"To a great mind nothing is little." ~ Arthur Conan Doyle

Yesterday in my classroom a wonderful thing happened.  We got technology.  My students and I have been selected in our district to become one of 9 teachers/classrooms piloting iPads with learning.

I have as much things APPLE as the next person - iPhone 4, iPad, MacBook Pro.... as much as I LOVE these things - they are just things.  It is what you DO with those things that will make the difference.  It is my goal to talk to you about my journey through this wonderland of discovery.  I will share what works and what really didn't and how I might do it better next time - or if I might never do it again.

The story begins a few months ago - October, I think.  I was still at my desk after the kids went home and I get a "ding" to signal a new email.  I was about to go home, but I decided to look.  I opened an email invitation sent to everyone in the district to apply to be on a new pilot project called "Project Launch."  I was all of the sudden filled with a great joy!  I grabbed my things quickly because it was time to hurry and pick up my 4 year old.  With my daughter following me down the steps saying every once and awhile - "Mommy, SLOW DOWN!"  We sprinted past the office.  That is when I noticed a light on and the door open to the principal's office.  With Avery still behind struggling with her backpack she will not let me carry - I decided to pop into the office and share with my administrator that I would like to try for the position.  Only one teacher per school would be selected.  I spoke with her for just a couple of minutes and shared the joy of finding the email and thinking about the possibility that it could be in MY classroom as a tool to help MY kids.  After our discussion I went home and wondered how many others would apply.  Doubt began to seep into my thoughts smashing the joy.

BUT - yesterday, after a long awaiting - the iPad cart was rolled gently into my classroom.  I was not surprised that it was there.  We had received an email that morning all about getting the cart.  When it was wheeled in - my students were in transition from math to lunch.  Books being stashed away, jackets grabbed in case of recess, and smells of lunches filled the air.  Some of the children were already in line and had to stand back as the cart was pushed through.  The faces on the children - who didn't know it was coming were magical.  THEN - they looked at the lock on the front of the cart.  We were given instructions NOT to open the cart until later in the afternoon.  The joy was still contagious!  The children gathered around the cart and wanted pictures.  Some had been out of the room for one reason or another and as they came in another picture had to be taken.  Each child wanted to make sure everyone in the classroom felt included and felt the happiness as it spread.  I reminded them that we were late for lunch, recess was to come next and that MAYBE we would be able to unlock the cart after that.....

It was a beautiful 67 degrees at recess.  My students played, but frequently I was asked by different students when we would go up to our room.  When we MIGHT be able to open our iPads.  We went back to the room and the cart was still locked.  We began reading time like normal.  The children stealing glances at the cart while trying to pay attention to what they were reading.  Then it happened - 20 minutes into our reading time the children looked up to find "a lady" in our room opening the cart.  Immediately - I heard shouts of "it is time!"  "Ms. Clark - LOOK!" Jana Thornton is my technology superhero for the campus.  She was checking each iPad to make sure it was hooked wirelessly to the airport.  As she touched each iPad we chatted and I could feel the relief, excitement and joy radiating from her at how easy the transition to the campus had been so far on her part.

After finishing our story and everyone returned to our classrooms I gave them our first "assignment."  They needed to take a picture of their partner holding up chalkboards with their name and class number on them.  These photos would teach them how to use the camera.  We were learning how to set a picture to wallpaper, and it would make the iPads - which all have the same cover - easier to identify.  If you don't know - there is ALWAYS more than one way to do anything.  The children knew how to take pictures and they came up with two different ways to add the picture as a background.  I was instantly reminded that these kids have grown up KNOWING how to use these.  I need to remember to be a leader - but to also stand back and watch the magic happen.

We have a long way to go.  These iPads are a wonderful tool.  Just like when teachers were first able to use pencil and paper - this is going to change the way we do things.  This will give us another tool to use to connect us to the world.  This is just the beginning of our journey.  These little iPads, the cart - are just a tiny thing -  but in our minds it is magic!  For today our journey began with joy.

“To a great mind nothing is little.” 
― Arthur Conan Doyle