There's a lot of talk in the education sector of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives and I've recently taken an interest in how tablets, such as iPads, can be used in the classroom. Back in June, I went to the ISTE 2011 conference with several goals in mind, but one of them was to find the answer to this question: What can I do with an iPad in an ActivClassroom? (Although other tablets are available, I was particularly interested in the iPad as that's the one I have!)
I had several ideas, but wanted to verify them for myself. I certainly didn't find all of the answers, but thought I'd write this blog to share what I did find out and my thoughts on it. (Be aware that this blog contains my opinions only, not those of Promethean nor any other technology vendor.)
Since this is a blog and not a book, I'll focus on item #1 for the moment. Maybe 2 and 3 in a later blog.
If you've used a wireless slate, you are aware that it allows you to control your computer/IWB using a pen on a flat surface on which you see nothing (like a hard mouse pad). Using a slate allows teachers to move freely around the room as well as to hand it out to students for contribution. Alas, I've never been too coordinated using a slate and personally preferred working directly at the board. So I was thinking that perhaps my iPad could be a wireless slate on which I could actually see my computer (attached to the ActivBoard)! How well would that really work?I knew that there are several applications that allow you to remotely control your computer using an iPad. At least two companies that have tools like this were at the ISTE show. I visited each booth and tested them out.
Doceri at the Booth
The nice folks at Doceri gave me a lot of their time; they claimed several advantages and had me convinced of its superiority. It has a stylus that plugs into the iPad and somehow knows a finger from the stylus (palm rejection) and the other end works as an eraser, which I thought was cool. It can save the drawings on the iPad itself and they can be e-mailed. It even allowed for the recording of my writing, but the format was non-standard so I couldn't see how useful that will be for me. I found it was agonizingly slow to annotate/write/draw as well, which the folks on the booth said was due to the saturated wireless network on the show floor.Doceri at Home
Since the Doceri team didn't have ActivInspire installed on their PC, I knew I'd have to test this out with my own computer/iPad later (which I did) so ...
Back at the ranch, I installed the application and app on my computer and iPad and set about using my iPad to open and use ActivInspire using Doceri. I had difficulty getting ActivInspire to launch at first, as I had my dock hidden, but eventually it did show the application icons and I was able to open the software and the flipchart.
Navigating flipchart pages: With the Page viewer open, I could touch on the pages to navigate. I could click on the ActivInspire page actions to navigate as well, but it was a bit slow. The Doceri interface on the iPad also includes up/down arrow icons that will move to next and previous pages in your flipchart and that worked more quickly for me than the built-in navigation icons.
Interacting with the flipchart using ActivInspire was another matter.
Using the ActivInspire Pen: Drawing was very cumbersome as it required two fingers(!) and I only got it to work once. Maybe it gets easier with practice, but I really don't see how a child could do it. Same with moving an object.
Selector and Moving Objects: I could select the ActivInspire selector tool, but had a difficult time actually dragging the item around. Placing a call to Doceri's tech support, I was told to use my middle finger to select and the index finger to drag, but I must be too uncoordinated to do that or perhaps it's because I'm left-handed.
Embedded Flash Items: I was able to make the Flash calculator on my flipchart page work. Also, I liked how I could zoom in by spreading two fingers to see the calculator bigger on the iPad. Zooming did not affect what was showing on my Mac.
On the other hand, drawing using Doceri's own pen tool seemed very natural and only required one finger. There is a pen tool, highlighter tool and eraser tool with color options, transparency options and thickness options. There is also a windshield wiper (clear screen), undo, redo, a recorder and the ability to choose a background. You can save a drawing on your iPad to open later.
Splashtop at the Booth
Like Doceri, the super folks at Splashtop let me try out their software controlling a computer. However, with the wireless network so saturated, I found it cumbersome to even test and, of course, what I really wanted to see was how well my ActivInspire flipcharts would work. I couldn't do that at the booth.
Splashtop at Home
I downloaded the free 5-minute version Splashtop app to test. I also downloaded the "streamer" application to my computer. Set up was very simple. I opened a flipchart and was able to select the pen and draw with it. It wasn't too easy to draw with the finger, as the iPad is small and my finger seemed too clunky. I was able to, however, use two fingers to zoom in and out on the page (and three fingers to pan—drag—around) so I could write on a small part of the flipchart page. Be aware that while it is zoomed on the iPad, it looks normal the computer.
I also tested out how actions worked and I could not find any that didn't work. Again, the biggest issue was trying to click precisely when I wasn't zoomed in. I was able to use the ActivInspire pen and eraser, although it didn't keep up with the speed of my finger. I was able to use the selector tool to click on items and drag them around, but be aware that clicking too long will make it try to right-click. The ActivInspire text tool did not bring up the onscreen iPad keyboard. : (
So, overall, I think the Splashtop experience with ActivInspire was much better and more functional. However, I think I would still prefer to interact directly with the ActivBoard. I think I (and my students) would get frustrated quite quickly.
