Living in the 4th Screen

Exploring the use of mobile technology in education and life

Free Resources for Teachers to communicate with students or parents and never give out your personal cell phone number

Below are some resources to help you use email or text messages to communicate with your students. These services work for class assignment reminders, communicating with students on a class trip, updating the members (and parents) of a sports team about a change in practice, and so on and so forth.


Remind101_logo
 Remind 101 is a free service you can use to set up text or email reminders for when assignments are due. As a teacher you create an account and then set up classes. The students can then log in and set up what kind of reminders they want to receive (text, email, or both). You can set reminders up in advance or as you go along through the semester. Parents can even create an account and choose to get the reminders.


Cel.ly is a new mass text messaging
service that says they are interested in schools using their free service! You can get started by texting "start" to 23559. Cel.ly will then ask you for a login and password. You can then go to the website Cel.ly, login and set up text message channels. Each channel is set up with a keyword so that students, teachers, community members, and parents can join your mass text message with a keyword from their cell phone! There does not seem to be a limit on the number of people that can join your mass alert. Cel.ly also gives you three choices in how you want to set up the mass text alerts. You can have all members send messages back and forth to the whole group. You can have only the teacher (owner of the channel) send messages to the group. You can have the group members send messages back to the teacher only! In addition your texting channel can be public or private! All messages are archived in Cel.ly! You can send messages via the Cel.ly website or via phone. It works quickly and easily!

Pulse.to is similar to Cel.ly. You can login to the website, create a free account and then you start to set up pulses. You can have a public or private mass texting channel (called "pulses"). In addition, you can select if only the pulse owner can send messages or if everyone in the group can send messages. Pulse.to works in many different countries besides the US and Canada! In addition there is not a short code to join, rather students/teachers/parents can text in to a real phone number (so phones that don't work with short codes or keywords will still work with this service!).

Voice_logo
 Google Voice is a free service from Google that allows you to get a phone number that you can use to ring all of you phones. Sign up for a free account and you can use it for the services listed above with your students. This way you never have to give out your cell phone number to students. You give them your Google Voice number. You can set the Google Voice number to ring whatever phone you want to. You can have voice mails go to your email account, your cell phone, home phone, your neighbor's phone, or any phone you choose. It can even ring all those phones at once if you want. You can set up the number to send you a text message when you get a new call. You can give out the number and use it for text messaging as well. Using Google Voice with the one of the services mentioned above allows you to communicate with your students without ever giving out your personal phone number.

Thanks to Liz Kolb (@lkolb) for most of this information.

Wanna cook your steak, now there is an app for that!

The information below was taken from the iGrill website. What will they think of next?
Also available in black!

iGrill is revolutionizing the way we cook & grill today!

The iGrill combines standard function, technical innovation and impeccable style to produce the most complete cooking thermometer on the market today.

Equipped with long-range Bluetooth®, useful Apps and a range of amazing features, iGrill turns your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad into your own personal Sous-Chef.

Use Your iPhone 4 for Science with Mini Microscope

via GottaBeMobile by Chuong Nguyen on 3/31/11

Mini Microscope is an attachment for the iPhone 4 that will allow you to use your Apple smartphone to conduct science experiments. The attachment comes with a 60X zoom lens and dual-LED lights to turn your iPhone 4 into a mini microscope that can come in handy for those who are working in the field.

At a recent Nokia Musings technology panel in Silicon Valley, Nokia had invited researchers from Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley to talk about the intersection of technology and humanity. Those researchers, who used Nokia smartphones and outfit those devices with their own custom lens solutions to create their own mini microscopes, say that the quality of their miniature microscopes are almost as good as more expensive and bulkier systems in the lab, but are a lot cheaper and more portable. With mobile labs enabled by high-powered smartphones scientists can rapidly obtain results without having to send their data to a lab, which can save time and resources.

If the iPhone 4′s kit offers similar results as the Nokia solutions, this may help field researchers and scientists in remote areas obtain, gather, and analyze data relatively inexpensively. Unlike the custom Nokia solutions that research scientists had to create, the iPhone 4 kits are commercialized, similar to telescopic lens solutions for a faux DSLR experience on an iPhone, and can be obtained for £29.99,

Need a Hearing Aid - There's an app for that.

 
EARs is an app for the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch that works as a hearing aid.
 
From the company's website:

EARs lets you use your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad as a hearing aid. The app amplifies the sounds around you in real time and allows you to easily shape their tone so you can hear clear, crisp speech. With EARs’ innovative interface, improving the sounds is as easy as moving one finger. EARs can be helpful when you are having a hard time understanding a conversation in a loud room, or when you want the television to be louder without bothering others.

 

 

One Third of Teens to Buy iPhone within 6 Months

One third of teens to buy iPhone within 6 months

According to this report from iLounge:

One out of every three U.S. teenagers plans to purchase an iPhone within the next sixth months, according to the results of the latest Piper Jaffray bi-annual teen survey. Fortune reports that 33% of teens said they planned to purchase an iPhone in the next sixth months, up from 22% the year before; however, the 14% who said they already own an iPhone is down from 15% in 2009. The iPod’s share of the teen MP3 market also dropped from 87% a year ago down to 78%, likely due to the rise in the use of smartphones as music players, while iTunes enjoys a 95% market share among teens who pay for music online. The survey was based on responses from 6,000 U.S. high school students.

This Person's Life was Changed by a Cell Phone

Seems like the iPhone is a hit with some people who are blind or have vision problems. I read the following on the Behind the Curtian blog: 

Last Wednesday, my life changed forever. I got an iPhone. I consider it the greatest thing to happen to the blind for a very long time, possibly ever. It offers unparalleled access to properly made applications, and changed my life in twenty-four hours.

I have a son who is multiply handicapped and I am always looking for ways to help him. He is not blind so I have never thought about a blind person and how they would use a cell phone. This writers enthusiasm for his iPhone is amazing. The phone added value to his life. Here is more of what he had to say:

When I first heard that Apple would release a touchpad cell phone with VoiceOver, the screen reading software used by Macs, I scoffed. The blind have gotten so used to lofty promises of a dream platform, only to receive some slapped together set of software with a minimally functional screen reader running on overpriced hardware which can’t take a beating. I figured that Apple just wanted to get some good PR – after all, how could a blind person even use a touchpad? I laughed at the trendies, both sighted and blind, buying iPhones and enthusing about them. That changed when another blind friend with similar opinions also founded in long years of experience bought one, and just went nuts about how much she loved it, especially the touchpad interface. I could hardly believe it, and figured that I should reevaluate things.

I do not like to quote so much from an article but this story touched me so significantly that I had to include here what this writer said about his iPhone. It is truly amazing how he uses his iPhone. Follow the link above to read the full blog post. Below are some more quotes from his post:

The other night, however, a very amazing thing happened. I downloaded an app called Color ID. It uses the iPhone’s camera, and speaks names of colors.

I have never experienced this before in my life. I can see some light and color, but just in blurs, and objects don’t really have a color, just light sources.

The next day, I went outside. I looked at the sky. I heard colors such as “Horizon,” “Outer Space,” and many shades of blue and gray. I used color queues to find my pumpkin plants, by looking for the green among the brown and stone. I spent ten minutes looking at my pumpkin plants, with their leaves of green and lemon-ginger. I then roamed my yard, and saw a blue flower. I then found the brown shed, and returned to the gray house. My mind felt blown. I watched the sun set, listening to the colors change as the sky darkened. The next night, I had a conversation with Mom about how the sky looked bluer tonight. Since I can see some light and color, I think hearing the color names can help nudge my perception, and enhance my visual experience. Amazing! 

I can't believe how the iPhone has opened up a whole new world for this person. This is so revolutionary. His phone is helping him see in his mind what he cannot otherwise see. I close with another quote from the article:

I have seen a lot of technology for the blind, and I can safely say that the iPhone represents the most revolutionary thing to happen to the blind for at least the last ten years. Fifteen or twenty years brings us back to the Braille ‘n Speak, which I loved in the same way, so have a hard time choosing the greater. In my more excitable moments, I consider the iPhone as the greatest thing to have ever happened to the blind, and it may prove so.

Thanks to @scobleizer for re-tweeting this.

Day 2 Apple Summer Learning Institute for Administrators - Productivity

This was the first breakout session this morning. I was very disappointed with this session. I use my iPhone as a great productivity tool. There are so many great uses to help busy administrators and Apple blew it. No mention of the To Do apps. Very little mention of syncing calendars wirelessly until I brought it up. Disappointed that Apple focused on their apps or software i.e. iCal for Calendar. No mention of wireless syncing with Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook, again, until I brought it up. No mention of Evernote. Disappointing.

So much could have been done in this session to show administrators how to use the iPod Touch, iPad, or iPhone to simplify their lives.

Using Pandora as an educational tool

One of my duties as assistant principal is supervising the world languages department. The department members and I are always looking for ways to improve classroom instruction. Below is what one of the world language teachers sent to me in an email today:

I'm excited to use Pandora because it's free and I already had a bunch of Latino stations I can use in the classroom.  I can use this to play during a do now or other "down time" where students are entering or exiting or working quietly.  It does have commercials but it seems like there is no interruption for continuous play.

 

Just thought I would share.  Not sure how many other people use music in the classroom, but this certainly makes it easier.  No need to bring the iPod or buy a ton of songs on ITUNEs which I have done already.
I have Pandora on my iPhone and use it from time to time, but I never thought of using it this way in the classroom. Pandora is free and available as a desktop version as well so you do not need an iPhone or iPod Touch to use it.
 
A constant challenge in a world language classroom is for students to hear native speakers speaking the language. A number of the teachers in the department have used songs as a way to meet this need quite effectively. Using Pandora opens up many more possibilities.
 
 
 

What does Seth Godin think about kids using the iPod Touch?

I saw a two-year old kid (in diapers, in a stroller), using an iPod Touch today. Not just looking at it, but browsing menus and interacting. This is a revolution, guys.
Seth's post was about how the Kindle could take on the iPad for ebook reading. He ended his post with the quote above. His quote speaks to the ebook issue but I think it speaks to a larger issue as well. I have seen my own 5-year old use an iPod Touch or iPhone with relative ease. She has been able to move around in apps and discover features all on her own. She is quite deft at using the device. Friends and colleagues have shared similar stories with me about their children or grandchildren doing the same thing.
 
I believe the power of Apple and Steve Jobs is their ability to make using technology simple and fun. Last week I assisted a colleague in purchasing an iPhone. Before the iPhone he used a Blackberry.  You should hear him talk how easy the iPhone is compared to a Blackberry. In a matter of days he was taking pictures and emailing them to people. On the Blackberry he said he could not even figure out how to type a period (his words not mine). He is estatic with his iPhone. Apple should put him in a commercial. Say what you want about Apple, RIM, Goolge, and their competing devices, but millions of people are voting with their pocketbooks and choosing Apple. Their devices are easier to use! If Verizon offered an iPhone, RIM and Android would have serious problems on their hands. The power of the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad is their simplicity.
 

Anttenna: Where Twitter meets Craigslist and Geolocation

Antenna

Below is a blurb cut right from the website of Anttenna.

Antenna_2

Think of it as Twitter meeting Craigslist or Classified ads all around location. The application is free and also provides directions between a user’s current location and the nearby items for sale. Versions of the software will be available soon for Android, BlackBerry and other mobile devices. Click here for the iTunes link.

Why Apple does not include Flash on it's mobile devices

Steve Jobs recently wrote this article detailing why Apple does not include "Flash" on it's mobile devices. It is a well written piece. I would like to see Adobe's response to this letter because what Steve Jobs wrote is very convincing. Following are some quotes from the article:

Symantec recently highlighted Flash for having one of the worst security records in 2009. We also know first hand that Flash is the number one reason Macs crash. We have been working with Adobe to fix these problems, but they have persisted for several years now. We don’t want to reduce the reliability and security of our iPhones, iPods and iPads by adding Flash.

In addition, Flash has not performed well on mobile devices. We have routinely asked Adobe to show us Flash performing well on a mobile device, any mobile device, for a few years now. We have never seen it. Adobe publicly said that Flash would ship on a smartphone in early 2009, then the second half of 2009, then the first half of 2010, and now they say the second half of 2010.

We know from painful experience that letting a third party layer of software come between the platform and the developer ultimately results in sub-standard apps and hinders the enhancement and progress of the platform. If developers grow dependent on third party development libraries and tools, they can only take advantage of platform enhancements if and when the third party chooses to adopt the new features. We cannot be at the mercy of a third party deciding if and when they will make our enhancements available to our developers.

Flash was created during the PC era – for PCs and mice. Flash is a successful business for Adobe, and we can understand why they want to push it beyond PCs. But the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards – all areas where Flash falls short.

Follow the link above to read the full article. It is very insightful.

Tie everything you do to your learning vision

Some interesting thoughts from the writer of the uLearning Blog. Follow the link to read the full post. Most enlightening was the writer's response to the growing proliferation of iPod Touches and iPhones in classrooms:

And what should an educator’s response be? Possibly you’re already in the middle of deploying one of these options – and if so, my biggest suggestion is – reflect. While our sector has stood still for so long, the current rush might make us forget our usual values of tying everything we do to our learning vision first. So reflect first, then on how these devices can enhance learning – don’t make learning fit to them.

It is refreshing to have an educator say that we need to reflect first and tie everything we do to our learning vision. So often in schools we run after the latest educational technology fad. In education we need more sustained deep reflection before embarking on any technology initiatives. Do small pilots to test a hypothesis and find critical stress points.

I also like the writer's comment that we should not make learning fit the device. I am not a big proponent of electronic whiteboards or Smartboards. I feel these devices are an example of trying to make learning fit the device. We spent years trying to get teachers away from the front of the classroom controlling everything and now we anchor them to the front of the room using an electronic whiteboard. Backwards innovation.

Rate, review, and categorize books, and even create a virtual book club, all from your mobile handheld

Good_reads

Good Reads is social media center or reading club. Below is a snippet from the Good Reads website:

Have you ever wanted a better way to:
Get great book recommendations from people you know.
Keep track of what you've read and what you'd like to read.
Form a book club, answer book trivia, collect your favorite quotes.

Good Reads recently added an iPhone app. Using the app you can search for books and categorize them into virtual bookshelves. You can also keep track of the books you have read, are currently reading, and the ones you would like to read in the future. You can rate and review books and even start a virtual book club. All of these features are available using the iPhone app or directly from the website.

Are any teachers out there using Good Reads in the classroom? It sounds like it would be another great way to foster an interest in reading amongst our students.

iPhone app helps autistic children communicate

Grace
The screen shot above is from an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad app that assists non-verbal people to communicate using pictures. The app is Called Grace. People can use the app to build sentences using a series of pictures. The app was developed by a mother from Ireland who has two autistic children. Her name is Lisa Domican and she writes about her experiences on her blog called Hammiesblog. The video below is of Lisa explaining the development of the app.
 
 
 

The iPad - Heavier than I expected

Ipad
I finally made my way over to Best Buy to play around with the iPad. My very first impression was that it was heavier than I expected. I don't know what I was expecting, but right away it felt heavy to hold in one hand. It was also kind of slippery in my hand. If I were to purchase an iPad I definitely would be buying a case for it.

On the positive side I really like how the calendar app worked. One of the primary things I do on my iPhone is use the calendar app. The calendar app on the iPad is larger and offers some additional views. I have been using an electronic calendar for over 10 years so this would be a useful feature for me.

The mail app looked good but there was no email account on this iPad so I could not get the real feel for how the app worked. I played Flight Control and it is very nice on the iPad. This is one of the few games I play on my iPhone and it is well done on the iPad. 

Overall the iPad was very much like I expected, except for the weight. It really is a large iPod Touch or iPhone. I think the ease of use and simplicity of design makes the iPad a great device for someone from an older generation that wants to get emails with pictures of their grandkids. Or maybe they just want to read the news or watch a movie.