So simple, and yet...

How do you show a .jpg (picture) file in class?  No clue.  But if you need a workable, highly inellegant solution, here it is:

Create a PowerPoint or Keynote blank slide with the .jpg inserted and then display it using either Keynote or VGA Expedition on the iPad and your external monitor.

Duh, sound is all or nothing!

The first time I played a video in the classroom, I kept hearing beeps randomly and unexpectedly which really seemed to be disruptive.  I kept scanning the room for a facebooking or tweeting student who is not paying attention only to realize that the sound was coming from my iPad.  Duh, incoming email beeps!!!  Needless to say that if you plan on showing videos and using anything with AUDIO in the classroom, disable the sound notification setting for your mail and spare yourself the embarassment.

Another great thing about GoodReader - saving PDFs from Safari

Say you are going to a conference and you want to download a campus map.  It's easy to open a link to a PDF file from within Safari.  However, if you don't have 3G, and no access to a wi-fi network upon your destination, you may not have access to the PDF map in your browser.  Obviously, you would want to somehow download it to your iPad.

I found the following trick very useful:

1) "Select All" and "Copy" the address from your safari browser

2) Open GoodReader

3) Go to the section entitled "Web Downloads" and click on "Enter URL"

4) Paste the address and accept.

Your map will be downloaded as a local PDF file on your iPad accessible via GodoReader.

GoodReader vs. iAnnotate

The iPad was launched in part as a competitor to Amazon's Kindle, a well received and popular E-book reader.  I am not much of an e-book fan since I prefer the smell of printed pages in my hand or listening to an audio-book while riding the Metro.

However, I am finding myself needing a quick and accessible way to read PDF articles that does not force me to stare at the giant computer screen all the while maintaining horrible posture.  Printing the PDFs is out of the question since I am running out of room for storing all that paper (and trees).  The iPad provides a great alternative to reading PDFs on your computer.  Not only that, but for those of you who are highlighter-happy like me, several iPad apps provide a rather close and very reliable digital alternative to the print-read-highlight learning environment.

Of course, there is no single app for that.  You have to find what works for you.  I have been playing with two apps: Good Reader ($1.99 on iTunes) and iAnnotate ($9.99 on iTunes).  They are both excellent applications and I recommend that you get at least one if not both.  Let me review some of their strengths and weaknesses and you can decide for yourself.

Good Reader
Pro: Price.  Can't beat $1.99 for this rich, feature-packed app.  It feels like a steal.
Pro: Excellent integration with Dropbox (see earlier post why Dropbox is important).  You log into your cloud (e.g. Dropbox) and you select the files you want downloaded to your ipad.  You can also upload annotated copies of files.  This is one of the few applications that allows you to store files like you would in a "desktop environment."  It is very intuitive and easy to move the files around.
Con: While integration with Dropbox is impressive, you cannot download entire folders from Dropbox and there is no way to keep libraries (e.g. folder of papers that you need to read) in sync.

iAnnotate
Pro:
Con:

Other VGA-enabled apps

Here is the running list of apps that support VGA output.  Everyone, please contribute updated info.

YouTube
Videos
Photos (slideshow only)
Keynote
Netflix
iAnnotate
PaperDesk
VGA Expedition

Formatting (read: hacking) videos for teaching

Videos app on the iPad is nice for showing audio/video materials in lecture on the big screen (projector, LCD).  However, unless you are sitting on a big library of  MPEG-4 formatted files, you won't be able to import much into iTunes and from iTunes into your iPad.

If you are wondering what MPEG-4 means, you're not alone.  Suffice it to say that there is a huge number of video formats out there, but Apple designed products work with only a limited set.  That means that videos you want to show in class (for which of course you have permission) need to be first formatted into Apple-friendly formats.  You will need to prep your videos on the computer which feeds your iPad, add them to iTunes, and then you can plug in the USB cable and move the videos from iTunes to iPad.

To prep the videos, I find that Handbrake is pretty easy to use and it can be downloaded on any platform.
http://handbrake.fr/

Learning about video formats and optimization for video screens is a daunting task when you have 4 hours to come up with a lecture.  However, you can accomplish a lot by choosing some default settings and letting the software do its job.  Handbrake, as of now, does not have a preset for the iPad but you can use the Apple Universal preset to get the settings filled in and getting the conversion going.  Your final video may not be optimal for your students' entertainment but I am sure it will do a great job for their learning.  Keep in mind that this is a processor-intensive application so I don't suggest running giant programs like STATA or Matlab on your computer while trying to format a video.

Once the video is formatted, it should have the .m4v extension.  You can then add it to your iTunes.  Once in iTunes, it's easy to transfer over to the iPad.

Point of clarification, your videos show up under MOVIES in iTunes but in VIDEOS app on the iPad itself.

Other fun extras!

