Mirroring with the iPad

Have you been working on your iPad and want to record the iPad screen? Try using the Reflection app for Mac. When an iPad & laptop are on the same wireless network, and you launch Reflection App on the laptop, the laptop becomes an AirPlay device for the iPad. On the iPad, you double tap the home button, swipe right, chose the AirPlay icon, pick your laptop from the list, and choose to mirror the iPad screen.The iPad shows up on the computer screen and, through the app, you can record everything you do on the iPad and save it as a movie file for demo and/or class presentation.
 

This is not a perfect system though, sometimes the AirPlay icon does not show up on the iPad. Which means the two devices do not see each other. So test the wireless network you use to see if it prohibits you from seeing another devices. If it does below are two possible solutions. 

Solution 1:
Create an ad-hoc or computer-to-computer network between the Mac desktop/laptop and the iPad. It is easy! 

• Simply go up to the WiFi symbol on the taskbar on the desktop or laptop.
• Pick "Create Network" and you get the "Create a computer-to-computer" network box. 
• Give it a name, pick either channel 1, 2, or 11, and secure it with a password if you want to. 
• On the iPad, go to Settings:Wi-Fi and pick the ad-hoc network from the list to connect to it.

Next start up the Reflection app on the desktop/laptop, double tap the home button on the iPad, swipe right, chose the AirPlay icon, pick your desktop/laptop from the list, and choose to mirror the iPad screen and you are in business! Keep in mind during this time you will not have Internet access so, restart to disconnect the "wi-fi" on the laptop. 

Solution 2:
Use CloudFTP to create an ad-hoc network based on Daniel Chin's instructions here to access digital content on any USB storage device connected to CloudFTP. 

An alternative for the Reflection app is called AirServer. The documentation states it will work over an ad-hoc network, too, so follow the directions for creating the Mac ad-hoc network above and find out how to create one in Windows 7 here.



Additional Reading:
http://peachmac.com/blog/2012/11/reflection-app-airplay-directly-to-your-mac-screen/
http://www.wired.com/reviews/2012/07/cloudftp/
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/airserver_review

 

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Student Review: MailTab By Martin Smith

Good Day fellow students! This is another weekly technology review by yours truly, Martin. This week I have used and critiqued the application, MailTab for Gmail, a productivity app created by FIPLAB. MailTab is available for Mac OS X and Windows 7. I will speak my mind about MailTab in this review, providing my thoughts and observations. As always, the link to download this application will be at the end of the article.

MailTab, like many other great applications, takes a simple concept, modifies it, and perfects it to an uncanny degree. The function of MailTab is pretty much in its name; it provides a small tab on your taskbar where you can access your various Gmail accounts. Using MailTab for your Gmail account(s) is a wonderful thing for two reasons.

To start, MailTab will eliminate 1+ tabs you may have open on your Internet browser (depending on how many Gmail’s you usually have open at one time). If you use tabs as avidly as I do, you will be happy to have the number of opened tabs decreased. MailTab also makes your Gmail easier to access. With MailTab, you will no longer need to open your browser to open and check your email because you can have MailTab open your email and log you in as soon as you turn on your computer.

As a product, MailTab is extremely well produced and fulfills its function seamlessly. I have absolutely no complaints with this product whatsoever. In fact, after reviewing and learning this product, I now use it myself.

I would very much so recommend this application to anyone. It takes no time to set up and allows you to operate your computer and email with ease.  MailTab deserves a four out of four stars in my book, so, go ahead and pick it up. You won’t regret it! Click here to see my rating system. 

Side note There is a free version, and a premium version. I reviewed the free version.

Download MailTab here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mailtab-for-gmail/id422286396?mt=12

Other MailTab Reviews:
The App Store Chronicle, 2013
App Addict, 2013

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Mobile Apps To Consider

If you are like many mobile device users, going to the app store is like an online, endless mall—so many apps, so little time.. While strolling through the App Store is a lot of fun, it can be overwhelming to look through the 500,000+ apps in the Apple and Android App Stores.

 So I thought I would highlight a few of them for you below:

Sundry Notes (free)Sundry Notes is an app that provides you with the ability to import pdf files, format writing, make quick drawings, run searches on wikipedla, google, and google books, snag images off the internet, make recordings, among other functions. You can use this application to organize all of your course content and store it in one place. Math majors  might also enjoy the ability to work on ‘virtual graph paper'.



Groupboard (free)

Groupboard turns your iOS  device into a collaborative whiteboard, allowing you to draw and chat in real time with other people anywhere on the internet, even with users using a web browser. Use it for online tutoring, collaborative design, or just for fun!




Groupworld (free)Groupworld is a secure, customizable, cross-platform web conferencing/meeting software package that allows you to set up online meeting rooms with whiteboard, voice/video conferencing and desktop sharing. Users can connect to Groupworld using a Mac, Windows PC, iPad or Android tablet.

