Welcome JALT 2013 Attendees!

Welcome!
A hearty welcome to the attendees of the workshop that Sylvan and I gave at JALT 2013: Using iPads for Teaching AND Class Management.

We have decided to post the ideas we shared in the workshop on this blog. Additionally, we will consider requests to share other ideas from the menu we shared during the workshop. You can see the menu again below.

If you have other questions or if you would like to share your own ideas with the readers of this blog, please leave a comment in the comment section below or send one of us an email.

Our addresses (without the spaces) are:

Daniel Beck
danielbeck @ mac (dot) com

Sylvan Payne
sylvanjpayne @ mac (dot) com

iPads in the classroom: Videos from three perspectives

You're an educator, perhaps a language teacher, and have an interest in how iPads can improve your teaching practice. But maybe you're not super confident about your tech skills and definitely don't consider yourself to be on the bleeding edge of technology. With the release of the new iPad, you're feeling excited to give this device a try, but you also may be feeling a bit overwhelmed by the possibilities. If so, then welcome to the club! You're definitely not alone. This is how many educators are feeling with regards to using technology in their classrooms.

The hype is all well and good, but when it comes time to actually use a new device, things aren't so simple. Take the iPad, for example. It's big in the news right now, and the thing is undeniably cool. But there is a bridge of questions that needs to be crossed before you can turn exciting potential into concrete reality within your teaching situation. For now, however, it can be helpful to simply view how other educators are making use of iPads. What are teachers slightly ahead of you on the technology adoption curve doing? So that's what we'll focus on here: three case scenarios of iPads in the classroom. Not all of these are focused on language learning, but the aim here is to simply give interested yet overwhelmed teachers a chance to see some examples of how it's being done. I invite you to take a few minutes and check out the videos below. Hopefully after you've done so, you'll have a wider view of what's possible for you and your students.


Case 1: Archbishop Mitty HS iPad pilot program (San Jose, California)
This article over at Siliconvally.com chronicles how the entire school is jumping in head first into using iPads with their students. Basic issues are addressed, such as who controls the iPads, how many are currently being used, how the school is managing the costs involved, and some of the main apps and accessories that teachers are making use of. For now, just watch:

A few things stand out for me when I watch this video, mostly how cool it must be when an entire school district gets behind this sort of technology use. It's amazing to see what is possible when everyone, from teachers to students to administrators, moves together. I also feel a bit envious and depressed because in my teaching situation we are nowhere near such a level! It's basically just me and a few like-minded colleagues interested in doing something with iPads up against a slow-moving bureaucracy. [Sigh] Still, it's good to see how things could be. Although this clip doesn't get into anything specific, I can take away a few things, such as the way students are collaborating in groups with their iPads. Perhaps I could do something like that, but how?

Case 2: The iPad for building literacy
Here is a totally cute and well-produced little clip featuring elementary school children in the States. They talk about how they are using iPads in their class for learning how to read. This one is good for language teachers, as the activities and apps they feature are easily transferable to an ELT setting. Check it out:

Overall, I like how this clip features students working in pairs; this means you don't need to have an iPad for every student. In fact, even if you only had a few, they could be used if you set up your class in a kind of "station" arrangement: students, in pairs, could rotate around to different stations in the room, doing different sorts of language practice at each one- speaking practice here, reading Graded Readers there, and reviewing vocab or some other activity with an iPad over here.


Case 3: How one teacher personally uses his iPad
Whereas the first case modeled program-wide iPad implementation and the second looked at specific usage examples, this final case showcases one teacher's perspective. Bob Smith's presentation runs about 14 minutes and introduces the iPad in an accessible way to educators who are just beginning to think about using this technology. Issues covered include the iPad's form factor and cost, student uses, the advantages of e-textbooks, faculty uses, classroom management (via the app Teacher's Attaché), and giving traditional presentations (via Keynote). The app Sadun's Whiteboard, an app that turns your iPad into an electronic smart board, is also demonstrated.

So there you have it: a brief look at how iPads are being used in the classroom, from three different perspectives. Again, my aim here was to give teachers just staring out with iPads some visual models and ideas of what's possible. Although these clips do not all directly relate to language teaching, I hope that seeing how this device is being used has been helpful. If so, then we'd love to hear from you.

From watching these clips, what has stood out for you?

Note: the photo above was taken from this page.

The NEW iPad: What's in it for language teachers?

As you may well know by now, Apple has announced the release of a new iPad. And in case you missed last week's keynote presentation, here are 90 seconds of mind-blowing, amazing, and incredible highlights :-)

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The New iPad Keynote In 90 Seconds

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Okay, there you go. Looks great! But what's in it for language teachers? In what ways will this new iPad be an even more effective tool for enhancing language learning? Let's break it down by looking at what benefits the new hardware and software improvements may bring.


