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.

Best OS for Netbooks?

Now that Windows 7 has been launched as a kind of cut down version of Vista rather than an upgrade to it, perhaps it will become the OS of choice for Netbooks? Netbooks require a light operating system that performs well without a lot of hardware power. Typical Netbooks include the two I have used in the past 2 years, namely the 10″ EeePC from ASUS and the 10″ NC10 from Samsung. As a small, light and underpowered computer, the Netbook is designed just for Internet use and not much more – like the functions on a standard cell phone but with a way bigger screen and ‘proper’ keyboard.

Xandros

 

 

 

Xandros on Eepc

My Eepc came pre-installed with a Linux distro based on Xandros. It was incredibly easy to get started – all my Google account information and Firefox extensions took minutes to update. The web cam was fine and the Skype app did more than my Mac OS version at the time. I wanted to be able to add more functionality though and for this I needed to plug in a USB CD drive and explore the disk that came in the box.

This was fine for adding a PDF reader but where were image editors like The Gimp 3.0 etc. that I knew were available and even designed for a linux PC? Well, following we searches I found a bit of Shell/terminal editing was necessary – and I’m no programmer! After lots of faffing – I couldn’t get a bare basics that I wanted. What I should have done was return it to the shop and swap for a Windows XP model but instead I installed my own copy. I used it for about three months but found typing a chore on the tiny keyboard and anything creative had to be done on a ‘big’ computer anyway. So I reinstalled Xandros and sold the unit.

XP

 

 

 

XP on NC10

My next foray into Netbooks was nearly a year later and came down to a large work order of NC10s for a school project. These came preinstalled with XP and also with a 120gb hard drive space. The keyboard on these is far superior to the Eepc of the same size but the big let down is the mousepad – it’s terrible.

XP is exactly the right OS for this size netbook – it behaves as you expect and using Google Chrome browser means you aren’t limited in web screen space either. I had no problems at all with the system and installed extras for the net or disk as needed. So why did I swap the OS again? Well, Windows is so frustrating sometimes; apps can be slow, crash altogether or not even boot up  in a convenient time… and I’m not referring to Vista boot up which takes nearly 5 minutes. Also, the temptation is to ‘tinker’ – its so easy to install stuff and XP can be well boring then I (like others) can’t help tinkering with it. yes, I edited the start menu script but that wasn’t enough I decided to go for Mac OSX.

OSX

 

 

 

OSX on NC10

I do have a copy of the full install disks and don’t recommend using on a non-Apple hardware but this was a little experiment! It took quite a bit of tweaking around to get the disk image to install (just Google it and there are instructions, videos and everything).

The mousepad goes into hyperdrive (totally uncontrollable) and lots of functionality cease to work. No webcam, no wifi (unless you install your own), sound disappears… and yet the beauty of OSX does actually work at this scale!

I know the iPhone is supposed to be OSX but all the apps, the dock and familiarity of the full system make OSX on the Netbook a simple pleasure. I used a USB pen modem to connect whilst out and about and had great “Wow” comments when people saw my mini-mac. C’mon Apple the Macbook Air isn’t that small and portable even if it is slim. But – a big but – it was no longer a Netbook – no longer convenient enough to be able to use anywhere and quickly. So I installed Jolicloud…

Jolicloud

 

Jolicloud on NC10

This OS is based on a Linux Ubuntu distro that is specifically for and only for use online via WiFi… it is brilliant in it’s simplicity and goes back to the original aim of the Xandros I had used earlier. You can’t even think about putting extra apps on – you really only need the things you can get online and this means free Web 2.0 apps.

It would lend itself brilliantly to a touch sensitive screen and really deserves to be a phone OS as much as ‘Droid… however, same problem – I’m not always connected to the web or wifi as I don’t live or work in a particularly urban area. So although it worked really well on the NC10 – you need full functionality of the netbook whilst connected to the net!

Ubuntu Netbook remix

Ubuntu on NC10

As a free download straight to a USB drive, Canonical couldn’t have made the Netbook Remix version of Ubuntu any easier. A similar simplified interface forms your desktop and full functionality either online or offline too.

There is little in the way of personalisation and yet there is the full array of Ubuntu styled apps. Every feature works just fine including the web came and lid-down ‘sleep’ mode. I did have a few problems making and keeping the screen brightness at a suitable daylight setting and this was despite changing power saving settings. The brown on black theme looks quite classy but isn’t suitable for summer outdoors (even in the UK). As an OS, its is just as good as XP and better than the others I tried.

Summary

If the pre-Windows 7 netbooks are on offer this Autumn/Fall, make sure you get XP pre-installed and a sizeable hard drive. As a second option, Ubuntu is great and is less processor hungry than XP and is better for smaller disk space. Most of all, don’t treat your netbook as a replacement for a PC or 13″ laptop – it makes a poor substitute. As a communicator rival to a Smartphone or PDA it is far superior, especially when connected via WiFi. Did anyone mention tethering an iPhone to a netbook? This is far the best option as offers the functionality and ease of use of both mini systems and still fits in a small bag.

Sight and Sound

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