CLIPP Board

iPad 2

It has been a while (June 2010) since I originally blogged (and commented) about the Apple iPad, initial thoughts, accessibility and wider support issues, but a lot has changed, not least rumours of a new version, faster and with Facetime camera. A number of staff have since borrowed the CLIPP iPad, I regularly take it to Costa, and usually bought one for themselves!

The newest versions of many Apps now incorporate the latest iOS developments(eg. MultiTasking, AirPlay, AirPrint, tethering*, free MobileMe Find My iPhone/iPad), with more to come in iOS 4.3, and also incorporate VGA out for presentations. Some Apps like Dropbox have become almost universal and sync with other Apps, like GoodReader and iAnnotate, to add even more to the expanding iOS Ecosystem.

The iPad 2 anounced on 2nd March, is released in UK on 25th March:

Some of the features that bring new benefits to Teaching and Learning include:

• Apple Digital AV Adapter - supports HDMI video out for iPad, iPhone 4, and iPod touch (4th generation)! and routes digital audio to screens that support it. *The previous VGA adapter will also work on iPad 2, but on the original iPad it is limited to ‘app specific’ VGA out support as before.
• Use the Apple Digital AV Adapter to mirror whatever’s on your iPad 2 screen — apps(ALL apps!*), presentations, websites, and more — on your HDTV or HDMI-compatible display in up to 1080p HD (movies play at up to 720p). A second 30-pin connector built into the AV adapter lets you charge and sync your device while it’s connected to your HDMI-compatible display.
• Front-facing camera features VGA quality video at 30 frames per second, which is the main camera people will use during FaceTime chats, rear camera on the iPad features HD-quality video at 720p resolution.
• iMovie(iPad2 only) & Garageband for iPad via the App store – to create and edit podcasts and more
• Mobile Safari now has faster Javascript, iTunes Homesharing is supported, and AirPlay video enhancements, including websites.

As well as personal and Education use, Enterprise and their suppliers have also enthusiastically embraced the iPad and features in the announcement video(70 min). It also demonstrates all the features mentioned above. There is also a useful iPad2 FAQ here.

Techno-stress

I’m involved with the ‘Wellbeing Group’ as part of Aston First and have offered to develop a web page about ‘Techno- stress’ so here is my first stab at the idea.

The top things that cause techno-stress at Aston:

Email – actually this is probably the top ten ideas on its own, and I’ve already blogged recently about email management and ‘Search folders’ has to be a top tip. I’m not sure how the new student email system works in this respect? I try and keep my inbox to about 25 items, either unread or pending. I add a date(eg. 14/7:  to the start of the subject line for pending items so I can sort chronologically if required. I file or delete any other messages that have been read. I have about 20 folders for different topics, and sub-folders for some of them, much like I do for files on my PC or network Home drive, and printed only matter in the filing cabinet.

Still on the topic of email, my bright idea was to use different email signatures for the different roles that I communicate about, for instance AV-SUPPORT, External to Aston, AstBUG etc. but importantly giving enough information for recipients to reply at their own convenience like phone extension and other help desk details.

Web – again I’ve already blogged about how I use RSS to deal with internet information overload, but my bright idea was to set my browser home page to our Blog CLIPP Board, as the page that relates to communicating what is going on in the area that I work!

Archive – how many times have you lost that vital piece of information? I try and recycle most printed matter and always if I have an electronic version. Emails and attachments are relatively easy to find, especially if you use Search folders mentioned above – and it isn’t a duplicate or earlier version of the same document because I’ve deleted most of them once the topic or thread is actioned. MS Exchange can archive older messages automatically. These are very much personal things though, I usually tidy and wash up as I’m cooking too!!!

Teaching – My Powerpoint {insert software/hardware of choice} doesn’t work! All lesson plans should include items on ‘Resources’ and we are responsible to check them or try them out first. Anyone can book a room via email or phone and there is a Guild bookings desk in ASAP on Wed. 2-5pm. AV-Support can also help, and there are direct dial buttons from every pool room phone to: Emergency, Security, AV-Support; Room Bookings, Estates, ISA; and hopefully the Porters too soon. There is also a list of pool room resources and instructions on the Staff Intranet and in Celcat timetable system.

TimeOut – last but by no means least, take regular breaks. You can still do useful work while having a coffee and networking with colleagues, and because you are relaxed it is often more productive. You will discover someone else has the same idea, interest and solved the latest problem for you. Also, watch out for more bite sized sessions.

iPad

by  Yutaka Tsutano

I’ve been experimenting with the new Apple iPad for a week or so. A number of people have already bought their own, and with the millions sold already, that reflects their primary purpose – as a personal device. We are obviously looking at the potential to harness or integrate it as a tool for Learning and Teaching.

Like the iPhone and iPod Touch it runs a mobile version of MacOS X and is tied into Apple’s iTunes for syncing and managing apps, music, photos and other media. The iPad integrates well with Aston email and wireless networks – it ‘just works’. We bought the wifi only version and several CLIPP staff have already borrowed it to get a feel for it. I will bring it along to the LTWG Dissemination event on Friday 9th July in SW309 – try it with coffee and muffins!

