What I Wish I Would Have Known...

This post is the first of many reflective posts sharing the challenges of being a part of the Model Classroom Initiative.  The purpose of this post is to document what I wish I would have known earlier in an effort to help future pioneers. The good news is, my friends, is that I've been there, and I've found some solutions to my questions.  Enjoy!

Part I:  Email Accounts

In a previous post, I alluded to my students setting up Gmail accounts. The purpose of setting up email accounts in the iPad classroom is to have a way to sign-up for some apps, share Google docs with me, and have a way to personalize an iPad that is shared with other users throughout the day. The process of setting up email accounts, however, was not documented.  Since this post, I've learned a thing or two about navigating email for over one-hundred students.

My students set-up email accounts either at home or at school.  For the students who set-up at home - THANK YOU!!  For the students who registered at school, here's the truth about the process.  While Google makes it really easy to go through the process, they also want to make sure that each account can be verified.  In order to verify the account, Google sends a verification code in a text message.  Therein lies the problem.  At first, I put in my own cell phone number (I have unlimited text messages), but after about twenty students or so, I had reached Gmail's limit.  I then had to break, with my Assistant Principal's permission, the no-cell phone rule.  Students needed to access their text messages to verify their account.  While it was a difficult process to get through initially, once the accounts were set-up, I have not needed to do any account maintenance.

What I Wish I Would Have Known...

While discussing the pitfalls of setting up email accounts, a colleague shared that he was using +1 accounts for his class.  This teacher only has a class of under thirty students, but it could work with more students.  Here's some info on creating +1 accounts.  One of the pitfalls with this process is the longevity of the account.  I think this process is rather easy, but it seems like a temporary solution.  I think it's important for students to think about their digital footprint and be able to access their Google docs for as long as they need to.  A personal email account also allows students to build contact lists for future recommendation requests or questions.

Would I Do It Differently Next Time?

For this topic, I'm not sure I would change my process.  While the initial steps took some time and created a few headaches, students now have a permanent, school-only email address accessible for as long as they need it.  While creating distribution lists was a concern, a class Dropbox account easily fixes this issue.

Next Time?  What I Wish I Would Have Known... About Dropbox!