Online Teaching Vision

Judging from our definitions of online teaching so far, I don't know that I've done any online teaching.  Have I done lessons online? Yes. But to require or ask that my second graders fulfill some requirement(s) from home for our class? No.

In the future, I hope to implement some hybrid learning.  I've heard more and more about "flipping the classroom" and I plan to use the summer to research this concept.  Next year, my classroom will become a 1:1 iPad classroom and I view a flipped classroom more possible (based on the little I know).  My basic understanding, so you know where I'm going with this, is that traditional homework is done at school so the teacher is available for assistance, and they are to watch or listen to my lessons at home.  With second graders, I don't know how possible it is as I haven't seen a lot of elementary examples of flipped classrooms, but I haven't been able to look a lot either. 

So what can I do with the iPads? I don't know! There is so much out there and this summer is dedicated to me and my team to put together an effective implementation plan for the iPads. Right now, I'm real interested in how I can use Edmodo to share information and assignments.  We watched a short video about a kindergarten and second grade room in Ludington using 1:1 iPads and they used Dropbox to share information.  Students will be able to find resources, links and lessons on my classroom website and I will need to keep up more with blogging this year.  I do not plan to get my students email addresses and don't see why I would need to, especially since I would want the info. to go to the parents as well.  Additionally, the students will be taking the iPads home with them each night so the information they need should always be available.

At this point I've used Audacity and the Voice Memo app on my iPhone to create podcasts for students as well as Vimeo to post videos.  Judging from our previous week I may also look into starting a wiki they can work on at home but I'd prefer another option if possible.  The kids enjoyed Typewith.me last year and that could be a fun discussion tool to use while they are at home.  Of course, I have to see how all of this works on an iPad, which I do not yet have. 

The resources I've listed is because I've heard of them, used them, or seen others use them.  I'm familiar with DropBox, Audacity, and Typewith.me.  I'd like also to see how Evernote can benefit my class, if it can.  I know Evernote can do so many things for an individual but I do not know if my class can share a "notebook."  Perhaps that's how I use Evernote and Dropbox together. 

The biggest barrier that I do not know an answer to, nor do I believe the district does either, is with the iPads going home each night I do not know how to solve the issue of no home internet for some of our students.  The question of 3G came up but I can't believe the district would pay for that.  I've thought that instead of asking for internet to be available at home, that before the students leave my room we transfer the night's homework so that they have a digital copy already on their iPad and part of their morning procedure would be to Dropbox (turn-in) their homework to me.  With or without iPads, the biggest barrier is equitable access.  My beginning of year tech survey will probably be longer and have to include items for smartphones.  While homes may not have internet, many of those families still have smartphones.  This makes something like Edmodo that more powerful because there is an app for that.