cedar@umn

Make CEHD Surveys iPad-Friendly

2011-02-08T17:49:20Z

This 2-page pdf document is intended for users of the CEHD Survey Tool. If you would like to use an ipad to collect multiple responses to an online survey these are the steps to follow in order to configure your survey appropriately.

Moodle: How to give hidden instructor rights

2011-01-31T16:50:42Z

I hear this question a lot: "How do I give someone a hidden instructor rights so they can get into my Moodle course site?" It's easier than you think.

-Go to your Moodle course site
-click "Assign Roles"
-click "Instructor"
-type the persons name into the search box and click search
-Highlight the search result (it should be that persons name and the email)
-Check the checkbox above the "Add" button and click "Add"
-Finally click "Assign Roles" at the bottom of the page.

That's all there is to it.

iPad App Review: Ted Talks

2011-01-18T15:54:28Z

TED presents talks from some of the world's most fascinating people: education radicals, tech geniuses, medical mavericks, business gurus and music legends. Find more than 700 TEDTalk videos (with more added each week) on the official TED app.

You will enjoy listening to the TED talks especially when you are traveling! I find the talks truly inspiring and fun at the same time. You can search for hundreds of videos according to their themes, dates and speakers, and create your own offline library.

Review (a biased one, I'm sorry I like the talks too much!):

Introducing the TED iPad App

Price: FREE

Version reviewed: 1.1.1

My rating: 5/5

iTunes user rating: 4/5

Good for: Learning, Entertainment

Reviewed by: Suzan, icditf@umn.edu

iPad Review: EZ Voice Memos HD

2011-01-13T14:57:17Z

EZ Voice Memos enables users to record audios from real world iPad with little difficulty. As advertised on its download page, it promises to fill the gap of audio recording that the iPad does not come with at shipping. It is fairly user friendly. Upon downloading, users can instantly record an audio and it will automatically save onto the left side bar. Recordings can be relabeled as "interview", "lecture", "memo" and so forth. Recordings can be deleted or shared using the "Share" or "Deleted" buttons at the bottom left. To share, the files can be sent via email as an attachment consisting of ".caf" file that can listened with QuickTime (Windows, GoldWave). On the upper right under "settings", users can chose between sound effects, protection, and audio quality.
Overall, the quality of the recording is fairly good without an extra microphone. It is not recommended for all settings especially in crowded places like a large lecture hall. It is definitely a good tool for recording notes and memos. For 99 cents, this app is a bargain and delivers exactly what it aims to do.

Reviews: EZ Voice Memos, padgadget

Category: Productivity/Utilities
Version reviewed: 2.0
Price: $0.99
Consumer rating: 4/5
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later

iPad App Review: Voice Memos for iPad

2011-01-11T12:19:52Z

Voice Memos for iPad is essentially a voice recording application. I haven't spent much time using it so take this review with a grain of salt and you should spend some time reading reviews of others in the App Store. But what I have learned. This app costs $.99 to download. Okay, cheap enough considering the iPad doesn't come with a free pre-installed voice recording program. BUT, in order to export the recordings you have to pay ANOTHER $.99 in an in App purchase. I refused to do this as this can only mean the beginning of future inApp purchases for additional features as the app creators decide. Check out a recommended alternative at the bottom of this review (Evernote for iPad).

FEATURES:
- Multitask while recording
- Unlimited recording time
- Add text notes to memos
- Records audio in high quality
- Tag memos
- Pause a recoding
- Play memos
- Audio level meter
- Recording duration timer

IN APP PURCHASE FEATURES:
- Email or export memos

Design and usability of the app seems fine. No issues, no crashes (again, I haven't used this long so crashes might be possible for long recordings). Audio exports into .m4v files which many people have commented that they don't like because it's a file format not easily used with things other than iTunes. However, for those at the University of Minnesota this file format works well with Media Mill functionality.

