In a few weeks or months (gee, I hope I don’t procrastinate that long), I’ll have the opportunity to make more recommendations to schools. Those recommendations? Read on….
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Image Source: http://goo.gl/iigBwI |
- Establish computer lab(s) at a ratio of 11 students to 1 computer in a lab. These should be the most durable, least expensive, longest-lasting desktop computers that will suffice for multimedia tutorial software and Pearson high stakes testing. Before you say it, yes, the world is changing but let’s stop pretending we don’t need desktop computers. Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.
- Provide classroom teachers with a desktop computer and an iPad, at minimum. And, only after consultation with teachers and checking the budget.
- Determine the why first. Before buying anything for use with students in the classroom, ask yourself, what is the instructional purpose for that equipment? Map out intended uses.
- Podcasting/vidcasting to share what students are learning and creating (all tools)
- Creating slideshows, digital stories/poems to share with a world-wide audience (all tools)
- Writing and publishing online (e.g. check out the Digitizing the Writing Workshop webinar series) with text, multimedia ebooks, ebooks, print documents.
- Creating (teacher and students) and accessing flipped classroom videos
Note: The document below is available for editing online.
Possible Learning Activities
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Chromebook
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Cost: $399
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iPad
Cost: : Check pricing options at bottom of post
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Laptop (Mac/Win)
Cost: $1300
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Laptop
(Linux)
Cost: $1200
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“Coding” or Programming
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Scratch
Lots of choices
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MIT’s Scratch
Python
Lots of choices
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MIT’s Scratch
Python
Lots of choices
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Engage in desktop publishing
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Pages
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Pages
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Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Presentation, Drawing Tools
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GoogleApps for Education
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GoogleApps for Education
Lots more
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GoogleApps for Education
iWorks
Office2HD
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GoogleApps for Education
iWorks
NeoOffice
Others
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GoogleApps for Education
Others
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Advanced image editing (e.g. layers, lasso tools)
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Several apps
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Tons of apps
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Photoshop
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Others
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Screencasting (e.g. Flipped Classroom)
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???
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Reflection on computer + Quicktime/SnagIt
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Quicktime
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Video/Audio recording, editing and mixing
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Others
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iMovie
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iMovie
Moviemaker
Others
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Drill-n-Practice and/or Tutorial programs (e.g. Edgenuity)
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HTML5
Flash
Web-based only
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HTML5
Flash
App or web-based
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HTML5
App or web-based
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HTML5
Flash
Program installer
Web-based
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HTML5
Flash
Web-based
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TexasSuccess (e.g. iStation, Think Through Math)
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Think Through Math
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No
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No
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All
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Web-based only
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Rich multimedia product creation
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Web-based
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App or web-based
ExplainEverything app
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App or web-based
ExplainEverything
Prezi
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Keynote
Powerpoint
LibreOffice
Prezi
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LibreOffice
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Slideshows
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HaikuDeck
GoogleSlides
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Haiku Deck
Google Slides
Others
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Haiku Deck
Google Slides
Others
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Haiku Deck
Google Slides
Keynote
Powerpoint
LibreOffice
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HaikuDeck
GoogleSlides
LibreOffice
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Video/Audio Conferencing
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GoogleHangouts
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GoogleHangouts
Skype
GoToMeeting
Adobe Connect
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GoogleHangouts
Skype
GoToMeeting
Adobe Connect
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GoogleHangouts
Skype
GoToMeeting
Adobe Connect
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GoogleHangouts
Skype
GoToMeeting
Adobe Connect
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Cloud Storage
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GoogleDrive
Dropbox
Others
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GoogleDrive
Dropbox
Others
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GoogleDrive
Dropbox
Others
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GoogleDrive
Dropbox
Others
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GoogleDrive
Dropbox
Others
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iPad Mini – $279 (10-pack pricing),
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iPad 2 $379 (10-pack pricing),
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iPad Air $479 (10-pack pricing).
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Hi Miguel-
Thanks for sharing the link to the Google page on the EOL of their Chromebooks. I like the transparency. I wish that you could share a similar link from Apple regarding iPod touches and iPads as some of the earlier versions aren't genuinely supported either. We have plenty in our district that teachers are stuck with. Thanks goodness we included a refresh cycle in our budget.