iPad Only?!

Updates: see the comments below this post…

Two days ago, I took my work laptop into the shop for warrantee work on the keyboard. Since then, I’ve been doing almost all of my work on my iPad. I have a personal iMac that I could use, but mostly as an experiment I wanted to see if I could use my iPad for work. It’s generally been a success.

Not surprisingly, there are a few things I cannot do.

  • I logged in with my personal iMac to view a course assignment that featured the WC Peer Eval tool. It is an antiquated tool and would not run in Chrome or Safari on my iPad.
  • I’m limited by what I can do in the Smartsheet app, so I have to make sure I’m using it in Safari.
  • A number of the hot-keys do not work the way I expect, so I’m not as fast performing a number of functions I’m used to.
  • I use my iPhone for Zoom, mounted on a stand above my iPad because the built-in camera on my iPad has me “looking down” at everyone. My camera also cuts out whenever I switch to a different app during a meeting to do things like update or view the meeting notes.
  • I’ve lost the ability to keep a large array of items in my clipboard. Having an app to do that on my laptop saves me a lot of time on certain tasks. Thankfully, the MacOS ecosystem allows me to copy something on my iPhone and paste it immediately onto my iPad without having to do anything.

I am surprised that the smaller screen really isn’t a big problem, but I’m used to working around that. Unlike many of my peers, I haven’t used an external monitor once since we switched to remote work back in the spring.

Using the College’s virtual machine also helps because it allows me to access a “full desktop” right from my iPad.

What’s the purpose or benefit? Well, I have a lot more confidence and knowledge of being able to work remotely with very little while not having to sacrifice any productivity.

Rockin’ with Rocketbook

I’ve just started using a Rocketbook Everlast Mini, Rocketbook Beacons, and the required iOS app. I’m not into product reviews, but wanted to make a post because I can already see how these products will definitely be part of my work productivity, especially the Beacons.

Rocketbook Everlast Mini with a black cover, a Pilot Frixion pen, and a folded microfiber wipeI chose the Mini mostly for personal use and used my own money to buy one. I didn’t want to spend a lot and thought the smaller form factor would be fine and perhaps suit my needs even better. So far, I’m happy.

Mini Pros

  • ∞ use? seems durable, but there appears to be minor etching on the page surface, not sure that will make a difference
  • encourages creativity: when the ink is your only consumable, I feel much more free to write down any little thought or sketch
  • cleans easily with only water: it’s not really a pain to have to wipe down each page, it’s actually cathartic in a weird way
  • back to analog! I’m always typing on a keyboard it seems and it’s nice to get back to pen on “paper”
  • there are other pen types in the Frixion line of pens, not just limited to the “ball point pen” experience of the pen that came with the Mini

Mini Cons

  • “odd” writing feel, no pencil-like experience
  • ink drying is longer than expected: they claim you need up to 15 seconds, but I’ve noticed it can take up to over a minute depending upon how much ink you’re using – when I’m sketching, I’m using much more ink than when I’m writing
  • no edge bleeds: it makes scanning more difficult
  • weather sensitive? not sure, but it doesn’t take much moisture to smudge the ink; scan your work often if you don’t want to lose your work

The Rocketbook Beacons are an interesting idea. Basically, these four stickers allow you to capture or broadcast any whiteboard space. Of course your need a smartphone running their app, but the app seems to work very well and is easy to use. I used to use my whiteboard all the time to brainstorm ideas or processes, but capturing them was always an issue. I used to use an app called CamScan, but saw an article saying I should avoid that app. Anyhow, Beacons definitely inspire me to pick up the whiteboard markers again!

Rocketbook App

  • Nice design
  • Free Rocketbook pages which you can print out, a feature that puzzles me since the whole mission of Rocketbook is to reduce the amount of paper we use
  • Flexible Destinations feature, but I don’t have access to store things in my various O365 Teams, I have to upload it to my OneDrive folder and then move it to a team location
  • Share with anyone is possible, but you have to make an extra click to access the “Share” option
  • Auto-rotation often does not rotate pages correctly – I thought it just used the QR code to determine orientation, but that is not the case; you can use the app to rotate the pages, but the QR code remains on the scan
  • No way to combine separate files into a single file without the use of 3rd party software

VR and AR instead of textbooks?

