1:1 iPad Rollout

We did it!  We distribute over 100 iPads to 4 sixth grade homerooms on Wednesday.  Phew.  What a sigh of relief! 

We started with the entire pilot group in the cafeteria (oh yeah, air conditioning!) where the tech director got the kids pumped (like that was even necessary!) and had a discussion with students about caring for the iPads and appropriate use.  Then, we passed out each iPad clad in its monstrous Otterbox case.

Then, students went back to their homerooms where we spent first period setting pass codes, setting up email on the iPad, and practicing downloading an app from a link distributed to students.  Every homeroom teacher had at least one other tech teacher or tech support specialist in the room as well.  When the bell rang, the students were sure to lock their iPads in their lockers and head off to PE.  Throughout the day, every student was given the opportunity to use the iPad in small ways.  

Here's what I experienced, saw, and heard on day 1: 

During everyone's 2nd period prep immediately after the distribution....

• One team of the pilot teachers hugged it out with giant smiles on their faces.  Success, relief, excitement...whatever it was, it was awesome. 
• I got several high fives.  Everyone was happy with the way the morning had started.    
• Our 6th grade administrator asked us each what our favorite candy bar was.  We all deserved a treat! 
• We had conversations about how tech savvy our students are.  What did we expect when we asked who already had some kind of iOS device and every single student raised his or her hand?!  

Throughout the day...

• In Math, students viewed a document of geometry questions posted to their teacher's website.  They completed their work and wrote their answers in their notebooks.  The teacher was thrilled with what he was able to do with color on the worksheet.  It's not like he could print color copies for everyone before! 
• In Writing, students used UPAD to start their 6 Traits of Writing chart - a document they will continue to add to and refer to throughout the year.  
• In another Writing class, students logged into Google Docs, set up a folder, and started writing! 

All along, the teachers had been told, "You don't need to use the iPads on Day 1."  All five of them agreed, though, that using them for an hour in the morning to set things up and then putting them away all day was more stressful than trying to incorporate them in some way.  These were just little ways to incorporate the iPads.  Was it anything transformational?  Not really, but we'll get there.  

I'm not gonna' lie, the day was pretty stressful.  iPads, after all, aren't the only piece of technology used in the building on any day.  Plus, there were students who didn't remember their iTunes passwords or an entire class of iPads that lost their wifi connection.  But as I write this, all I can do is smile.  We got through it, and everyone problem solved.  I'm so looking forward to seeing where we go with this program.