APP DETAILS & SPECS

Price: $.99 (plus $.99 inApp purchase for exporting audio)

Version reviewed: 1.3.1

My overall rating (out of 10): 5/10

Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later

Current rating from the App Store (out of five stars): Current version: 3.5 stars; All versions: 3 stars

Good for: Audio Recording lectures, presentations, taking notes

RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE:

Evernote for the iPad is an awesome, awesome application that is not only FREE, it syncs with the Evernote application available on your phone, your computer and your iPad. No cables required to transfer to devices AND, you can export directly from the iPad into an email for FREE! Why is this cool for audio notes? Because alongside typed notes, Evernote for the iPad has a built in audio recorder that allows you to not only voice record what you're hearing (be that a lecture, or giving a presentation) you can type notes attached to the same file and add photos in text. Origianall only 20 minutes of audio recording was allowed but this has been increased recently to 1 hour and 30 minutes. AND, if you happen to run out of space, just create a "part 2" note to finish up the audio. This note "package" of text, etc. is then synced across your Evernote account so you can open your computer, phone, etc. and open the file there. The written text, photos, AND audio (.wav format) are sitting in one great package. The uses of this are ENDLESS. And best yet, for those who already use Evernote you don't need to download or buy another program and get to use what's familiar to you.

Check out a review of Evernote

But, why wait, download Evernote now, you'll love it!: Download from iTunes

In case you're still on the fence: Evernote was inducted into the Apple "App Hall of Fame", NY Times "Top 10 Must-Have Apps"

iPad

iPad App Review: Mendeley Reference Manager (lite)

2011-01-09T23:01:24Z

The Mendeley app allows users to download and organize a complete library of pdf documents. A nice feature of this app is that it will understand and record document meta-data (such as author and publication date) so you can tag and organize documents extremely efficiently. This app is similar to Papers ($9.99). This app is a great way to store, organize and read locally-stored pdf documents. Complete citations are easily shared via email or copied into a Works Cited document.

Cost: free
Version 1.2.1
Current Rating from the APP Store (out of 5): 3 starts
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
Reviewed by Caroline, pstlitf@umn.edu

iPad App Review: Adobe Ideas 1.0

2011-01-09T22:46:52Z

Adobe Ideas 1.0 is an app that allows users to sketch out ideas with a wide range of colors, tools, flexibility features. It has been suggested by several websites to be a perfect brainstorming app for writers. Students who are organizing, outlining or visualizing paper ideas might find this a helpful app for sketching out ideas. Beware of in-App additions that can be purchased very easily!

Cost: free
Version 1.1.1
Current Rating from the Apple Store (out of 5): 3.5 starts
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
Reviewed by Caroline, pstlitf@umn.edu

iPad App Review: Smart Note (free)

2011-01-09T22:31:46Z

Smart Note allows you to take notes, draw, and record audio. Individual pages or complete notebooks can be exported as a pdf or uploaded to a Dropbox account. This application also allows a user to highlight and annotate pdf files that have been imported. Organization is a strong feature of this app, along with the security options that can be applied to different notebooks.

This is an app students may want to consider for taking notes on their ipad during class. Consider downloading the free version while it is still available for free!

Price: free or $2.99
Version reviewed: 1.62 (free)
Current rating from the App Store (out of five stars): three starts
Reviewed by: Caroline, pstlitf@umn.edu

iPad App Review: Underscore Notify

2011-01-09T21:35:49Z

The Underscore Notify app allows you to write notes with your finger/stylus on the screen, type text anywhere on the page, draw pictures, insert web clippings and photos, record audio, create a bulleted list: all with the availability of different fonts, colors, pen widths. The 'canvas' scrolls on and on so you have unlimited space within one document. Once you have finished with a 'document' you can EASILY email it, post it to Dropbox, share it with others, upload it to Google Docs. It is a multifunctional tool! Would be a great app for anyone who wants to use the ipad for an in-class whiteboard. This app is PROJECTABLE: after class you can email the whole record of class to students!

Price: $1.99
Version reviewed: 3.2.1.
Current rating from the App Store (out of five stars): 3.5 stars
Reviewed by: Caroline, pstlitf@umn.edu

iPad App Review: Penultimate

2011-01-07T06:01:34Z

Penultimate is a note taking app (will probably evolve into a whiteboard) that allows you to write on page without the need for a keyboard. I have to say that writing with your fingers is fun but not so easy; the app has three levels of line thickness, but that doesn't really change the fact that you end up with having huge scribbles on the page. The developers recommend using stylus, a special pen device built for touch screens. Especially if you are having wrist problems, getting a stylus is a good investment (about 15-20$, check the recommend accessories within the app to see discounted brands). With Penultimate you can create multiple notebooks and pages. You can also share your notes via iTunes or e-mail.



