Each week students who use the iPads are given an 'App store' budget - the only catch is that they have to record and justify their purchases and explain how the App has aided their learning. While the $ amount is relatively small students have been advised to let me know if they find a worthwhile App that is outside of their budget. Surprisingly, very few students are coming even close to spending their allowance. Don't be fooled into thinking students are content with using the few Apps already on the iPads, the volume of Apps downloaded is huge - 109 in just over five weeks, an average of 8 - 10 Apps per student!
Students have reported that the FREE Apps are often the best! (For a full list see Useful Apps) In particular the LOTE (Language other than English) and the Maths Apps are a huge hit.
Students have reported that the FREE Apps are often the best! (For a full list see Useful Apps) In particular the LOTE (Language other than English) and the Maths Apps are a huge hit.
Apps categorised by Apple as 'Productivity Apps' also feature high on students download list. According to one student these Apps "help to organise time and make completing homework easy and fun". While Pages, Numbers and Keynote were all preloaded onto the iPads, students have rated these Apps as "highly important and an absolute necessity for an iPad user". Other Productivity Apps of interest include SmartNote, Musical Notes Sheet Music and To dos List.
So the big question is why are students not spending their allowance? When asked this question one replied with what I deem a fairy logical answer, "they cover exactly what we are working on in class" in reference to free Apps. My students are in Yr 7 and they feel the content used and tested in the free Apps is sufficient for their standard of learning and achievement.
Interestingly almost 85% of the Apps recommended by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) as part of the Vic iPad Trial have been downloaded by my students. According to the DEECD these Apps have been chosen to determine their teaching and learning potential.
Make sure you check out what Apps the students are purchasing at: Useful Apps
What other Apps are of interest to your students?
So the big question is why are students not spending their allowance? When asked this question one replied with what I deem a fairy logical answer, "they cover exactly what we are working on in class" in reference to free Apps. My students are in Yr 7 and they feel the content used and tested in the free Apps is sufficient for their standard of learning and achievement.
Interestingly almost 85% of the Apps recommended by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) as part of the Vic iPad Trial have been downloaded by my students. According to the DEECD these Apps have been chosen to determine their teaching and learning potential.
Make sure you check out what Apps the students are purchasing at: Useful Apps
What other Apps are of interest to your students?
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