iPad adventure update

Its been a while since I last blogged so with a bit of free time, I thought it was a great opportunity to share and up-date you how mine and the departments iPad adventure is progressing.

Our iPad adventure started in September 2012 and it is very obvious that the department has embraced the iPads as a teaching aid. At a department meeting just before Christmas we discussed what we had been doing with our iPads, what apps we had explored and our thoughts on how iPads are impacting on our teaching and students learning.

Below is a list of different apps that we have used in our teaching:

Analysing performance

ipad camera;  Coach's eye; CoachMVideo; Ubersense;

All these apps have been used in similar ways, to support and develop students ability to peer and self assessment their own and others performances. Even using the ipad camera enables students to watch video clips and view photos providing information for them to comment on, share and discuss with others (feedback to feedforward - be kind, be specific, be helpful) so they can improve performance. The other three apps have the ability to annotate drawing and audio over the top of clips and photos.

Demonstrating learning

• ipad Notes; Edmodo; Evernote; youtube; googledocs, iMovie

Video clips and photos can be up-loaded to these apps (expect ipad notes) enable staff to store evidence of student progress throughout a scheme of learning or over a longer period of time. I am currently using Edmodo with my year 10 GCSE PE group and my year 8 core PE group and its proving a valuable resource, especially with the GCSE group. I am particularly liking the ability to post comments, set quizzes, polls and assignments and give instant feedback when work has been submitted. It also allows me to attach photos and clips for students to watch either to prepare for their next lesson or to review their performances.

Research

• safari; youtube

With only one ipad it can prove tricky using these apps (and you have to be very clear with students about expectations when using these apps), however two of my colleagues Andy Baynton @theandyb10 and Julia Sowden @juliasowden20 used both their ipads as additional coaches in a yr11 GCSE PE basketball lesson. They split the group into four groups, they took a group each while the other two groups had an ipad each.

Storage & sharing

• Dropbox; Evernote; Edmodo; Youtube;

Used to store evidence of student progress, enabling students and staff to view clips to assess their own and other progress. It also allows staff build up a bank of evidence to use for department moderation and show good practice.

The next stages of the ipad adventure will see the introduction of Apple TV's in the sportshall to further enhance student analyse of performance. As staff, we will continue exploring all these apps mentioned and probably many more as teaching aids in PE lessons.

Let the iPad adventure continue!