I've been seeing SAMR in my various readings lately and haven't really been introduced to this model. Being in a private school system, some of these acronyms are not used as often as in public schools. Regardless, the SAMR model is an excellent way for teachers who have been teaching for a while to add technology into their teaching as well as for classrooms implementing iPads.

S = Substitution: a direct substitution of technology in place of paper/pencil, no other change; typing a document instead of writing with pencil

A = Augmentation: a direct substitution but with a fundamental change; use Google docs to type paper and share it with someone.

M = Modification: technology makes a significant task redesign; use a wiki to have a discussion around a concept

R = Redefinition: technology allows for a creation of completely new task formally unable to do without technology; using Google Earth to create a virtual field trip.

There are many examples of using SAMR on the Internet. The following is a good video sharing what SAMR is.

I have been playing around with a new app today on my iPad. I read about it and thought this could be a great way to draw attention to sections of a picture when I am doing tutorial PDFs. This app takes any color picture and converts it to black and white. Next, you simply swipe the areas where you want the color to show.
You can connect to several photo sites besides the photos on your iPad.

So how many charging cords do you tote around? I know I have several, but the one that I am afraid to leave home without is the one to charge my iPad. For you it might be your smart phone (it will be for me when I get mine this summer!). I found a "must have" item that will allow me to leave that cord at home - yea!
ChargeCard is a product that is the size of a credit card that lets you plug in your iPhone/iPad or Android into any USB port to charge up! Talk about convenient! The price isn't too bad, but it could lower in price when it gains popularity. I think it is great and can't wait to get one.
Check it out at BiteMyApple.co

I may be the last to know this, but I found this tip and got so excited! I read several blogs and now that I have an iPad, I do a lot of reading on it. Some blogs and news sites are cluttered with ads - which I totally understand the need for. These ads though make the text area of the blog much smaller on an iPad and difficult to read. Fortunately, Apple created a super feature in Safari. When you are viewing a blog or news site in Safai, a special button will appear in the address bar - READER. When you click on this button,a floating window will pop up with just the blog or news text! I love it!

My school is adopting iPads next year for grades 6-9. Very exciting but also a bit daunting as to classroom management etc. I have thought about the apps that I want to use, but recently I have come upon some nice ideas for dealing with the physical nature of using them in the classroom. Do I have the students keep them in the backpacks during class if we aren't using them? What about if a student forgot to charge last night and wants to charge in my class for the next class period where he will be using it? If the desks are flat, how can we prop them up without spending lots of money on stands? These questions are starting to come up as the faculty have become more familiar with the apps and making plans on using them next year.

Here are a few easy and cheap ideas for dealing with iPads in your classroom.

1. No-cost iPad stand - learn how to make a stand from a wire coat hanger!

2.  Use a plastic dish rack to store iPads and as a charging station!

3. Young children at home? Borrow some TinkerToys and build your own. You could also use Legos if you have those handy!