New Life for iPod Touch Generation 2

Technology is continually updating and gadgets that were once the latest thing - are soon replaced by newer ones with more options. So was the fate of the 15 iPod Touch Generation 2 at my school. These iPods are only a couple of years old - but cannot be updated anymore.

So new apps won't work :( And the books that were made with my favourite iPad creation app Book Creator - WON'T WORK! These iPods can only be updated to iOS 4.2.1
This is a problem. I can't use the iBooks 2.0 app with iOS 4.2.1. I need the iBooks app to read the books that the students are creating. I am in the middle of a publishing project. As an ICT Coach, I have been working with several classes to create talking books.

What's the solution?

I went on Twitter - I tweeted about my problem. This is what Twitter is for me. It's my help line for Tech. I think that if I can share as much as I receive then I will have restored the cosmic balance. So I sent out a tweet - an SOS for help.

The app creator of Book Creator, Dan Amos @redjumperdan answered my tweet. He suggested that I try using iBooks v 1.2 but it's not easy to get a hold of an earlier version of an iPod app. Most links on the web direct you to the iTunes Store and the most recent version is the one that is available.

Where do you find past versions of iPod apps? oldipodapps.com?

Dan kindly sent me a copy of the version 1.3.2 but it didn't work with my iPod. What next? I even managed to get a copy of the iBooks .ipa file 1.2.2 but it still didn't work.

So why do I need these 'old' iPods to work ...

I love the talking books that my students are making with Dan's awesome Book Creator app but I needed a solution to create more access in the school community for viewing these books.
We are creating these books using the school iPads. We have a set of 20 iPad 2 and these iPads can be borrowed by teachers to use with students. In the beginning the iPads were very popular but as time went on they were being borrowed less and less.

As an ICT Coach, this is a concern of mine.
How can I get the iPads used more? How can I get the class teachers more interested to use iPads in their teaching and learning program?

I have taken on this challenge by making a publishing project. I use the Book Creator app to create the book and the Drawing Pad app to create the pictures and as well as this I use photos taken by using the iPad camera.


Book Creator App


Drawing Pad app

This works really well. We have been creating books in all Grades from 1-5. I have been working very closely with the Chinese teachers in the school as by using the Pinyin setting in the keyboard, the students are able to type in Chinese characters. In Indonesian language classes in Grade 1 we have also made several books. Soon Kindergarten will start to create books too.

Here are my students working in Chinese classes using the Book Creator app.



The Book Creator app is so user friendly and allows students to put words, pictures and voice recordings. It produces a book that can be read by the free app iBooks. iBooks works with the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

So what's the problem?

The iPads have become rather popular ... now it's quite difficult to borrow one. This has prompted me to look for other ways of how the students might be able to view each others stories.

So - solution?

Jailbreak the iPod Touch ...

I am very fortunate to have access to a school Genius Bar aka iQbar. The iQbar is available to anyone in our school community. The guys that work there know a lot about Tech. Today I learned from them about how to jailbreak an iPod 2 using Green Pois0n , load Cydia - then update it, add the AppSync for 4.0+ and sync the iBooks 1.2 that I found online. It's also possible to add a source such as Hackulo.us to download that version of iBooks.

So the ending to this story ...




Yes! Now all I have to do is get the other iPod Touch jailbroken and set. It means a new life for the iPod Touch Generation 2 in our school.

Google Translate App for iPhone - Seriously Cool!

Wow what a fantastic app!! It was just last week that I helped the Chinese teachers at school to get a Google account so that they could use Google Docs as an aid for translation/enhanced communication during staff meetings and training sessions. At the same time I showed them Google Translate - http://translate.google.com The teachers were so excited by the prospect of using Google Docs together with Google Translate. Since that session, some of the teachers told me about how useful it has been for them to be able to use Google Docs during meetings combined with Google Translate. It has really helped them to keep up with what is being discussed.

Today via my Twitter feed @javajive informed me about the newly released Google Translate for iPhone http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/google-translate/id414706506?mt=8



I immediately downloaded it to try out. I am so impressed. The App can translate text between 57 languages and translates by speaking (not typing) for 15 languages. It will also speak 23 languages from written text.

