Archive for iPad applications

New Livescribe Connectors For OneNote and Google Sites!

August 3, 2011 Connect, education, Evernote, Facebook, Google, Google Docs, Google Docs, Google Sites, Livescribe, Livescribe, Livescribe Pencast Player, Mathcast, OneNote, Teaching, Teaching Online, TechFriends(Geeks), Technology 4 comments

*Image taken from the Livescribe Facebook Page.

I downloaded the latest version of Livescribe desktop to try out the NEW connectors.   Livescribe just added Microsoft OneNote and Google Sites to their list of connectors!   Download the lastest desktop at:  http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/starthere 

connect
brought to you by Livescribe

Here is a screenshot of a Google website I created.  You can use the launch-line feature and write the words “Google Site” (the pen recognizes the words you want pretty quickly – or you can make a short cut like “sites” for it)

 

Every time you sync a new pencast to Google Sites, it creates a new webpage on your site and embeds the playable pencast on the page.  You can rename and edit the page any way you would like after the pencast is uploaded.    What a great way to share a test key or answer student questions so all students have access to it!

The other new Connector is for Microsoft OneNote.   I have read a lot of feedback from folks REALLY wanting this connector.   Since I use Evernote (a LOT), I haven’t really played with OneNote, but this gave me the perfect excuse to crack it open and start playing!

After syncing your pen using the OneNote Connector, when you open up Microsoft OneNote you see two things:

1)  A rough screen shot of your pencast, and

2)   An embedded Pencast PDF file that holds the entire pencast (includes both synced audio and animation)

If you double click on the PDF file in the upper right, it opens Adobe (10 or higher) and shows you the actual animated pencast.   This pencast is still in your OneNote notebook, but can also be shared with others.

The PDF pencast comes with a player that allows you to play, stop and scrub through the pencasts as you want.

You do not have to use launch-lines to use the connectors – they also show up in a menu on the left side of your Livescribe desktop:

 

All you need to do is sync your pen and then drag any “page” from your notebook onto one of the connectors – and you are done!

I already use the other connectors all the time, now I have even more choices to make my life easier.

I am looking forward to being able to create a Google Website that houses all the pencasts I upload for my students, so I can just post the link to the website for my students, rather than having to embed each new pencast I make manually.    This update for Connect is extremely helpful for me and will save me a LOT of time this semester!!

Loving all the new updates from Livescribe as they listen in on what their users really need “now”.  I can’t wait to see what is next!

 

 

Mapping my Syllabus (again)

July 31, 2011 education, iPad applications, Math Projects, mindmapping, MindMeister, Mindmeister, Software, Teaching, Teaching Online, TechFriends(Geeks), Technology One comment

I am rewriting a blog post from a year ago…

Last year I used a mindmap of my course syllabus to show them an example of mapping out something.  They will be mapping out at least one unit and bringing in new resources to share with the rest of the class this semester, so I decided to update my MindMeister mindmap to go with the new syllabus

Here is a link to the actual mindmap if you cannot see it above.

I will also be creating several other project samples for the students using the course syllabus – stay tuned!

 

Did I mention that MindMeister has an iPad app?!!

 

Screencaptures by TechSmith for the iPad!

July 26, 2011 education, Helping students, iPad, iPad applications, Mathcast, ScreenChomp, Teaching Online, TechFriends(Geeks), Technology Comments Off on Screencaptures by TechSmith for the iPad!

While reading through posts on Google+, Facebook and Twitter by my PLN, I came across this valuable new FREE app for the iPad!   I use TechSmith products (Camtasia, Snagit and Jing) all the time on my laptops, but always wanted to have the same functionality for my iPad.  Not only did TechSmith follow through, but they made it FREE!

Opening up the ScreenChomp app, you see a blank whiteboard.

They have given us 12 colors to choose from (but I would like to see a slider for SIZE of the pen at some point in the near future!), an eraser and a record button – yes ScreenChomp will record a video of you writing and speaking at the same time!

When you save your file you have the option of saving it to the “cloud” by hitting the ScreenChomp.com button or sharing it on Facebook.

After saving your screencast, you have three options for sharing:   You can copy the link, email it or Tweet it!  Here is a link to the actual video I just made.   I need to find a way to embed the video without having to go through another application. Suggestions?

I think this will be a GREAT way to answer student questions from my iPad!  I just have to create a quick screencast on my iPad and then send it to them.   Can’t wait to try it out!

 

 

 

Help For My Autistic Great-Nephew

July 10, 2011 Assistive Technology, Autism, FableVision, iPad applications, Livescribe, Livescribe, TechFriends(Geeks), Technology 3 comments

 Helping Children and Adults with Autism

Link to the video I’m Here (if it does not show up above)

“This short film, based on an original story and art by Peter H. Reynolds and produced by FableVision, movingly conveys the loneliness a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder often experiences, and the life-changing effect each of us can have in breaking through that solitude.FableVision created the film for SARRC (Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center).

FableVision CEO Peter H. Reynolds, NY Times best-selling children’s author/illustrator, illustrated the film. The film includes a powerful musical score by Ruth Mendelson. “I’m Here” is the precursor to the film and book “Wings of EPOH.” Both products are co-published by FableVision and SARRC.

Information: http://www.fablevision.com/wingsofepoh/index.php  ”
*Taken from the You-Tube video information about “I’m Here”


Personal Experience With Autism

I just got back from spending a great week with my mother, and my siblings and their families, in the beautiful Outer Banks!   My niece was there with her autistic son.   I showed my niece my Livescribe smartpen and what I thought it could do to help her son not only learn his letters and numbers, but also to speak.

I quickly put together a couple of demonstrations for her:

EthanAlphabet
brought to you by Livescribe
EthanNumbers
brought to you by Livescribe

My great-nephew is pretty hard on paper, so  he mostly uses his iPad.    I then showed my niece how her son will be able to view the pencasts on his iPad using the Pencast Player app!   She was very excited to try it out!    We talked about creating pages with just a single word on them with her voice.   This would allow her son to “say” the word when he touched it on his iPad.   Her mind started buzzing with ideas on how to help her son.   She couldn’t wait to show his teachers the smartpen, in hopes it could help other children in his class as well.

The next level of excitement for her came when I showed her the new Livescribe sound dots.   With these dots any sound can be recorded and then the dot can be placed onto any surface.   Her son has several picture books which the dots would be perfect for!   My niece also thought about recording herself reading every page of his favorite books, so he could “read” the book while she was doing her homework.  It would give her son more freedom, but he could still hear her voice!

I sat down that evening and ordered her a Livescribe pen, several sizes of paper and some sticky notes (to use until the sound dots are released).   She is going to allow me to track his progress using the smartpen and report from my blog on it.   My niece will be sending me updates on how he is improving at school and how she is using the pen with him.   I am so excited for her, but especially for her amazing son, who just happens to be Autistic   : )

 

 

 

 

Turning your iPad into a Mobile Interactive White Board!

June 24, 2011 education, Flash, iPad, iPad applications, Teaching, TechFriends(Geeks), Technology 2 comments

I am SO excited!   I download an app today that turned my iPad into a MOBILE interactive white board for $9.99!!  It seemed expensive at first (for an iPad app), but after I downloaded and played with it, and saw that I could even annotate over any screen, and control my computer from anywhere in the room, $9.99 seemed pretty darn cheap!!

The app is called Splashtop Whiteboard.  You can download it through the apple itunes store or learn more about it at the following link:

http://www.splashtop.com/whiteboard

 

I started off by first downloading Splashtop Remote Desktop for iPad.  It is great!  I can finally run Flash on my iPad by running my browser through my desktop (or laptop in my case).  You can see a Flash animation I built running on my iPad in the screenshot above.

Then I decided to download the Splashtop Whiteboard app, too.

The iPad screenshot above is of some Flash animations on my website – before using the annotation tools available in the Spashtop Whiteboard app.

If you look at the screenshot below, you will see the annotation tools at the top of the screen.

I can annotate LIVE from my iPad onto my desktop!  If I am teaching a class, I just hook the computer up to the projector (like normal) but now I can walk around the room using my iPad to control my computer and annotate over any program!  If you want to annotate over your screens, then Splashtop Whiteboard is the app for you, but if you only want to be able to remote into your computer using your iPad, then the less expensive Splashtop Remote Desktop app will work perfectly.  You do not need to purchase both of them, though – it appears from my first use of them that the Splashtop Whiteboard does everything the Remote Desktop does, but also allows you to annotate.

I definitely feel like I got my money’s worth on the Whiteboard app!    I can’t wait to try it out in the classroom!!

 

Time to Connect!

May 23, 2011 Connect, education, Evernote, Facebook, Google, Google Docs, iPad applications, Livescribe, Livescribe, TechFriends(Geeks) One comment

Livescribe’s newest application CONNECT came out today: Monday May 23, 2011.   A few weeks ago I was part of a media event where Livescribe, Evernote and Google were present to help talk about the new application.

connect (click here to see the pencast on the Livescribe website)
brought to you by Livescribe

 

*click on the arrow in the upper right hand corner to make the pencast full-screen.  The pencast is best viewed with the preview turned OFF:

If the pencast above does not show up on your browser (Firefox seems to work the best) , then click on the link below to open up the actual pencast PDF:

IntroToConnectpencast

You have to click on the link and then it opens another window with only the link in it.  Click on the link again to open the actual PDF pencast.

You must have Adobe PDF Reader X (10 or higher) to see the actual pencast above completely contained in a PDF!

 

THE BIG DEAL ABOUT CONNECT:

  • I believe the most important aspect about Connect is the fact that a pencast can now be completely self-contained in a PDF.  This means that we can finally “own” our pencasts!   This will allow us to house them inside closed systems online or on DVD’s, rather than having to use a link to the actual pencast or embedding what looks like the pencast, while it is still housed on Livescribe’s servers.  This is HUGE!

 

  • I think it is amazing that I can now directly email a student from the dot paper, as soon as I connect my pen to the computer!  No more “uploading” the file and then finding it and sending it.   This will save a lot of time when answering student questions.  When the student opens the email, they will get an attached PDF, rather than a link to the Livescribe website.  The attached PDF will contain the entire pencast, sound and animation, with a play/pause/stop bar!

 

  • I also love the fact that I can directly upload a pencast PDF to GoogleDocs.   I can share a file easily with students or colleagues using GoogleDocs!   At my college, students have access to GoogleApps, so this will be a great new feature to use.

  • Sending to Evernote will be fantastic as well.  I host my ideas and notes from conferences on Evernote to keep them all in one place.   Although Livescribe was “connected” to Evernote before, the file was split into a static PDF and the sound file.   Now, with Connect, you can send the entire pencast PDF directly to Evernote when you dock your smartpen.

 

  • Connect will also send a pencast PDF directly to Facebook, which will be a great way to post your status – with sound and animation!

 

To download the FREE version of connect, go to:  http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/starthere/

To purchase Connect Premium for $14.99 go to the Livescribe store:
http://www.livescribe.com/store/20070723002/p-541.htm

 

*To quickly get the pencast from the paper to all of these new applications you will need to learn about LAUNCH LINES.     My next blog post will teach you how to use this feature of the Livescribe smartpen.

 

Taking Notes on the iPad – Part 1

February 21, 2011 Algebra, education, iPad, iPad applications, taking notes, Technology 4 comments

I have a student in one of my classes that loves learning with technology.  He is always asking me what software and hardware I am using.   The other day I turned the tables on him and became very interested in the applications he was using on his iPad to take notes in my Algebra class.   He said he was using SmartNote.   I have tried several note taking apps on my iPad, but I have not tried that one …yet!

I decided I would start a blog series comparing several of the note taking applications that I have tried on my iPad, along with trying out a few more that have been recommended by others.

In these articles I will focus on applications that allow students (and anyone) to take hand-written notes with a pen, such as the Pogo Sketch (that is what I use).

The first app I started using is called Sundry Notes .   There is a free version available in the iTunes store, as well as a paid version that does not have any ads.

I was immediately impressed with the fact that Sundry notes has its own calculator built in, along with several menus of math symbols you can add to any note!  In the screenshot below you can see I was able to start graphing, post a calculator, a table, and handwrite, all on the same page!  The app will also allow you to post an audio note and embed photos as well!

The notes are fairly easy to organize and you have several “views” to choose from.   Below you can see the “preview” mode, where you can see what is written on any note in any stack of notes.

You can also place notes in a stack, which would be the same as placing them in the same folder or notebook.  In this view you can see the different stacks of notes you have created.

The main drawback that keeps me from using Sundry Notes all of the time is that the pages of notes are very small, so if you know you want to take  lot of notes, you will be creating a lot of pages!    After writing on the page, you can shrink down the writing, but it is a bit cumbersome if you are quickly taking  notes for a class.

Next time I will review Penultimate, which is another app I found soon after getting my iPad.

To be continued…

 
  Recent Entries »

Analytics Plugin created by - Powered by Womens Sunglasses and Human Services Degree.