Final Thoughts

Since this is my final post for the class, I would like to leave you with some final thoughts.  There is one thing that I have learned from this class and writing this blog that I think we should all take with us as we continue our education and careers.

Let the curriculum drive the technology, not let the technology drive the curriculum.

In this world of education we are so enraptured with the addition of technology that we are at risk of forgetting our main focus, and that is the student.  We do not have to include technology into a classroom if it is not needed.  We can include it to keep a student's attention if it is a boring subject, such as the building of the Teanscontinental Railroad, or Westward Expansion (Sleeping yet?).  But we should not include it if it is not necessary.

Take SmartBoards.

I have heard many complaints about them, and they all have to do with one thing that the teacher is lacking.

Time

It is nice to have them in the class if the teacher has the time and need for it, but let's be real.  These things cost over $1000.00, and all many of them are is paperweights for the wall.

We should focus on learning about our particular class, and then see how they are reacting to our subject matter.  If they need a bit of a boost in order to understand the material, then let's use that tech!

IPad cost comparison

In this discussion, we will look st the costs associated with using an IPad in the classroom.  The biggest influence in migrating a school to the IPad is the costs associated with it.  It can be a bit daunting to make this transition, even without the cost analysis in play.

Let;s look at the basic cost of the IPad.  This will be a retail cost, without any school discounts or grants associated with it.  It will be for a school with 500 students.

The cost of an IPad, retail, is $399.00 (http://store.apple.com/us/buy/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad2).

$399.00 x 500 students = $199,500.00!!

Almost $200,000.00 !!!!

Now this cost is just for the IPad.  Let's look at the textbook.

Retail, the textbook for an IPad is $14.99 (http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/01/19/apples_e_textbooks_cost_1499_or_less_major_publishers_already_on_board.html)

Each student will have, on average, 6 textbooks, so let's do the math.

$14.99 x 6 classes x 500 students = $44,970.00

Now this includes updates to the text in case of typos, incorect information, etc.  It does not include new editions of the text, so if the school wants to keep up with editions, it will cost them this amount every time.

These prices are based on retail prices.  Apple has programs for the schools to get IPads cheaper, as well as the textbooks.

So there are the numbers.  good luck in trying to compare these to what is actually spent in the real world on texts, considering the publichers don't release the cost of the texts to anyone, even the schools when they buy them.

This is my rubric for my World War 2, Home Front Prezi Project for my students. It is designed for grades 11 and 12 in public school.

Digital Storytelling Example

Home Front Demo on Prezi

This is my Prezi example for my students on World War 2, Home Front.  This class is for grades 11 and 12.  We will be studying this while we are studying World War 2.  The Home Front is a study of what was happening in America while the War was going on overseas.  It highlights the sacrifices and work that we did here to help the war effort.

I added a video for the first time in this one, so if you get a chance watch it.  It's really cool.