Chris Casal presented options for using iPads to digitize and streamline the classroom observation process. GoodReader allows administrators to annotate existing forms and documents with comments, then share them via email or services like Dropbox. Google Drive provides a free collaborative platform to create, edit, and share observation files. Several note-taking apps like AudioNote and Notability allow recording audio simultaneously with typed or handwritten notes. The Common Core Look Fors app is designed specifically for observations aligned to Common Core standards. Overall, these apps save time over paper processes and provide paperless, instantly accessible options for classroom observations.

1. Chris Casal
Technology Coordinator/Teacher
P. S. 10 Brooklyn (15K010)
ccasal@ps10.org
Twitter: @mr_casal
iPads for Administrators -
Classroom Observations
Simple K12.com webinar - 2/12/13
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2. iPads for Observations
Instant
save yourself time
Paperless
save yourself time & money
Collaborative
save yourself time, money & confusion
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3. Apps
GoodReader
desktop to iPad & back with ease
GoogleDocs
instant solution from any connected device
AudioNote, Notability, SoundNote, Teacher Notes
note taking apps easily adaptable to observations
CCL4s - Common Core Look Fors
app designed for observations with Common Core
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4. GoodReader
View almost any file format
Search the web within the app and download files
directly
Annotate PDF files with typewriter, shapes, and
freehand tools
great for “paperless” observations, form signing,
running records, etc.
App - $4.99
4

5. Benefits
The instant, paperless, observation documentation
use pre-existing documents
easily import district/city/state/federal forms
observations as close to paper as possible
All “paperwork” digitized & always at your fingertips
Not reliant on connectivity
import forms & work without network connection
5

6. Convert .docx file to
PDF
Save it in
Dropbox
File -
Save As
Create or use a pre-existing
word processing docuemnt to
create iPad ready PDF
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7. Alphabetical file
structure - both files
and folders
Select a file to view it
Similar user interface (folder/
file nav & structure) to most
OS’ and apps such as
Dropbox
Built in
web
browser
Available
servers
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8. Connect to Dropbox to
download newly create PDF
observation form
Available
servers
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9. ...and
Download
Select your
PDFs...
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10. ...and
Download
Select your
locaiton
within
GoodReader
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11. You can
create new
local folders
on the fly
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12. Your observation
forms are now
within the
GoodReader app
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13. The observation
document ready to
annotate
Various view options
Various annotation
options
13

14. Annotation options
such as typing,
highlightening,
underlining and
shapes...
Freehand
drawing/writing
Text tool
14

15. Before annotating
GoodReader will
prompt options - save
an annotated copy or
replace the original
Replace the original of
save a copy
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16. Text box can contain as
much, or as little, as
needed. Also, author
names can be set to
track multiple user edits
Typing tool
16

17. Freehand tool &
toolbar - change
color and line
thickness
17

18. Text editing toolbar
18

19. Edited observation
form
19

20. Flatten all edits to
contain them within the
PDF....
.... email or print from
the app (compatible
printer required)
Direct export options
20

21. Back within the main
folder view of the
GoodReader app
Newly annotated
observation form
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22. Manage
GoodReader
files just as you
would on your
PC
Rename
filesCreate
folders
Move files
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23. Easly give each
finished form a
unique teacher
name
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24. Upload your finished files
back to Dropbox the same
way you downloaded them to
the iPad
Upload
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25. Google Drive
Free
Create, share & collaborate on documents
great for instant observations, easy sharing among
administrative staff, collaborative nature of Google
Free via iPad app “Google Drive” as well as mobile
browsers (Safari, iChromy, Ginbox, etc)
25

26. Benefits
Free
The instant, paperless, observation documentation
use pre-existing documents
integrated with Google Apps for Edu
observations easily sharable
All “paperwork” digitized & always at your fingertips
26

