Workshop+Series+-+conferring+assessing

=** Monday, December 19th & Thursday, December 22 **** th, 2011 **=

// (previously held Monday, May 9th, 2011) //

=//Conferring & Assessing//=

= =

__Agenda__ In depth coverage of conferring & assessing abilities Ms. McMahon & Ms. van Doren to present on best practices Apps
 * GoodReader
 * Confer
 * Google Docs
 * Numbers
 * SoundNote
 * Notability

Q&A

GoodReader

 * GoodReader is ideal for "going paperless". You an import PDF files and annotate directly on them.
 * If you want to annotate a Word document first open it in Word on your computer, go to "file" and "save as", change the format to PDF, save it, and import it in to GoodReader.
 * GoodReader updates often so it is important to backup and synch your iPad with your iTunes in order to keep up to date.

**To get files in to GoodReader:**
You can "Connect to Servers" to transfer files directly to and from Google, DropBox, etc... The "Main Menu" option of the annotate toolbar will allow you to get back to the GoodReader file structure. Under the Manage Files tab you can rename files, create folders, etc...


 * You can also set up folders and files on your desktop and put add them to via iTunes: **

The annotate toolbar gives you various options. The "Draw" feature will allow you to use shapes (lines, arrows, circles) or draw freehand. You can also use a "Typewriter" function to type in annotations. Make sure you "Save" your annotations using the toolbar in the top right corner of the screen during annotation...
 * As soon as you attempt to annotate a file, GoodReader will ask if you want to overwrite the original or create a copy ** (if you are annotating a file already named for a particular student, you can "Save to this file". If you are annotating a template, which you will remane later for a specific student, click "Create an annotated copy") ** ... **

**Here are 6 examples of annotated running records**. //Click on the image to view in large format (will open a new window)//


GoodReader's latest update (3.7.0) gives you more functionality with the annotation bar. You can easily change font size & color, highlight, and delete annotations:

**The latest version, 3.7.0, also allows you to "unflatten" a file.** This means you can make an annotation, save it, send it (or share it via Dropbox) with a colleague who can then open and continue editing the same file. You need to turn on the "Unflatten is allowed" option under "Settings", "Viewing PDF file", "Unflattening of annotations"

**back to agenda**

Confer

 * Confer is the only dedicated education conferring app currently available
 * Full version, $9.99, is required to add more than 10 students and 2 subjects
 * Tracks student levels, conferences (tag, strength, teaching point, next step), and small group work
 * tag, strength, teaching point, next step - these are all customizable and ways to search and classify students and conference topics


 * Basic app for conferencing**. Add students, group students as needed for small group work. Save and track all conferences and sort/search by teaching points, next steps and any particular tags you determine are valuable to you in your conferencing.



Google Docs

 * Input your reading levels on the DOE Google Docs
 * Create Google Docs based text files for typing & saving conference notes
 * Other browsers work well with Google Docs for the DOE
 * Terra, Mercury, Atomic Lite, Snowbunny

You can use Safari to access Google Apps for DOE and create & edit documents & spreadsheets (below are shots of PS 10 Reading Level spreadsheets viewed, and during editing, via Safai on the iPad)...

Numbers

 * Apple's own spreadsheet application
 * Numbers is pre-installed on all Mac desktops & laptops
 * Numbers iPad app is $9.99
 * Create spreadsheets of your class for grade book, attendance, conferring, assessing purposes
 * Functions just like Microsoft Excel, can open .xls files, can save as .xls files



SoundNote
(images from: SoundNote iTunes page)
 * SoundNote is a way to take notes
 * It tracks what you type and draw while recording audio
 * During playback, just tap a word: SoundNote will jump right to the proper time in the audio
 * Take notes on a student's reading while recording the student's voic
 * Dropbox sync capability
 * $4.99

Notability

 * Notability is a powerful note taker that helps you capture everything.
 * The streamline interface provides the tools to type notes, add pictures, draw figures, insert web clips, make audio recordings, organize notes by subjects, backup to cloud services, and share notes with colleagues.
 * Similar to SoundNote
 * Dropbox sync capability
 * $0.99

(images from: Notability iTunes page)

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