ICTeD Services

Tech Road Test: Apple Remote Desktop 3.

If you are a system administrator with a lot of macs, Apple Remote Desktop is a great tool. I've used version 2 for years to shutdown computers, send out packages, monitor usage, deal with tech problems remotely, remotely access the XServe [10.4.], generate logs etc.. However, this year I started teaching in a lab of 30 iMacs and ARD became even more important. [ARD 2 works up to Tiger clients, but I had to get ARD 3 when I upgraded to Leopard clients].  The room I teach in, is 10m long x 6m wide and with primary school students and 20" iMacs it is impossible for them to see the digital projection screen at the front of the room.

Consequently, this could mean students leaving their seats, walking to the front of the room, sitting down, watching my demonstration projected on the screen, then going back to their seats etc. What a waste of time! The better alternative, and the one which was preferred by most of my students in the online survey at the end on semester one was screen sharing. With ARD it is easy to take over your students' computers with your screen to demonstrate a skill etc.. It is also great to share a student's screen with the class to show great work samples. Beware though, the ARD function of being able to lock everyone's screen, while I went on and on about something was highly unpopular with my students!

[As with any software recommendations in my blog, 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!]

Tech Road Test: Flip Cameras vs. iPods to Create Content for iWeb

I had the students in my group at eTrain 2008 using Flip cameras and iPod Nanos [the model before the one released last week] with Belkin TuneTalks. The content from the digital video and soundfiles was then used as part of a website they made using iWeb. Both the content made with the Flips and the iPods was made in a outside location [at a children's farm]. The video was then edited in iMovie HD 6 and the soundfiles were edited in GarageBand 3. Here's and example of what the Flip can do.

The students much preferred using the Flip cameras and while these are a sensational tool for education the sound was not as good the audio recorded on the Nano/TuneTalk. But compare for yourself. Here's one of the Flip movies and here's a podcast recorded on the Nano/TuneTalk. [it's the same farm worker being interviewed in both]. Obviously both tech tools have a place and they both provide great content which can be dumped in iWeb. But with the group of kids I had, the Flip camera won the engagement stakes hands down!