ICTeD Services

Apple's iBooks2 and iBooks Author - Collected Readings

The launch of Apple's  iBooks2  and iBooks Author at the Guggenheim NYC on January 19th 2012, has engendered great educational debate about the role of technology in schools.
It is a great thing to have the debate, but you need background first.
Here's my reading list on the iBooks2  and iBooks Author. My thoughts on the topic will come in a later blogpost.

The Official

http://www.apple.com/education/ibooks-textbooks/

http://www.apple.com/education/ibooks-textbooks/index.html#video-textbooks

http://www.apple.com/ibooks-author/

http://www.apple.com/ibooks-author/#hero-video

http://www.apple.com/education/itunes-u/

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ibooks-author/id490152466?mt=12

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itunes-u/id490217893?ls=1&mt=8

https://eduapp.apple.com/

http://images.apple.com/support/itunes-u/docs/iTunesU_Course_Guidelines_011912.pdf

http://www.apple.com/support/ibooksauthor/getstarted/

 

How To's and Tutorials

http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/19/apples-ibooks-author-hands-on/

http://mashable.com/2012/01/19/ibooks-author-app-review/

http://creativity-online.com/work/apple-ibooks-author/25959 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr076C_ty_M

http://www.tuaw.com/2012/01/23/ibooks-author-an-ebook-publisher-looks-at-apples-textbook-crea/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEUdd8vxK3M

http://www.tmadeeasy.com/tablet-apps-in-education/2012/1/20/ibook-author-a-very-special-tme-tutorial.html or

http://www.tmadeeasy.com/tablet-apps-in-education/tag/ibook-author-tutorials

 

Here's a PMI [ Plus, Minus, Interesting / Implications] on links I have found


Plus

http://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/01/19/an-in-depth-review-of-ibooks-author/

http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_shines_with_ibooks_author/

http://frank-lowney.blogspot.com/2012/01/ibooks-author-and-coming-etextbook.html

 
Minus

http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/19/2718701/apple-ibooks2-textbooks-hardware-questions

http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/productivity_apps/232500227

http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/apple-ibooks-author-ties-your-book-to-ibookstore-1056419

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/12/01/23/initial_ibook_2_titles_offer_disappointing_interactivity_.html


Interesting / Implications

http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/21/an-ipad-in-every-childs-hands/

http://edudemic.com/2012/01/ibooks2/

http://edudemic.com/2012/01/apple-open-standard/

http://www.macworld.com/article/164914/2012/01/four_open_questions_about_ibooks_author.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBooks

http://wanderingacademic.com/technology/ipad-2/will-ibooks-author-create-a-wave-of-self-published-teachers/

http://mindshift.kqed.org/2012/01/how-to-create-your-own-textbook-with-or-without-apple/

The author has single licence for graphic through Envato / Graphic River

Teaching Digital Video to Grade Two Students - Week One

 

With the end of the school year approaching in Australia, I've decided to teach all the grade twos movie making!

The Task

1. Production time: five x one hour sessions.

2. Text type: narrative.

3. Topic: A re-telling or a "Fractured Fairy Tale" [ Rocky and Bullwinkle ride again!]

4. Production teams: 4 - 5 students

5. Equipment: Flip cameras, iMac / iMovie

Just completed week one, students are very excited!

Download my lesson presentation here Download Digital Video Grade 2

Will write about the progress each week. The idea is that each grade can show there movies to a buddy grade in the last week of term!

Multiple Sites in iWeb - Recuperating After Cardiac Arrest in Lion!

I've been playing around with a get around to keep iWeb going under Lion, particularly when you want to create multiple iWeb websites under the same login. [See my earlier blogpost, Death of iWeb, 21.10.2011].  There is some hope!
This is one way, a bit clumsy, but it works. [There may be other "get arounds', please post if you have others.]

1. Open iWeb. This will open up your last created iWeb website or a blank iWeb site. Work or edit this file until you have finished with it.

2. When you want to create your new iWeb website do this.
Find the Domain.sites2 file. To do this in Finder > Go > Go to Folder.
In window where it says Go to Folder type ~/Library. Click Go.
This will take you to the now hidden User > Library folder.
Then go to Application Support > iWeb.
In that folder is the Domain.sites2 file that is your iWeb website 
Drag this onto your Desktop and rename it to something more useful.

3.  Click on iWeb again and start a new website.This will create a new file in the User > Library > Application Support > iWeb folder called Domain.sites2.

4. Work on your new site, when finished drag this file onto your Desktop and rename it to something more useful.

5. Want to edit the first iWeb file?
Go to the User > Library > Application Support > iWeb folder [ as you did above].
Drag your first iWeb file into this folder, Rename it Domain.sites2.
Click on it and bingo you can edit your first file!