New hardware
While this year's iPad looks almost identical to the iPad 2, the under-the-hood technical improvements promise to make significant enhancements to the overall user experience, thus making this machine a more effect learning tool. First off is the killer new Retina display. In short, it's going to be gorgeous to look at. Photos and video will look even better than they do now, and text will be easier to read. While this does not directly impact its efficacy as a language learning tool, the new display will have a subtle yet powerful overall effect. The "wow factor" of the device should continue, making it even more exciting to use for students and teachers alike. The faster processor and ability to use more advanced data networks (such as 4G) will also help improve usability in practical ways. For example, look forward to not having to wait so long for a Google Map to render or for a video to start running. For sure, a faster, zippier machine will be a big plus. Next, the new iSight camera promises to improve the quality of projects involving photos or video. The five mega-pixel camera will take better photos and be able to shoot full high definition (1080p) video. It will now be possible to create more ambitious projects with the device, a theme we'll be revisiting frequently in future posts on this blog. Finally, in addition to the new iPad, Apple announced a new version of the Apple TV, that little back box you attach to a big-screen TV. The Apple TV offers teachers the ability to stream video at full HD resolution and wirelessly mirror your iPads display on your classroom's big-screen TV. This will open up some powerful capabilities, again something we'll be writing more about on this blog. Finally, if you're happy with the current iPad 2 and money is an issue, then you'll be glad to note that Apple will continue to sell the 2nd generation device at a reduced price (US$399).

New software
While the new iPad's hardware is exciting enough, the real benefits of the device manifest through the software. Most exciting were the updates to iLife apps GarageBand and iMovie, and the introduction of iPhoto. All of the iLife apps are now available for the iPad. Let's take a look at what's new in each one. First up, GarageBand. As before, this is a powerful and fun tool for creating music. It can also be used as an audio editor for recording and editing spoken interaction, creating podcasts, or just for mucking about and having fun. The new key improvement is Jam Session, the capability of recording up to four people playing at the same time. Check it out:

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Garageband Jam session on the new iPad

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Jam Session looks really exciting and will be a boon for students and teachers who wish to make music with their iPads. How such a project can help improve language education is a topic worthy of exploration.

Next up is the refresh to iMovie, the video editing app. Combined with the new and improved camera and display, this update promises to make video editing projects easier and more fun to create. I'm especially looking forward to the new "movie trailer" feature, which will help students new to video editing create high quality video clips right off the bat. Check out this product run through to see what the new iMovie can do:

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iMovie for iPad Update

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Finally, iPhoto. This app looks simply spectacular and will greatly improve the ability to edit and share photos. As with iMovie, this app will really take advantage of the improved display, processor, and camera. I expect iPhoto will be a cornerstone for photo-based projects on the new iPad, enabling students to create and share some stunning work. Take a look at this product run-through and imagine the possibilities.

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iPhoto for iPad: Hands-On Tour & Demo

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So there you have it- the new iPad. The combination of new hardware and software offers lots of promise for making this an even more effective tool for enhancing language learning in numerous creative ways. I hope you found this overview helpful. As I mentioned, in future posts we'll be exploring more in depth what can be done with this amazing device. If you have any questions or feedback, we'd love to hear it. This blog, after all, is for you- the working language teacher interested in enhancing your teaching practice with powerful new technology.

Thoughts on the passing of Steve Jobs

I was planning to blog about my reaction to yesterday's iPhone 4S announcement, but that will have to wait for another day.

Sigh.

Steve Jobs died today.

I can’t say it was unexpected, but I really felt he would stay around for a while longer…

Damn.

I guess things really went south for him health-wise of late. The world is all a twitter, with numerous tributes in the media and people converging on Apple stores to place flowers and offer condolences. Heck, news of his passing even made the sports pages of the Boston Globe, where one writer remarked on how Apple products have influenced the Red Sox and major league baseball. It feels like a historically significant person has passed away, someone that will be looked back upon as a true historical figure, up there with folks like Edison and Henry Ford.

I personally feel like an hole has appeared in my life. This is rather curious to me; Famous, important people die all the time, and I almost never feel like I do now. I never knew him, of course, and I’m sure he was no saint. He had his share of imperfections and dysfunction, as we all do. But he also came to symbolize for me someone who really exemplified what life could be like if you lived "at the intersection of technology and the liberal arts," to use his phrase. He was a blend of powerful mind and creative heart. He was very very smart but also very artistic. Of course his forceful personality made life hell for so many, but in the end, his strength and conviction were able to transform and influence the lives of millions, including mine. Apple is now at the top, and he leaves this earth with things as best as could be hoped for. Too bad he couldn’t have stayed around for another 10-20 years… things are really starting to take off future-wise. Just yesterday Apple began the Star Trek age, where we can talk and interact with computers at an entirely new level. Soon this sort of thing will be as common as using a toilet or toaster oven. It will become The Way We Do Things, and it all started largely with him. Not only him, of course, but without all the good work he did over the decades with regards to popularizing computers, we never would have gotten this far.

