BYOD: Best Student Apps 4 Back 2 School

This time of year is easy to find lists recommending the best apps for students. So I figured I ought to throw my hat into the ring as well. Please share your suggestions as well by leaving a comment.

1. Google Search -IOS-free; Android standard
   
   
   
   One feature they didn't talk about in the video is search by voice. It's so much faster than typing in on a small iPhone screen.
   
   
2. Evernote - Free - (web, Mac, PC, IOS, Android, etc.) This is best note taking app bar none. It's features include handwriting & text recognition, even within a picture. A student could snap a photo of the whiteboard or a PPT. Then all your notes are searchable by any keyword in the note or photo. (see my post on Evernote for cooks & home ec.)
   
   
   
   
3. gFlash+ - Free (IOS, Android & Blackberry) - Flashcard app allows you to convert Google docs into flashcards. Also compatible with Quizlet.
   
   
   
   
4. Dictionary.com - Free (web, IOS, Android, Blackberry) - Every teacher wishes their students always had a dictionary with them. (Winner of the 2009 Best Apps Ever Award)
   
   
   
   
5. Dropbox - Free (web, IOS, Android, Blackberry) - Store your files in the cloud and then retrieve them on any internet connected device. (Note: the files are not stored on the device itself, so if you lose an internet connection, you will not be able to get your files)
   
   
   
   
6. eReader - Kindle - iBooks - Google Books
   Kindle - Free (every platform) - With the cross platform ability of Kindle you can't go wrong.
   iBooks - Free (IOS) - Allows storage of ebooks & .PDF docs; ebooks can also contain video.
   Google Books - Free (IOS, Android, Web)
   
   
7. Grammar Guide - $.99 - Having a grammar reference tool is an essential for many classes.
   
8. The Chemical Touch - $.99 (IOS) - Interactive periodic table of elements
   
9. Homework: Myhomework & ihomework:
   
   Myhomework - Free (IOS & Android) - Great homework app "tracks your classes, homework, and projects so you never forget an assignment."
   
   ihomework - $1.99 (IOS & Mac) - Manage your courses, homework, grades, deadlines and more.
   
   
10. iFormulas - Free (IOS) - Formulas for Algebra, Calculus, Chemistry, Geometry, & Trigonometry.
    
    
11. History: Maps of the World - Free (IOS) - Collection of high resolution historical maps.

Thanks to all my colleagues on Facebook for lending a hand with the apps above.

With the hundreds of thousands of apps out there, this list is opinion. However, you can make it better...

• If you are a teacher, please leave a comment below with the subject that you teach and the apps that you recommend for your students.
• If you are student please add your favorites as well by leaving a comment.

Problems with Managing Multiple IOS devices...

IOS devices are inundating classrooms around the world. They just make sense in Education. Afterall the teacher can put almost all of their course content on the device, and students love using them. It's a great combination. So what's the problem? After managing one school set of iPod touch devices at each of my campuses, there are a few things that I wish Apple would address for Educators managing these devices.

Control over settings - With tools that are currently available it is NOT possible to lock or remove the settings app for students. H.S. & M.S. students are experts at being malicious with technology, especially when it comes to changing the wallpaper, lock screens, and the accessibility settings. Each time they do I have to restore that iPod from a saved backup. It's time consuming hassle.

Configuration profile updating - The iPhone Configuration Utility lets me push out all sorts of settings and webclips which I am very grateful that this doesn't have to be done by hand. However, if I ever need to update the wifi passcode or make a quick change to the profile it takes hours. These configuration profiles don't sync. To make any change they must be removed from the device, then update the profile on the mac (or create a new one), then reinstall the profile on each device. Not to mention the need to click install one time for each device from the mac and then 2X for each profile on the device itself. If I have the devices connected to the computer, allow me to click install one time to push out each profile to all the connected devices.

Manage home screens & App folders - iTunes allows you to manage home screens & app folders one device at a time. The ability to manage these settings in iTunes or ICU so that all devices could look and function identically would be powerful. This way you could organize your apps by subject or function, or even genre.

Installing apps - As my campus technolgy faciltator, I need to be able to add apps quickly and easily. But I also need to be able to prevent students from loading apps of their own. The ICU has a setting that prevents apps from installing. However, it also prevents me from installing apps even when I'm hard wired to my mac. The ideal situation would be to lock the installing of apps to the user, while at the same time enabling a way to push out apps over the air. (BTW - the over air installing of apps works beautifully, now if only there were an OTA uninstall).

Erase all photos - All I'm asking for is a button that erases all photos (except for the ones from my iPhoto library) without requiring me to download them to the computer first. As it it right now you must download all the photos to your iPhoto library before you get a delete button. To add inusult to injury, you can only download from one iPod/iPad at a time. With 30 iPods, this can take hours!

I like these devices. Mobile devices are the future of education. It is, perhaps the fastest/cheapest way to acheive a 1:1 ratio for most school districts. However, mass management & delivery of these devices is obviously a major obstacle for all mobile OS devices including IOS, Android, & RIM(Blackberry). Especially if they want to win over education.