I am thinking of all the ways this App can support language learning. How exciting!!!

Interactive Storybook using iPhone/iPod Touch

I just found this today and thought that I'd share it here on this blog. SWA has just bought 15 iPod Touches to use as a part of our Digital Library resources and for class activities. I really like the way this syncs in with the story book holder. Next term at SWA I am planning an iPhone Game Creation EX (After school activity). I would like to share this with that group as something that we could try to produce as well.

Engaging iPhone Apps for Education

I have read many lists of iPhone apps for learning but I have found them to be lacking in interest. I would like to try to make my own list here that includes apps that are not only educational but fun and engaging as well.



1. Spore
This is a must for learning about the Theory of Evolution. There are a few differences between the game and the actual theory which can be explained by the teacher. These small differences are far outweighed by the engaging game play based on survival of the fittest and competition amongst individuals. It's amazing to play on the iPhone or iPod due to being able to tilt to move around the environment. Unfortunately only first stage is available but even that is well worth the purchase.

How I would use it:

Get the students to play it and screen capture the scenes at different times in the game to be used to make a multimedia presentation reflection to the class. Students should compare experiences and discuss their game experiences.



2. Good Reader
This may seem like a plain little app of limited attraction but there is more here than meets the eye. Why is it on this list? Good Reader enables the iPhone to transfer any PDF or TXT file from a computer. It can also read .doc, .ppt and .xls. HTML and Safari archives and iWork '09/'08.

How I would use it:
Start a eBook club at school. Students can publish their work via iPhones or iPod Touches. Transfer is simple via USB. This is even better than Stanza as the format of the book stays the same and this app can cope with text with pictures.



3. iWrite Words
This is a lovely app for Kindergarten students learning to write the alphabet. It promotes proper letter formation and direction. The letters can be played back for the student to see their writing animated.

How I would use this:
A Kindergarten class could use this one on a regular basis to consolidate the letters that are currently being learned.





4. PreSchool Playground
This game is great for young learners. There are 6 different areas of learning such as letters, numbers, Abc Song, Find and Capture the Animal, Tap the Animal and Photo Safari. It's great for ESL Students as clues are spoken and shown in Level 1 and Level 2 is spoken clues only.

How I would use this:
Excellent for a centre activity for Kindergarten. Students can share their Photo Safari pictures with their friends during Circle time.



5. Bumblebee Touch Book
Follow the animated story as the little bee flies through different scenes searching for flowers and bee hives. Students learn to tap on key words and count the bees and flowers in the story. There is also a video to watch inside the app.

How I would use this:
This would be an excellent starter story activity. The students after the story could make their own bees and flowers and re-enact their own Bumblebee stories in the classroom.



6. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
This is an animated talking book of the famous fable. Added features are that the characters make noises when tapped. The nice part about this app is that the story is read by a child.

How I would use this:
Again a lovely story that could be used to launch many other follow up activities.



7. Feed Me
This app features a little purple monster that speaks in Mandarin Chinese. There are a series of activities that require students to feed the monster what he asks them for. It is so nice to see an app for Chinese that is not just a talking translator. BTW this app comes in many other languages as well.

How I would use this:
This is a great app for getting kids excited about learning simple phrases in Chinese. It could be used in pairs or individually. Students could then talk about what they had done and make simple comics with the new words learned.



8. Trace
Trace is an amazing app. Students can find their way through virtual environments by drawing objects to help get the person to the target. There are 120 levels of game play.

How I would use this:
This is great for students learning about strategy and problem solving. I would use it in small groups to encourage the students to talk about their strategies to get the man to his destination.



9. Beatmaker
This is a great app for making music. It's a little more expensive than some apps but well worth the money. This one is for making music to be used in presentations, as sound tracks or for performance.

How I would use this:
Find a film clip that portrays an emotion and then get the students to compose music to match the scene.



10. Peeps - one for the teacher :-)
Peeps is a visual address book. What is this app doing on this list? This app is for teachers! If you are a specialist teacher and teach a lot of students this app is a must. Just a tap and you can see a photo of every student you teach with all the important contact information. Rotate it and it works in coverflow.

What I would use it for:
I would put all my classes into this app so that I have their photos, contact details and important information always at hand.