Apple Educational App Volume Licensing Program - Visual Aid by Jim Siegl - Jim's Profile:  http://ieducationappsreview.ning.com/profile/JimSiegl

In addition to the basic app, teachers also have the ability to subscribe to the premium service ($9.99. annually), which allows for more customization.  Teachers can block or allow websites and categories on the device in order to have more control over what the student sees.  Teachers are also able to login to the Internet and view each device and monitor what sites the students have accessed.   There are also a number of reports that teachers can run that shows what types of sites are blocked and how often they were accessed.

Program Functionality: The navigation of Mobicip is essentially the same as Safari.  It is very easy to use.  Initially the teacher will need to set it up on the iPod so they can enter the login credentials.  This is done only once.  After this, the student can open the Mobicip icon and it will go straight to the Internet.

I especially like the bookmarks that come with Mobicip.  These are all safe and useful websites for the kids to access.

 
Overall Educational Value: A  This app is very important for education because it allows schools to send the devices home without having to worry about what the student may access.

Cost: 4.99

Developer Website: Mobicip (http://www.mobicip.com/ )

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mobicip-com/id299153589

Reviewer Name: Jennifer Wivagg

Office²HD, $7.99

I decided to buy it for one main reason that I just couldn't resist: it allows you to edit your Google Docs documents! Not just edit, you can create a document and save it as a Google Doc! I was already resigning myself to have my students create written content on their iPads and then either email them to the desktop computers or use Dropbox to get the documents to the desktop where the documents could then be uploaded to Google Docs. Now we don't have to! The one shortfall I have come across so far is that I can't find where or how to view comments left on a Google Doc on Office². I'm still working on figuring that one out but I can't find anything. It doesn't help that when I add "comments" into my search I get mostly hits on blog comments. Maybe people haven't noticed the problem or maybe it's just me.

While searching to see if anyone else has noticed that you can't view comments or if someone has figured out how to view comments I came across this blog that describes Office² very well and gives tips on how to set it up to view your Google Docs documents and spreadsheets as well as your Dropbox files. Viewing and editing those files has been working very well for me. The blog is Editing Google Docs with Office2 HD, from MobileContent Today. It's worth the read if you plan on buying this app.

This app was definitely a good purchase.

Image from Blackboard, IncApp Title:

• Announcements
• Grades
• Blogs
• Roster
• Discussions
• Journals
• Tasks
• Media (provided your mobile device supports it)

Image by jrho
Description of App functionality
I loved the graphic user interface for this app on the iPad. The graphics and access to information is easy to use and appealing. I liked the potential to access my course content from a mobile device so I can respond to student questions from anywhere.

I used the application with an online course in Blackboard that had the following features:

• Discussion board with a threaded discussion and a video embedded
• Content
• Test
• External link
• Item with a link embedded
• Assignment
• Announcement

And I tested a number of tools, what I found is:

As long as the media is supported by the mobile device, I was able to access most of the general content of the course. Content created using building blocks like Wimba and Learning objects wikis and blogs were not accessible. Some of the interactive tools like discussion boards and tests had limited functionality. For example, the discussion board worked in the mobile app once there was a thread to respond to yet I could not access the video in the discussion board. In regard to creating content, the app is limited. I found that I got kicked out of the app often and I repeatedly had to log back in to the application when I got kicked out and to access certain tools.

From my brief experience with the app, it looks like an app that could provide students and teachers with an opportunity to check in to their courses but really not do much production of content and communication in their courses.

Classroom Use/ Examples /Ideas
Can be used by teachers to provide content, announcements etc to students to access anytime, anywhere. Great if you have students on a field trip or lab, they can access content and resources from their mobile device.

Developer website: http://www.blackboard.com/Mobile/Mobile-Learn.aspx

Reviewer Name: Lisa C. Young

Reviewer Blog: http://lcbyoung-scc.squarespace.com/


 I've been thinking of the ways my students will use the iPads I'm getting the way I'm getting them. My principal was able to purchase me an iPad to try out over the summer so I've been trying out different apps. Another helpful blog I read was David Warlick's Technology for 21st Century Learning: Part 1. In his blog article David impels us to make sure we're not adopting new technologies becasue they're new or gadgety. He too writes about the iPad in education and how it's not at its full potential yet. He also writes, “21st century leaning has nothing to do with iPads, iPod Touches, or any piece of technology.  The only thing that is one to one that we should be concerned with is equitable access to rigorous, relevant, and irresistible learning experiences that reflect and harness the times, environment, and ultimate goals of the learning." That got me thinking again about how I plan to have my students use the iPads and other assorted machines I have for students in a 1:1 environment.