27. Log in tor your Google Apps
account from iPad’s Drive app
27

28. Inside a folder view
28

29. The downside...?
... wait... what...Google has a “downside”...?
29

30. Forms are a key part of Google Drive
(just ask Jayme Linton) but at this
time they are not available via the
iPad app (neither are Presentations)
iOS app only supports
Documents &
Spreadsheets
30

31. Google Docs doesn’t always
retain word procesing
formatting
Letterhead
altered
Cick to edit
31

32. Editing view
32

33. Rename files...
33

34. Manage files...
Share from
within the
app
Downside?
Can’t duplicate files from
within the iOS app
34

35. Not a big deal...
... Drive on the iPad far more robust than pre-Drive
(6/28/12 - Spreadsheet editing arrived 11/28/12)
If you’re a Google Apps user, get familiar with the Drive
app, it will change your life...
... or at least make it easier to bring GApps with you
35

36. Other apps of note
AudioNote - Lite= free - full version $4.99
CCL4s (Common Core Look Fors) - $2.99
Notability - $1.99
SoundNote - $4.99
Teacher Notes - Lite=free - full version $4.99
36

37. AudioNote
Free for Lite
$4.99 for full version
includes wifi & email sharing
Record audio while typing notes
37

38. Lite Version - very basic but
handy for recording ambient
audio while taking observation
notes
38

39. CCL4s
Common Core Look Fors
Math & Technology
$2.99
Aligned to Common Core Standards
Include photos & video with observation
Email observations directly from app
39

40. 40

41. Notes
Photos
Standards
41

42. Notability
Note taking & media recording
Type, handwrite, record audio, insert pictures
Annotate PDFs
$1.99
Dropbox, Google Drive & WebDav integration
42

43. Audio
Photos
Tools -
Freehand,
type,
highlight
43

44. Export
44

45. SoundNote
Note taking & audio recording
type or handwrite
audio time-syncs to typing/writing
click on a word and audio jumps to the point in
recording you made the note
$4.99
Dropbox integration
Notes can be emailed with audio
45

46. Simple interface
Biggest Selling point is
text & handwriting
time-synced to audio
Audio jumped to
location of
recoding when the
word “was” was
written
Tools -
Freehand,
type
46

47. Teacher Notes
Designed with teachers in mind
set up with “classes” & “students”
easily adaptable to “teachers” & “observations”
set up with Domains & Content Area categories
Note taking & audio recording
type or handwrite
add pictures & video
Free for limited number of classes & students.
Unlimited - $4.99
47

48. Simple interface
Biggest Selling point
multiple inputs - audio,
video, pictures, typing
AudioVideoPictures
48

49. Designed as a teacher
tool for use with
classes & students but
could easily be
thought os as use with
teachers &
observations
49

50. Evernote
Great platform
notes, photos, tags, syncs across devices
multiple associated apps
My issues with it:
no freehand in Evernote
Penultimate allows freehand but can’t add tags or edit
from Evernote
Great platform note taking, documenting, etc. In my opinion
it stumbles when working with freehand & PDFs
50

51. Summary
GoodReader
best PDF annotator
allows for most variety of sharing - email, Dropbox, Google,
etc
allows for instant use with current forms
Google Drive
familiar platform
easy to use
free
51

52. Summary
AudioNote, Notability, SoundNote
type & handwrite notes
record audio simultaneously
Teacher Notes
designed for teachers but includes media options
CCL4s
designed for Common Core
52

53. Conclusion
GoodReader gives an administrator the ability to
instantly use current forms and annotate directly on
them, without the need for paper
Google Drive is a familiar, free, environment great for
sharing & collaboration
Many note-taking apps offer the ability to record while
you type, making it easy to ensure you don’t miss
anything
What will work best for you...?
53

54. Contact
Christopher M. Casal
Technology Teacher/Coordinator
P. S. 10 (15K010)
Email: ccasal@ps10.org
Twitter: @mr_casal
Diigo: mrcasal
ps10ipads.wikispaces.com
www.mrcasal.com
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