Reviews:

Penultimate Sketching/Notes App for the iPad (Review)

(you can also see what a stylus looks like)

Price: 0.99$
Version reviewed: 2.2
Overall rating: 3
Current rating from the App store (out of five stars): 4.5
Good for: Productivity
Reviewed by: Suzan, icditf@umn.edu

iPad App Review: smartNote Free

2011-01-07T02:24:29Z

smartNote Free is a notebook app that allows users to take notes, sketch out drawings, plans or ideas, and write out short personal notes-to-self. smartNote Free can also be used to take notes on pdf files. Notes can be arranged in custom notebooks. Several templates are available for note taking. One that might interest a would-be baskeball coach is the baskeball court template. Plays can be easily diagrammed on the screen. However, since it is a free app, users will see advertisements shuffling at the bottom of the iPad screen when wi-fi is turned on.

APP Breakdown:
Cost: Free
Version: 1.61
Overall Rating: 6/10
Current Rating from the APP Store (out of 5): 4+
Requirements: Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 4.2 or later.
Ideal for anyone looking to take notes or sketching out diagrams or drawings on the iPad tablet.
Review by Tony (kinitf)

iPad App Review: iHomework

2011-01-07T01:54:34Z

iHomework is an app that allows students to organize, track and manage course assignments, readings, quizzes, exams, and other graded or required items. This app allows you to store instructor contact information along with office hours as well as course information such as meeting days and times. Graded or required items can be viewed by due date, week, or by course. Users are able to set-up reminders for each graded item. Courses can be color coded for easy viewing.

APP Breakdown:
Cost: $1.99
Version 2.4.3
Overall Rating: 9/10
Current Rating from the APP Store (out of 5): 4+
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1 or later.
Ideal for anyone interested in keeping track of course requirement due dates, storing instructor contact information and information such as class days and room location in a convenient location.
Reviewed by Tony (kinitf)

iPad App Review: Evernote

2011-01-07T01:27:37Z

Evernote is an app which allows a user to capture information from a computer or iOS device and to store that information in a remote location that may be accessed through the web. Data is stored "in a cloud" and may be accessible and searchable at any time and from virtually any location.

APP Breakdown:
Cost: Free (but you must create an account through Evernote)
Version: 3.4.1
Current Rating from the APP Store (out of 5): 4+
Requirements: There are versions of Evernote for Windows, Mac, the Web, iPhone, Windows Mobile, and other mobile devices.
Ideal for students or anyone looking for a virtual repository to store information.
Review by Tony (kinitf)

iPad App Review: Periodic Table of Elements

2011-01-06T21:58:22Z

Periodic Table of Elements is an app that provides detailed information about each chemical element. A simple tap on an element provides a summary of the chemical traits of that element as well as the representation of the atoms electron shell. Elements can be viewed using atomic number, group, metal characteristics, electronegativity, radioactivity, melting and boiling points and state (i.e., gas, liquid, or solid.

APP Breakdown:
Cost: Free
Version 1.3
Overall Rating: 9/10
Current Rating from the APP Store (out of 5): 4+
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later
Ideal for students taking Chemistry
Reviewed by Tony (kinitf)

iPad App Review: Muscle & Bone Anatomy 3D

2011-01-06T21:11:48Z

Muscle & Bone Anatomy 3D is an application that allows users to explore the human musculoskeletal system. A viewer is provided that allows the user to learn the actions, origins, insertions and nerve innervations for major muscles. 3-D Lessons provide a close-view of the musculoskeletal structures of the shoulder, vertebrae, pelvis, knee, ankle and face. In addition, digital video provide additional information regarding the arms, torso, legs, face, nerves and fascia. Students may self-assess their knowledge using provided multiple choice quizzes as well as timed drag and drop label quizzes.

APP Breakdown:
Cost: $7.99
Version Reviewed: 2.1
Overall Rating: 7/10
Current Rating from APP Store (out of 5): 4+
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later.
Ideal for students in Biology and Kinesiology
Reviewed by Tony (kinitf@umn.edu)