Mobile Learning @
Portlaoise CBS
Our vision
🏢 🎓
🚶🏻
Preparation for
life
Engaging Boys
To better prepare them for
work, college or further
education
Keeping boys engaged
through 2nd year and
beyond
📲
Enhanced
Teaching
Giving innovative teachers
tools to enhance their
teaching, helping them
reach every student
Developments
Enabling
productivity and
collaboration
between students
and teachers.
iPad mentors for
1st year for the
year.
View your son’s
homework diary
and assignments.
Some reasons why we encourage
students to use 1:1 mobile devices
•
Our school is built for 850 students – to be realised this September
•
We will only ever have 1 dedicated Computer Room to cope with all the
digital needs of all classes and subjects
•
Aside from ebooks, your son will need to do research for projects, portfolios,
competitions, homework. A 1:1 device is ideal.
•
Our teachers will be receiving additional training this year and we are
building on the experience of previous years to make iPads as a necessary
learning tool a success into the future.
•
We realise there were weaknesses before, but the new innovations we bring
you this evening more than address these weaknesses.
Drawbacks to iPad use for study at
home and at school
•
Students can quickly move from screen to screen
and evade being 'caught out' playing games, etc.
In the classroom.
•
Parents may not know what their sons are really
doing when they go to study in their room.
•
Students report being easily distracted by the
temptation to switch to other apps, etc.
New in 2016/17
Managed Apple IDs
•
•
Managed and issued by the school
Students get
•
•
•
•
•
Apps are provided centrally by the school
•
•
•
iCloud storage
iTunes U
Photos
Backup
Students cannot download any Apps
Apps may be requested by students and teachers
and are approved or rejected.
Students ‘graduate’ to a full account at a
future date - to be decided by the school and
parents.
New in 2016/17
ZuluDesk
•
Manage iPads
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Restrictions
Wireless
Content filtering for most websites
Distribute Apps
Timed controls
Notifications
Parent App & Website
•
•
•
•
(Mobile Device Management)
Lock into App or website
Supervise the device
New version, with new features, coming soon.
Teacher App
•
Manage Apps and iPad in the Classroom
New in 2016/17
schoolbag.ie (Resources and Homework)
•
Manage iPads
•
•
•
•
•
•
Parent App & Website
•
•
•
•
Restrictions
Wireless
Some websites
Distribute Apps
Timed controls
Lock into App or website
Supervise the device
New version, with new features, coming soon.
Teacher App
•
Manage Apps and iPad in the Classroom
New in 2016/17
Accessibility (for students with SENs)
Parents’ Portal
View your son’s
attendance, timetable
and behaviour. Pay
fees online.
Manage your son’s
iPad, including Apps
and restrictions. Ideal
for homework
supervision
Coming soon
SAMPLE
View your son’s
homework diary and
assignments.
Developments in 2016/17
•
Mobile learning programme entering its 5th year.
•
Your son will be taking the new Junior Cycle for English,
Science and Business Studies and will be able to use the iPad in
class, for homework and for the assessment.
•
Continuing professional development for staff, including SNAs.
•
Continuation of Office 365 for Students, Staff & Parents.
•
Enhanced programme of support for students and parents.
•
Many of the textbooks are available as an app plus a textbook
for only €2-3 extra. This gives a student the best of both
worlds.
Working with all students
•
•
•
•
If your son is using an iPad as his textbook, he will be in class
with students who are using printed textbooks – we will NOT
be forming classes based on iPad ownership.
The class teacher will also be using the digital projector and the
text will be onscreen, so that if a battery dies or someone has
forgotten their iPad, everyone is still working on the same
page.
Homework, classwork and exams will still be written in copies,
as usual. English, Science & Business will begin to change …
Once downloaded the ebook content is on the iPad’s memory.
So, even if there is no home internet, or the signal is weak, your
son can still do his homework/study.
Costs for the iPad Scheme
Item
Description
Wriggle
iPad Air & Case
16GB Wi-Fi / Standard Case
€449
Core subjects
€163
Optional subject (MAX)
€85
Core subjects
€52
Optional subject (MAX)
€55
Deployment
€20
Monitoring, Service & Support
€36
Ebooks
Bookshop
Wriggle
Total maximum cost:
Core subjects:
Irish, English, Maths,
History, Geography,
CSPE, Science and
Religion
Options:
Business, Home Ec,
French, Spanish,
Woodwork, Tech Graphics,
Art (no text) & Metalwork
€860
This price is the estimated maximum as
students’ texts will vary. Your actual price may
be lower depending on subject choice.