Be aware that both Doceri and Splashtop had "whiteboard" software too, and they both marketed it as an interactive whiteboard alternative. Personally, I was a bit concerned with the marketing by the companies that their software was a replacement for an IWB. I guess that could be true if teachers truly only use their interactive whiteboards to handwrite notes, but that's clearly not the case. I just hope to be able to demonstrate the differences. For example, the flipcharts created in ActivInspire that I've seen submitted to Promethean Planet have little, if any, handwriting in them at all. What about graphics, video, moving objects and all of the wonderful things that you can do in a full creation tool like ActivInspire? Where is the interactivity with just handwriting notes? (Yes, I was able to use websites with Flash-based activities through my computer's browser, but since there is no rollover, some functionality was missing.)
I do see these remote desktop solutions as an alternative to using a slate and believe that the functionality will continue improve over time. What do you think? What has been your experience? Are there solutions or tips that I've missed?
If you want to research this further, here are some other articles I found about the death of the interactive whiteboard courtesy of the iPad. Again though, I feel they only look at a very narrow and basic level of how teachers actually use interactive whiteboards.
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Hello Lisa, Loved reading your blog. You've put a lot of work into this exciting piece of research.
Some of my colleagues are interested in using their IPAD's with Inspire showing on the 500 series board. We did try it but couldn't manipulate or pinch objects with fingers on the IPAD to show same on board. Will bring your blog to their attention and we can try using apps you've mentioned. Attending the Scottish Learning Festival in September and will look out for the Doceri / Splashtop team.
Hello Lisa, this is an interesting article certainly as Ann comments, however some parts I have to disagree with you. A common misconception when using an iPad is that it will replace your PC or mirror the function of it but this misses the point of why they were created. Take a look at the keynote Steve Jobs led where he released the iPad 1 (www.youtube.com/watch). The iPad had to be better above a laptop and/smartphone at different tasks like browsing the web, photos, email, accessing video and so on. It is a device which sits between those other pieces of hardware and performs a different job and we shouldn't expect it to work in that way either.
The vast number of people who continue to look at iPads replacing like-to-like sadly have missed how it works in the classroom. I have been using the iPad and iPad2 in my classroom since they were released. The advantage over these devices are the apps to download. Yes these devices are about access to the music, the internet and so on but they are about creation of what I have learnt and then being able to push or publish my creation through using email or directly onto different sites. This is a completely different way of working from using an interactive whiteboard. I have bundled a few links to iPad apps together here to explore (PuppetPals, Comic Life, Toontastic, Bamboo Paper, Procreate, Brushes, Popplet - http://bitly.com/q5nH5k) as a start.
The iPad hasn't killed the whiteboard, we've just forgotten or rather got used to the way an interactive whiteboard is used in the classroom and want it to mirror that. Just as Jobs explained that we have the smartphone, the PC and the iPad in the middle the same can also be said - we have the interactive whiteboard, the computer and then the 'something in the middle' has to behave differently. The majority of education suppliers who sell to schools are beginning to wake up that the development of apps broadens how many people you can reach however, they merely replicates their content. Those companies who are writing apps but looking intuitively at making the best of the way the technology works......well, those are the companies to watch.
Think of what you would truly like to achieve with a whiteboard app and maybe the Promethean whiteboard app would look a little like this:
* It would have the ability for me to be able to view my flipcharts.
(I would have to access these either through an email link or some other storage facility I house in my school like
dropbox or other cloud storage facilities)
* Some of my ActivInspire whiteboard tools would be accessible - navigation buttons, the pen tools, being able to move
and resize objects around the screen fluidly, the ability to add text and highlight. Some of the others are not required.
* Access to some special tools. Let's face it the iPad 2 already has a sound recorder and a video camera so being able
to click on these in the same way you do in Inspire would be a great. Being able to import these into a flipchart in a
similar way makes use of the technology.
* Access to additional clip-art and content. Although if you use PuppetPals as an example, you can purchase additional
content through the app. The same could be applied to pictures, clip art and resource packs to be used within the app
could be purchased and then this is downloadable from Planet.
* The ability to link it with cloud storage (like Google docs, dropbox, box.net accounts) so that your flipcharts can be
stored and accessed whether you are on a iPad/iPod or laptop.
Now this is a basic app (I'd underline if I could). The question is then to look at promoting interactivity with these devices that sit in the middle. So on top of that you would be able to:
1) Be able to pass whatever you create from device to board; from board to a device and most importantly from device-to-device-and-back to board.
2) Be able to register iPads/iPods in the same way you can with ActivExpression.
3) The teacher at the board is able to select flipcharts or specific pages to be transported and displayed on the selected
device therefore enabling group work. My SEN group will work through pages 3-4 of my flipchart, my middle set will
work through pages 1, 5 and 7 and my top group will work through 5-10. Press the transfer button and hey presto it's
on the correct devices.
4) Be able to show a devices' screen to all including the main interactive whiteboard.
5) The ability to select who is in control - teacher can write and push it to all or the teacher can select any of the
iPads/iPods and their screens displayed for all.
