I went to a meeting recently to discuss a web site redesign project. It was in a boardroom attended by about 10 people including myself. When I got there, the presentation was on a big screen in front of the room and was controlled by a laptop. I didn't bring my ipad because I wasn't running the presentation and it wasn't school related. But I wondered whether the ipad would have been a good substitute for the laptop in this setting. Seeing how I found that it wasn't in a previous post.
When I got home I did some research and found some interesting articles. I wanted to share them. Here is a link discussing using the ipad for presentation and apps you can use for same.
Here is a link to an articles for the ipad apps that can be used for presentations in the classroom and for teaching. Here is a link to an article for some that are free!
And here is a link to an article from a teacher who swears the ipad changed her life. While I am very happy to have the ipad, It hasn't changed my life yet…still searching...
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Compliance Checking
I am also a few days late in blogging about my iPad activities but I didn't have anything to blog about until now.
I still only continue to use the iPad for meetings. During the summer there are not a lot of activities going on where I can use the iPad for other more exciting items. I will be able to do some exploring hopefully on new apps soon. Yesterday we had a day long meeting which we listened to presentations and learned about activities related to one of the largest grants on Campus. At this event a consultant working with the Department of Energy attended and needed to do a compliance check with some of our records. I was able to pull up the Department of Labor Wage Determination that guides the project and he was able to train us quickly on comparing certified payrolls with this determination. This allowed us to confirm that we have met the required guidelines which are necessary for this contract and we can also bring this information on to the sites where these wage determinations are used and show the contractors. The iPad makes everything portable and we are able to save paper and can easily send the link to the contractor.
The iPad has replaced my personal laptop which I was using for work purposes. It is easier to carry back and forth so that I can complete emails at home and do research related to grants etc.
I still need to work with the CTLT to determine if the Apple Store App called numbers can be purchased and downloaded for us to use. Also we need to determine how the updates can be done and pushed to our iPads so that when there is an update for an app that the IT Department downloaded it can be done behind the scenes.
I still only continue to use the iPad for meetings. During the summer there are not a lot of activities going on where I can use the iPad for other more exciting items. I will be able to do some exploring hopefully on new apps soon. Yesterday we had a day long meeting which we listened to presentations and learned about activities related to one of the largest grants on Campus. At this event a consultant working with the Department of Energy attended and needed to do a compliance check with some of our records. I was able to pull up the Department of Labor Wage Determination that guides the project and he was able to train us quickly on comparing certified payrolls with this determination. This allowed us to confirm that we have met the required guidelines which are necessary for this contract and we can also bring this information on to the sites where these wage determinations are used and show the contractors. The iPad makes everything portable and we are able to save paper and can easily send the link to the contractor.
The iPad has replaced my personal laptop which I was using for work purposes. It is easier to carry back and forth so that I can complete emails at home and do research related to grants etc.
I still need to work with the CTLT to determine if the Apple Store App called numbers can be purchased and downloaded for us to use. Also we need to determine how the updates can be done and pushed to our iPads so that when there is an update for an app that the IT Department downloaded it can be done behind the scenes.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
iPad Gang...HELLO!
ithank CTLT for the opportunity to work with the ipad.
ifinally here to blog even though several 7ths of the month have passed.
ilove the iPad...it is sleek and cool.
ifeel a bit like a hipster.
icalled Jill O'Sullivan, and have called the office.
ihaven't been on any trips abroad lately.
iwant to try talkatone from overseas to save $$ when calling home.
ivacationed in west virginia and loved the weather app---thunderstorms all week.
iuse email, but my subfolders don't seem to load.
idownloaded tumblr app to blog. will update next time
iconfess
iblog from my desktop...it's a mac...does that count?
isorry!! :-)
ifinally here to blog even though several 7ths of the month have passed.
ilove the iPad...it is sleek and cool.
ifeel a bit like a hipster.
icalled Jill O'Sullivan, and have called the office.
ihaven't been on any trips abroad lately.
iwant to try talkatone from overseas to save $$ when calling home.
ivacationed in west virginia and loved the weather app---thunderstorms all week.
iuse email, but my subfolders don't seem to load.
idownloaded tumblr app to blog. will update next time
iconfess
iblog from my desktop...it's a mac...does that count?
isorry!! :-)
Monday, July 8, 2013
Hello everyone! I am sorry that I am posting a few days late. I have been taking some pictures and videos with my iPad at the lab. The images are so clear. I am trying to obtain a visual library of laboratory procedures commonly used as well as images of isolated bacterial colonies. I have also photographed identification and drug susceptibility panels and the images are so clear that I will easily be able to design an assignment and have students read the panels and report results.
I have also located a Facebook page that has links to free microbiology content online. I will be investigating this in the upcoming weeks as well.
I have also located a Facebook page that has links to free microbiology content online. I will be investigating this in the upcoming weeks as well.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Google Play Books
I enjoy using the iPad as a book reader. Apple's iBooks nicely arrange my notes and PDF files that I have. But I also like to use Google's Play books to read my books because it has the "page flipping effect" even it is a PDF file (i like this feature over iBooks). Play books also allows me to store the files in the cloud and read them on my phone or computer as needed.
FYI, you cannot upload your files through the Play books app. You will need to login the google play book website and upload the files. Hope you like this book reader app too.
https://play.google.com/books
Monday, June 24, 2013
Like everyone else, I've been getting to know my new friend, and here's what I've discovered:
1. I don't like the touchpad. As someone who keyboards all day long, whether it's responding to students' emails, grading papers electronically, editing a manuscript (one of my students has written a novel, and I'm helping him get set with chapter 1), or responding to the College's emails, I find the touchpad annoying. Therefore, I bought a case with a keyboard attached. This is quite a handy gadget, folks, if like me, you're happier with a traditional keyboard.
