iPad for learning

The Apple iPad occupies a new space somewhere between the functions of a large screen phone and near-to (but not quite) a netbook. Described by Steve Jobs as ‘magic’, it is actually a device occupying the space between the mobile and portable/laptop spaces that for schools means non-networked and personalised for the individual learner. There are tons of great articles and web sites about the iPad and its’ use as an educational tool and I will provide links below. This is a summary of my experimentation and thoughts after a three week loan. Here are the users during this period:

A three year old

An eight year old

A thirteen year old

A 25+ student of Business and Marketing

A university lecturer

Two teachers.

This is relevant because this review is based on my observations of others’ iPad use as well as my own.  Initial reactions from all but the youngest two users were of ‘Wow’ and “That’s so cool” etc but after using for a day or two these comments subsided to things like: “Oh, I can’t access my USB or Google Docs” etc. Interesting that the three and eight year olds just shrugged at it and used it like they would a book, access to a web page or any other game. I spent less than £25 on apps, some intentionally game-based, others directed toward kid’s math/maths, literacy and still more culinary, news or productivity.

Here’s the findings:

Digital inclusion

Lightweight and very portable, pinch zoom on words and pictures really provides an accessible interactivity.  With one of the kids on an iPad and another on a Macbook, instantly on due to iOS means the iPad got a ‘like’ comment, information was accessed quicker (possibly due to mobile versions of web pages) and shared with others in a room simply by picking up and holding up in the same way as a drawing on card.  The same info on the Macbook looked tiny on it’s web page and more of a faff to share with others. A great equaliser in terms of the users as far as the 8 and 13 year olds were concerned. Learning games for the laptop not so easy to find or as cheap as these mobile apps either. For older users, the lack of embedded video proved frustrating at times although You Tube’s own site was fine. Perhaps adoption of HTML5 will help in future. Also, Flash conspicuously absent and we know why that is but hard to explain away to less techie friends.

Teachers and Innovations

Both the teachers and lecturer found instant web page access and apps that allow doodles quick and easy to employ as potential teaching tools. Other ways of show and tell are a reasonable expectation on the iPad – course you can do the same on any laptop or tablet PC but the fact you can sit outside the museum and switch instantly between apps and an e-reader adds a bit of kudos to your apparent depthless knowledge. The tactility of passing around the iPad with the info on a famous photographer whilst viewing her work is delightful (but still achievable on a smartphone in an albeit smaller scale). This use alone ticked both boxes for dynamic practice and enhancing one’s own PD or professional knowledge. Incidentally, the exhibition wasEngaged Observers: Documentary Photography since the Sixties at the Getty Center in L.A. and I seemed incredibly knowledgeable thanks very much!

Learning Spaces

There is so much out there on mobile learning and its introduction as an extended learning environment but anyone experimenting with mobile tools have to put up with so many limitations. Cost, screen size, input method — the list goes on.  The important thing about the iPad is that any space becomes a learning space and the activities involved transform the environment especially with a good mix of information consumption and games as rewards or learning in their own right. Creating on the iPad isn’t so straight forward as yet; POW as comic strip designer integrates photos you upload to iPhoto and then there are the Pages/Keynote/Numbers apps that I haven’t yet invested in.  My iPhone version of QuickOffice worked fine for making short notes (this post in fact) although I did struggle to edit a wordpress blog and resorted back to my Mac. Brushes is a neat creation app appreciated by all ages and easy as doodling with your finger. In my opinion the next gen iPad needs two cameras – front and rear facing to take snaps and iChat with.

Overall experience: great integrated technology especially viewing web, photos or using specific apps. Not a wonderful e-reading experience as glossy screen unreadable in bright light or headache inducing in anything but twilight. An invaluable casual learning tool that will add to your toolkit not replace any of it; needs to be a third cheaper before wider adoption especially when the wow factor wears thin.

Select links:

http://teachwithyouripad.wikispaces.com/

http://www.ipadineducation.co.uk/iPad_in_Education/Welcome.html

http://www.palmbeachschooltalk.com/groups/ipadpilot/

A collaborative Google doc to share ideas on the iPad in schools.

Please don’t release an Apple Slate, Mr Jobs…

I’m an Apple fan (ok, I admit it) and I really like 90% of the designs and products put out in recent years. BUT, I really hope they don’t release a hybrid iPod/Slate/tablet thingy at the event on 27th January.