Google Earth is pretty cool but after using it once or twice I pretty much cannot find use for it again for a year.  If you are an enthusiast, the link is here:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-earth/id293622097?mt=8le.com

If you don’t want to go crazy while grading, may I suggest a personalized radio station from Pandora radio. 
http://blog.pandora.com/pandora/archives/2010/04/pandora-on-ipad.html

It might be possible to hold office hours on the web using a webcam.  Oops, there is no camera on the iPad.  I guess you can still use Skype to get in touch with cool colleagues from abroad.  The Skype app is designed for the iPhone but it will work on the iPad as well.  The graphics are not there but the functionality is.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skype/id304878510?mt=8

Oh, and don’t forget your guilty pleasures.  You know it, I know it, everyone knows it...teachers do watch TV, at least on an off chance that they get some down time.  Well, with the iPad, the TV primetime runs on your time.  To catch up on any ABC shows you may like, consider their crystal clear, though sometimes buggy, ABC player for iPad.  The choice of interesting shows is limited but that’s a whole another blog...
http://abc.go.com/site/abc-player-for-ipad

You will notice that all of these require good and constant Wi-Fi connection.  Still looking for fun extras that can run without internet connection...like when you are stuck between flights at an airport and you are too tired to read papers.

Business and Pleasure

This app won’t cost you anything but the service will.  If you sign up for their lowest cost plan, it will set you back $9.99 per month which allows you to watch one DVD at a time BUT it comes with unlimited "Watch Instantly" features.  That means that with good wi-fi you can stream movies right in your classroom.

The Netflix iPad app will display the movies to your projection screen in the classroom either via the VGA output (you need a dock-to-VGA adapter and a VGA cable) or using Composite Audio Video cable.  Look for interesting PBS/Frontline shows, National Geographic episodes, perhaps TV shows, documentaries, or even movies if you can fit them into your teaching objectives.

And, if you really want to see "Groundhog Day" again, you can chose to receive a DVD in the mail. 

And some fun extras!

Let’s face it, you have to eat while preparing your lectures and grading until early morning hours.  I don’t need to remind you of all the research that says that certain foods will make us smarter, or more productive, or hopefully both.  I know someone who swears that broccoli makes them smarter but how many of us know more than two ways to prepare broccoli?  Meet your new and improved friend - Epicurious for iPad.  It’s beautifully made, runs smoothly, and it’s really easy to use.  In other words, this app will do everything short of driving you to the store to get the groceries and making the meal for you.

You can get the app here:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/epicurious-recipes-shopping/id312101965?mt=8

This way, if you colleagues roll their eyes at your new toy, and call you a show off, you can tell them you just use it for cooking.   Watch them get even more confused!

Peripherals: Cover it up!

The first peripheral that you will need to get is the iPad cover.  I don't think they are prone to scratching  but they sure do pick up smudges and fingerprints.  It was not really easy to shove things into my briefcase without wondering whether any of my other junk was going to "hurt" the pristine new shiny machine.

After some prolonged consideration, I decided to go with Marware Eco-Vue case (http://www.marware.com/products/iPad/Eco-Vue-for-iPad)

This case is really nice because it provides a snug fit while still allowing you to slide the ipad in and out easily if you need to (dock users, cleaning, etc.).  It has a nice and soft interiror that provides access to all the ports and buttons.  It also has a very smooth profile making it look like an elegant leather folio.

On the inside cover there is a strap with elastic sides where you can slide your hand once the cover is folded over and that allows you to hold the ipad in one hand (ideal for reading while holding on to the railing in a subway car).  It also has a flip that let's the cover work as a stand for typing and watching landscape formatted items.

I especially liked the elastic band that holds the cover shut.  You don't really have to use it to make the case work but it provides added secuirty when you have a full briefcase.  The faux-leather seems very durable and chic. 

What I started to dislike about this case after a while is the bulk.  It adds significantly to the thickness and the weight of the ipad.  I needed something thinner to shove into my purse and carry to class.  I also had a hard time keeping the dock-to-VGA cable plugged in because at times, the cover would pull on it on one side or the other, depending on where the ipad/cable was located. 

As a result, I searched for a slimmer option for a long while and decided to go with the original apple case.  Despite the criticism found on other sites, I have been rather please with it thus far, especially since no one can beat the slimness of this case.  It is hands-down the thinnest thing on the market.

...more software...seriously. Why can't this thing run on its own?

Now that you have spent money on the dock-to-VGA connector, you are eager to start displaying your PowerPoint lectures.  Riiiight!  You did not possibly think that Apple was going to let you do that before you fork over some more $$$.

Microsoft Office apps do not run natively on the iPad nor can you "install" them in any way.  So, you need to use other apps that can view and project MS office files.  The two biggest contenders for opening and showing PowerPoints files are Documents To Go and QuickOffice.  However, neither is good for editing slides on the go.  So, for $9.99 you might as well get the Apple-designed Keynote which can open and edit .ppt files and project them for your students using the VGA connection.  For a spiffy guide on how to use Keynote for iPad check out this apple video.