My goals for integrating technology into my middle school Science courses is to have my students Create, Connect and Collaborate. From the simple, lower bloom's taxonomy activities to the higher level activities students will hopefully be motivated by having "their" technologies available in school. Of course having "their" tech in school and not allowing them to use the tech in the ways they are accustomed to is not enough. So here are some ideas for using iPads in a middle school Science classroom:

1. To read. Students can read websites for research or pdf files that we load onto iBooks. I plan to have students try out the VoiceOver feature if they struggle with reading or prefer being read to. With a 1:1 all students can read at their own pace. Annotating and note-taking is possible right on the iPad even with the Notes app or using an app like Documents2.
2. Once reading is done students can access their blogs from the iPad and write about their reading. By writing and reflecting on blogs students can comment on each other's thoughts. This helps students both Create and Connect. For writing blogs or taking notes students can try the Dictation app to speak their ideas right onto the iPad.
3. By working on webquests or project/problem-based-learning activities and labs students can Collaborate to come up with a solution. Using their iPad students can use Idea Sketch or Adobe Ideas or Sundry Notes to brainstorm how they will share their solution with the rest of the class. If they plan to use Prezi, Xtranormal or some other Flash based web 2.0 tool to share they can send their ideas to the team's desktop computer or netbook via Dropbox or email. I also have CloudBrowse to see if they can use something like Prezi and Create right on their iPad.
4. Let's also not forget YouTube. My students use YouTube often to find videos to share with the class to show what they've learned as well as to learn.
5. Using Documents2 to write notes students can get those notes to the team's google docs using again Dropbox or email. Students will have the option of taking their notes individually since they have enough machines. I used to have two to three students using one computer and while one typed away the others were often unengaged. Having all my students blog and/or take notes at the same time is exciting and we don't even have to go to the computer lab!
6. Using Dropbox, email, or Flickr students can get pictures they take in class and then with PhotoPad they can edit their images.
7. To Create images for their blogs or other products students can draw with DrawFree, iDraft or Comic Touch.
8. For backchanneling class discussions and answering questions we will use Twitter with Twitbird Pro. This gives all students a voice while allowing them to Connect and Collaborate in class.

I do have some exciting Science apps for students to use but I expect that once the novelty wears out they won't be used as much. Those apps will be much more useful when we actually have a reason to use them, for example when studying the effects of nitrates in our creek, NO₃, students can use the The Elements app to look at nitrogen and oxygen up close and personal. The Elements is an example of an app that is absolutely gorgeous. The best way I have seen to view and learn about elements. As a novelty item, with no purpose, kids may ooh and ahh at first but soon will lose interest and move on to something else. I don't have that many reasons to use a periodic table because I don't teach chemistry but I still had to have that app for those few times I could use it. It is just stunning.

So having my students read, annotate, take notes, learn, write, communicate, share and comment with few or many apps I think will be the bread and butter of how we will use the iPads in my class. Moving files from and to the iPad will be essential especially since we will be using google docs to Collaborate. Besides using the flashy apps, what else can we do with our iPads?

Grade Level: 2-12, students need to be able to type because the iPod (companion app) allows only text, drawing, although younger students could draw on the iPad.

Purpose: B+ A multi-device collaboration tool

Program Functionality: B- Allows up to four people to collaborate (somewhat) on a brainstorming diagram or group thinking process. Once the diagram or brainstorming has been completed, the diagram can easily be emailed to all participants. Must have an iPad for the iPods to be used. (ie. Teacher on iPad, students on iPods) As students type on the iPods, they just flick their finger and their ideas will be flipped over to the iPad. See YouTube demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKFpEMG3BF4

Overall Educational Value: B Fun and engaging, but some teachers may prefer just using Sticky Notes, slates, or student response systems for similar effect in the younger grades. I think older students (5th and up) would prefer this method (more anonymity, perhaps). 

Price: Free!

Recommendation: Need to delete when typing a note on the iPhone, could be cumbersome. Would be great to add some features like choice among drawing tools: pen thickness, colors, the choice of note color, and the ability to have multiple pages. Also the ability to export to other programs would increase usability. 

Classroom Use Examples/Ideas: Need to be on the same local wifi, but can be used via Bluetooth if you turn off wifi on all devices. Students could collaborate on a diagram add text, note-taking. Could be used in small groups: teacher writes something and students add to it on iPod Touches and flip it over to the teacher. The need for an iPad is a bit of a drawback. YouTube demo of use with multiple devices: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KumchuR5R1A&feature=related

Developer Site: http://www.ibrainstormapp.com/

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibrainstorm/id382252825?mt=8