It’s not that I don’t think they’ll make sense of the form factor (look at all the fake designs that have sprung up and the professional mock-ups) or that it will create a versatile gadget with a gazillion un-dreamt uses. What I really don’t like is the sheer manipulation of the market and it’s users. In much the same way Cameron’s movies have redirected the money tree back towards the monopolisers, this ‘new newton’ will do the same thing. I’ll expand on the metaphor; independent cinema gets it’s best ever plaudits in 1996 (The English Patient, OSCARS galore) next year it’s uber-budgetted, mainstream, Hollywoodland, studio factory based Titanic. Lately, we’ve seen an amazing expansion of creative, international films (Slumdog Millionaire) vs. parts 5 and 6 of franchises or even reworked comic book heroes. Then, cameron does it again with style over content, studio life-force enhancing Avatar. Course it will win all the OSCARS this year! See what I mean? No… well look at this:

[Diagram removed from web by owner]

This shows falling prices of laptops and desktops in the US, one of the cheapest places in the world to buy hardware (only Hong Kong has cheaper Macs than USA). Netbooks, although limited in use and capacity have stolen the buyers! And there’s less profit margin in a netbook.

“Tight credit and economic concerns have certainly taken a toll on PC shipments in the last couple quarters, but the move to portables, fueled by mininotebooks and falling prices, has mitigated the impact,” Loren Loverde, IDC’s program director for Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, said in a statement. The netbook surge this holiday season, limits Apple’s options. The company could slash prices to compete, but that would sap margins without guarantees of market share regains. Apple has no netbook to sell, so it’s cut out of the margin-sapping market segment. An analysis of it’s policy:

“Survivors of the recession will adapt to the new economy. No matter where or when the recession ends, it won’t be where it started. The old economy is gone, massive spending with it. Apple already does this. Years ago, the company reduced the number of products it sells and simplified its remaining product lines. Product refreshes are fairly infrequent compared with other technology companies. Apple maximizes the production/development cost-to-margin ratio for as long as possible. The process reduces manufacturing and distribution costs. Product A releases with got-to-have features or design for which early buyers are willing to pay a premium. Typically, the big desirable feature is unique, meaning not common from competitor products. Over time, Apple upgrades select components, either offering more for less or reducing prices. Eighteen to 24 months, or more, later, Apple releases a fresh, redesigned new model and restarts the process. For the iPhone and iPod, the new models come about once a year.”

So when the current markets are exhausted, you have to create a new market! Roll on Apple’s Avatar… people will rave and adore it even if it is all just style over substance.

Using Aiptek V10 pocket projectors

This is a review of an Aiptek PocketCinema V10. If you haven’t seen one before, the Aiptek is one of a range of pocketable (if you have big pockets) LED projectors. In the box are a mini-tripod, neoprene case, a remote control, a software CD, s-video cable, AV cables, USB sync cable and a mains plug. Approx. projector dimensions are 7cm x 4cm x 2cm and it is sold as a ‘pocket cinema’ capable of displaying .mov, .avi and .wmv formats. Product shots on the box include an image of someone displaying what appears to be a PowerPoint slide show. This is somewhat misleading…

The Aiptek V10 is actually a slide show projector more akin to a digital photo frame than a conventional digital projector. Photos can be stored on it’s 1gb internal memory and displayed in a timed sequence with or without an accompanying mp3 music track. The v10 does this fine, no problem. There is no VGA capable link to a laptop – instead a USB cable lets you access the internal drive to drag on images and files. Beware! None of the aforementioned formats work straight away – you need to use the (included) software to convert your video files into a format recognised by the unit. MJPEG4 anyone? No I never heard o it either… That done, you can drag files on successfully and as you can see from the above image the video projection is bright and clear. PowerPoints have to be exported as jpgs and then displayed as slideshows. It beams an image up to 50cm across although at this size brightness suffers a lot. There is no audio out from the unit, so you are stuck with the quality of the internal speakers – not that great unless you have the unit on your knee.

Where the v10 really comes into it’s own and has far more usability is when you hook up the AV connector to some composite cables and an iPod. The iPod 4G (Photo) and the the AV to RCA (white box, right above) means the photo slideshows can be controlled including your choice of music. No video though. The new Composite AV cable (black box, left above) works with iPod 5G, Classic, nano (3 and 4), iTouch (1 and 2) and all versions of the iPhone. Again, you can’t project your homescreen but it works brilliantly with videos, movies, You Tube and your own saved movies on the iPhone 3GS.

The images come through sharp and as you can see from this photo, it is truly a portable way of projecting – the image on the wall being around 30 cm across in a not too dark room.

How would you use one in your classroom? Well maybe take some video on your iPod Nano or iPhone 3GS capturing pupil voice, students in action, video diaries etc and share with a small group pre loading up to your laptop or You Tube account. Maybe, you want to share a way of representing a media genre idea or pop video style – just preload what you want straight on to the v10′s memory. If you have any ideas to contribute post them to this blog and I’ll include below.

Likewise, the v10 has plenty of home entertainment uses too – portability is limited by the battery life though. With video playing I got an hour and a half before it went to one battery bar (the green display glows red when the battery is finally going).

Luckily, the iPod headphones do function when plugged in and the v10′s speakers are silenced.

This is much better for watching movies from the iTouch or iPhone and due to the bigger projection truly makes a pocket cinema.