Confused? Maybe this screencast will help. Download is 13.2 MB, QuickTime required
Download IWeb_Lion

[As with any software recommendations in my blog and websites, what I write about, is my opinion only and I take no responsibility for anything going wrong with your computer, server, network etc.. Please read the conditions and product disclosures and EULA for each application. Always exercise care and caution!]

The Death of iWeb

 

Apple has already had its greatest loss this month with the death of Steve Jobs. However, the death of iWeb while not of the same magnitude is also a big blow particularly for students and teachers.
This is my spin, if you agree or disagree please comment.

1. I have used iWeb for years with many groups of students, who have used it to create websites on sustainability, farming, democracy and various Challenge Based Learning projects.
See http://ictedservices.typepad.com/elearning/challenge-based-learning/    http://www.ictedservices.info/   http://www.ictedservices.com/iWeb_PD_2.0.html

2. iWeb and MobileMe meant that anyone could create a good looking website easily and then easily have it hosted. This meant that teachers and students without access to any online services at their school could still create and host websites. O.K. so this hosting facility is going with the transition to iCloud, but there are plenty of other places where you can easily host a website or three!

3. Enter Lion and iLife is trimmed of iDVD and iWeb, which are both no longer supported. iWeb is no longer packaged with new Macs and not available at the App Store. Read up on the web and find that if you have an iLife '11 disk you can install it. Hey, great!. So I do this and find that you need to re install iPhoto. No problem doing that from the App Store and we are back in business or are we?Yes, you can seemingly still create an iWeb website in Lion. But what if you want to create another iWeb website at the same user account? Now you used to be able to do this by going to where the domain file was stored, user/library/application support/iweb and grab that file and put it somewhere else or rename it etc. When you re-launched iWeb, a new domain file was created and you could create another iWeb website. So what now? Well firstly, the user library folder is hidden. You can get to it in Finder > Go > Go to Folder then ~/Library. O.K. so you can find the domain file, rename or move it [ i.e. do the old trick above] as before,  but it no longer works. Create as many re-named domain files as you like, but they will all open up with the content of just one of the iWeb sites! So basically it's one iWeb website per user. Now you can create one website in iWeb, publish it to a folder, delete your site from iWeb then create a new one, but what if you wanted to edit the first one?

4. Now I am teaching ICT to 160 grade 3 & 4 students who are making individual websites about Simple Machines. I also teach 140 grade 5 & 6 students who are making individual websites about the technology of building a Billy Cart. They are just having a ball! Some of these completed websites will be hosted on the School Intranet, all will go home on disk or USB drive. Now the school is running Snow Leopard on its computers, so we have no problems with such projects, well, not until next time when we have upgraded our computers.

5. Is there volume licensing for RapidWeaver  or similar in schools? Students and teachers need something simple to quickly make websites in!!

If you have an opinion on this please comment.

[As with any software recommendations in my blog and websites, what I write about, is my opinion only and I take no responsibility for anything going wrong with your computer, server, network etc.. Please read the conditions and product disclosures and EULA for each application. Always exercise care and caution!]

MacSchoolsNet #53 - iCloud, IOS5 & Education

If you are in Melbourne and want to attend email me! [Address on the poster.]

Go to http://www.macschools.net for more information.

My PD Offerings for October, 2011

For VITTA

Reinvent your Teaching with Challenge Based Learning!

Find out how Challenge Based Learning can invigorate teaching and learning of Primary and Middle Years classes! It is an approach that is highly engaging, embraces authentic learning and is great for students and teachers to use 21st century learning skills. Find out about the theory and seeclassroom examples.
A comprehensive set of online resources will be available as will membership of a network to support this learning.

DATE: Thursday, October 20, 2011

TIME: 4:30 - 6:30pm

VENUE: The ICT Teaching & Learning Centre, Williamstown Primary School,
Corner of Parker and Electra Streets, Williamstown.
Ample parking available outside school, check signage.
Nearest railway station, Williamstown Beach.

MacBooks, online resources and afternoon tea included

PRICE: Non-members $100 Members $80

To Register http://www.vitta.org.au/events/event/reinvent-your-teaching-with-challenge-based-learning

*********

For VITTA

What's New in iLife '11?

Just got a new MacBook, maybe through the DEECD Notebooks for Teachers and Principals program? You will notice that it comes with the new version of
iLife.

This will be a hands-on session as much as possible. A comprehensive set of online resources will be available as will membership of a network to
support this learning.