Printed workbooks are supplied with ebooks
at a discounted rate when bundled.
Cost comparison for 1st Year
Option
Wriggle
Bookshop
iPad Scheme - Wriggle
€753 - est. maximum
€52 for Core
€55 for Options (MAX)
iPad Scheme - Bring my
€304 - est. maximum
own iPad
€52 for Core
€55 for Options (MAX)
Book Purchase
Core subjects €230
Options €162
Book Rental
This price is the estimated maximum as
students’ texts will vary. Your actual price may
be lower depending on subject choice. Printed
workbooks are supplied with ebooks at a
discounted rate when bundled.
Stationary and supplies are excluded
Paying for your iPad & ebooks
•
•
•
•
The cost per student is calculated according to the choice of
subjects each student makes.
If your son owns an iPad already, you will be able to just pay for
the ebook licenses and Wriggle services and so be part of this
scheme. You must still go to the Wriggle store.
An online store will be opened and you will place your order
online before the end of June.
Payment is due by Friday 29th of July directly to Wriggle.
Are there any other purchases?
•
•
•
•
Printed Workbooks are used in several subjects and will be
available in the bookshop in Portlaoise - the book list clearly
identifies what’s required.
Atlases, dictionaries, etc can be purchased on iTunes as Apps,
and are often free. The school will manage this.
In 2nd Year student will require additional books for English,
Irish and Maths usually costing around €75 (print or digital).
Some students may require an additional book for some
language subject in 2nd year usually costing around €25.
Finance and Insurance
Portlaoise Credit Union has worked with the
school in previous years and can provide
excellent rates and terms to parents. Sean
Dunne is Manager of the CU and can
provide further info by calling 057 8622594
They can also assist with a savings plan
1. A good case is the first form of insurance.
2. Check your household policy (look for low
excess and no premium increase).
3. Avail of Wriggle/Gadget Insurance when
purchasing iPad.
Looking after your iPad
•
•
•
•
The school does not own and is not responsible for the safety
of any iPad.
The charging of the battery is the student’s own responsibility.
Protective covers are available which are strongly
recommended. They are possibly the best form of insurance
against damage.
Special lockers upstairs are available for iPad storage during
PE, matches and other school activities. These can only be
opened with a key and offer greater security than the
combination lockers downstairs.
What next?
You choose the iPad scheme.
- or -
You choose printed books and purchase
them outright or join the book rental
scheme.
iPads
•
•
•
•
Your son MUST be available to come into school for 2 days in
the last 2 weeks of August to participate in the deployment and
induction process (August 18th, 19th and 29th).
Wriggle will be part of this installation and training process
which will only be done on specific days.
Parents are invited to attend for 2 hours on August 18th.
We will provide a parents’ training course in late September to
help you become more familiar with the device and how it
should be used for educational purposes.
Dates and Deadlines
Friday 30th June
Friday 31st July
Wriggle Online Store closes - deadline for orders
Payment due to Wriggle
(not the office)
Student Training
Incoming first year’s will receive the following training during
the school year to increase their usage of their iPads.
Thursday August 18th
Outcome & Notes
Deployment session from Wriggle in 2-hour
sessions. Parents are invited to attend
Friday August 19th
A full-day session focusing on the following:
- School induction & fun activities
- Using my iPad to organise my work
- Organising myself
- Working with others
At the end of all these sessions we want the
students to be much more capable of using their
iPads for a variety of tasks (including Office 365).
We will produce an iBook / online course for
students and staff to show all the uses and it will
allow teachers pick from a menu of standard tasks
to get the students using their devices more.
Monday August 29th
A full-day session focusing on the following:
- Doing research and being curious
- Using their iPad to submit work
- Using Word, PowerPoint
All 1st Year students must attend ALL days.
These are compulsory - you should plan
holidays around these dates
TY Mentors
We will a match a volunteer TY student with each
first year class. They will assist during all the
training sessions and their Gaisce community
service will allow them to spend an hour a week
helping each class group.
First Year Induction Day
•
iPads or not, all students are expected to attend
this on Friday 19th August.
•
If your son will not be using an iPad, he will still be
taking part along with all his classmates in the First
Year Induction Day – but just for the morning
session.
•
If he is using an iPad, he will attend the full day on
Friday 19th August .
Print books
•
•
•
•
1.You may choose to either buy all your books
2. Join the School Book Rental Scheme.
(or)
Lockers will be available as always for your sons’ books and
belongings.
Students using textbooks will benefit from the use of all
technology the school has to offer - including the teachers’
resources which will be displayed onscreen during classes.
Q&A