2. Speaking of keyboarding, I MUST find a way to disable the autocorrect. I don't like this feature on any computer or tablet, because I don't want Hal putting words in my mouth. Autocorrect is especially assertive on the I-pad. Anyone know how to dismantle this?
3. I've always thought of myself as resolutely uncool, the stereotypical nerdy kid (allow me my illusions, please) with her head buried in a thick book. But when I carry the I-pad, I am suddenly tres cool, au courant, stylish. What is that about? In my later years, I suddenly assume the heavy mantle of coolness because I'm carrying a sleek gadget? This says far more about our society than it says about me, I fear.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Ipad—not a laptop
My hesitation about setting up and using the ipad was misplaced. Turns out, you just have to turn it on and it appears ready for action. There was some organization required (if you prefer a clutter-free screen). I spent some time just getting to know some apps that came on the tablet. I already had an Apple id (required to download anything) so I shooed my salivating children away and sat down to do some serious research on the device.
I intend to use the ipad in VIS 332 and VIS 334. These courses are upper division classes where students are immersed in interactive web design including designing for different digital devices. Yes, that means they will be designing for tablets. This involves fluid grids, flexible images, media queries, and dynamic content. While you can complete this task on a desktop, there are a lot of applications that can aid in development for the ipad. Finding the most efficient ones is on my summer to do list. But at the orientation, Michael Knauth indicated that we should consider how to use the ipad in the classroom as a teaching tool.
I began exploring with some games. Can you blame me? To appease my children, I downloaded a fairy fashion game (where you pick clothes out for the fairy "model"), a dentist game (where you clean characters teeth…I am not kidding), Interactive Pet (where you take care of your pet), Smurf build a town, Candy Crush, Bubble Breaker, word games and more. In fact, it appears that my children have downloaded every free game available. But I would recommend skipping this step because I became obsessed with candy crush and can't remember one whole week before summer session A began. Once I realized how much time I was devoting to the game, I deleted it from the device.
Armed with my beginning-of-summer willpower, I began to investigate 21st century literacy applications and processes. I went to search for information by browsing. But browsing on the ipad was slow because it difficult to type on the virtual keyboard. Additionally, not all sites were easy to navigate. When I research a topic, I gather data first. I create bookmarks and sometimes copy and paste into word files to review later. This takes seconds on the laptop but much longer on the ipad. I wondered if I should invest in an external keyboard to see if I could work better, but I already have a laptop and a desktop. Apparently I am not alone in thinking that browsing the internet on an ipad is not ideal.
That said, I did enjoy watching things in the ipad. I like learning via tutorials, videos and webinars. Currently, Lynda.com or Learnable are my go to sites for software tutorials. While waiting for my daughter's dance class, I brought the ipad and watched a video. I would never have brought my laptop (I was already weighed down with all the girls stuff—change of clothes, shoes, snacks, water bottles.) Lightweight and slim, the ipad took no extra space than a magazine. I popped in my earbuds and the hour flew by. I would think watching anything [videos, tv programs and movies] would work great. In fact, I have a friend who commutes to Manhattan from Holbrook and watches movies on her ipad.
So my results after a month in summary—Ipad—not a laptop but a good device for consuming media. While I don't plan on requiring students to use an ipad in my courses, my conclusions are shared by other teachers.
I intend to use the ipad in VIS 332 and VIS 334. These courses are upper division classes where students are immersed in interactive web design including designing for different digital devices. Yes, that means they will be designing for tablets. This involves fluid grids, flexible images, media queries, and dynamic content. While you can complete this task on a desktop, there are a lot of applications that can aid in development for the ipad. Finding the most efficient ones is on my summer to do list. But at the orientation, Michael Knauth indicated that we should consider how to use the ipad in the classroom as a teaching tool.
I began exploring with some games. Can you blame me? To appease my children, I downloaded a fairy fashion game (where you pick clothes out for the fairy "model"), a dentist game (where you clean characters teeth…I am not kidding), Interactive Pet (where you take care of your pet), Smurf build a town, Candy Crush, Bubble Breaker, word games and more. In fact, it appears that my children have downloaded every free game available. But I would recommend skipping this step because I became obsessed with candy crush and can't remember one whole week before summer session A began. Once I realized how much time I was devoting to the game, I deleted it from the device.
Armed with my beginning-of-summer willpower, I began to investigate 21st century literacy applications and processes. I went to search for information by browsing. But browsing on the ipad was slow because it difficult to type on the virtual keyboard. Additionally, not all sites were easy to navigate. When I research a topic, I gather data first. I create bookmarks and sometimes copy and paste into word files to review later. This takes seconds on the laptop but much longer on the ipad. I wondered if I should invest in an external keyboard to see if I could work better, but I already have a laptop and a desktop. Apparently I am not alone in thinking that browsing the internet on an ipad is not ideal.
That said, I did enjoy watching things in the ipad. I like learning via tutorials, videos and webinars. Currently, Lynda.com or Learnable are my go to sites for software tutorials. While waiting for my daughter's dance class, I brought the ipad and watched a video. I would never have brought my laptop (I was already weighed down with all the girls stuff—change of clothes, shoes, snacks, water bottles.) Lightweight and slim, the ipad took no extra space than a magazine. I popped in my earbuds and the hour flew by. I would think watching anything [videos, tv programs and movies] would work great. In fact, I have a friend who commutes to Manhattan from Holbrook and watches movies on her ipad.
So my results after a month in summary—Ipad—not a laptop but a good device for consuming media. While I don't plan on requiring students to use an ipad in my courses, my conclusions are shared by other teachers.
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