Educreations (free)
Educreations turns your iPad into a recordable whiteboard. Creating a great video tutorial is as simple as touching, tapping and talking. Explain a math formula... Create an animated assignment... Add commentary to your photos... Diagram a sports play... With voice recording realistic digital ink, photo imports, and simple sharing through email, Facebook or Twitter, now you can broadcast your ideas from anywhere.

Discovr Apps (free)Discovr Apps is an interactive map of the App Store and makes it easy to discover new apps for your iPhone & iPad. You can search for an app that you like or choose from one of Apple's featured apps. The tool shows you how the apps you choose are connected in a massive, never-ending map of the App Store, andprovides recommendations for other apps to download. ScreenChomp A simple doodling board, markers, and one-click sharing tools make spreading your ideas and know-how easy and fun! Just - Record It. Sketch It. Share It. - to create a sharable, replay-able video that tells your story clearly. Why share to ScreenChomp.com? Because it provides a short URL that’s easy to share anywhere.You can download your video as an MPEG-4 file.

 
Things: 
 Have a lot to do this semes­ter? Keep track of it all with this sim­ple and intu­itive task manager.

Flash My Brain 
A flash­card appli­ca­tion, this awe­some tool will help you turn your notes into incred­i­bly use­ful flash­cards for studying.

Around Me
Bored on a Sat­ur­day night? Use this appli­ca­tion and find out what’s going on in your community.


Good Read
How many times have you had class read­ings given in PDF form? Now, with GoodReader, you can bring those read­ings with you, take notes, and high­light in one easy place.


Outliner For iPad
Cre­ate to-do lists, track a project or lay out an entire research paper using this pro­duc­tiv­ity tool — a great way to make sure you’re on task and your papers flow well.



This is just a sampling of the apps available to help you succeed in your school work.  You can see other selected college apps by clicking here and here.

Of course want to make sure you have the SU specific apps. This apps are used as classroom tools, communication tools, and informational tools. Make sure you have the following:

• SU's Mobile App - Download from mobi.su.edu 
• Bb Mobile Learn -  Download from App Store, Also included in SU's Mobile App
• Bb Collaborate - Download from the App Store
• Shenandoah Dinning Services - Download from the App Store
• Shenandoah Athletics - Download from http://www.suhornets.com/frontrow

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Your Digital Footprint

courtesy of :digitalfamilysummit.com

Did you know that you leave a digital footprint every time you get online? Whatever you do online is accumulated into a digital dossier traceable by others . Everyone needs to be concerned with their online identity and privacy.

Managing your digital identity takes time and skill.  In a world that is so digitally focused, the boundaries between the real and virtual are sometimes blurred. The purpose of this is to help everyone understand digital responsibility while online.

1) Learn what a digital footprint is -  

"A digital footprint is the collection of all the traces you leave in electronic environments as you use or move through them. Some is content you actively volunteer—like your Facebook profile. Other material is passive—the cookies a site stores in your browser, the content your district collects about your use of their equipment, etc. All this data can be aggregated to build a profile of you and your behavior" (
Kharbach, 2013)

2) Ask yourself:  What a prospective employer learn about you looked up online?

• Is there anything online that you wouldn't want you rprospective employer,  parents, faculty,  to know about you ?

3) Do you know what is in your Digital Dossier?  - These are all the digital items in your life. Some you create and some are created for you my friends, family, and employers. Watch the 4 minute video to see how items are added to your Digital Dossier.

4) Google (www.google.com) & Pipl (https://pipl.com/) can help you learn about your digital footprint is - Both of these search tools are great ways to start learning about your digital footprint. 

5)  Managing your digital footprint with these tips:

• Never post anything that you might find embarrassing later in life. 
• Be careful with the pictures you post on your public profiles. Remember others will see them and judge you based on their content. 
• Change the privacy settings on your social networking sites so that only your Friends can see your information 
• Do not disclose your personal address, phone number, passwords. Bank card numbers...etc even in private messages. There is always the possibility of somebody hacking into your account and finding them. 
• Do not post things to might upset others,  insult, or afflict any kind of harm on others 
• Always keep in mind that once information has been posted online, it can be almost impossible to remove because of archiving and file sharing. Even though you deactivate your accounts, the information may still be retrieved by others.

6) Take action and make your digital mark what you want it to be -

Based on the instructor guide from Med Kharbach at: http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/04/a-great-guide-on-teaching-students.html

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Take Notes While Watching YouTube Videos

 

With the VideoNot.es (http://www.videonot.es/) app you can add notes to your YouTube videos.  Since SU and many other schools are using "Google for Education", this tool is automatically integrated with Google Drive, so there is no sign up required. Just link your Google account to VideoNot.es and your ready to go.

To add a note, get your YouTube video link, click on " load " to download it and once it is downloaded, click in the first line of the word editor that is displayed on the right hand side and start typing your notes.  As you write both the videos and comments are auto-saved to your Google drive.