6) The teacher is able to select a mode where by each device has one screen just like having a mini-whiteboard and then
after a set period of time determined by the teacher a snapshot of all screens are collected and the teacher can either
collect the text entries altogether of have the ability to collect all the screens and browse through them on the main
teaching board..
Given the above, then this is 'true interactivity' as all students are able to participate, share what they know using an app which is not identical to ActivInspire but one which is a mobile form and acts/reacts differently just as the iPad was intended to do.
So to answer your question:
1) Can an iPad be a wireless slate? - No it should never be.
2) Can an iPad be a creation device or a reader of flip charts? - Yes but not at the moment,
3) Can an iPad be used for groups of students to contribute to flipchart lessons (like an ActivExpression device)? We should hope so. Then the interactive whiteboard would have truly matured from childhood infancy to adulthood. Anything that tries to imitate is just a poor copy.
A interesting article Lisa and a worthy debate to have about the way technology is used in the 21st Century classroom.
Jon
Hello Lisa
Unfortunately I missed the Splashtop stand at ISTE. Would have liked to drop in on them as I have found Splashtop to be a very useful app.
I think that what you are trying to do here falls more into the Cool category than the functional. Having students control the IWB from a remote device is actually a backward step from what an IWB really is. Part of the big value of an IWB is the interaction at the point of contact not sitting back watching a remote display.
I can see the case for a teacher to use an iPad as a "slate" to collaboratively interact with the IWB from wherever in the room while students are actually at the board. So from this point of view I support your quest.
An ActivInspire App that would allow students to create on the iPad and then be sent to the IWB for use at the board would be terrific - hopeful Promethean is watching the market and has this already in development - if not then they certainly should. The first IWB company that brings a constructive iPad app to market will be on a winner.
Several voting Apps and web solutions already exist and would transfer well to the IWB.
The 2 articles you link to for further reading are examples of sensationalistic headlines that show the writers' lack of understanding about what an IWB really is. Just because something can be manipulated by touch and project does not make it the equivalent of an IWB.
A good piece of research Lisa and thank you for sharing it.
I agree with your reviews. Doceri is not worth the money in my opinion and Splashtop is so user friendly! Also Splashtop has a great iPad keyboard that you can open at any time in the bottom right of the screen, which works great with the text tool in ActivInspire and most anything else I have tried using it with! Thanks for the thoughts!
I currently use Splashtop to "control" my Active Board without being "at the front of the room." The only problem I have noted is the little bit of lag. But I would like to be able to access my notes and view my flipchart on my ipad and not run through 3rd party software. That way I can make sure I am covering everything by looking at my notes..and multitask on other projects while teaching. For example--using my gradebook and such to make notes about my students when it happens...
We are starting an iPad trial a school... Indeed I a reading and replying on an iPad just now. What an interesting article. I must admit I prefer to control the board at the board, but if I could control which child( or which device) could add to the board would be great. Initially though I would be happy with a read the flip charts app, like the viewer we used to have. Our staff upload many flip charts to the learning platform and it would be great if children and staff alike could view them as they can the power points, word and excel documents.
Hi Lisa
Nice blog ;-) I'm working as an pedagocical ICT-consultant in a small city (Kerava 32 000) here in Finland and we have Promethean active boards in every classroom in a year. At this time around 60% =120 pcs.
I have used my iPad with the active board with a software called VNC Remote. With this application I can see the actual picture of the screen on my iPad and control everything with my finger. There is even a keyboard if you need to write without the computers keyboard. Everything is of course much smaller, but it works. I use this same system to control my MacMini in my living room connected to a 42" TV
Hi Arto, How does the software work when you want to drive/use an ActivInspire flipchart? Are you easily able to annotate and use all of the tools? Move around objects? Those are the areas I had issues with.
Doceir was mentioned...I read they updated it...I am interested in trying it..especially the stylus. Having a way to write on my ipad, other than with my finger, is very important to me right now.
I have been testing this with an iPad 2 I have (would work the same on an iPad 1 also). By downloading the free app, TeamViewer from the app store onto my iPad and also going to their website (www.teamviewer.com) to download the free software for my computer, I can then create a remote connection from my iPad to my computer which is connected to the Promethean board. In this manner, I can use the iPad just like a slate and be able to see everything on my iPad. Using the iPad specific touch gestures, I am able to tap and drag, single tap, double tap and even right click on items. I have full functionality of my flipcharts and everything else on my computer. In the amount of testing I have done, I have found that the connection is fairly reliable when only connecting one iOS device through TeamViwer to the computer. I have also experienced (once) where the TeamViewer server was offline for about an hour.
Michelle Goldman,
Broward County, FL School District Technologist
Broward County, FL Digital Classroom Analyst
Promethean Certified Train-the-Trainer
Apple, Inc. Application Specialist
Hi Michelle, I have downloaded teamviewer and everything works fine except I cannot annotate on my flipchart. Is this the case with you?
Amy Chu
Does anyone know how to download Promethean Flash Proxy? I want to use Brain Pop