La Trobe University swaps textbooks for VR and AR

The 12-week pilot aims to help students improve spatial awareness, explorative learning, and accessibility to 3D anatomical images.

I’ll be curious to find out how well these students perform compared to others who learn via more traditional means. On the surface, the use of these technologies make a lot of sense.

I’m trying to think of the faculty here at the College of IST to see if there are any potential applications of xR (or Extended Reality encompassing Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality / Mixed Reality) in our classrooms. Even if there were possible use cases, implementation would be much more difficult since there aren’t likely to be any existing off-the-self options for content. Anatomy has been studied for well over two millennia (source) and has amassed a huge amount of content related pedagogical approaches. Digital technology is growing so quickly that the content rapidly becomes obsolete. We would need to find a solution that would allow for rapid xR development. Apple and others claim that we are now able to do this, but I have yet to research the options.

I think the best use cases would be the introduction complex spacial or virtual concepts. Perhaps being able to “see” how web packets move through the internet while encountering various forms of hardware and software along the way. If that visualization could be contextualize to a desktop computer, for instance, sitting on the desk to include the “cloud” around them would be pretty cool. I think it would be pretty cool to use a virtual Enigma Machine to see how substitution encryption works. One would not only be able to change the rotors and encrypt / decrypt messages, but be able to disassemble the machine to see how it worked.

One possible piece of almost-existing content that might be incorporated could be an xR version of a working Minecraft computer. We don’t teach computer sciences courses here, but how awesome is this project?!

Moving way outside of our subject matter area, I would think that astronomy classes might be the next frontier to pilot this kind of pedagogical approach – replacing textbooks with xR technologies.

…there are plans to expand the technology to be used for all anatomy courses, including physiotherapy, podiatry, and speech pathology at all La Trobe university campuses…

iOS App Bloat

I have downloaded hundreds of apps which isn’t a lot, but managing them across multiple devices and platforms can be a huge pain. I’m all for downloading an trying new apps, but I need a way to reduce the clutter….

I have downloaded hundreds of apps which isn’t a lot, but managing them across multiple devices and platforms can be a huge pain. I’m all for downloading an trying new apps, but I need a way to reduce the clutter. I just got an iPad and am finally dealing with this head on by hiding unused apps in iTunes. Doing so, will make that app unavailable in the future to other machines and devices. I won’t solve my problem entirely, but it’s going in the right direction. I found this article that does a pretty good job describing the process and implications of hiding purchases. I still have new apps to purchase on top of all of this.

My Process:

  1. check out the app on a device
  2. delete app from device
  3. delete app from iTunes
  4. hide app from iTunes Store
  5. repeat

mLearnCon Session: Mobile Moodle

Wednesday June 16, 2010 04:00 PMRaw Dump:iClone & movie stormMobile moodleLooking for php and learning theoristsidewaard@itg.be & ckiyan@itg.benot very relevant to my context…

Wednesday June 16, 2010 04:00 PM

Raw Dump:

iClone & movie storm
Mobile moodle

Looking for php and learning theorists
idewaard@itg.be & ckiyan@itg.be

not very relevant to my context

mLearnCon Session: Pretotyping: Design, Iterate, and Test Apps Before You Write a Line of Code

Wednesday June 16, 2010 02:30 PMMain Pointsto get good ideas, you need a lot of ideasshorten the failure cycleincreases innovationGoogle – no processes, diverse work (start-up) culture90 second pitchescomes before wire frames and prototypingaccelerates conversations and concept developmentRaw Dump:Expends…

Wednesday June 16, 2010 02:30 PM

Main Points

  • to get good ideas, you need a lot of ideas
  • shorten the failure cycle
  • increases innovation
  • Google – no processes, diverse work (start-up) culture
  • 90 second pitches
  • comes before wire frames and prototyping
  • accelerates conversations and concept development

Raw Dump:

Expends includes money, time, mind shift, etc.
Paper
Paper and video
Not a wireframe, something that has some thought behind it, a next step

Full or partial mockup
Investment of min/hours/days
Implies rather than achieves a design
Democratized innovation ?
Lo-fi aesthetics reflect transitory nature, intentionally

Goals
Increase innovation
Increasae ideas in the pipeline
Accellerate fail velocity
Good ideas from lots of ideas

Think napkins, keeps it in his pocket
Is there a use case
Are there extrinsic rerwards?
Google bike app is the example
You want to taet your idea

What do you want to accomplish simply really well

As little program management as possible, high iterations

He mentioned agile in reference to project managment?

Think creative commons, two hours to create the video
The value is in the conversations between the evaluators, 30-60 min of time from the evaluators

Why use video? Rapid growth of conversation
How has the culture adopted this approach?

mLearnCon Session: Development Techniques for User Interface Text and Web-based Content in Smartphone Applications

Wednesday June 16, 2010 01:00 PMMain Pointsmobile apps are where it’s “at,” even compared to desktop app developmentit’s best to optimize your apps for specific platforms, you risk mediocrity by making a generic applittle, detailed changes can have a…

Wednesday June 16, 2010 01:00 PM

Main Points

  • mobile apps are where it’s “at,” even compared to desktop app development
  • it’s best to optimize your apps for specific platforms, you risk mediocrity by making a generic app
  • little, detailed changes can have a huge impact; button: “dismiss” > “hide”

Raw Dump:

Apps are the thing everyone is talking about
Alps are being coming mofe robust
Complexityand small screens dontmix
Multiple-touch and multiple-key control a aren’t easily discoverable
Conceptual and contextual info is still important, info about the app and how it works with ones daily work is still info

Forms of deliveey
Curated apps
Server-based content
Hybrid

Ask for handouts

Interface builder is part of the sdk for the iPhone
It’s best to optimize apps for the plaform
Little interface changes makes a huge difference

mLearnCon Session: MLearning on Multiple Devices: A Practical Guide

Wednesday June 16, 2010 10:45 AMMain Pointsthe mobile phone isn’t the end of your strategy, it’s the scaffolding, it’s not the substancelook for the sweet spot of development, too little and too many features have a negative impact on the…

Wednesday June 16, 2010 10:45 AM

Main Points

  • the mobile phone isn’t the end of your strategy, it’s the scaffolding, it’s not the substance
  • look for the sweet spot of development, too little and too many features have a negative impact on the user experience; performance support is the sweet spot when using SMS
  • it’s best to develop using the 4.0 SKD since the user agreements have changed; keep with HTML and Javascript
  • Instapaper is a good model for mLearning
  • testing is critical

Raw Dump:

Mlearning on multiple devices (smartphone devices as opposed to Sms)
With Richard Clark

Why is he choosing to focus on smart phones?
Not flash, it’s too early, too many devices that can’t us it
He’s talking about native application development

The mobile phone is not the end of your strategy… It’s the scaffold. It builds on the roadmap you create as a mobile strategy… It’s not the substance

Produce a small video, and everything else is learning via a native app or SMS

If the scaffolding is performance support, you feed bits of info to get their work done

Key questions
What is your comfort level with technology
Who is your audience, are they open to mobile learning
Sweet spot for mobile learning is performance support
Online vs offline, are your students online? Keep in mind the limited storage of a smartphone: think instapaper a good model for mobile learning
What are the range of devices you have to accommodate
Are the apps developed for the devices it’s made for?

Development options
Common data, built-in or custom viewer
Common or no common denominator

Simple
HTML + graphics
Then add JavaScript
Then html5 and JavaScript: local databases
Cross-platform toolkits
Finally native apps
Most complex

Appcellerator and Rhodes (new iPhone os closes the door on rhodes)
Appcellerator would be a better tool to work with

Unit testing is critical, you can’t just reboot
You work in small pieces and test your logic
Simulator based testing, get others to look at it as well, accompanies user testing
Manual vs vnc-based automatic testing
Remote devices testing (perfectos mobile) testing a range of drives and locations around the world

Pragprog.com

A very technical presentation

mLearnCon Session: What the User Wants in mLearning

Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 8:30a – 10:00aMain Pointssocial media = social communication + personal mediasocial media is the key to unlocking the global learning environment; opportunities to [bridge and exploit] the barriers between formal and informal learningyouth culture are the…

Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 8:30a – 10:00a

Main Points

  • social media = social communication + personal media
  • social media is the key to unlocking the global learning environment; opportunities to [bridge and exploit] the barriers between formal and informal learning
  • youth culture are the centers of innovation, they create the trends that effect everyone else
  • teens use SMS to share their presence with others, not so much factual information
  • phones are the first personal computers; the first private computers

Must-see video: A Vision of Students Today
vision_of_students.pngRaw Dump:

The learner is mobile, not the device, not the learning

What does it mean to understand the learner?

What the user wants in mlearning?
Mimi Ito, a cultural anthropologist
Asked people to show them the contents of their bags
Use of devices to personalize their media consumption, people will go to great lengths to customize their media environment

Social media is key to unlocking the global learning environment
How can we take advantage of the opportunity of the potential of mobile learning? Formal and informal learning
Youth culture When you look at mobile are centers of innovation, they create trends that permeate through the rest of culture
The technology is just a proxy for what people want to do

Context is king. Content is core. Learning is everywhere.
How realistic is it to ask people to focus on one steam of content for 30 min?
We can’t insist on the same levels of attention, we have to change.

Check out the video by Michael Wesch

Social media is social communication and personal media
Peer sharing, social viewing, locative meeds, transmedia

Phones are the first personal computer… Dunno about that, in this context perhaps
Personal because it is private
Small screen is personal and private… This is important

SMS is about sharing presence, together while apart… Not information… As used by these teens

Mobile Internet adoption in Japan was driven by transcarrier SMS
This has changed in the past five years to a web enabled drive
Mobile is the most preferred way of accessing social media, we are at the beginning of the surge of mobile social media, will grow as the technology grows

Social networks creates ambient information enviornment, the technicians would take a simple system and work it to their own needs

Ambient story telling, geoloction based social networking of a database, the example was a building that had it’s own twitter feed, app for creating a narrative, monitors, etc.

The social wrapper provided the key to the learning in a project that provided phones to high school students
Provide access and sharing of content and role switching of teaching and learning

Transmedia getting mobile devices to link to other devices
Assumption that children have other children to learn from… Pokemon is complex

How quickly can high education change innovation comes from the periphery?

mLearnCon Session: Easily Creating Cross-device Online and Offline Content without Programming

Tuesday June 15, 2010 04:00 PMMain PointsePub as an alternative to PDF’s, DOCX, & TXTePub falls into local access as opposed to native or web appsePub is a content format and is dependent on a reader or viewer app; these…

Tuesday June 15, 2010 04:00 PM

Main Points

  • ePub as an alternative to PDF’s, DOCX, & TXT
  • ePub falls into local access as opposed to native or web apps
  • ePub is a content format and is dependent on a reader or viewer app; these readers are available in a number of different platforms (both dedicated and client-based)
  • benefits compared to other forms of local-accessed content: content is formatted by the reader and is personalize by the user
  • cons: even though there are a variety of robust development tools, ePubs are relatively complicated; there is some considerable variability between the readers with regards to functions (links, multimedia, etc.)

Raw Dump:

Creat content for cross platform
Performace support system – mobile learning
We’ll be talkng about developing epub format, wildly popular as a content format, why epub? Open standard, lots of different platforms!

Based on XHTML
Wiki.mobileread.com

They’re using a document camera to show their devices

No links in Aldiko
Readers will reformat your text
Best fit quick offline access to text
There is a lot of functionality
No direct way to get epub onto a blackberry you have to use mobireader
Stanza no links as well
ipad books does support links
Browsers can read epub files on your server
Ebook readers google search

XML marker: a recommended editor
A pretty complex package structure, a lot of manual format
Use an epub validator to check your manual work
Threepress Consulting, inc.

Easy way: InDesign and “help & manual”, open source: Sigil

Conversion tools: Calibre (Word Docs have to be saved as filtered Html)

Epub addin for Word, just download from Silke and Eric to beta test

No annotation, no background images, no external links, simple design, etc…