ICT – iLearn Technology

Meraki: Manage Mobile Devices from the Cloud…FREE

November 20, 2012Kelly Tenkely2 Comments6613 views

What it is: Meraki lets you centrally manage mobile devices, macs and PC’s from the cloud based dashboard. The systems manager makes it simple to centrally manage applications on iOS, Android, Mac and PC devices. It integrates with Google Play, Amazon Appstore, Apple App Store and Apple’s Volume Purchase Program. In addition to being able to manage apps, Meraki makes it easy to enforce and deploy restrictions on mobile devices. Choose how your students access the app store, gaming and content, how they connect wirelessly, security settings and remote VPN access. Meraki has a virtual backpack where content can be shared with devices. Files and documents can be added and sent wirelessly. Separate backpacks can be delivered to different classrooms so that the correct documents are shared with the students who need it. The cloud platform makes 1 to 1 projects and BYOD (bring your own device) roll outs manageable. The best part? Meraki is 100% free. You just can’t beat that!

How to integrate Meraki into the classroom: This is one of those tools that I WISH I had seen before I spent $3,000 on another solution. Blerg. Live and learn, right? Next year, this is the solution I will be using to manage all of our BYOD iPads at Anastasis. It has everything that we need. The integration with Apple’s Volume Purchase Program is pretty fantastic. This is a great way for the school to purchase and manage educational apps that we want to share with students. The cloud management means that we can manage devices from anywhere and we don’t have to have a dedicated server to do it. I can do a lot of things, but managing servers is not one of those things that I want to spend my time doing!

Meraki is a great solution for whole schools or single classrooms that need to manage devices. I love that Meraki can be used for a school initiated roll-out or in a single classroom BYOD initiative. Either way the tools are easy to use and will make the integration of technology in the classroom run smoother.

Tips: Check out the FAQ page to learn more about how Meraki gets installed on the student devices. The installation changes based on device.

Leave a comment and tell us how you are using Meraki in your classroom.

Ideas to Inspire

July 27, 2011Kelly Tenkely12 Comments4204 views

What it is: Ideas to Inspire has been a favorite of mine for years, it recently got a design boost that makes it even more useable! Ideas to Inspire comes to us from @markw29, Mark invites teachers from around the world to share their inspiring ideas for using technology in the classroom. These are pulled together as a presentation that teachers everywhere can benefit from. Ideas to Inspire has a handy new filter tool that let’s you find the exact resources and ideas you are looking for easily. Inspiring ideas include: Amazing art, A to Z of ITC, audio, books to engage boys, ideas for classroom blogging, games to enhance learning, creative geography, geography gaming, get to know your new class, GIS and GPS, Google forms, Google maps, Google search, ICT control and modelling, ICT in the early years, interesting images to use in the classroom, incredible science, inspiring writing, interactive math, Internet safety, iPad, iPod Touch, learning platforms, making your lessons ESL/EAL friendly, mobile phones, Moodle, netbooks, Nintendo DS and DSi, Non-tech strategies, ways to present Internet research, Prezi, Primary Pad, Purple Mash, QR Codes, student voice, super science investigations, super snow day activities, supporting math, supporting spelling, techy tips for non techy teachers, things to do with digital images, Twitter, using backchannels in the classroom, using video conferencing to support the use of quality texts, Wallwisher, webcams, web conferencing, Wii, wikis, Wordle, document cameras, supporting writing, search engines, marvelous music, interactive whiteboards, Google docs, ICT shopping list, creative curriculum topics, pocket video cameras, teaching reading comprehension, Voicethread, YouTube and (if you can believe it) more!

The new filter let’s you filter by curriculum linked presentations or interesting ways to use: hardware, software or online tools in the classroom.

This great resource is not to be missed!

How to integrate Ideas to Inspire into the classroom: Sometimes we could all use a little inspiration. Ideas to Inspire is just the place to stop for some guaranteed inspiration! I love that the ideas shared on Ideas to Inspire are collected from classrooms and teachers around the world. That tool you have been using forever in your classroom? Someone, somewhere has thought up a great new innovative way to use it in your classroom for learning! Does not get better than that!

For those of you who are enjoying the last few weeks (gulp) of summer, be sure to stop by Ideas to Inspire while you have some time to be inspired and make plans for the upcoming school year.

Tips: Fair warning: this website will suck you right in and make you want to spend hours exploring. 🙂

Binary Game

October 29, 2009October 29, 2009Kelly TenkelyLeave a Comment2843 views

What it is: Binary Game is a fun Tetris like game where students can learn about and practice binary numbers. Students are given a target number that they must match by adjusting the 1’s and 0’s. My fellow computer teacher tried to teach me about binary numbers last year with a binary clock he has (yes we are geeks!) but I didn’t fully understand until playing this game. Students will have the concept down in no time!

How to integrate Binary Game into the classroom: This is a great little game to fill in those extra minutes in the computer/tech classroom. The Binary game helps students understand the concept of Binary Numbers and could be a great introduction to a more in-depth study of computing.

Tips: This site runs in Flash, make sure your player is up to date.

Leave a comment and tell us how you are using Binary Game in your classroom.