Thoughts About iPad 2

I watched the news come out today about the iPad 2.  So, to jump right to it, here's what I took from it that's most meaningful for educators.

1.  Two cameras:  This means creativity.  Students will be able to take this device and create, edit and share a movie.  To add, virtual field trips or video conferencing are much easier now.  GarageBand will also be available...to expand on the creativity.

2.  AirPlay and Video Mirroring:  With video mirroring, whatever the teacher does, the students will be able to see...it's a VGA adapter so it will be plugged in.  So if the teacher is demonstrating an application, the students see what's happening.  Now if it's wireless that your after, AirPlay allows for wireless sharing of video, music, etc. with an HDTV.  So students could create and then send / share their project to the TV without plugging into anything.  I am unsure if AirPlay will allow apps to be shared / shown or not.  We'll see.

3.  The reports say that it's up to 9x faster, 33% thinner and 15 % lighter as well.  So that's good.  Many of us wouldn't mind being 9x faster, 33% thinner and 15% lighter.

I can't wait to see how the iPad 2 changes the teaching and learning process.

I can't wait...well, I'll have to until March 11th.  Now that's when we can order.  But when do they ship?  April?  May?  June?  I want to know!



http://www.apple.com/ipad/

I Love the New iPod Touch...oh yah, and FLAT STANLEY (ALLIE)

I love the new iPod Touch.  There, I said it.  I'm not afraid!

As you may recall, after receiving the new iPod Touch I fired my Flip video camera.

Well, I had the chance to use it to help out a classroom that my daughter is in.  They are doing the ever-popular Flat Stanley project.  If you aren't familiar with Flat Stanley, he's shipped around the world and it's a lot of fun.  My daughter's class are using themselves for the project.  So "Flat Allie" made the trip with me to a conference I was presenting at in Savannah, GA.

I used the iPod Touch to record some of the various places I visited.  Next I used the iMovie app to edit and share the video.

I couldn't get over how easy it was to record, edit, and share...using this tiny device.  I think about what the process used to be:  Drag around a camera, battery might be charged...and it might not, find a tape, upon filming I had to get the chord, upload it to my computer, edit on the computer...then share.

NOW I do all of this with ONE TINY DEVICE.  Not to mention I have access to my email, photos, apps, music, internet (in a wireless environment).

My mind goes to the classroom.  How easy it would be for students to record and share their learning...if they have access to these devices.

The last video is Flat Allie with Eric Crouch, former Nebraska Heisman Trophy winner.  He was really a great sport to participate.  He understood...he said his daughter did this too.

I had a blast taking Flat Allie everywhere I went.  

In this video...Horseshoe Crab, Miley Cyrus Movie Pier


In this video...Seagulls, Seashells


In this video...Tugboat, Cargo Ship and Bridge


In this video...Ferry Boat Ride


In this video...Eric Crouch

Neligh - Pre Flood

Last May...late May, I needed some video for an iMovie class.  So I took my Flip video camera and drove around Neligh to get some footage.  Little did I know that in a few short weeks, the very bridge I drove across and the swinging bridge I walked over...would be gone.

So I stumbled on this video footage and then used iMovie '11, part of iLife '11, which just came out.

In this version of iMovie, the user has a choice to create a "movie trailer"...which is what I've done here.

Enjoy.