manage – 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.

19 Pencils

June 3, 2011Kelly Tenkely6 Comments3845 views

What it is: 19 Pencils is a beta site that provides teachers with a place to share websites, quizzes and video from one central, customizable location. From 19 Pencils you can discover, organize, manage and share content with your students for learning. 19 Pencils is very easy to use and makes it fast to share collections of online material with students. Collect and share websites, create and use ready-made quizzes and track student progress on that online content. Teachers can share one link and students can access all online content for the classroom from one location.

How to integrate 19 Pencils into the classroom:19 Pencils makes it easy for teachers to collect and share resources with their students online. Clear out all of those sticky notes and the bookmark bar crammed full of web addresses (or am I the only one that does that?) and compile them all in one place that is easy for everyone to access. Add websites (complete with preview picture), teacher-created quizzes and video to your 19 Pencils classroom space. Students can easily access all classroom materials from one URL on classroom computers, in the computer lab or at home. This is a fantastically easy site to use! Even the technology novice can put together a collection for students quickly. Create 19 Pencils collections for units of learning, subjects or just as a collection of learning site recommendations for students.

I am a big fan of the site visual previews, this is SO helpful for young students who are just emerging as readers. No matter what age group you are working with, more learning is possible when students aren’t spending times typing in long urls. 19 Pencils also makes it easy to share with your colleagues!

Tips: Want to create a comprehensive website for your classroom? Check out Weebly, Wix or Bloust!

Please leave a comment and share how you are using 19 Pencils in your classroom!

Soshiku

January 16, 2009Kelly TenkelyLeave a Comment16568 views

In an effort to clear out some bookmarks (I am up to about 890) I am going to do a marathon of posts today. I don’t usually like to load you up with too many in one day because I know how busy you teachers are, and I want you to have time to really look at the cool tool I have found. My hope is that with the 3 day weekend you will get a chance to shuffle through these!

What it is: Soshiku is a web tool for students that helps them manage their assignments. Soshiku keeps track of when assignments are due and can notify them by email or SMS. With each assignment students can save notes, manage tasks, attach files, and share messages with assignment partners. Soshiku is perfect for partnered assignments because it gives students a place to share files, chat, and more.

How to integrate Soshiku into the classroom: I think that organization is one of those important life skills that we don’t teach enough of in schools. Introduce your students to Soshiku as a method of school orginization. The email and text messaging features to notify them when assignments are due will appeal to your students. If you have younger students, secondary elementary or middle school, encourage parents to be there Soshiku partner to help them keep track of assignments.

Tips: Use a day in the computer lab to sign students up for Soshiku and teach them how to enter assignments, add notes, attach files, and share messages with a partner. Your students are on their way to a more organized school life!

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