What do our middle school teachers think about the iPads?

Reposted from the Marshall Simonds Middle School Help Desk Blog:

Mrs. Barkley (Spanish)

What is the best part about having the iPads?	Variety of lesson plans
What is the worst part about having the iPads?	Sometimes technology does NOT work
How are the Ipads helpful in the classrooms?	They give the students and teachers a variety of teaching and learning strategies
What apps do the kids use most?	Study Blue- flashcards, Google Drive- paragraphs, Evernote- notes & projects
Do you find that the students get distracted easily by having the iPads on them?	Sometimes
What do you use the iPads mostly for?	Teaching Tool
Do you think the iPads were a good addition to the school and the students education?	Yes
Do you prefer having the iPads in class or not at all?	I prefer to have them as an everyday option
Do you think the iPads would be more helpful if the students could take the iPads home?	Yes, I think it would be easier, 8th graders especially if they could take them home
Are there any apps that you have used previously that are NOT on the iPads that you think should be on them?	Fruit Ninja, Scrabble, and Boggle
Overall what are your thoughts on the iPads?	I think that they can help students stay organized and more engaged

 

Mrs. Cerretani (Science)

Best part of having the iPads?	Google Search
Worst part about the iPads?	Secretly getting on the internet
How are they helpful in the classrooms?	Notes
What app do the kids use most?	Notability
Do you find that the students get distracted easily by having the iPads on them?	Some
What do you use the iPads mostly for?	Notes and Search
Do you think the iPads were a good addition to the school and the students education?	Limited use; too much tech is not good for anybody
Do you prefer having the iPads in class or not at all?	Not at all; over used, don't need
Do you think the iPads would be more helpful if the students could take the ipads home?	Take the iPads home
Are there any apps that you have used previously that are NOT on the iPads that you think should be on them?	None
Overall what are your thoughts on the iPads?	Useful

Mrs. Dearden (Art)

Best part of having the iPads?	Search - Resource - Tracking
Worst part about the iPads?	No printing
How are they helpful in the classrooms?	Research and tracking
What app do the kids use most?	Safari
Do you find that the students get distracted easily by having the iPads on them?	Some
What do you use the iPads mostly for?	Research
Do you think the iPads were a good addition to the school and the students education?	Yes
Do you prefer having the iPads in class or not at all?	In class
Do you think the ipads would be more helpful if the students could take the iPads home?	Not necessary
Are there any apps that you have used previously that are NOT on the iPads that you think should be on them?	None
Overall what are your thoughts on the iPads?	Lucky kids

Mrs. Hewitt (Language Arts)

Best part of having the iPads?	Something New/ Challenge
Worst part about the iPads?	Feeling like I want to be the best with the iPads
How are they helpful in the classrooms?	Used in so many different ways
What app do the kids use most?	Notability and Google Drive
Do you find that the students get distracted easily by having the iPads on them?	Not Really
What do you use the iPads mostly for?	Writing Process
Do you think the iPads were a good addition to the school and the students education?	Yes, because it is making Burlington stand out
Do you prefer having the iPads in class or not at all?	I prefer and can NOT see class without them now
Do you think the iPads would be more helpful if the students could take the ipads home?	There are positives and negatives; but over all it would be good
Are there any apps that you have used previously that are NOT on the iPads that you think should be on them?	No
Overall what are your thoughts on the iPads?	It is a good thing mostly because we all learn from it and it is helpful and makes us more flexible

Miss Mirabella (Spanish) 

Best part of having the iPads?	Quia
Worst part about the iPads?	Distractions
How are they helpful in the classrooms?	Hands-on
What app do the kids use most?	Safari
Do you find that the students get distracted easily by having the iPads on them?	Few kids
What do you use the ipads mostly for?	Vocab
Do you think the iPads were a good addition to the school and the students education?	Yes
Do you prefer having the iPads in class or not at all?	In class
Do you think the iPads would be more helpful if the students could take the ipads home?	Yes
Are there any apps that you have used previously that are NOT on the iPads that you think should be on them?	No
Overall what are your thoughts on the iPads?	They are helpful

Mrs. Molina (Family Consumer Science)

Best part of having the iPads?	Instant access to information
Worst part about the iPads?	Distractions
How are they helpful in the classrooms?	Helpful to get questions answered quickly
What app do the kids use most?	My fitness pal
Do you find that the students get distracted easily by having the iPads on them?	No
What do you use the iPads mostly for?	Resource
Do you think the iPads were a good addition to the school and the students education?	Can be if it is used properly
Do you prefer having the iPads in class or not at all?	Rather have it
Do you think the iPads would be more helpful if the students could take the ipads home?	Yes, a lot more helpful
Are there any apps that you have used previously that are NOT on the ipads that you think should be on them?	I do not know
Overall what are your thoughts on the iPads?	When used for the purpose of educating and not just used to be used than it is helpful

Mr.Pearl (Language Arts)

Best part of having the iPads?	Research
Worst part about the iPads?	Distraction
How are they helpful in the classrooms?	Debate,Research
What app do the kids use most?	I do not know
Do you find that the students get distracted easily by having the iPads on them?	Yes, a little
What do you use the iPads mostly for?	Research
Do you think the iPads were a good addition to the school and the students education?	Yes, to a degree
Do you prefer having the iPads in class or not at all?	In classroom
Do you think the ipads would be more helpful if the students could take the iPads home?	No
Are there any apps that you have used previously that are NOT on the iPads that you think should be on them?	None
Overall what are your thoughts on the iPads?	Good Start

Mr. Powers (Language Arts)

Best part of having the iPads?	Research
Worst part about the iPads?	Games
How are they helpful in the classrooms?	Storage
What app do the kids use most?	Evernote
Do you find that the students get distracted easily by having the iPads on them?	Yes
What do you use the iPads mostly for?	Notes/ writing/ research
Do you think the iPads were a good addition to the school and the students education?	Good for the future
Do you prefer having the iPads in class or not at all?	In class
Do you think the ipads would be more helpful if the students could take the iPads home?	Hopefully
Are there any apps that you have used previously that are NOT on the iPads that you think should be on them?	None
Overall what are your thoughts on the iPads?	Useful and distraction

Mrs. Tate (Math)

Best part of having the iPads?	Easier to move around the classroom
Worst part about the iPads?	None
How are they helpful in the classrooms?	Note, organization, making learning fun
What app do the kids use most?	Notability
Do you find that the students get distracted easily by having the iPads on them?	No; I could take the ipad away if someone was distracted
What do you use the iPads mostly for?	Notes
Do you think the iPads were a good addition to the school and the students education?	Yes, helps organize and more freedom
Do you prefer having the iPads in class or not at all?	In classroom
Do you think the ipads would be more helpful if the students could take the iPads home?	Yes
Are there any apps that you have used previously that are NOT on the iPads that you think should be on them?	Dictionary
Overall what are your thoughts on the iPads?	They are helpful and fun

Mr.Vitale (Math)

Best part of having the iPads?	Share folders and submit homework
Worst part about the iPads?	Distraction
How are they helpful in the classrooms?	Yes
What app do the kids use most?	Notability, Evernote, Google Drive
Do you find that the students get distracted easily by having the iPads on them?	Yes
What do you use the iPads mostly for?	Notes, some worksheets
Do you think the iPads were a good addition to the school and the students education	Yes, because it changes responsibility
Do you prefer having the iPads in class or not at all?	Prefer
Do you think the iPads would be more helpful if the students could take the ipads home?	Yes
Are there any apps that you have used previously that are NOT on the iPads that you think should be on them?	No
Overall what are your thoughts on the iPads?	Good enhancement to school