Do you have other problems or solutions to my problems? Please drop me a line.

Tips & Tricks 4 Managing Multiple IOS devices...(part 3)

Part 3: Wi-fi setup, restrictions, & Web Clips using the ICU

Have you ever had to type in your wi-fi key by hand on more than 3 IOS devices? It is rediculous, especially with iPod touch devices! Fortunately, Apple released the Iphone Configuration Utility (ICU). The ICU allows you to create confuguration profiles that can be installed on each device. A configuration profile can install wifi, restrictions, & web clips; but it cannot sync your devices. When the profile installs on the device, the iPod or iPad will require 2 clicks, one to install and one to accept. But that beats typing in long passwords, codes, & URLs.

The ICU is a free download for Mac/PC @ http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/enterprise/

Creating a Configuration Profile - One important thing to note: It is not a good idea to put all of your settings in one profile. For example, if you have restrictions and wifi settings in one profile, but you need to remove the restriction in order to perform a task, then you will also disble the wifi. I typically add 3 profiles, one for wifi, one for restrictions, & one for webclips.

> Click on "Configuration Profiles"
>Click "New"

General Tab: Fill in these options:

• Name
• Indentifier (I follow apple's recomendation: ex, com.school.profilename)
• Security (I choose "With Authorization" and fill in a authorization passcode below. This will enable you to remove this profile manually should it get in the way)

Restrictions Tab: You can play with some of these settings. Below are a few of the lessons I've

learned

• Allow installing apps - If this box is unchecked no more apps can be added to this device, not even when wired to iTunes. I learned my lesson and now leave this checked
• Allow use of Camera - This is important for the 4th gen iPod touch. (I create one profile just for this setting. I have some teachers that request that it be turned off.)
• Allow in App Purchase - I turn this off.
• Allow use of iTunes music store - I turn this off
• Allow explicit music & podcasts - I turn this off
• Allowed content ratings - I leave these set to "allow all"

Wifi tab: I create 1 configuration profile just for wifi. This way, if I need to change settings or turn off a restriction, I don't erase the wifi settings at the same time. Multiple wifi networks can be added by clicking the "+" at the top right.

Web clips: Web clips are shortcuts to web addresses that appear on the home screens as icons that look like apps. When clicked on they launch safari and take you straight to the address. You can add as many web clips as you want in one profile.

One last note: If you change a profile after it has been installed onto a device, it will become corrupt. If you need to make changes to a profile after you have installed it. It is better to uninstall the existing profile, create a new profile, then install the new one.

Tips & Tricks 4 Managing Multiple IOS devices...(part 2)

Part 2: Naming & Sync setup

The setup and naming of IOS devices is the slowest & most time consuming part of managing multiple IOS devices. If it is done right, however, it will save hours upon hours in the future.

Setup the Computer -

1. Create a few playlists in iTunes (We will setup these playlists to auto sync)
2. Create a wallpaper photo with numbers that match the numbers of your devices.
3. Create a few 'Events' in iPhoto. At least 1 for the wallpaper photos & one for lessons (We will setup these events to auto sync)
4. Turn on 'Books' in iTunes. (>iTunes; >Preferences; >check "Books")

Initialize & Name each device:

1. Connect devices to your "Parent Device" (iTunes should launch, if not do so manually)
2. Go through the initial setup screens in iTunes.
3. Create a naming system for your devices and name them accordingly.
4. Uncheck all boxes for Auto sync (We'll setup the way we want iTunes to sync in a moment)

Setup how to sync each device: With all devices plugged in & names, you should each device in the left-hand sidebar of iTunes. The steps below need to be repeated on each IOS device.

1. Select the first device in the left-hand sidebar. (The main screen will now be for managing that device)
2. Choose "Apps"
3. Check the boxes for each app you would like to sync.
4. Check the "Automatically sync new apps" box (it is under the box listing all current apps)
5. Choose "Music"
6. Check the box next to "Sync Music"
7. Check the radio button next to "Selected playlists, artists..."
8. Check the boxes next to each playlist that you would like to auto sync (From now on you can change the music in the playlist on the computer and the changes will auto sync the next time you connect the device to iTunes.)
9. Choose "Books"
10. Check the box next to "Sync Books". (Any PDF can be added to your books library and it will auto sync)
11. Chooose "Photos"
12. Check the box next to "Sync Photos"
13. Check the box next to "Selected Albums, events..."
14. Check the box next to "Include videos"
15. Check the box next to each events that you created previously in iPhoto. (Any photo changed in these events will auto sync to each device.)

Then repeat the steps above for each device in your lab.

Stay tuned for how to setup wifi & webclips(url shortcuts) easily

Tips & Tricks 4 Managing Multiple IOS devices...(part 1)

Part 1: Hardware

Did you know that iTunes can sync up to 20 IOS devices at one time? You just have to make sure that you've got the right hardware. You have some options when it comes to hardware for syncing your devices. Here are two examples that I have used that have worked nicely for me.

