Registration closes today for the May section of the iPad Academy Master Class

Click Here for details and registration info

iPad Video Lessons. Last Day to Register for the Online iPad Academy Class! is a post from: iPad Academy

Joe Morelock is a fellow ADE (Apple Distinguished Educator) who leads one of the largest deployments of iOS devices in schools in the country. A recent message on our ADE listserv asked for help with an upcoming school purchase where Android tablets and iPads are being considered. Joe explains in his helpful reply why the iPad is the “value buy” among tablet computers. He was kind enough to let me reprint it here.
 
It looks like you are in the same place in which several school folks find themselves – at the crossroads of money versus what’s best for students and teachers. I’ve been working with some groups lately that have asked very similar questions, usually focusing upon the Kindle Fire or some other “light” tablet for no other reason than cost. Here are a few things that I remind them to consider before going down the Android path:

Flavor of the month syndrome
How long will the Android (or other OS) tablet be around in its current or similar configuration? Many tablets have come and gone from the scene in the last couple of years. You need to consider the longevity of the platform or device you choose. That doesn’t mean that Apple won’t change the iPad necessarily, but its primary form factor and iOS will more than likely continue on an upgrade path that allows backwards iOS compatibility (to a point).

The splinter factor
Trying to guess which Android tablet will have which OS version and when upgrades might appear is the new Survivor-meets-Fear Factor. With this splintering of the OS on Android, this also means that you’ll never know if an app available in the (now) myriad Android “app stores” will work on said tablet depending upon OS version and such. Developers know that, too. That’s why you’ll see them trending toward iOS (and the fact that more people actually purchase iOS apps than just use free ones – as the trend in Android currently shows)

The “who’s minding the store” problem
When we deploy devices (iOS, of course), we don’t have to worry about the apps that are installed on the device from the Apple iTunes App Store…meaning that they live in a curated store and have been tested as not to blow up or bring other badness to the iPad or iPod touch. Contrast that with the (myriad) “app stores” in which there are tales of malware, badware, and “underware” (sorry, had to) that bring pain and hassle to the Android platform. Since Android is “open” (and that’s “open” to debate), anything goes and that concerns me on the overall management and safety front.

The “how do we manage this thing” issue
You have to keep in mind how you’ll actually manage the devices once you have them. Who will do it? How will they do it? It doesn’t matter if it’s 20 or 2,000. Currently, you can simply use iTunes to do that. You can further graduate to Lion server and certificates if you want to or a full-blown MDM solution. We train our teachers to use iTunes to purchase content and manage devices, and since it’s something with which they are both familiar and comfortable, it’s easy to convince them to take control and manage the devices themselves. There are more complete solutions for that, but knowing that you have options- whether it’s IT who will do it or your own teachers- is a huge consideration.

Finally, lower cost doesn’t mean better value. You get what you pay for. Think about what you want to do with students and which device will do that for you.
 

Tablet Computers: Android vs iOS and Why iPads Are the “Value Buy” is a post from: iPad Academy

Most times, the solution to an app that’s stuck or stalled is a simple one. Use fast app switching. Open the fast app switcher, touch and hold on the offending app until it (and others) start to shake and delete icons appear. You’re now in edit mode.

Tap the delete icon – the red badge with the minus sign – to end or quit the misbehaving app. Don’t worry, this does not delete the app from your iPad. Now close the fast app switcher by tapping the screen and then restart the app.

For other methods of dealing with a frozen iPad or app see this post.
iPad Frozen? How to Force Quit an App, Reset or Restart Your iPad

Wondering if you need to clean up (delete) all those apps running in the background?
Follow this link for the answer.

iPad Tip: How to Quit or End An App That’s Stuck or Stalled is a post from: iPad Academy

Just completed the first module — great lessons. I’m learning some basics
and also great short cuts. I really like the length of the lessons, long
enough to give important info, but short enough to do a quick lesson when I
have time, and also to keep my focus. The pace is great because it is slow
enough that I can try things as well as take notes as I go. Thank you.
Heather

You’ve done a really great job with this series. It is very clear, paced
well, and has great screenshots.
Carolyn

It is so much easier when you can actually see someone show the different
keystrokes and their functionality. Using the video approach to teach the
iPad is a great strategy. Each video is just long enough to give you info in
small sections so that it is not overwhelming You can see it. You can
practice and then review. Thank you for your efforts.
Tamara

Thanks so much for a delightful learning experience and look forward to
your next set of videos. By the way, as a senior I recommend this course
for seniors.
Dennis

The Master Class is 21 easy-to-follow video lessons delivered online, so you
choose when and where to learn. The class is based on hands-on activities
from my onsite introductory workshop, but goes much further to develop a
wider and deeper set of iPad skills. This video series will introduce you to
the iPad, including settings, navigation skills and app fundamentals. You’ll
learn simple shortcuts and time-saving tips to make your iPad more
functional and more fun.