His life's work has touched me deeply. This is probably why I feel such a hole. Apple and their wonderful tools helped me cultivate and express my creativity. Because they were so easy and pleasurable to use, I could create really cool things around multi-media, things I could never have imagined myself doing. I became such a fan boy not only because the tools were way cool, but because of how they helped me grow, connect, and get things done in very satisfying ways. For example, back when I worked at the Toyama College of Foreign Languages, I was kind of in a holding pattern with regards to my career. Through my friendship with Lee, a coworker who is a real Mac fan, I grew to love Apple products not primarily because they were technically better than anything else available, but because of what those products enabled and empowered me to do. I learned how to edit and share photos and videos, and through those projects I could gain confidence in using technology. These skills have helped me a lot and are now key elements of my resume. I learned how fun it was to create cool stuff, and now I can share that joy with others. In addition, since I live on the other side of the planet from my family, these skills have enabled me to share my life here in Japan with those I love despite the vast physical distances separating us.

So that’s what Jobs’ spirit is all about for me, and it’s extremely comforting to know it will always be a part of my life. I’m very grateful for that. I'm feeling this gratitude shine bright as I type these words… It feels like beams of light glowing through the empty space his passing has created. Each time I use Apple products to make my life and the lives of those around me better, even in tiny ways, I’ll feel this gratitude, remember Steve Jobs and all he has done, and smile a deep knowing smile inside.

Steve Jobs: Rest in peace! Congratulations on a life well-lived.

Apps featured in new iPad for education commercial

Apple recently released a new iPad commercial entailed "Learn." It focuses on using the iPad for educational uses. Since that's also one of the key aims of this blog, I thought it would be fun and useful to take a detailed look at the apps featured in this 30 second TV spot. There are a surprising number of them. Not all are for teaching a foreign language, but since that's what I do, I'll look at all of them and ponder how they could be used in an EFL setting. First up, the ad:




Are you curious about new ideas, do you want to learn a new language, or just a new word? Maybe you want to know more about anatomy, or astronomy. You could master something new, or uncover a hidden talent. There’s never been a better time to learn.

Pretty standard fare, as recent iPad commercials go these days. Apple often shows the device in action and focuses on what you can do with it rather than on the power of its processor or other technical aspects. Good strategy, IMHO. As an educator, the apps in this particular spot caught my eye. I wondered what they were and if it could be possible to use them in my teaching practice somehow. Let's take a closer look at each featured application and imagine how they could be used to teach English in Japan:

Are you curious about new ideas?



This is the TED Talks app. I know well because I have it! You can access the TED Talks very conveniently from this application, browsing the featured ones, by themes, tags, or ones you've saved. You can even click an "Inspire Me" button and have something random and cool come up based on what you're in the mood for and how much time you have to watch.

As for classroom applications in an EFL setting, obviously this one would be ideal for advanced English learners, perhaps in a content-based seminar course or as a source of info for a particular project. It could also prove useful in a public speaking class. The language may be too difficult for most students, but you could have them focus on other elements that make up good speeches, such as organization, slides, and body language.

Do you want to learn a new language?



This featured app is called Chinagram-Chinese Writing. It "tells the story of Chinese writing, explaining its rationale and showing its beauty, sign after sign." More than just a simple program to teach you how to write some Chinese characters, this app seeks to use the writing practice as a way of introducing the learner to Chinese history and culture. Very interesting idea!

Besides being a useful app for teachers to brush up on their kanji, this app could act as an interesting conversation starter about writing, history, and culture. Japanese kanji are based on Chinese characters, so most of our students would know these. Depending on the level of your students, you could ask them all sorts of questions about the characters in the program and about learning to write kanji in general. In other words, you can get your students to practice English by helping them share a part of their own culture. And, if you happen to teach some Chinese students, all the better. The cultural info this app presents can help widen the scope of your conversations.

Or just a new word?


This screenshot shows the dictionary function in iBooks, one of the many features in this app that make reading on an iPad a pleasure. It's quite a convenient way to look up new words while reading. Naturally, this could be a very helpful tool for English language learners. Via this app, you can access the Apple iBooks Store to purchase and download numerous books.

However, the Japan-based iBooks Store is limited to old, public domain classics like Moby Dick, Grimm's Fairy Tales, or Stories from Hans Andersen. Too difficult or stuffy, perhaps for most Japanese learners? The inability to buy large varieties of books at various levels limits the usefulness of iBooks to higher level students. However, with a US iTunes account, it would be possible to download books from the USA iBooks Store. There are other ways to acquire reading materials on an iPad, but as far as I know, the in-text dictionary function is only available in the iBooks app. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

Maybe you want to know more about anatomy?


This is Skeleton System Pro II (NOVA Series), an app that teaches the skeletal system via an interactive 3D model of the human skeleton. Applying this for EFL would be a stretch, but it could be very useful if you are teaching English to doctors or medical students. I have met teachers in Japan who do, so this could be an excellent source of English technical vocabulary in a TESP teaching context.

