an inspiring speaker and wonderfully engaging storyteller who reflects deeply on educational issues.In his keynote Robinson put forward the challenge that education systems need to nurture rather than undermine creativity. He advocated that diversity, ecology, fairness and care must be in place in schools in order for education to be effective and his belief is that students learning in a school with a positive culture develop resilience, talent, hope and creativity.Robinson described how children are naturally diverse and have deep reserves of natural talent saying "If you can light the spark of curiosity they will learn". As children are natural learners, curiosity is the engine of achievement. So why are there so many students who disengage from school? because they don't get anything from it and don't enjoy it. Why is this? one reason is standardised testing that focuses on core subjects like English and Mathematics and doesn't recognise the wealth of creativity children have. Robinson believes children prosper most with a broad curriculum that celebrates their various talents therefore a quality education needs to give equal weighting to the Arts, PE and the humanities, not just English and Maths.
Robinson went on to say the whole point of teaching is learning and the
role of a teacher is to facilitate learning. No school is better than its
teachers. Teaching is a creative profession but sadly in many countries it is
becoming deprofessionalised. The dominant culture of education has come to
focus on testing, not teaching and learning. While testing is important, it
should support learning not obstruct it. This focus on testing is facilitating
an educational culture of compliance not curiosity.
Robinson gave the example of the education system in Finland. Their
students score highly in Maths, Science and Reading (the only subjects tested).
What can we learn from them? Features of the Finish education system are that
they have a broad curriculum and don’t focus on 'core subjects.’ There is
minimal standardised testing. They also have a very low drop out rate as
students identified as having difficulty are well supported.
In summary, Sir Ken’s message was that high performing education systems
across the world individualise teaching and learning. They engage student’s
curiosity, recognise and encourage individuality and creativity to motivate
them to learn. These countries attribute a high status to the teaching
profession and invest heavily in professional development. They give their
schools the responsibility and discretion to make decisions for their staff and
students.
So, how does this apply to me? While I am not able to change the
education system of New Zealand, I can be mindful of the impact on students
when making decisions around assessment and its impact on teaching and
learning. As a parent, I am still wrestling with Sir Ken's ideas because
the mother in me wants to see my children 'achieve' and 'succeed' while the
educator in me asks "Who is defining what is being valued as important?
and Who is deciding what defines success?' Shouldn't I just celebrate the fact
that my daughter is an amazing artist or that my son has great interpersonal
skills rather than fretting about whether they use fullstops correctly or what
times table they need to memorise?
What I can affect change on is recognising, supporting and encouraging
the creativity, passions and strengths of the students I teach. I can actively
help students find ways to challenge the norms, overcome barriers and make
their dreams happen then encourage them to share and celebrate their successes.
In my role as AP I can model my passion for teaching and learning, making time
to talk with staff about their professional journeys, helping them look for
ways to overcome challenges and frustrations and to share their triumphs. No
small task but certainly a goal worth aiming for!
Link to Sir Ken Robinson’s TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_how_to_escape_education_s_death_valley#t-333637
EduTech 2014: Google Apps
Key learning:
• The learning potential of using Google apps.
When I wasn't listening to speakers or attending workshops, I spent much of my time at the Google stand in the Expo arena.
• The learning potential of using Google apps.
When I wasn't listening to speakers or attending workshops, I spent much of my time at the Google stand in the Expo arena.
Attending these short presentations allowed me to learn about the features of different Google Apps and ask questions about how they are used. The potential of these digital tools for researching, creating, sharing, collaborating and gathering feedback is huge.
Since returning from the conference I have worked alongside our Year 4-6 classes to set up individual email addresses and use many of the Google apps. Students are now researching, working collaboratively on documents and presentations, sharing their learning with their teachers and critical friends, and giving and receiving quality feedback. The next step for our students is to share their work with their parents, inviting them to make comments on specific writing goals.
Each Tuesday morning, I facilitate a group of Year 5 and 6 students known as the 'Tech Wizards'. These Year 5 and 6 students meet to learn about new technologies, discuss how these can be applied to their learning and how they can share these with others. Currently we are working towards a cluster conference in the September holidays which will involve them presenting in a to teachers from at least 7 nearby schools in a 'speed dating' format. My goal is to work with them on the quality of their presentations using criteria to self and peer-assess their communication skills and quality of information shared.
Google class is being released shortly ... I can't wait to see what it has to offer!
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