To support the students' identification of apps on the iPad and to organize the apps for the management of students' use relevant to content, I created content specific "pages" and application specific "folders".
managing app content on 13 iPads
1. I created a spreadsheet listing the 13 iPads (by number) and the apps that each iPad "should" have.
2. I lined the iPads in numerical order. I went through each iPad and verified the inclusion of each app on the spreadsheet to each of the iPads. Apps that were not on an iPad were downloaded and then marked as included after each app download was complete.
3. I sorted each app into "content" specific groups (for example- math, writing, word work,...) by using various colored highlighters. I chose a unique color of highlighter for each "content" (for example- pink highlighter for math, blue highlighter for writing,...). I highlighted the apps on the spreadsheet relevant to the "content" of focus. I did not highlight productivity apps. Productivity apps and "other" apps were not highlighted initially to determine placement within pages after "content" specific apps were organized.
organizing app content on 13 iPads
1. I chose one "content" (for example- math) to begin the app organization. With the iPads lined in numerical order, I began "moving" apps relevant to content of focus (for example- math) to the initial "page(s)" of the iPad and apps not relevant to the content of focus (for example- word work) off of the initial page(s) and onto proceeding pages. After completing this process on one iPad, I proceeded to the next iPad until all 13 were complete.
2. I repeated step #1 (above) with each "content"... creating "pages" #1-3 on each iPad containing math apps, pages #4-5 on each iPad containing word work apps, page #6 containing reading apps, page #7 containing writing apps, page #8 containing productivity apps, and page #9 containing "teacher only" apps on each iPad.
3. With the apps sorted into content specific pages on each iPad, I chose one "content" (for example- math) to begin creating "folders" of apps. I referred to the spreadsheet of apps (referencing the apps highlighted in the color of my content focus) and referenced the app list that I created (aligning effective apps to each of the First Grade Common Core Standards) to identify apps supportive of a specific strategy, skill, or behavior within each content area (for example- identifying apps specific to the skill of counting in math).
4. I determined a "folder" name to identify the apps within the folder (for example- a math "folder" named "counting and #'s") and created a folder containing the relevant apps. I noted folder names and apps contained within each folder on the initial spreadsheet created). After completing this process on one iPad, I proceeded to the next iPad creating replica folders and app arrangement (arrangement of folders and arrangement of the apps within each folder) until all 13 iPads were "identical" in the content area of focus.
5. I repeated steps #3-#4 (above) for each content area... creating pages #1-2 on each iPad as "math", page #3 as "word work", page #4 as reading, page #5 as writing, page #6 as cross-curricular apps, page #7 as productivity, and page #8 as "teacher only". On the "teacher only" (last "page" on each iPad) page I created a folder named "NO..." containing the settings app, App Store, and... additional applications that the students are not permitted to access.
and...
After the apps were organized on each iPad (each of the 13 iPads are identical in content, folder names and arrangement, and app arrangement (within each folder or independently on a page), I revised the initial spreadsheet. The revised spreadsheet lists the 13 ipads by number and is organized by "content". Within each content area (for example- math), the folder name is listed with corresponding apps listed contained within each folder on the iPad. Apps independent (not contained within a folder) are listed.
-As additional apps are downloaded, the spreadsheet is revised to reflect the inclusion of the app on each iPad, the content specific strategy, skill, or behavior focus of the app, and the location of the app on each iPad. (With each downloading of an app, the app is immediately arranged on each iPad to continue the organization of the app content on each iPad.)
so...
After approximately 17 hours of organizing... the iPads are identical in content and organization. YIPEEEEEE!
Although the process was exhausting and frustrating at times (many times- tee! hee!)... the outcome is a life-saver within the classroom!
The students are able to locate apps successfully with independence, I know the apps available on the student iPads relevant to supporting each content and strategy, skill, or behavior within each content area, I have utilized the folder names to guide students in apps supportive to their individualized learning and development, I have utilized folder names and one or more specific apps within the folder to guide students in apps to focus on specific content or a specific strategy, skill, or behavior, and...