Or astronomy…


There is a particular genre of iPad app that allows users to point their iPad to the night sky and gather info via an augmented reality layer of information. This app, Solar Walk, is not one of them. Instead, it allows you to "navigate 3D models of the solar system, observing all the planets up close, learn their trajectories, inner structure, history of their exploration, and points of interest." It includes reams of information, some of it conveyed via movie clips. Use with 3D glasses for a full immersive effect. Looks very cool!

As with some of the other apps in this commercial, the biggest potential of this app for EFL instruction lies in its "conversation starting" ability with students interested in astronomy. The "wow" factor of this app looks big, especially with the 3D effect. You can pretty much guarantee your students will be paying attention. If they are at lower levels, this could be a fun way of teaching the names of the planets. If they have more ability and interest, then this could be a terrific gateway to conversations about our solar system, space travel, and other related topics. The video clips could also work as listening practice.

You could master something new


This one is t Chess Pro, and it's an app for learning and playing chess. There are numerous cool features, such as the ability to play 1 or 2-player games, a strong computer opponent, an integrated "Learn Chess" eBook, and an Opening Library option that enables you to study opening move theory as you play. Via Game Center, you can also play with friends on different machines in realtime. Games have always been and continue to be a classic means of helping students learn English. Especially in an informal English Lounge-type setting, games enable a relaxed atmosphere where you can kick back and simply use English without it being a big deal. At our English Lounge at Toyo Gakuen University, we have numerous games on hand- playing cards, Jenga, various board games, and the like. Chess via iPads could also work. Again, the idea would be to use the game to give you something to do while you make conversation with your students. For teachers and students interested in chess, this app could be a good thing.


Or uncover a hidden talent


This is the iPad version of GarageBand, the program that allows you to create music and edit audio clips. The iPad version is surprisingly robust, enabling the user to create some great sounding tunes without having to know much about playing an instrument. With a special attachment, musicians can also plug in their instruments or microphones and record directly into the program. The included "smart instruments" sound great.

Learning to do anything with this program beyond playing around with it for a few minutes will take some time, however. It could be the basis of a very interesting and fun music project with your students if you are committed to see it through. If you have some that are musically inclined, this app holds great potential. Otherwise, it could be used as a conversation starter about music in general. Students will get a kick out of playing around and making sounds, all of which can then set the stage for a chat about music.

There's never been a better time… to learn


This is Mathboard, a very slick looking app for learning basic math functions, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It includes built-in quizzes and problem solving advice. Obviously geared for the US K-12 education market, using this app for EFL in Japan would be a stretch! It could work to help teach numbers to beginning students, I suppose.

So there you go- a run down on all the apps for education featured in the recent "Learn" iPad TV commercial. They all look great and showcase the power of the iPad as a powerful learning tool. For EFL purposes, some of these apps could be very useful in particular situations with particular students, mainly as interesting ways to engage them in conversation.

What do you think? Can you see yourself using any of these apps with your students? If so, please share your ideas below in the comments section.

iCloud webs apps preview

This article over at 9to5 Mac features some screen shots of what some of the web apps will look like when iCloud goes live this fall. While still in beta, it's clear that common apps such as Mail, iCal, Address Book, and the iWork suite of Page, Keynote, and Numbers will be looking very good, much like these apps do on an iPad. Naturally, iCloud will have numerous advantages for all users, not only teachers. I'm looking towards exploring the possibilities.

Ideas for using an iPad for teaching

Came across this Google Doc a while ago and would like to share it here on this blog. Entitled "62 Interesting Ways to Use an iPad in the Classroom", it's quite a through overview of many ideas for how to use this tool for enhancing learning. While not particularly targeted towards TESOL, almost all of these ideas can be adapted for language learning with a bit of creativity and preparation. At the very least, by creatively engaging students you'll be able to use English in a very content-based way- in other words, the focus of your conversation won't be on English itself but rather on the activity at hand. One of the best parts of this presentation are clues to a lot of apps you may not have heard about. What's also cool is that you can contact the creator (Tom Barrett) and ask for permission to add your own ideas to this on-going collection of ideas. Very neat.

Which activities could you see yourself doing with your students?

To view this Google Doc, click the screen shot:

The iPad 2: 1st impressions from a teacher's perspective

The new iPad was announced today, and although I've been aware of this for weeks, as usual after a "Steve-note" presentation, I'm experiencing an acute case of the "iWant" syndrome. Why am I surprised? This always happens...

(breathing deeply)

Okay, I've calmed down a bit and would like to share a few first impressions and look at some exciting features I think will really enhance this device's use for educational purposes.

So what's the deal with the iPad 2? Instead of going over all the new features, I'll let Mr. Jobs do that. Here is a short five minute excerpt produced by CNET News of the new specs:

So there you go: thinner, lighter, faster. Two cameras, bigger speaker. All at the same prices as before. Cool, very cool, and it will be available in Japan on March 25th.