Keep in mind that when you are presenting with Keynote, the screen of your iPad is NOT mirrored onto the projector screen.  Instead, you see a square in the middle of your iPad screen where you can tap to move backward and forward though your presentation while the output is sent to the VGA linked screen.

Keynote has problems, however (you can search for reviews elsewhere).  It does stand above the competition when it comes to designing and editing slides on the go.  It is very convenient when I can locate my latest version of the lecture slides in Dropbox and select to open them in Keynote, make any changes I need to on the go and finally project them to the class. 

A key problem for me has been the absence of the exporting feature for any presentations that have been altered on the iPad itself.  Once you change the presentation, you can email it in the Keynote format but not in the original PowerPoint (.ppt) format.  This should not be an issue for those who work exclusively with Mac products and have Mac versions of Keynote installed on all their machines.

Be aware that when you open a .PPT file in Keynote, some formatting, font styles and animations will be lost or changed in the transfer.  Those who teach with slides that contain videos and images may turn a little gray while trying to get Keynote to work.  I recently played a presentation in class where the slides would not stop at each tap but the presentation kept running on its own like a slideshow.  Turns out that when I created the presentation on my PC, some of the slides had hidden transition settings that were never an issue in PowerPoint but the settings linked the slides together in the Keynote presentation.  Technically, I could have removed all the hidden transition straight on my iPad which would have made the presentation run smoothly, but who has time to change 20 slides with a room full of students staring at you and wondering if you're ever going to learn how to use slides. 

Another problem I encountered was in presenting a lecture where I had to move backward and forward through slides which included animations (bullets, quotes and pictures flying in and out on tap).  Moving backwards through the slides can be annoying because you can't see which slide you are moving to until it shows up on the large screen.  If those slides include animated elements, you may need to tap back for every single one of them before you can get the whole slide to appear.  I suppose I could have stopped the presentation, selected the desired slide, and played the presentation again, but......Grrr, let's just say the presentation was taxing on my students' patience and I don't want to think about it again.

To avoid these kinds of problems, I try to minimize the use of slide animations and transitions.  I keep my dummed down in order to make sure that formatting and text stay the same when I open my lectures in Keynote on the iPad.  The downside of course is that it forces you to cut out some of the bells and whistles that might make the presenation more enjoyable and memorable for the students.  All this to say that you should not expect everything to open up in Keynote auto-magically.

A Teaching Must-Have Tool

Without ability to project to a projector screen or an LCD screen, the iPad is essentially useless in the classroom.



The first item you need to obtain (and fork some of your hard-earned $$ over to Apple) is the dock-to-VGA adapter.  I would not mess with after-market versions but would go straight to the source:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC552ZM/A

Equipped with this dongle, you should be able to use the regular VGA cable (often supplied by your school's IT office) to connect the iPad to any giant screens in your room.


Now, keep in mind that not everything on your iPad can be projected via a VGA cable.  Only certain apps at this point have the VGA capability.  Straight out of the box, the apps that can work in this fashion are:

You Tube
Photos (slideshow only)
Videos

Stay tuned for other apps I may uncover along the way...

A Teaching Must-Have!

An essential tool to get you started, and the first app I installed on my virgin iPad is Dropbox.  Oh, and it’s free!!!

If you don’t already know,

Ahem, where do I store my files?

I realized pretty quickly that unlike desktops and netbooks, there is no drive or folder where you can store your files.  You must have noticed that there is no USB port where you can hook up your flash and drag and drop files into your iPad.  Even if you create files on the iPad itself (although not sure which provided app can do that - see more on this later), you would not know where to store/save them.  I found this pretty unnerving and I am having a hard time getting used to it.  As teachers, we like having our files with us in order to edit lecture slides at the last minute or to refresh our minds with lecture notes while riding the metro to campus.  But how do I store my lecture slides and notes on this gadget?

Listen up!  You will need lots of other (paid and free) apps to make this work.  At first, it seems like you are jumping through hoops to get this iPad to work as a computing device and more than just an on-the-couch-web-surfing-toy.  It is possible and worth the effort, however.  I think I have figured out some things along the way and I promise to share the tips with you.  However, it may not be possible to ever get this to work as easy as it would on your home/office computer , which is why I firmly believe that without some major firmware/software upgrades, the iPad will never replace a laptop.  The best you can hope for is to have a substitute tool for teaching with a laptop but you won’t be able to completely ditch your trusted laptop especially not when traveling to conferences.  I hope that further experimentation and others’ feedback can prove me wrong.

New Toy

First impressions: this is so cool!
Delayed first impression: but what is it?  It's not an iPhone and it's not a computer. Nevertheless, so cool!!!