. So what's new in iLife '11?
. What are the changes?
. What are the implications of this upgrade for the classroom>
. Exploring what's new in iPhoto?
. Exploring what's new in iTunes?
. Exploring what's new in GarageBand?
. What about iWeb & IDVD?
. Exploring what's new in iMovie?
. What are some great things you can do in the classroom with iLife '11
. Where to after this session?

DATE: Thursday, October 27, 2011

TIME: 4:30 - 6:30pm

VENUE: The ICT Teaching & Learning Centre, Williamstown Primary School,
Corner of Parker and Electra Streets, Williamstown.
Ample parking available outside school, check signage.
Nearest railway station, Williamstown Beach.

MacBooks, online resources and afternoon tea included

PRICE: Non-members $100 Members $80

 To Register http://www.vitta.org.au/events/event/whats-new-in-ilife-11

*********

For ICTEV

Western Region Study Tour

Thursday, October 27, 2011 - 09:00 - 15:30

Visit three schools during the day [Williamstown PS, Altona PS & Seabrook PS]

Synopsis of Williamstown component

9.00 am
Williamstown Primary School - Host: Mark Richardson,
Whole School ICT/eLearning planning at Williamstown Primary School.

Mark Richardson, ICT Coordinator at Williamstown PS, will introduce you to the ways that the school organises its curriculum around its notebook/netbook trolleys and interactive whiteboards. Find out how these devices are used in English, Mathematics and Integrated Studies and learn how you can plan activities like these for yourself. Examples of planning and activities will be shown and you will be able to talk to teachers about their work.
Topics covered will be:
• The importance of whole school ICT / eLearning planning;
• How to plan great ICT / eLearning lessons;
• The organisational and technical support that is needed;
• Using Bloom's Digital Taxonomy as a planning tool;
• Making the most of all the software on PCs and Macs;
• Using Interactive Whiteboards to enhance classroom management, teaching and learning.
Mark will also demonstrate some of the great Web 2.0 tools to use in the primary classroom, discuss the assessment of student work in ICT / eLearning lessons, explain how a Learning Management System can enhance your lessons and conclude with describing how PD can be integrated into these activities.

Member Cost: $160.00 Non-member Cost: $190.00

Register here http://ictev.vic.edu.au/pd/2011/10/27/western-region-study-tour-integrating-ict-your-primary-school-program

Hope to see you at one or all of these events

Teaching and Learning in the 1 to 1 Classroom Using MacBooks

My next PD gig!!

Are you involved on 1 to 1 learning with MacBooks? Are you using a class set of MacBooks for some of your curriculum activities? Then this activity is pitched at you!

This session will cover the following:
• The pedagogy of the 1 to 1 classroom.
• Classroom organisation.
• Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy & the 1 to 1 classroom.
• What are some curriculum activities that are supported by 1 to 1 learning.
• Why collaboration is vital?
• Assessment in the 1 to 1 classroom.
• Buying, leasing, parent co-contribution or ownership.
• Technical support and security.
• School policies for the 1 to 1 classroom.

A comprehensive set of online resources will be available as will membership of a network to support this learning.

DATE: Thursday September 22, 2011

TIME: 4:30 - 6:30pm

VENUE: The Gallery, Williamstown Primary School, Corner of Parker and Electra Streets, Williamstown, 3016.
Ample parking available outside school, check signage.
Nearest railway station, Williamstown Beach.

MacBooks, online resources and afternoon tea included.

PRICE: Non-members $100 Members $80

Register with VITTA

MacSchoolsNet #52 - Mac OSX Lion & AirPlay

Looking forward to the next meeting on MacSchoolsNet! 

Format for the event is as follows:

Mac OSX Lion
Some key questions for education

• What are the benefits of Lion for teachers and students?
• Are there any drawbacks?
• Are there apps that don't work with Lion?
• What about Volume Licencing of Lion in schools?
• Is a download from the App Store the only way to get it?
• How can you use Disk Utility to repair a Mac if there is no disk?
• What if you bought a Mac just before Lion was released? Are you entitled to an upgrade?
• What are the features of Lion Server for schools?
• What are the benefits of Lion Server in a school?
• How will Lion integrate with the iPad / iPhone / iPod Touch?

AirPlay
Some key questions for education

• What are some of the ways AirPlay could be used in the classroom?
• Could an iPad/AirPlay and a screen challenge an Interactive White Board?
• What are the implications of using AirPlay for students to be able showing their digital creations to others so easily.
• Will AirPlay have great advantages for subjects such as music and multimedia?

See http://www.macschools.net/ for links to provide background for these questions.

My Next Upcoming PD Gigs!

This blogpost needs the #shamelessselfpromotion tag! I'm just finalising the details if three after schools professional development sessions I am running at Williamstown PS. Abstracts below!