With regards to EFL, here are the features that excite me most:

Cameras: With the ability to do video chatting via Facetime or Skype, these cameras will open up opportunities for students to use English for real communication. Given the popularity of this device, I'm sure other educators will have the same idea. There will be opportunities for teachers to set up exchanges and for students to converse with people from around the world, and for students to make their own connections. Pretty exciting stuff. The fact that the rear facing camera is HD quality was a nice surprise. This will make for some better looking video that enhances and facilitates communication.

The cameras will also enable people to use the iPad as an HD camcorder, albeit a bit awkwardly. While not ideal and certainly not as good as a dedicated video camera, this feature will come in handy in numerous as-yet-to-be-imagined scenarios. For example, I can see teachers using it in class to record lectures or conversations, or for students to produce video projects. With a bit of thought, there will be a lot of creativity unleashed via this feature.

iMovie: This came as a total surprise, although in retrospect I don't know why. iMovie has been a part of the iPhone 4 since last summer, and it's only natural that it came to the iPad. The ability to edit and share video on this device will further increase creativity in the classroom. Can't wait to try this out. Just take a look at this iMovie demo video and imagine your students doing & sharing projects:

GarageBand: This was another total surprise. While not directly related to EFL per se, I can totally see how this app would generate interest among many students. Lots of students are interested in music, and at the very least, playing around with all the instruments in this would be a fun way to interact with a student in English. Check out the demo, and again, imagine your working situation as you watch. Any ideas come up?

The cameras, iMovie, and GarageBand give the new iPad more creative potential. This is what excites me- all the cool stuff I and my students will now be able to do. More than before, this tool will open up opportunities for teachers and students to produce engaging content which can then be used as a way of enhancing communication in fun and creative ways.

Video mirroring: This will really be huge for education- the ability to hook up an iPad to a TV in a classroom or to a projector at a presentation and have the screen mirror what's on the iPad. You couldn't do this before, or at least only to a very limited degree. Now teachers will be able to show and demonstrate stuff much more easily, allowing the iPad to make even more of an impact in the classroom. I can see using this with Safari to surf the web, Google Translate to look up words, Google Earth to visit locations around the world, and all sorts of other things. I'll also be much more motivated to use the iPad for making presentations at conferences. Totally exciting feature, and it's all made possible by this dock connector gizmo:

So all of these features have me really excited about the new iPad 2. Of course there is a lot more to it, and I'm still getting my head wrapped around the possibilities. If you'd like to know more, the video is now up for Jobs' entire presentation.

How about you? What are your reactions? Is this the greatest thing since sliced bread? Totally "meh"? Or somewhere in-between? If you and your students had iPad 2s, what are some of the ways you would use it?

Pearson Kihara Conference 2011

Welcome to all those who attended my presentation for the Pearson Kihara 2011 Conference at Tōyō Gakuen University's Hongō Campus yesterday (Using Phones and Computers to Encourage Lifelong Learning). I will be sharing links and notes from my presentation on my other blog, TESOL 2.0 (http://tesol20.blogspot.com). This blog is more specific for iOS devices (iPhones, iPads, iPod touch) and features posts by my colleague, Jerry, and I. Of course, you may find this blog useful as well, so please visit both. However, most of the topics we covered in the presentation will be found at the TESOL 2.0 blog.

Jerry’s iPad moments: Conference going (Part 2)

In part one of this two part series on using an iPad at a conference, I examined three built-in apps I used most: Google Maps, Safari, and iCal. In this part, I’ll take a look at some of the others apps I used that helped me get more out of the recent JALT national conference in Nagoya.

Time management with Presentation Clock
I gave two presentations and ran a staff meeting during the conference, and because time was so tight, it became essential to manage it well. The iPad version of Presentation Clock, by Shawn Welch, helped me do this. Costing a mere 115 yen, this simple single-function app allowed me to proceed without the stress of having to worry about time.

When you start pClock up, you are given the ability to set a specific count-down timer and to indicate when the numbers change from green to yellow to red. For example, with my Animoto presentation with colleague Michael Stout, I set the timer to turn yellow at ten minutes and then red at five. By placing the iPad in front of us on a table, we could easily see it as we spoke. Yes, they had staff on hand to provide us time warnings, and yes, I suppose I could also have used a timer built-in to the presentation software I was using (Keynote), but still- there’s nothing like the security of seeing big, easy-to-read numbers.

Constant awareness of time allowed me to make subtle and in-the-moment decisions about content and pace. No matter how prepared you are, presentations are live events where unexpected things often expectedly occur. For example, during the Q&A of my presentation with Michael, one attendee asked a very deep philosophical question that challenged the premise of our talk. Knowing I had exactly 6:33 do deal with this provided a measure of comfort to properly manage the ensuing lively debate.