Sample videos and more information

Know others who want to (or need to) improve their iPad skills? If so,
please share this info with them. Registration closes this
Wednesday at 6 p.m. so don’t delay!

I hope to see you in class!

New Milestone for iPad Academy! More Than 500 Learn to Use the iPad Online is a post from: iPad Academy

Launch Safari
Type about:blank in the web address field
Tap Go to open a blank page
Tap the share icon (box with arrow)
Tap Add to Home Screen to create a web clip
Give this web clip a name such as Home Page or New Page
Tap Add
A web clip (home screen bookmark icon) is created
Place the web clip wherever you want (here’s how)

Now whenever you want Safari to open to a new page, just tap this web clip icon you created. Safari will open to a blank page.

iPad Tip: Safari Home Page – How To Make Safari Open to A Blank Page is a post from: iPad Academy

The online iPad Academy Master Class series starts with a video tour of the iPad’s buttons and connections. Twenty more short lessons will help Mom master settings, navigation skills and app fundamentals. Along the way, she’ll learn simple shortcuts and time-saving tips to help make her iPad more functional and more fun.

An iPad for Mother’s Day – Give Mom Video Lessons to Help Her Use That Special Gift is a post from: iPad Academy

I was showing the memory allocation of a 32 GB iPad (Settings > General > About). The total didn’t add up to 32.  The iOS (Apple’s operating system for mobile devices) makes up the difference. Expansion is not an option, so once you use up the available space you need to delete apps or other content such as music or videos to make room.

To see how much memory each app (and other content) are using, go to
Settings > General > Usage > Storage
It may take a few seconds for the list to appear.

iPad Tip: How to Tell Which Apps are Taking Up the Most Memory on Your iPad is a post from: iPad Academy

Enrollment for the March offering of the online iPad class again exceeded expectations! Individuals and school groups from K-12 and higher education enrolled in large numbers. I want to thank the students of the March class again for participating, and once again express my gratitude for your feedback on the content of the video lessons and for your many positive comments about the course.

Registration for the Master Class is now open!. I’ll post more information about the class over the next several days. Meanwhile, follow this link to Learn More About the Master Class.

Learn to Use the iPad: Video Lessons in the Online iPad Academy Master Class is a post from: iPad Academy

This past week I spent three enjoyable days leading iPad professional development for a local school system. A few weeks ago these 100+ teachers enrolled in my online iPad Academy Master Class to learn the basics of using their iPads through 21 convenient video lessons. We then got together on site at the schools to begin exploring applications of the iPad for teaching and learning.

One of the questions the teachers frequently asked was about push notifications. When opening a new app for the first time, you are sometimes asked if you want to allow the app to send you push notifications. So I thought I’d spend a little time here explaining the iPad’s Push Notification feature.

Push notifications are a way for an app to send information to your iPad or iPhone even when you aren’t using the app. Apple’s Calendar, Reminders and Messages apps are three examples of apps that can send helpful notifications even while your iPad is busy with another task. In fact, these three apps can even send notices to the iPad lock screen. The notification will send you a message as an alert or banner. When you tap it, it will direct you back to the app for more information. Notifications can also take the form of badges or red ovals with numbers showing recent updates. For example, your iPad Mail app and the App Store app notify you this way when you have new mail messages or apps that need updating.

You can manage all these notifications in Settings. Go to Settings > Notifications to choose the apps you want to receive notifications from. You can also select what form you’d like the notice to take – sound, badge, alert or banner, depending on the options the app includes. Calendar, Reminders and Messages are apps you’ll probably set up in the Notification Center on your iPad. You’ll generally select “Don’t Allow” when asked if an app can send you notifications. If you later change your mind, you can easily add the app to your approved list.

iPad Tutorial: What Are Push Notifications? How Do I Manage Push Notifications? is a post from: iPad Academy

On Sale – Two of the Best iPad Bird Guides from Peterson & Audubon for .99 Each is a post from: iPad Academy