iPad Lesson: Painting a Sentence and Image Inspired Writing

This is a great lesson written by Lisa Johnson @ComputerExplore. It is interesting how she always gets her students to use a series of apps and that the apps are always just the tools and not the reason for the lesson. This is a good example of how a teacher uses the appropriate technology to get their students to delve into their own learning often using tasks that reference Bloom's Taxonomy as the basis for a deeper understanding. 

Read full lesson:
http://tw.neisd.net/webpages/ljohns22/files/ela_photo%20friday.pdf

This lesson would be just as effective in an Art class where instead of writing the students were asked to create a drawing, painting or mixed media work with the same prompts. It could be used in a History class or even a Social Studies class with images from a historical event or different cultures you are studying. This really is a versatile concept from Lisa.

Hidden Control Panel accessed from your Screen

This is a quick and easy how-to from the guys over at How to Geek. It is a basic one but useful in its simplicity. Your students may not be aware of this feature. Enjoy!!!

If you upgraded to the latest iOS release on your iPad, only to figure out that the screen orientation lock doesn’t work anymore, here’s how to lock the screen using the new, annoying method.

We’re definitely irritated with Apple for making this change—the hardware screen lock was one of the best features of the iPad, and now it’s gone. At least you can still lock it.

Locking the Screen Orientation

Start by holding the iPad in the direction you’d like to lock it, and then press the Home button twice quickly, like a double-click.

The new task switcher will show up at the bottom of the screen, and then you’ll want to slide your finger over to the right to access the new screen hidden on the left.

Once you can see the new screen, click the button on the bottom left-hand side of the screen, and it will lock.

If you wanted to lock the iPad in landscape mode, you’d have to hold it in landscape mode before going through all of this.

Once in this Control Panel you also have access to your Screen Brightness, Volume Control and Play, Rewind and Skip buttons for your Music.

http://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-lock-the-screen-orientation-on-your-ipad/

Reading in an iPad Transmedia Universe: Five Real-World Issues

This is a comprehensive and thorough analysis of the issues with students using the iPad as a reader. It is written by Annette Lamb an educational consultant who has taught both at a K/12 and at a University level. There are some interesting points here that I had not considered prior to reading this article. It is one of the first academic referenced articles that I have come across that so clearly and concisely highlights the use of interactive books on the ipad in education.

Annette discusses the five main issues with students using the iPad as a reader. These include;

• Ease of use of the Devices
• A listing of Resources available
• Educational benefits
• Motivation
• Approaches to using Tablets.

This would be a must read article for anyone writing a proposal/grant submission for utilising iPads in the classroom or someone trying to convince their administrators of the educational benefits of using iPads in the classroom. We thank Annette for sharing this with us. Be sure to visit her site. It makes for interesting reading.

READING IN IPAD TRANSMEDIA UNIVERSE: FIVE REAL-WORLD ISSUES

Technology in the classroom is changing how children learn and how we teach. While some children are reading books about castles, others are using the DK Eyewitness App to explore castles.

In her article Digital Literacies, Lotta Larson (2009, p.255) points out the today's readers are "immersed in multimodal experiences and, consequently, have a keen awareness of the possibility of combining modes and media to receive and communicate messages. This awareness results in an urgent need for teachers and researchers to address the discrepancy between the types of literacy experiences students encounter at school (paper, pencil, and print texts), and those they practice in their daily lives outside the school environment (Web 2.0). One way to bridge such incongruity is to expand the types of texts students are exposed to and engaged with at school by turning attention to electronic books, or e-books".

Let's explore five real-world issues.

1 - THE DEVICES

The classroom of the future will be filled with devices that serve different purposes. There isn't one answer. Instead, there are many to fit different needs.

• Kindles. A group of advanced readers are reading novels independently.
• iPads. A reading group reads independently while the teacher works with another group.
• iPod Touch. Students refer to a dictionary, vocabulary game, encyclopedia while working on a project.
• Laptop. Students conducting research create a Glogster, interactive poster.
• Desktop. A group sits together at one computer with a large monitor working on a video production.

There are lots of ways to share Apps and e-books with the entire class.

You can hook up your device to the data projector. There are many foreign language books that are available as e-books. If you have the book on Kindle, use the Mac or Windows software to display on the big screen.

Barack Obama's Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters is available in the Kindle book format. For more examples, go to Amazon's Children's eBooks section. This book can be read on a Kindle, however it can also be read on an iPad or computer desktop. If you connect your computer or iPad to your data projector you can see the book in color.

If you have a book like Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed on your iPad, simply point your document camera at the screen of an iPhone or iPad.

Portability. I take my ibird books with when I go bird watching. With my tracks app, I can easily identify animals. Larson (2010) noted that in early studies of e-books read on larger computers, participants often complained of discomfort. However no complains were logged with the new, smaller e-book readers.

Goldsborough (2010 , p.11) pointed out the new digital readers combine the portability of books with the "search and storage capabilities" of computers.

Read the full article:
http://eduscapes.com/fluid/3f.html

Annette Lamb's Website:
http://eduscapes.com/

iPad Lesson Plans: Mathematics and Social Studies

Michele O'Dell of the Douglas Country School District has constructed two interesting iPad lesson plans as part of her ETIL study group. This is an excellent example of a classroom teacher, being given access to both the technology and the appropriate in-servicing so they can focus on the pedagogy. Michele has put together a couple of comprehensive lesson plans that could easily be used as a template for other teachers. 

ETIL is the state of Colorado's acronym for Educational Technology Information Literacy.  ETIL expectations are a part the requirements set forth by No Child Left Behind and C.I.T.E. (Continuous Improvement of Teacher Effectiveness). Michele has made good use of her time at the ETIL Academy.

ETIL Lesson 

Michele O’Dell 

Storyrobe with iPad

Your Name:     Michele O’Dell
Grade Level / Subject Area: Mathematics

1. Which essential question, content area GLE / Standard, or ISTE NETS for Students or NETS for Teachers was the objective of this lesson?  

ISTE NETS for Students
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes
using technology. Students:
a. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
c. use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues.
d. identify trends and forecast possibilities.

2. What resources (technology / information) did you use to help achieve this objective? 

Doc Camera
iPad
Storyrobe iPad App
Whiteboard App
Everyday Math Curriculum - Unit 6 Geometry
Coolmath’s Online Dictionary
morgueFile Photos

Read full article:

Michele O Dell Lesson Plans

WiFi Printing from your iPad

This is from a website called Netputing and offers a way of WiFi sharing a printer. Hit your print button on your iPad from anywhere within the WiFi range. This is handy if you or your students are needing to print within the classroom. I know, I know, we shouldn't be printing anyway but every now and again there is something that just needs to be printed. Here is one option and it only takes about 2 minutes to set up. Enjoy!!!

AirPrint Activator: AirPrint is a small application that will enable a Mac OSX 10.6.5 + iTunes 10.1 hidden feature to allow your shared printer to be visible on your iOS 4.2.1 devices.  AirPrint allow you to print from new generation of Apple iPhones,iPad and iPod Touch to a printer shared over your personal WiFi network.

You only need to run AirPrint Activator once.  Once AirPrint has been turned on it will remain on even after a reboot.

Download:
Download the latest beta version compatible with OSX 10.5,10.6 and 10.7 (Lion) from the AirPrint Activator v2 web page.

Download the latest version: AirPrint Activator v1.1.3

              or

use version 1.1.2 if the latest version is reporting that it is not supported on your system: AirPrint Activator v1.1.2

Apple requested that I take down the AirPrint Hacktivator page as they stipulate that the application is distributing copyrighted source code and/or software. AirPrint Activator is now replacing the defunct AirPrint Hacktivator application.  It provide the same functionality without the use of any Apple files.

You can use AirPrint Activator as a replacement of the previous generation Hacktivator application.  If present, it will take care of cleaning any Apple files installed by the previous generation Hacktivator when you “deactivate” AirPrint. It will only inject a single line in a CUPS configuration when you select to “activate”AirPrint.

System Requirements:

• OSX Snow Leopard 10.6.5,10.6.6 or 10.6.7 (Not currently supported under OSX Lion 10.7 beta)
• iTunes 10.1 +

HOW TO activate AirPrint:

1. Launch AirPrint Activator:

2. Click on the togle switch:

3. Enter the admin password:

4. A window will appear instructing you to remove/add/share the printer you want to use with AirPrint:

Click OK.

5. Open System Preferences/Print &Fax and:

• Remove
• Add
• Share

the desired local printer.  The following youtube clip will show you how:

Original Article:
http://netputing.com/airprintactivator/

Quick edit Videography with iMovie for iPad

This is a How-To-Article written by Wes Fryer over at Speed of Creativity. It is a great resource for classroom teachers who are using the iPad to edit video with their students. If you do have access to iPads and have been unsure how to proceed with iMovie than this is a fantastic resource.

Wes has a great blog about 21st Century Digital Learning. He has a comprehensive list of articles that are worth reading. Make sure you take the time to visit his site. Enjoy!!!

Quick Editing with iMovie for iPad:

The following steps are included in the "Video" chapter of the forthcoming EPUB eBook, "Playing with Media: simple ideas for powerful sharing." This is an example of "quick-edit" videography, which can compliment "no-edit" videography in support of the "ethic of minimal clicks." This final video, "Learning About NASA Mission Control in Houston," is available on YouTube.

After recording a series of videos using an iPad, the iMovie app ($4.99) can be used to edit and combine the videos into a single file. That video file can then be directly uploaded to YouTube from the iPad, using an available wifi Internet connection.

1. Start an iPad iMovie by clicking the “+” icon at the bottom of the screen.

For the full article:
http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2011/07/09/quick-edit-videography-with-imovie-for-ipad/

Accessing Tumblr on the iPad

Tumblr is a blogging platform that is perfect in the classroom. Tumblr is a tool that allows students to reflect on their processes and to articulate the learning that has occurred in a lesson, within a unit or across the year. 

I find blogging a particularly good activity for boys. Boys do not always reflect naturally and this is a good habit for them to develop. From my experiences many girls develop better language skills and an emotional intelligence at an earlier age and find blogging a natural extension of their work.

I have had students resist using tumblr and then within a month or two be using it daily - without any prompting from me. One in particular now posts so often that I  struggle to keep up. I do love it when students get so passionate.

Tumblr lets you effortlessly share anything. You can post text, photos, quotes, links, music, and videos, from your iPad, phone, desktop, email, or wherever you happen to be. You can customize everything, and change it as often as you like. I have never seen two of my students have the same theme.

So what apps are available to access Tumblr on the iPad:

Tumblr:

Tumblr is blogging site that is very popular with students and teachers. Tumblr says it is home to the most creative people in the world. Tumblr allows you to post anything: share photos, video, audio, quotes, links, and text. You can manage multiple blogs Advanced controls include save drafts, queue posts, customize tweets, and more! 

itunes: tumblr

Tumbletail for Tumblr:

A Tumblr client with thumbnail display like Mega-Editor as well as separate Photos and Texts mode. It includes slideshows, easy Reblog or Like and auto refresh. Allows you to Follow / Unfollow, post to Twitter and manage multi-accounts. It has a passcode feature and allows you to save to Dropbox or Evernote or Read It Later.

itunes: tumbletail-for-tumblr

Readlr: A Tumblr Client:

The latest 20 posts for each tumblelog you add are downloaded locally, so sync in the morning and enjoy a full day of Tumblr without an internet connection. Turn heads on the subway when you zip through photos with no signal! Tumblr is down? No problem! Sync in the morning when the server load is low and avoid those annoying server outages.

itunes: readlr-a-tumblr-client

TumbleDoor:

A sophisticated Tumblr Browser. Cool optional interfaces like default 'Photo' app. You can also set passcode so others cannot see your dashboard. You can change its brightness so your eyes never get tired, and you can avoid your dashbaord being glanced at by others. Of course you can reblog, like, and save the images to your photo album!

itunes: tumblr-door

Tumblita for Tumblr:

A vey popular app for Tumblr viewing. Easily post content immediately, add it to your queue, or even save as a draft for later! Tumblita makes it extremely easy to post text, photos, quotes, links, audio, and video. It's everything you would expect from a Tumblr client designed exclusively for the iPad!

itunes: tumblita-for-tumblr

Tumbleroo for Tumblr:

Tumbleroo was the first full-featured iPad client for Tumblr. Big colorful photos, full-screen videos, and all the liking and reblogging you can handle. With Tumbleroo, your dashboard comes to life with text, link, chat, question, photo, audio and video post support. A built-in browser let's you explore links outside the dashboard.

itunes: tumbleroo-for-tumblr

Tum Tum:

Ever wanted a way to cut out all the extras and enjoy tumblr on your iPad with no distractions or messy options? TumTum was created with ease of use and quick actions in mind. A simple and delightful way to browse, like, and reblog photos on Tumblr.  Load your content, get a preview & reblog. TumTum was created with ease of use and quick actions in mind.

itunes: tumtum-for-tumblr

Tumblr Gear:

Tumblr gear is a fully optimized application to browse your tumblr dashboard. You have no need to flick the screen or tap the link to go to the next page anymore.Tumblr gear also enables you to do reblog and use the like operation directly. It also features, easy dashboard browsing, auto paging and quick reblog.

itunes: tumblr-gear

TumblrFrame:

The "tumblrFrame" is a tumblr digital picture frame. View your favorite tumblr with slideshow pictures. Reblog by double tapping on the slideshow or pause and show information with a single tap and swipe right to rewind picture. It has file cache mechanism and an auto composition match. TumblrFrame also has multiple tumblr account support for viewing.

itunes: tumblrframe

TumbLiking:

With TumbLiking, you can view your favorite Tumblr blogs and access the core Tumblr features that most of us would use when on the go. TumbLiking enables you to easily and seamlessly post photos and quotes. And, you'll enjoy viewing your "likes" and "home" just like with the Dashboard. With one touch, you can reblog, like, delete, and unlike.

itunes: tumbliking-tumblr-client

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