Keeping track of expenses with Expense Tablet
It’s often the case that conference goers need to keep track of receipts. Such was the case for me. Along these lines a simple little app called Expense Tablet for iPad by Adam Williams (adamcode.com) really did the trick. The thing I liked best about this app was its elegant simplicity. It did exactly what I needed in a nice looking, easy-to-use way for a very good price. It was especially useful in keeping track of items I could get no receipt for, such as my share of party-going costs or vending machine drinks. There are numerous expense-tracking apps in the Finance section of the App Store, but most of them contain way more functionality than I need. I would therefore recommend Expense Tablet for anyone who just needs an inexpensive, simple, and elegant way of keeping track of money spent.

Ideas for improvement
In addition to improving the way I sync and share my calendar info, another area for improvement could be in actually using the Keynote for iPad app when giving my presentation. This would allow me to leave my MacBook Pro at home. This was the initial vision I had of conference going when I got the iPad back when I got it, but in reality, leaving my laptop at home has been more difficult than expected. Long story short, I’ve come to realize it takes a bit of time to get used to the iPad, to a new way of doing things. Yes, you can do productive things with it, but not in the same ways you can with your laptop (mainly due to lack of a keyboard). The complexity of my slide builds and the presence of embedded videos were too much for the iPad version of Keynote to handle. In addition, I wanted to be able to see my slides as I spoke, something that doesn’t happen on an iPad. With the iPad, you basically have a lightweight means for giving a basic presentation, but for something more robust, I still feel the need to use my MacBook Pro. Perhaps in time as the power and functionality of iPads and Keynote grows, then it will become a more viable option for me, and I’ll finally be free to leave that laptop at home.

Smooth sailing
In looking back over what I’ve written in these two posts on using an iPad at a conference, it’s clearer to me now why I seemed to get extra enjoyment out of the JALT national conference. At no point was I ever lost. I had total awareness of time and a means for managing it well. When I heard of some cool new website or came across a new term or concept, I just looked it up on the spot. If a speaker rambled, I was able to tune that out and focus instead on exploring the ideas they were trying to convey. Well-timed and appropriate multimedia access enhanced my social interactions in unique ways, and expense tracking meant that I always new where I stood financially. Even the friendly ribbing I got for always having my iPad in hand was fun as well. The iPad helped give me a greater feeling of control, and this in turn reduced unnecessary stress and allowed me to make better use of my mental and physical energy. Instead of running around dealing with some emergency, I could relax and enjoy the moment at hand, giving it my fullest attention. So instead of rushing off to the next thing, I could stop and enjoy a few solid moments of catching up with friends I often only see at this conference. It’s those little moments that add up to make for a successful and satisfying experience. With my iPad in hand, I had more than my average share of them.

Jerry’s iPad moments: Conference going (Part 1)

My main intention for this column is to write about how I use the iPad in my teaching practice, but this time I’ll use this space to focus in on another aspect of our teaching profession- attending conferences. I used my iPad for the first time at a conference this weekend in Nagoya, at the annual JALT gathering, and I must say it enhanced my overall experience in subtle yet significant ways. To help you consider how you might use an iPad at a conference, I’d like to share my thoughts and reflections on how it went. In this first of two posts on the topic, I’ll go over some of the apps I used most and consider some other ways I used my iPad in part 2.

The workhorses: Google Maps, Safari, and iCal
Far and away the most useful apps were ones that came pre-installed on my iPad: GoogleMaps, Safari, and iCal. All were extremely handy in various situations.

Google Maps
Google Maps was invaluable when walking around the downtown area. Thanks to the built-in GPS of my iPad 3G, Google Maps was able to track my movements. This helped me get smoothly to the conference site from the station, to my hotel from the conference site, and to some good drinking places. Watching that little blue ball move down the street as I walked made it feel like I had a car navigation system in my hands. It was surprisingly accurate, especially when I zoomed in close. As a result, I was able to eliminate stress from not being able to get around. Mental energy that could have been lost dealing with issues of simply getting from point A to point B was redirected toward more important ends. I could relax and concentrate on my presentations and other things I needed to do. It may seem like such a simple thing, but not having to worry about where you are going really made a big difference. It also made me feel glad I had spent the extra yen for the 3G model- you could still make use of Google Maps with the Wifi-only iPad, but you wouldn’t have the benefit of having the app track your movement in real-time.

Safari
As you can imagine, Safari, the web-browsing app on the iPad, was also extremely helpful. Especially when combined with the iPad’s slim and light form-factor, it really felt like I had the Internet in my hands. And yes, as Steve Jobs has said, it was “magical.” For example, during the 2nd plenary speech, a presentation by Nicky Hockley on using Web 2.0 resources in the classroom, I was able to visit the various sites she mentioned as she was going over them on her PowerPoint slides. What’s more, this ability was of great interest to the people sitting next to me. Not only was I able to check things out in real-time, but doing so helped me interact much more easily with fellow attendees (this “iPad as ice-breaker” effect is a theme I’ll surely return to in future posts. It’s one of the key ways in which the iPad helps improve communication).

