A little parting gift...

Here are a few things that I wanted to share with you before you return to your schools.

1. This site will stay up!
The reason we used this site is so that you can continue to use this as a resource when you go back to your schools. Please feel free to keep the link and use it with your colleagues and students. If you would like to become an author of this site, please send me a message and you can continue to evolve it and use it as a learning repository.

2. Keep it simple
Adding any bit of technology to a classroom can be quite an ordeal. Take small simple steps, but have a solid plan as to how each step will take you closer to a grander goal. Here are just some things to think about before you even get started in the classroom:

• Figure out the process of getting programmes or apps installed on your devices first. This may actually involve a lot of people and what you want to do is to document the process so that you can streamline it because you'll probably be doing this more than once.
• Figure out the logistics -  Who will maintain the devices, keep them charged, stored and ready to use? Just getting devices into your classroom or moving devices for another class can be quite a chore if you don't have a system for this. If your school doesn't have a system, you should definitely work to create one.
• Be kind to your colleagues - Give them time to get used to the apps and give them time to work on using apps on their own. Just like in our class, do a quick demonstration and a task for your colleagues to do. Then show them where they can get the resources and give them a while to work on their own or in groups. After say a week, ask everyone to come back and show what they're able to do. If you invite others to come and watch the presentations, you'll be amazed to see what gets done.
• Test your infrastructure first - So much is new and not many know how to set up everything, you'll have to test the Wi-Fi to see if certain apps work in your school or if your computers can use the apps that we've worked on like Padlet or Edpuzzle. These things can be easily done with a few devices and a little time. It's so much easier to manage that disaster than with 32 students with devices that don't work.
• Keep your first steps simple and realistic - Sometimes what you students need to learn is how to hold, share and cover the iPads when you ask them to. That's fine. Don't feel like you have to start tackling learning objective from the beginning. 

3. Stay informed 

As we all know, there's so much that's changing in technology and no one knows it all. However, when we get together and we share what we know, we both win.

What can you give away and still keep?  -- An idea

How are you going to stay informed about what's going on in the world of e-Learning (EdTech)?

4.  How are you going to continue to develop your skills?

5. Here's a little help from me to you