Read more

Email Management

I’m always looking for new ways to manage all my email!

Thankfully, I use my Aston staff account for almost everything, as I’ve mentioned before:

Exchange sync everywhere?

That includes from multiple computers, at Work, Home or anywhere in between. Last night I was playing with a feature in Apple OSX Mail called ‘Smart Folders‘ which allowed me to automatically group related emails, without moving them from my tried and tested heirarchy of a score or more of folders.

So, now I’m at work and can’t figure out how to make Outlook(2007) do the same, and thinking, it MUST be able to! Well, it can and just as easily, but it is just called ‘Search Folders‘ instead.

Read more

CLIPP Good Practice day 18/1/10

Carl Senior(LHS) was first on at 9am on a Monday morning but at least weather was OK. Despite the sexy title and initial content it was about using SMS – I decided not to challenge two inaccurate comments about the reasons for resorting to traditional SMS over the latest fashionable and power hungry gadgets. At least they seeded the idea that required a more pragmatic solution.

http://www1.aston.ac.uk/clipp/projects/2009/
There were parallel sessions running in SW305 & 309 most of which are available as Echo360 lecture captures on the CLIPP link above.

Next session Nicola Bullivant(ABS) raised the interesting issue of whether Pebblepad(Pp) is an aid to developing reflective practice or a technological hurdle – results from 2nd phase pilot seem to suggest the later, mostly due to lack of intuitive user interface. I must admit that while I like the concept, I have to wrestle the interface hurdles too frequently for comfort, especially from an IT literate perspective like the pilot group students.

After Coffee I went to another Pp presentation by Georgina Hardy(LIS) about information literacy. I intend to go through the special Profile they have setup in Pp and share it with them(no one else has yet!).

Urszula Clark(LSS) presented a pilot on using Articulate for DL MSc materials. It looked very easy to use and flexible, particularly for creating new DL content, and the only caveat seems to be the differences with Adobe Presenter and licensing at Aston.

Olivia Hunt(LHS) presented the iPodTouch Optometry project which I’ve helped with. It certainly seems to have improved quality and timeliness of feedback to students. I’m also helping facilitate development of an iPod/Phone app for streamlined data collection and distribution which may have wider uses in future.

After lunch I attended Ellen Pope’s(LDC) TurnITIn presentation. CLIPP are planning external training for both admins and instructors to look at the broader use of the software.

It was a very useful and though provoking day.

AV-Support gone!

AV-Support has changed name, some Media & Learning Technologies staff have moved! The main MLT office(SW409) and other MLT staff are still in South Wing.

We are now in MB509, underneath Costa coffee, and around the corner on the east side from our old office (MB572, since 2000!) which is currently being demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass or very long flat room like MB708.

All our phone numbers stay the same, the general number is still x4221.

Email is still to av-support@aston…

Tim, John & Dean

WordPress for iPhone

Mobile blogging from my iPod – I’m in Cafe Libro!

Capture that moment of inspiration while it is still fresh, even if only a draft copy to reflect on later.

WordPress for iPhone – free from Apple’s iTunes App store

FAQ

What is RSS?

See that PostIt note above? It also has 2 RSS icons on it.

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rss

Blogs, like podcasts, rely on RSS feeds to alert interested internet users of changes and new information without having to visit each site just in case, or filling your email inbox with extra alerts.

You can ‘subscribe’ to either or both of the 2 feeds by clicking or dragging the RSS icon to any software that acts as a feed reader. Some web browers support it natively, and Google offers a web based ‘Reader’, even Outlook 2007 supports it.

I use software on several different computers that synchronizes what I have read so I don’t have to read it again later, for example when I’m at home, work, or having a coffee somewhere else.

I see the feeds on my work PC(Windows FeedDemon), home Apple Mac and wireless Apple iPodTouch – both the later use NetNewsWire software and synced with FeedDemon via Newsgator.com.

I subscribe to hundreds of different RSS feeds related to both work and pleasure, and I can choose which ones to see and read on which computer. I categorise them in folders accordingly, for example Leisure, IT, Learning & Teaching, Software and News.

It means I can keep my email inbox to between 20 and 30 active or pending emails!

I can also use my emails, calendar and contacts on the same computers and synchronized in the the same way! That is a forthcoming post…

UPDATE 31/7/09:

Newsgator have just announced that they are moving to Google Reader as their web and management engine for individual users, and updating FeedDemon and Netnewswire to reflect the changes. I’ll post again when I’ve got all my syncs working, hopefully before the 31st August deadline.

UPDATE 25/9/09:

Well, I finally bit the bullet and upgraded, first was FeedDemon3.0 which led me through conversion to GoogleReader sync, including my folders and clippings, very painlessly. Then I updated Netnewswire3.2 on my home Mac(OSX 10.5) which ‘just worked’, and finally NetNewsWire2.0 iPhone app.

The only drawback, a small ‘Ad’ window, bottom left in the Free versions of each of the Applications. I must also say that FeedDemon is still very ‘clunky’ compared to the NetNewsWire versions.

More UPDATES in Comments…