As I looked around the hall during the plenary, I could see more than a few other people using laptops to take notes. This is the way I used to do things. It is still a good way, of course, especially if you can access an Internet connection (like Daniel could with his WiMax gizmo). Since taking notes on my iPad was not as easy for me given the glass software keyboard, my experience this time was focused primarily on accessing supplementary information, on listening and reading as opposed to listening and writing. I had not done this before, and overall I found it helped me stay focused on what the speaker was trying to say. By having the ability to access the net, I could shape the presentation more to my needs. I continued this practice during some of the other presentations, and overall I was very pleased with the control it afforded me. I was now in a position to get more out of the conference and not so dependent on having the speaker “entertain” me.

One interesting experience took place during my colleague Clair’s presentation on vocabulary learning via Smart.fm. One attendee raised his hand and mentioned he was unfamiliar with the service. Without such basic knowledge, I thought, his chances of getting a lot out of the talk would be limited. With a few clicks I found Smart.fm on my iPad, passed it back to him, and he was able to check the site out throughly. When he passed the device back to me, I could tell by the satisfied look on his face he was grateful for the opportunity to have had his question so throughly answered. If I had been using a laptop, I seriously doubt I would have done this. With an iPad, it was like passing around a book. So again, the slim form-factor + Internet connection combo helped create a new way of interacting during a conference.

Finally, Safari came in very handy during the social “liquidation” portions of the conference. While in the flow of conversation, I was able to use Safari to look up pertinent info relevant to the discussion I was having at the time, be it my family’s website, my Facebook page, following the Arsenal-Spurs match live, or to learn about the finer details of fantasy footy from my British mates. This “iPad as social lubricant” really helped bring a new enhanced spin on after-hours chat, helping me share my life, experiences, and ideas in richer ways.

iCal
As a calendar app, iCal was most useful in helping me figure out my plan through each day of the conference. Before arriving, I went through the schedule carefully, inputting presentations I had to do or attend, as well as those I wanted to see. Naturally there were moments of conflict, but having everything there so nicely laid out and easily accessible helped me decide on my priorities. One downside of iCal was that I was not able to share and subscribe to my colleague’s calendars unless I was able to connect my iPad to my MacBook Pro laptop. I felt it would have been nice to email my daily schedule to a few people in order to coordinate our schedules more efficiently. Looking back, perhaps one way of improving this would be to use Google Calendar more in the future. This way I would be able to access and share my schedules on the net, via Safari. This is an area I’ll look to improve on for future conferences. If anyone has any info along these lines, I’m all ears.

To conclude part one, it was the basic built-in functionality of the iPad that I used most during the conference. Google Maps helped me get around, Safari put the power of the Internet into my hands, and iCal helped me manage my time more effectively.

In part two, I’ll take a look at some of the other apps I used at the conference and also take a look at how I can improve my conference going experience in the future.

Finally, I’d love your feedback on what I’ve written or just to hear about your experiences at the JALT (or any other) conference. How have you used the iPad in this situation? Which apps did you use most, and how did the iPad enhance or inhibit your overall experience?

iPhone & Google for Assessing Student Recordings (Updated)

Last term, one of the tests I used to assess my speaking classes was to have my students record conversations in pairs. I find it nearly impossible to give accurate assessment while listening live to a conversation, so I find recording for future listening to be essential to the process. In addition, I find that when I am physically near the students, they tend to look at me for help or reassurance, which artificially affects the performance.

While there are many ways to record students, I decided to use the iTalk iPhone app from Griffin to record the conversations. After transferring the recordings over to iTunes on my MacBook Pro, I placed the files in a playlist and synced the playlist to my iPhone.

I used Google Docs to set up spreadsheets with the student roster and made categories for assessment. Then, while on my way to school and back (I have a long commute), I used the Google Mobile iPhone app to access the spreadsheets. The beauty of this system is that I could assess student recording while standing on a crowded train with one hand holding the train ring, the other hand punching (actually, touching) numbers into the spreadsheet and using the remote control when a pause or rewind is needed.

Unfortunately, the Google Mobile iPhone/iPad app does not (as of this post) allow the creation of new docs and has limited ability other than input.

An alternative approach with the iPad is to use Apple's iPhone Numbers app which has compatibility with Apple's iWork Numbers app on Macs. Among the advantages is the greater flexibility and functionality of Numbers. However, there is no Numbers app for the iPhone and I find the compatibility and ease of synchronicity between devices to be desirable. Hopefully Apple and/or Google will address these issues or another party will introduce a solution.

Any thoughts, questions or comments? Have a better solution? Please leave a comment.


*Updated 11/19/2010

Google announced yesterday that it was rolling out new editing functionality for mobile devices. When I looked yesterday, I still did not have it on my iPhone or iPad. This morning when I woke up I had it on both devices. The capabilities are still limited (no formatting for documents), but you can now edit text and you can now created spreadsheets and documents on your mobile device. Nice!

Jerry's iPad moments: livening things up

This morning when the bell rang at 9 am for my 1st period Freshman English class here at Togaku, I sighed when I saw that only three out of 23 students had arrived. Now in the latter half of the fall term, it has become harder and harder for students to wake up and come to class on time. Months of inadequate sleep are catching up. As late students straggled in one by one, I knew that I would need something to help liven up the dragging, low-energy atmosphere.

iPad to the rescue!

