I have recently initiated a new website called iPhone in Ed related to the relevance of iPhones as 21C learning tools. iPhone in Education aims to collate, review and categorise applications made for the iPhone and specifically useful in teaching and learning.
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Alas, quite a few Mac related things have been ticking over in my mind. Or is this an open letter to Jonathan Ive? I’ve fantasised about iPhones place in education before; I’ve also publicly fantasised about ePortfolios before - please indulge me again.
Recently I attended a seminar by Professor Richard Kimbell from, Director of Technology Education Research Unit, Goldsmiths’ College, University of London. This seminar provided an opportunity for educators in W.A. to learn about the use of PDAs and other digital technologies to support assessment. The event was summarised thus:
Embedding ICT across the curriculum (i.e. getting it out of ICT suites) has been a notoriously difficult and frequently unsuccessful enterprise. Embedding ICT into assessment practice might therefore be thought to be even more tricky. The use of mobile / hand-held digital technologies transforms the debate and makes possible a complete re-visioning of the teaching/learning/assessing relationship. The e-scape pilot (just completed in 15 schools) provides glimpses into the possible futures for e-assessment.
....... continue readingiPhone is perfect for ePortfolios!.
It contains 798 words, 3 images = an estimated 3:12 mins reading time.
I am having a hard time using a digital projector on an iMac running Tiger. I can make it work on the OSX side but I can not make the projector connect on the Windows side. Any ideas? Thanks! Kris
I am a Project Developer at a City Learning Centre in North London who is currently delivering on a Masters course called the Transformation Teachers Programme. We currently have 35 teachers on the course, who come from 10 secondary schools, 4 special school and also involves a number of National Strategy consultants. The participants have all been challenged to investigate, through classroom based action research, how teaching and learning can be transformed enabled by digital media and the use of Web 2.0.
We decided to give the staff kit comprising of a Mac Book partitioned to provide both Mac and PC environments, a digital camera and tripod and a selection of software. As approx 90% of the group had never used Macs before, there was a real sense of excitement and concern when they got the kit.
We have established individual blogs for each participant so that they can blog their journey through the project but have also set up a number of blogs to draw out the experiences of the group. Our Apple Mac Blog will seek to explain how the macs can be used creatively in the classroom - the important element here is that these teachers are all so new to the Mac that it is refreshing to see how easy they are finding the transition from PC to Mac. There is also a blog to draw out possibilities for Assessment for Learning. Both these blogs are in their infancy but we are keen to establish international links to be able to both share our experiences and benefit from other peoples ideas so please visit the blogs and add comments or posts as you feel fit.
....... continue readingPlease excuse the intrusion…..
It contains 287 words, 0 images = an estimated 1:09 mins reading time.
The big question is - will schools be buying them for Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) access during excursions and outside work? You bet - at least those with money will. It wasn’t until I came across this video, I understood what the web community is so amazed about. Kindy kids will be able to understand and operate that GUI! This montage from Rojo sums the combination up for a visual spatial learner like me:
Unfortunately, being able to access rich media via the school WiFi network changes the boundaries for school ICT resources yet again. With the new wireless capabilities of hubs like AirPort Extreme digital portability enters yet another dimension - can our school infrastructure and systems keep up? This sort of change in expectation displays the need for scaleable network and storage solutions. Instead of portable notebook trolleys will we see racks of iPhones in the library? I’ll check back on this post in 2008 to see where we are at.
Update: Lot’s of other bloggers are thinking about the gaping hole iPhone could fill in education:
Chalkface Project predicts:
“that the iPhone, and its descendants and imitators, will replace desktops and laptops as the workhorse educational computing device.”
Electronicportfolios.org’s Dr. Helen Barrett hypothesises:
“Online simulations, games, learning objects, widgets, blogs, a built-in digital camera to collect images; the capabilities of this device could far exceed the way Palms are currently being used in education today. I could imagine many ways that this device could become the next 1-1 platform for learning. I also see a tool that will support the many stages of ePortfolio development, including collection and reflection.”
....... continue readingiPhones in education.
It contains 361 words, 1 image = an estimated 1:27 mins reading time.
The Huckleberry mirror is a nifty tool for any MacBook or MacBook Pro doing the same as many educators have been doing with their iSight cameras. The MacBook screen effectively becomes a huge LCD with an Intel processor.
Consisting of an acrylic mirror and two durable plastic mounting brackets, Huckleberry for MacBook is placed above the screen to reflect the built-in camera’s field of view. Instead of filming yourself, it will now film what’s in front of you! The new Huckleberry II for MacBook Pro uses two mirrors to provide a full 180 degree change in camera direction.
Educational uses For Huckleberry:
Capture movies direct iMovie HD.
Create stop-motion/clay-mation video in iStopMotion.
Scan your media with Delicious Library.
Take pictures in Photo Booth.
2006 had a lot to offer, but the biggest story from ‘the year that was‘, according to Scott Stevenson, is that Apple finally got out of the shadow of its early success with the original Mac in the 80s, and has redefined what it means to be Apple Computer. Not only is the iPod a true cultural phenomenon, but 2006 can lay claim to the most Macs ever sold in a single quarter!
In a school survey of all year 8 - 10 students at my school late last year I discovered the following:
81% of our students had a portable mp3 player
The brand the majority of those students with mp3 players owned was the iPod (70%)
More of Blitto’s Survey Results:
49. Do you have a computer at home? 91% yes
50. Do you have Internet at home? 88% yes
51. Do you have Broadband/ADSL Internet at home? 79% yes
52. Do you have a portable mp3 music player? 81% yes
53. Is your portable mp3 player an iPod? 70% yes
54. Do you download/listen to Podcasts? 55% yes
An interesting little article on iPods for you:
The iPod is inching closer and closer to the roll of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). With that in mind, let’s look at some of the things you might want to try using your own iPod or MP3 player outside of the usual look and listen. Note that while most of the suggestions below mention the Apple iPod, many of these options are still available for other MP3 player brands.”
Scroll down to “Feature story: Get more out of your iPod“
When talking about wiki I always like to refer colleagues to the Terry The Tennisball Wiki by students of Grade 3-4 in Geelong in a fellow called Mr Pearce’s class. To my mind this wiki is in essence like a mini Choose Your Own Adventure story.
The CYOB format for storytelling is an engaging writing and reading literacy tool at teachers disposal. Students with iPods may be interested in downloading a free version of a story called ‘The Abominable Snowman’ from this website.
You head to the Himalaya in search of the mythical abominable snowman. But when your climbing partner Carlos goes missing, your search takes a very different turn.
* Read by series author and founder R. A. Montgomery
* Original text (116 pages)
* Exciting full color illustrations & sound effects
* Windows & Mac iPod compatible
The new Airport Extreme is something that all schools who are using wireless networks have craved for. One of the biggest issues in schools, are classes of students in a small area accessing the network through just a couple of wireless access points. If students are logging onto a server this can be extremely slow due to the lack of throughput (data transfer) from a lmited wireless bandwidth. A compromise is always needed to improve the connection such as having local logins rather than server homes, or making a specific computer image to make the best use of the network that is often going against what you are trying to achieve with technology, reducing what is copied to the server in the case of OSX server, you can choose which folders are sychronised while Windows profiles are a different matter (if anyone wants more on this subject just make a comment).
....... continue readingApple Can’t Wait For Bureaucracy.
It contains 386 words, 1 image = an estimated 1:33 mins reading time.
As more schools and students use iPods, educators are adding to their repertoire of teaching strategies moving beyond just podcasts. Tools such as iWriter for creating learning programs and iLingo for language translation are specifically being written for these devices. A current sourceforge called Encyclopodia project allows iPod users to download and browse Wikipedia on your iPod. While the interface screenshots look a little naff, it is interesting for the simple fact that the worlds largest and most dynamic user generated encyclopedia can now be carried around in ones pocket!
Encyclopodia is a free software project that brings the Wikipedia, which is one of the largest encyclopedias in the world, to the Apple iPod. Encyclopodia can be installed on iPod genarations one to four, as well as on iPod Minis and Photo iPods.
This may be the closest we’ve come yet to the Hitchhikers Guide. Weighing in at a >800mb download the Wikipedia eBook carries with it some heavy issues like bias and source reliability. However, with appropriate critical literacy skills students of all ages will continue to find Wikipedia a good starting point in their research. Even Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales warns against it’s use as the be-all-and-end-all resource in educational settings:
....... continue readingMore educational software for iPod.
It contains 305 words, 1 image = an estimated 1:13 mins reading time.
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Chris Parcel: iStudyToGo is a cool application that lets you put your school notes on your iPod. It is designed specifically for students studying for the SAT and comes with 5000 preloaded SAT words.
Raul Erazo: Can someone explain how you are using iphones in teaching math? I am interested in cathing up with this trend….
Paul Reid: G’day Kris, commonly in XP you need to toggle with the ATI control panel to get the correct settings. There are more complicated ways of fixing BootCamp projector use for Vista here:...
Lee: that was pretty cool I never used the script editor never new what it was. Can u do that with any other applications??
Kyrne Holloway: I would like to suggest iShowU as an alternative to Snapz Pro as it provides a lot of control over compression settings for the movie you create. School-House is very good. People may be interested in...
Steve Adcock: Just letting you know that Pixelmator is out of Beta is no longer available until it is for sale. For virtualisation, I just wanted to add Crossover http://www.codeweavers.com/pro ducts/cxmac/ which is...
Brett Moller: A great list of apps… May I add Snapz Pro for screen captures etc… Used it recently for a lesson I did with my students that was captured then added as a podcast. An overview of this is on my...
Paul Reid: A big thank you to Jenny Ashby for hosting tonights Macedders conference. Also to Martin Levins and Andrew Douche for their thought provoking presentations. And most of all to the 29 participants for their...
Beth G: Happy to hear you are using Elluminate Live! for your online conference. Please pass on to your attendees that they can use the technology for free with Elluminate vRoom. It’s our free, 3-user virtual room...
Jenny Ashby: Thanks Paul. It certainly is heating up with lots of people registering and excitement building for the night. What a great way to attend a conference. No travel, no time wasted and in comfort. There is still...
Paul Reid: Mark Prensky has some clear ideas on how mobile phones might be used in education here: http://www.marcprensky.com/blo g/archives/000043.html
Judy OConnell: Glad to have you on board David! I’m sure there’ll be lots of ways you can provide input..the younger, the merrier! Cheers.
Steve Adcock: Good One Judy. Its definitely better than Grab and having to use Preview to change picture formats. Nice find. STeve
Steve Adcock: Departments of Education across Australia enforce policy and often the technology policies are never updated quick enough. At pesent in WA schools, in terms of wireless infrastructure, integrators that win...
John Pearce: Hi Paul, Came across this blog via Judy O’Connell’s Hey Jude. The blog is a nice addition to the blogosphere and the Mac world as well. Congrats. Reading this entry was though was one of those...
Chris Craft: Funny that you blog about this, I just ordered this yesterday! They were out out of stock for the one for MacBook Pros until recently. I am looking forward to recording some good video and taking good...
Jenny Ashby: Another handy app for the ipods is called Zapp Tek iPresentit. The app converts powerpooints,keynotes and PDF’s into movies suitable to view on ipods. This can be handy and coupled with an AV cable can...
Paul Reid: You raise some important considerations for network maintennance in schools Steve, especially those using Windows profiles for student/staff movements on the network. In reducing user profile size network speeds...
Steve Adcock: Windows profiles (these are the files that are copied onto the server or files sent back and forth while logging in from a Windows machine) lack the same precise tools that workgroup manager in OSX server...
Paul Reid: Hi Steve, the new AirPort Extreme is potentially a very useful device for school network support managers. It prompts quite a shift in the ways schools will use their network. As far as schools showing forward...
Reg Whitely: Thanks for this Paul. I’ve tried it and it works well. Just remember that it will only convert WAV and AIFF files. I spent some anxious moments trying to convert some mp3 files before reading the FAQs on...
Greg Alchin: Congratulations Paul on putting the hard yards into making a great resource. Cheers Greg
Paul Reid: Testing Testing 1-2-3, Are these recent comments in the sidebar working? I hope so. If not there must be a stray or tag - or something. Now do I get the Trackbacks functionality to work. And does this comment...
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Online hub for Australian educators using Apple Macintosh: Online hub for Australian educators using Apple Macintosh computers & iPods. … Instead of portable notebook trolleys will we see racks of iPhones in the library … Browse…
Orange: 30,000 iPhones sold so far in France: iPhones in education at Aus Mac Ed Online hub for Australian educators using Apple Macintosh computers & iPods. … Instead of portable notebook trolleys will we see racks of iPhones in the library? …
I have recently initiated a new website called iPhone in Ed related to the relevance of iPhones as 21C learning tools. iPhone in Education aims to collate, review and categorise applications made for the iPhone and specifically useful in teaching and learning.
Recently I attended a seminar by Professor Richard Kimbell from, Director of Technology Education Research Unit, Goldsmiths’ College, University of London. This seminar provided an opportunity for educators in W.A. to learn about the use of PDAs and other digital technologies to support assessment. The event was summarised thus:
Consisting of an acrylic mirror and two durable plastic mounting brackets, Huckleberry for MacBook is placed above the screen to reflect the built-in camera’s field of view. Instead of filming yourself, it will now film what’s in front of you! The new Huckleberry II for MacBook Pro uses two mirrors to provide a full 180 degree change in camera direction.
When talking about wiki I always like to refer colleagues to the 
The new 
As more schools and students use iPods, educators are adding to their repertoire of teaching strategies moving beyond just podcasts. Tools such as 
