iPad Article

This article was in the Record last week:

http://goo.gl/qnr9K

Also...I think that the best part of the iPad is the hands on aspect of using it. That is what sets it apart for a laptop. The big question is how to use it effectively in a class with 25 plus kids. There are teachers and students @ Eisenhower who have had great success with it in the small group instruction settings. In this "testing stage" that we are in, a large class might have to have the iPad as one of several stations that kids move through during a class period. If this is beneficial to the students learning, then we could explore the possibility of getting multiple iPads for the classroom. Even the simplest of games such as "Angry Birds" (check it out) allow kids to grasp an understanding of physics, angles, strategy and more that cannot be as effectively demonstrated on a board or watching a video.

Jared's Update

Below is an email I just received from Jared, an Eisenhower 8th grader.

Dear Mr. Olejarz,

So far I have used my iPad for...

looking up facts about Anastasia and a genetic disorder (science).

viewing theorems and shape properties (math).

researching topics because there were not enough computers (W.E.L.).

writing down homework (as an assignment pad).

a U.S.B. and a media player for a project (Spanish).

taking notes and typing an essay (social studies).

Also, I was wondering what type of network the school has. This would be useful to me so I could experiment with various apps that would let me access data from my account. Lastly, one of the AirPrint links is broken. Here is a link to the new version, now called AirPrint Activator, http://download.cnet.com/AirPrint-Activator/3000-18487_4-75327225.html?tag=mncol;1 .

Jared 

Sent from my iPad

Google Chrome Notebooks vs. iPad

Google announced this today. I haven't heard what the costs will be but this is another possibility.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/update-on-chrome-web-store-and-chrome.html

Chrome notebooks are built and optimized for the web,
where you already spend most of your computing time.
So you get a faster, simpler and more secure experience
without all the headaches of ordinary computers.

http://www.google.com/chromeos/features.html

iPad 2 reported by the NYT

There are reports that an iPad 2 is on the way:

December 7, 2010, 6:18 pm

IPad 2 Is Due Out in April, Taiwanese Paper Says

By MIGUEL HELFT

Apple has trained customers, investors, bloggers and technology pundits to expect its products to be revamped on a yearly basis. The iPhone, for example, first went on sale late in June 2007. The iPhone 3G followed in July 2008, and the iPhone 3GS in June 2009. The iPhone 4 arrived in June 2010.
So it is not surprising to see reports that the iPad 2 is expected to go on sale in April 2011, a year after the original iPad went on sale in the United States.
Taiwan-based DigiTimes reported on Tuesday that Foxconn, which makes Apple products like the iPhone and iPad, plans to begin shipping an updated iPad as soon as the end of February 2011, citing unnamed sources at Taiwan-based makers of electronics components. DigiTimes, which tracks electronics companies in China and Taiwan closely, said that the new iPad is expected to go on sale in April 2011.
An Apple spokeswoman, Trudy Muller, declined to comment.

iPads and Education, Jared, Grade 8, Eisenhower MS

The post below is by Jared, an eighth-grade student at Eisenhower. He will be participating as a student tester at Eisenhower. He will be using his own iPAD.

 Jared, Grade 8, Eisenhower MS
The educational uses for iPads are endless, due to the ever-expanding App Store. As of now an iPad can be used for word processing to web browsing. I, personally, use my iPad a lot for word processing. To do this I use the Apple-made iWork apps. They include Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. These applications are almost exactly the same as the version for computers. Also, there are two math related apps I use. One is called Math Reference. This app provides information on algebra, geometry, and many more math classes. Another math app I use is called iScience. In this app you are also able to see math related problems, formulas, etc. In addition, it has chemistry and physics sections. Some science related apps, that I use, are periodic table of elements apps, and space apps. Lastly, I have a world fact-book app and a historical maps app.

General related apps that I own, are iDraft, Inkling, eTextbooks, iTranslate, Convert Units, National Geographic Magazine, iBooks, Kindle, Instapaper, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and many more. iDraft is used as a notebook (for writing)*. Inkling and eTextbooks are virtual textbooks, while iTranslate translates any word you type. I convert the English Conventional system to Metric (or any other conversion) using Convert Units. Lastly, Nat. Geo. Magazine, iBooks, Kindle, Instapaper, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and many more are used for reading text. Lastly, the iPad can be used to project a presentation (for teachers and students alike) and to print a document.

I believe that the iPad is a great device, that will enhance the learning of many students. In the future tablets may even replace desktops.

Netbook for $330 vs. iPad

The info below is from David Pogue at the NYT. If we can get a netbook for $330 vs an iPad for $499 that means that 3 iPads are equal in cost to almost 5 netbooks. Should we also do a test of netbooks?

Acer Aspire One AOD255-1203 - $330 at Amazon

Seven hours of battery life and an Intel dual-core Atom processor give this Acer enough power and stamina to lead this category. The 10-inch screen isn’t the most brilliant display, and the 250-gig hard drive is pretty much standard storage fare. But the light weight (2.5 pounds), full-size keyboard and full complement of ports — three USB ports, Ethernet, multimedia card slot, and webcam — plus a neat array of colors (aquamarine, anyone?) make this a good choice for the netbook customer on a budget.

Click here to get tech specs at the B&H website

A students point of view.

I gave my iPad to Ryan, an Eisenhower 8th grader. He is sending me reports on his experiences using the iPad. His first report is below. Do note that he did find an App that will enable users to print from the iPad. He tested it his morning and it worked in demo mode. Notice that he sent the report in from the iPad.

Ryan's Report 11/30/2010

Today I:

Researched for an essay in SS and typed some notes into google docs (more on that later)
Did some ETV work

HW:
used kindle app to get my word study words (which I already Highlighted on the kindle/iPhone). Found definitions. Sent to myself for printing (more later).

Typed paragraph and used google translate for French. Sent to myself.

Today I found that google docs was a bit too underdeveloped. I could not delete files, it was having issues saving, so I just gave up. I downloaded the app PlainText, which you can look into.
Also, since AirPrint is really a bummer, I would like to ask for the app Print Magic. I could print to practically any printer at EMS. I did A LOT of research, and I think this app would be best. It is $5 for a limited time.

Ryan

Sent from Ryan's EMS iPad