During one exercise where pairs of students had to perform a short dialog in front of the class, I used the Desk-Bell & Buzzer app (¥115 from Webvantage Design) to great effect. It went like this: after giving some time for pair practice, I called upon each to present their dialog. Since they were sleepy and didn’t practice with any sort of intensity or conviction, I knew they would have trouble during the performance stage of the activity. Sure enough, as the first pair struggled through it, I surprised them all by pressing the big red buzzer: Bzzzz! The suddenness of this sound made them jump and laugh with surprise. The performing pair smiled, blushed slightly, and continued again. When they finally got it right, I gleefully pressed the bell chime: ping! Again, everyone laughed. I continued doing this during the rest of the activity. By the end, I noticed that the energy level had perked up measurably. We all had a good laugh and were able to continue on with the rest of the class with a bit more energy than before.

This little moment highlighted again for me the truism that the iPad “is what you make it”. In this case, I took a silly little app that I had gotten for my kids and used it to bring a little humor in to my lesson. The coolness factor of the iPad itself combined with the sudden silliness proved to be a potent combination. Fortunately I had the good sense not to overdo it! Humor is something that works best spontaneously, in the moment, as a natural outgrowth of your personality and the situation you’re in. Had I continued to use this Bell-Buzzer app, the joke would have grown old. But just a little bit did the trick…

After the class I got to thinking about all the other fun apps that could be applied in this way. Who says the iPad needs to be limited towards conventional uses? While searching the App Store’s Entertainment category, I could see numerous sound-effect apps, with many of them offering free “lite” versions. While a bell or buzzer might get old after a while, next time I could surprise them with other sorts of sounds... How about a chorus of boos or wild cheering? Or how about some crazy cartoon noises? In search of laughs, if you don’t overdo it and use sounds with good taste and timing, the sudden shock of humor can really help change the vibe in your classroom.

Note:

The Desk Bell & Buzzer app is made for the iPhone/iPod Touch but will, of course, work on your iPad.

Jerry's "iPad Moments": An introduction

Hello everyone! My name is Jerry, and this is my first post as guest contributor to this blog. I’m really grateful to my Togaku colleague Daniel for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to posting here regularly and to helping turn this blog into a useful resource for teachers, especially those teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL).

As Daniel mentioned previously, I’m an iPad enthusiast for sure. But I’m also really into all things Apple. I’ve been using Apple products for years, both personally and professionally. I just love their design and how well they facilitate creative expression. I suppose you could call me a fanboy, but I like to think I’m not attached to the products themselves. What I’m really a fan of is creativity itself and the process of developing it not only in my students but in myself as well.

In this blog I will focus on how I use the iPad in my teaching practice. These days the iPad is really hot, and there is tons and tons of hype surrounding it. Many teachers are getting caught up in the excitement, only to find that actually using one of these gadgets to its fullest potential is not so easy. The iPad and corresponding App Store are growing by leaps and bounds, with hundreds of apps being added each day. Last I heard there were over 300,000 to choose from! It’s rather overwhelming, to be honest.

One way of dealing with this overload of hype and functionality is to learn about what practicing teachers are doing with the iPad. Hopefully by sharing my personal iPad Moments stories and reviews of relevant apps, I can help teachers get more out of using this amazing device. My teaching situation and personal practice may be very different than yours, but by sharing and reflecting on how I use the iPad, I hope to make it easier for you to reflect on how you use it. I’m therefore really hoping that you relate your experiences in the comments section after each post. It would be great to start up a dialog on the various topics I put forth. Together we can stay current on the best apps and practices and provide support for each other when needed.

It may be a cliche, but in the end, the iPad is just a blank slate- it is what you make of it. Through sharing my own personal explorations I hope to encourage similar thinking in you. In this way we can all learn and grow together on how to make the most of this device. In the end, it’s all just about being in a stronger position to help our students learn.

Image attribution: Bib 2.0, "iPads in the Classroom"

Blogpress (iPhone/iPad Blogging App)

Blogpress by CLT Studio

Since I think there should be an iOS app for everything (well, almost), I searched in the iTunes App store for an app to use to post here on Blogger.

The app I settled on (for now) is Blogpress from CLT Studio. It is $2.99 and works with both my iPhone and iPad. It supports blogging to a number of platforms (Blogger, MSN Live Spaces, WordPress, Movable Type, TypePad, LiveJournal, Drupal, Joomla, Tumblr, and Squarespace are listed), allows photo uploading (I haven't tried this out yet) and can update Twitter and Facebook.


Not bad. Have you tried out this or any of the other blogging apps? Leave a comment.
For a more details check out CLT Studio's website and this review on Appstorm by Justin Stravarius 




Image: http://iphone.appstorm.net/reviews/internet-reviews/multi-platform-blogging-with-blogpress/
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone