Academics, Sports, and Angry Birds

Successes:

• Attendance: Very useful for taking attendance, both in class and in sports practices. For track, I simply handed off the iPad to a student who could check off the students as they entered the room (using the program, “Numbers”). I also used the iPad to take attendance prior to track meets.
• Statistics: We tested the athletes at the beginning of the season and used the iPad to record and store the data.
• Video: This has proved to be the most useful aspect of the iPad. Using “Coaches’ Eye”, we recorded athletes as they high jumped, long jumped, hurdled, threw, and ran. This program allowed us to teach the athletes about proper form and to give them useful tips or improvement. We also recorded many of the events at track meets and were able to quickly convert the video files into movies that could be hosted on the KES youtube channel. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVMXxiitLvk&feature=g-all-u.
• Textbooks and other documents: the math textbooks, and other documents such as the IB data booklet or miscellaneous assignments, could be stored on the iPad under iBooks. This allowed for easy storage and transport. Also, if tutoring a student, I could quickly access these important documents.
• General efficiency: The iPad simply made me more efficient. I could quickly access documents, the KES website, the student directory, etc. I think it is a very valuable tool for a teacher’s day-to-day tasks. 

Other reflections:

• I have not yet figured out how to appropriate the iPad into my classroom teaching to make the classes more interactive and interesting. I briefly tried “Splashtop”, but did not see how it would allow functionality better than a chalkboard or paper and pencil. I will continue to explore various iPad applications.
• I am now addicted to Angry Birds.