IEAR Apps Review Podcast #3

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Host: Scott Meech / Co-Hosts: Judi Epcke and Tony Vincent (TonyVincent.net and Learninginhand.com)

• http://mobile2011.org - Mobile Learning Conference
• Office 2 HD
• Sesame Street Podcasts
• The River Test
• Hannah Knows App
• Storyrobe - Digital Story App
• Kaplan Free Textbooks for iPad until August 30th, 2010
• Replacing a pile of textbooks with an iPad
• SonicPics - Digital Story App

IEAR Apps Review Podcast #2

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Host: Scott Meech / Co-Hosts: Judi Epcke, Kelly Dumont and Adam Bellow.

Notes on Presentation at NICE from Beth Burke on IEAR by Scott Meech

Thanks for taking notes.  I will post the presentation shortly....

Beth Burke's notes from presentation at NICE about the IEAR movement...

Accessories

• plug that goes in car lighter to go through radio does not work well
• Podium - sits up on desktop and holds iPod or iPhone while you work
• Connectors - displays video from iPod...something coming, can hook up to musical instruments
• Carts - Bretford cart - espensive, but is it worth it? Less expensive way to sync multiple iPod Touches in a USB hub...takes more time, but much less expensive.  With the Bretford cart, you can just buy the drawer, not the entire cart.
• QUESTION - is there a way to sync so all apps show up in the same place?
• iType - Put device right inside and it syncs from there - extends actual device into a full-sized one
• Mobicip - filter for iPod/iPhone
• Can set restrictions on device itself (set for NC-17 or lower so can't see the apps in the store at all)
• iNet SafetyBubble - another Parental Control Internet Filter, but expensive - $19.99 (Syncing to lots of devices?  Only have to purchase it 1 time.  So, pay the $19.99 once and can sync it to hundreds of devices)
• Bsecure - free internet safety device

Other Resources

• ISTE has a special interest group SIGML (mobile learning)
• Blog post - "Top 50 iPhone Apps for Educators" - http://oedb.org/library/features/top_50_iphones_for_educators
• Some other apps mentioned:
• • GradePad - create rubric and give students grades
  • The Math Master - $0.99 - drill and practice math problems (created by 7th graders - see interview of Louie and Sam on iear.org website)
  • Numberline - place numbers (in diff formats) on number line
  • Classics - Downloads several classic novels and includes a reader
  • Library Thing
  • Story Kit - Kids can edit original stories (i.e., The Three Little Pigs)
  • Real Director - An actual video editor for the iPhone
  • Touch Goals
  • Joe's Goals
  • mobicip
  • Videora - program to install on computer to convert videos to be able to place on your iPod/iPhone

Other resources

• Tony Vincent - Learning in Hand
• Susan Wells - in Classroom 2.0 and on IEAR ning - her school went 1-to-1 with iPod Touches.
• Acalanes UHSD School - lots of resources
• mrcoley.com

Is student excitement enough?

I have read far too many articles / blog posts lately that heavily emphasize student excitement and using mobile learning devices.  Here is a nice example: http://www.twincities.com/ci_14045406?nclick_check=1.While I am happy to hear that students are enjoying learning experiences, I just don't believe this is a good reason to move into mobile learning.  The shine comes off the device quickly.  Mobile learning tools will become transformative when these devices are embedded in the learning process and not when they are glorified tools.  What are your thoughts?

Here is a link to a discussion forum within our NING community focused on this very question:  http://ieducationappsreview.ning.com/forum/topics/is-student-excitement-enough

IEAR - TV

We are going to attempt to launch an IEAR.org's live broadcast.  More information will be posted as soon as we have a show date.  If you would like to host your own "Mobile Learning Broadcast" with IEAR's TV Station, please feel free to contact scott (at) iear.org.  We would be more than happy to have you work under the umbrella of IEAR.org. 

Here is our channel:

Live Broadcast by Ustream.TV

Squarespaces App ... Finally!

The long awaited IPhone app from Squarespaces is here. The interface is pretty clean and friendly. This app will allow me to be much more productive!

My wish list:
- App should switch to landscape.
- I don't see a way to control where an image gets input.
- Spell check

End of the School Year updates...

This is the busiest time of year for most "Teachers" so bear with us as we move forward.  We are working hard on how to organize ourselves as we move forward.  Your support has been fantastic so far.