You can take notes while watching any YouTube video, not just your own videos. Click here to read more. This would be great thing to do when watching a video lecture for an SU class. Get VideoNot.es from the Chrome store at here. Currently VideoNot.es only works with YouTube videos, but I am sure more will be added over time as the product improves. 

Plus after the May 17 enhancement to Blackboard (Bb), you can use VideoNot.es to enhance the new "Video Everywhere" feature.  This allows Bb users the ability to record a video on the fly using a webcam and have it seamlessly embedded in courses and organizations within Blackboard through the use of a secure YouTube channel, allows for reuse of previously recorded videos by choosing from one’s own “library” of videos, and adds a way to enhance feedback and discussion postings. Click here  to see "how to get started" with Video Everywhere from Bb.


Additional VideoNot.es Resources:

1. http://rsu2teachertech.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/more-about-videonot-es/
2. http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/learn-how-to-take-notes-while-watching-an-online-video-with-videonot-es/
3. http://www2.palomar.edu/pages/atrc/2013/03/04/student-use-of-video-everywhere-in-blackboard/
4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tengrrl/8677569538/
5. http://teachingaheadofthecurve.blogspot.com/2013/04/video-note-taking-tool-videonotes_23.html
6. http://teachingaheadofthecurve.blogspot.com/2013/04/video-note-taking-tool-videonotes_23.html
7. http://www.emol.com/noticias/tecnologia/2013/04/18/594180/videonotes-un-servicio-para-tomar-notas-y-sincronizarlas-con-un-video.html
8. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/videonotes/gfpamkcpoehaekolkipeomdbaihfdbdp

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Tell Your Story Digitally

Do you have a report or story to tell? Want to spice up your class report consider using digital story telling. Of course, you will need to get approval from your faculty member before turning in a digital story. The Center For Digital Story Telling (http://www.storycenter.org/) can help you get a better understanding of digital story telling. You can also watch videos on Atomic Learning here, simply login with your SUNet username/password.

Meograph allows you to combine video, audio, pictures, text, maps, timelines, and links links into  a contextualized, interactive story. The current release has a Search that allows you to see the 40,000 plus stories already told. Stories are ranked based on quality/completeness and there is the ability to sort by relevance, popularity, and recentness. 

Simply create your story and then share it on your blog, in your favorite social network, and even embed it into your SU course via Blackboard. You can try it before signing up and if you decide to sign-up you don't have to create a Meograph Account, just use your Facebook account. Meograph for free they does offer enhanced (paid) accounts, but you can elect just to use it for FREE. Click here to learn more about the paid accounts.  

Below is a sample of a digital story being told with Meograph. 

Meograph is not the only application that can assist you in digital storytelling. Click here to see how the University of Houston uses digital storytelling telling in there classes. On the University of Houston's site you will find other digital storytelling software, examples, how to's, and much more.  

Learn more about Meograph at http://www.meograph.com/education.

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Student Review Of Evernote's Skitch By Martin Smith

Graphic From: http://evernote.com/skitch/

 

Good day fellow students! This is Martin here with Shenandoah’s weekly technology review! This week I have learned and prepared a review for the application, Skitch, which is produced by Evernote Corporation. Skitch is a free application listed in the apps store under the category ‘productivity’ and is available for Mac, Windows, and Android.  As always, I will include the link to download the application at the end of the review.

            Skitch allows the user to examine and mark PDF’s, screen shots, and pictures for the use of editing and labeling. An example of Skitch’s function is: if you upload a PDF of your friend’s class project to Skitch to edit, you will be presented with numerous tools that will allow you to add notes and markings, such as a check mark, to a copy of the document.

            All in all, Skitch is a fairly simple product with a single-minded function, which is preformed close to perfection. Having Skitch on-hand can make editing your own or someone else’s work easier and more fun, if you’re into that kind of thing. In all honesty I do not, nor could I have any realistic complaint about the design and functionality of this product.

There are, however, some things to be noted. For starters, to use Skitch you must create an Evernote account, which has a cap on data usage. Having a cap on data usage means you may only upload a certain number of documents to your Evernote account to use with Skitch. Luckily, the cap resets once every 30 days. Also, if you would desire to upgrade your account to ‘Premium’ the cap will be increased to around 15 times it’s original amount. The cost of a ‘Premium’ account is $4.95 per month or $45.00 a year. A second thing to note is: you may only edit select document formats. Document types, such as word documents, cannot be used with the non-premium level of Skitch.

After all is said and done, I would highly recommend this application to anyone who will need to do some editing at some point. In my opinion it really does make editing easier and more efficient. Just be wary of your Evernote relentlessly trying to get you to upgrade to ‘Premium’.

I will give this application a 4 out of 4 stars, but keep in mind that the rating is for the application, Skitch, itself. Just because the application is highly rated, does not mean the account and services you must use in order to use Skitch are 4 star worthy.

You can learn more about Skitch at https://evernote.com/skitch/.

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