More on Digital Conferring Notebooks

I've been playing for weeks with the idea of using an iPad as a digital notebook. Last week I posted about using an app called GoDocs together with a form I created in Google docs. I've been using the apps in tandem with some pleasing results. Editing Google docs with an iPad appears to be a common bugaboo among both iPad and Android users. I've spent lots of time researching and reading blog posts and help forums on the topic. And for some bizarre reason, I find that interesting. A lot of what I figured out came from trial and error. I like that I can quickly enter information on a customized form and view all my notes on a spreadsheet on my iPad. I can also sort my notes by name so I can view all my notes on one student at once. As I was making my form, I had to think about how I wanted the information displayed in the spreadsheet. Like I said, lots of trial and error. The following are screen shots of my current form as it appears on my iPad. The last screenshot is the spreadsheet that collects the information gathered by filling out the form as I confer with my students. After using my form, I'm already thinking about revisions. Playing around with Google docs forms and spreadsheets led me to even more questions. What if I wanted to create more of a portfolio for individual students? Well, Jennifer at I hablo espanglish and Linda at Teacherdance were totally right about Evernote. It is quickly becoming the basket for all my student information and has a portfolio feel. More about Evernote later in the week.

I added pull-down menus for name and reading level.

I could probably get rid of the box for date since all
the information is automatically time-stamped in
the spreadsheet.

I created "go to" pages so that  I can select an area
for improvement as part of a multiple choice question
 and go right to a page of teaching points for that
particular area.

The spreadsheet should be viewed in a list view which allows me to sort the
information by name, level, or areas of concern. This is helpful for
forming strategy groups. I can also go into the spreadsheet on my iPad
and edit any of the information in the cells.


19 comments:

  1. I'm slowly coming along on the same time counsuming but empowering journey! I was actually looking around for summer inservice / workshops in the NYC area to support my journey and came up empty - so far. Perhaps we need to start a gathering someplace!

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  2. I have just joined the ipad brigrade and am really interested in how to best use this tool to support conferencing, thank you for sharing your experiences. I look forward to reading more:)

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  3. This was interesting for me to look at. I haven't been a fan of google docs this year as we make the transition, but I'm learning to appreciate some of the things it can do. And since we may be one to one ipads next year, this is something I could make work. Glad you are paving the way!

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  4. You are one adventurous woman, exploring the technology world with determination. I like organized tours. I need a guide to point out the important bits and give a map to follow.

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  5. This is how I will spend my summer....it seems as though you have a great handle on this, Diana, and are making the most of this useful tool. Hopefully, that will be me next Fall.

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  6. You inspire me by the way you are constantly pushing yourself to learn and do and grow.
    Ruth

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  7. I am so excited to explore with my iPad this summer and to think about how to use it next year in the classroom. I look forward to seeing your post about Evernote as I have not used it at all yet.

    I really liked how you had the E for engagement/stamina. I noticed that otherwise it was the "CAFE menu", but engagement/stamina is so vital and an area that we focus on for conferring if it is not already in place.

    I appreciate that you are sharing so much about your explorations.

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  8. Wow! I'm impressed. You have done a lot of great work with all that.

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  9. I am so intrigued by this. I need to start doing some research on this myself. I would love to have a more seamless process for conferring notes and it looks like you are really onto something great!

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  10. Your forms look really neat -- inviting and easy to use! I love creating forms in GoogleDocs for my students to fill out (surveys, interest inventories, etc.) but never thought of creating one for myself! I'll have to keep that in mind... well, if I ever get an iPad! I'm glad you have tried out Evernote and are enjoying it -- isn't it AWESOME! (Maybe someday I'll get around to writing about how I use it... thanks for the reminder!) P.S. I added LinoIt as an option for my 6th graders' timeline projects and they are loving it! :-)

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  11. I haven't tried google docs much yet, but your forms look awesome for tracking conferencing notes and habits of readers!

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  12. I haven't tried google docs much yet, but your forms look awesome for tracking conferencing notes and habits of readers!

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  13. Wow, this is so interesting! I would love to be able to use my ipad in this way but I don't have the time to invest in the research right now. I will happily follow along in yours if you continue to post updates in this area! Thanks for sharing!

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  14. Diana,
    I really love the work you've done here. I've used the Confer app, but while it was good, it didn't quite fit my individual needs and preferences. I hadn't thought of creating my own form until now. I am anxious to explore more. Keep posting your new learning. I love it!
    Thanks,
    Jennifer

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  15. My mind is still in a notebook, and I wrote a reminder on my hand on Monday. I need to advance with the technology. Thank you for showing me what is possible.

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  16. I am so interested in what you have posted here, Diana. I have used Google Docs this year for the first time for students to keep a Reading Response Log. I would love to use it for a conferring notebook. Thanks for sharing and please keep us posted on your learning!

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  17. Thanks for blazing this trail. The iPad is an amazing tool and I am glad you are making it work for you in this way. I agree that Evernote is so useful. Please keep updating with your new discoveries!

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  18. I smiled when I read "for some bizarre reason, I find that interesting." I'm the same way - I love to poke around on the internet to find solutions to geek problems I'm having, coming up with the best way to interface with these magic boxes. They are definitely a power to be harnessed - I appreciate your demo pictures.

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  19. I smiled when I read "for some bizarre reason, I find that interesting." I'm the same way - I love to poke around on the internet to find solutions to geek problems I'm having, coming up with the best way to interface with these magic boxes. They are definitely a power to be harnessed - I appreciate your demo pictures.

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