Teaching and Learning in the 1 to 1 Classroom using MacBooks.

Thursday 22.09.2011 – 4:30-6:30,
The Gallery, Williamstown Primary School, Corner of Parker and Electra Streets, Williamstown, 3016.
Ample parking available outside school, check signage.
Nearest railway station, Williamstown Beach.
MacBooks, online resources and afternoon tea included.

Are you involved on 1 to 1 learning with MacBooks? Are you using a class set of MacBooks for some of your curriculum activities? Then this activity is pitched at you!

This session will cover the following:

• The pedagogy of the 1 to 1 classroom.
• Classroom organisation.
• Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy & the 1 to 1 classroom.
• What are some curriculum activities that are supported by 1 to 1 learning.
• Why collaboration is vital?
• Assessment in the 1 to 1 classroom.
• Buying, leasing, parent co-contribution or ownership.
• Technical support and security.
• School policies for the 1 to 1 classroom.

A comprehensive set of online resources will be available as will membership of a network to support this learning.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What’s New in iLife ’11?

Thursday 20.10.2011 – 4:30-6:30.
The ICT Teaching & Learning Centre, Williamstown Primary School, Corner of Parker and Electra Streets, Williamstown, 3016.

Ample parking available outside school, check signage.
Nearest railway station, Williamstown Beach.
iMacs, Online resources and afternoon tea included.

Just got a new MacBook, maybe through the DEECD  Notebooks for teachers and Principals program? You will notice that it comes with the new version of iLife.

• So what’s new in iLife ‘11?
• What are the changes?
• What are the implications of this upgrade for the classroom>
• Exploring what’s new in iPhoto?
• Exploring what’s new in iTunes?
• Exploring what’s new in GarageBand?
• Exploring what’s new in iWeb?
• Exploring what’s new in iMovie & iDVD?
•  What are some great things you can do in the classroom with iLife ‘11
• Where to after this session?

This will be a hands on session as much as possible. A comprehensive set of online resources will be available as will membership of a network to support this learning.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reinvent your Teaching with Challenge Based Learning!

Thursday 25.08.2011 – 4:30-6:30.
The ICT Teaching & Learning Centre, Williamstown Primary School, Corner of Parker and Electra Streets, Williamstown, 3016.

Ample parking available outside school, check signage.
Nearest railway station, Williamstown Beach.
iMacs, online resources and afternoon tea included.

Challenge Based Learning is an approach which has -

•          A multiple entry point strategy and varied and multiple possible  solutions
•          A focus on universal challenges with local solutions
•          An authentic connection with multiple disciplines
•          An opportunity to develop 21st century skills
•          The purposeful use of Web 2.0 tools for organizing, collaborating and publishing
•          The opportunity for students to do something rather than just learn  about something
•          The documentation of the learning experience from challenge to solution
•          24/7 access to up-to-date technology tools and resources so students can  do their work

Challenge Based Learning: Take action and make a difference [Apple 2009] p.2

Find out how Challenge Based Learning can invigorate teaching and learning of Primary and Middle Years classes! It is an approach that is highly engaging, embraces authentic learning and is great for students and teachers to use 21^st century learning skills. Find out about the theory and see classroom examples.

A comprehensive set of online resources will be available as will membership of a network to support this learning.

If you are interested in coming to any or all of these sessions, details and bookings will be appearing on the Victorian Information Technology Teachers’ Association [VITTA] very soon. http://www.vitta.org.au/ or phone 9495 6836

ACCE Study Tour 2011 Day 3: Oracle, Intel & Urban School

 
Another early start on the bus. First stop Oracle. A great presentation on their version of Project Based / Big Question / Solution - Action Learning. Administered by the Oracle Education Foundation it is the competition called ThinkQuest. Judged on three rubrics of Critical Thinking, Communication and ICT Skills ,this is one way for teams of students to participate in 21st Century Learning. See their WhitePaper for more. See the ThinkQuest Library for examples of student entries. A great competition and well worth encouaraging your students to enter.

Next stop was Intel for a great talk on their worldwide projects, educational programs for teachers and their use of digital anthropology.

Intel have heaps of resources, freely available at http://www.intel.com/education/teachers/

Third stop was The Urban School, Haight Ashbury. This school has been 1:1 with MacBooks for over a decade. Some really great thoughts from the staff here. Unfortuanately, as it is summer break here, there were no students present, so could not see teachers and students in action. Part of the discussion was about Flipped Teaching, which was great.

Then back to the Radisson, Fisherman's Wharf to find my Zoom Hn4 had arrived from Amazon. Can start some podcasting now!