The Bretford syncing cart - @ $2,000 or so, this is an expensive, but very convenient option. The cart holds 2 trays of 20 iPod touch devices each. There is one USB for each tray so syncing is somewhat easy. They also make a cart that charges iPads as well.

The powered USB hub - This Tripp-Lite 10 port powered USB hub runs about $40.

This will charge and sync up to 10 devices at once. The hub must be plugged into power as well as connected to the computer in order to charge the devices. It does have one drawback. The hub needs to be plugged into the computer and then connect the devices one by one to the hub. If the devices are all plugged into the hub before it is connected to the computer, occasionally an error will come up stating that "charging is not

supported on this device."

(I have not yet tried connecting two of these to the macbook at the same time to sync up to 20 at once.)

Since the powered USB hub doesn't come with a cart, you will want to have a way to store/carry all your devices at once. We purchased this Vaultz cart below. Office depot sells them for $69.99. A foam insert can be purchased and cut to protect the devices while in transport.

A Parent Device: Whether you have iPods or iPads, these devices need to have a "Parent Device." A parent device is a PC or Mac that has iTunes installed. On my campuses we have a macbook dedicated for this job. A PC could be used, but I have had less problems managing these devices with a mac.

Do you have a system that works for you? Please let me know.

Stay tuned for info on setting up and syncing these devices using the hardware above.

Add text to iPod audio files...

A great little hidden feature with almost any iPod device is the ability to add any text to an audio file.

Essentially this allows anyone to add text that can be displayed while listening to the audio file it is attached to.

Implications for teachers:

Fill in the blank - The text that you enter could omit words or sentences and be replaced with _____.

Vocabulary help - When listening to any audio, students could scroll through key vocabulary and definitions.

Interpretation - Foreign language teachers could have a translation of the audio in text, so the student listens in one language and reads the translation in their native language.

How?

It's easy to get the text into the audio file and onto the iPod. Here's how:

Entering lyrics

1. In iTunes 5 or later, select a favorite song.
2. From the File menu, choose Get Info.
3. Click Lyrics, then enter the words to the song in the text box.
4. Click OK when finished.
5. Copy the song to iPod.

Viewing lyrics

If you've entered song lyrics, you can view them at any time in iTunes 5 or later. Just select the song, Get Info for the song, and then click Lyrics. If you want to view them on iPod, do this:

1. On iPod, start playing any song to which you've added lyrics.
2. Press the Center button repeatedly. The number of times depends on if you have artwork or not. Here's the order of things when you press the Center button:

   Play status > Scrubber > Album Art > Lyrics/Description > Rating

   If you don't have Album Art or Lyrics, then you'll just see the Rating

   Play status > Scrubber > Rating

Lyrics should display correctly in most languages. If they do not, try removing any special characters in the Lyrics pane in iTunes, copy the song back to iPod, and try again.

Products Affected

iPod, iPhone, iPod mini, iPod touch, iPod nano, iTunes

Additional Information

Some types of files such as WAV and QuickTime files don't support lyrics, though you can convert WAV and QuickTime files into a format that would allow you to add lyrics such as AAC or MP3.

The iTouch Language Lab...

How great would it be if you could get a language lab in your school for a fraction of the price of a traditional Language Lab and it could be used in any other subject in your school? It would be!

Well it is AWESOME, and with today's technology it is affordable...A lot more affordable than the tradition labs that can run up a bill of $70,000 or more, especially when you include the facilty space they require.

Any school can buy one of these carts from Apple and it will hold up to 40 ipods and sync them as well.

Now all you need is the know how, and you can be using this baby as a language lab. You have to check out www.bit.ly/theitouchlanguagelab On this site you will find everything you need to turn your ipods into a language lab.

iPod Touch as Language Lab

The other day I found these iPod touch mics on Amazon.com for $.50 (+3.50/shipping...don't get me started.) I wanted to try one out and see if I could find an audio app to go along with these so that we could turn our set of iPods into a Language/audio Lab. Language Labs are extremely useful and crazy expensive ($70,000+). So I figured it was worth a shot to find an alternative.

Then I tried it out. The sound is surprisingly clear.

After some searching for a good app I stumbled across Audioboo. This a free app that let's you record an audio file they call a 'boo.' Then you can publish it to their website audioboo.fm.

To use it as a Language/audio Lab:

• Go to Audioboo.fm
• Create a free account
• Download the app onto each iPod
• Enter audioboo.fm account credentials to link to your account
• Record the boo
• Publish the boo
• Play all your boos from the website, embed them in a blog, etc

Integration ideas:

• Giving an interview
• Ordering at a restaurant,drive through, etc
• Introducing someone
• Describing person, place, or thing
• Telling a story,
• "Interrogation Scene" using the past tense.
• Giving directions (over the phone)
• Poetry reading

Have other ideas...Share them as a comment below.