The Innovative Instructor TechnologyForum Center for August 2012 c Educational e r Resources Apps for That: Reid Sczerba, Multimedia Developer, CER

What are they Why they were made What this is As become more common- Apps are essentially smaller versions of ap- The Innovative Instructor is a forum place, the number of small, single-purpose plications with a limited set of features, often that publishes articles related to applications (apps) grows. These apps focused on a single task. Some tasks are more teaching excellence at Johns Hopkins are functional extensions of your smart- complex than others, for example, word pro- phone’s built in applications; cessing versus simple note taking. App they are powerful tools that interfaces are optimized for smaller About the CER do not require a laptop or screens, simplifying a process The Center for Educational Resources desktop computer. While for the mobile experience. partners with faculty and graduate most apps are created to Because they are simpler, apps students to extend instructional entertain, some are created for can be created with less effort impact by connecting innovative productivity, communication, than traditional computer or teaching strategies and instructional and collaboration; all of web applications. This encour- technologies which can enrich educational ages independent developers to experience. create apps for purchase. For information on how to contribute to The Innovative Instructor or Who produced them Why they matter to access archived articles, Software development companies and Smart phones are small computers; think independent developers may create apps of them as -sized laptops. These please visit our website for multiple device operating systems such devices also have the advantage of turning • www.cer.jhu.edu/ii as the iOS, Android, and Windows Phone on instantly. They provide access to the or call Cheryl Wagner (currently WP7.5). Others devote their internet and computing tools wherever • (410) 516-7181 app development to one specific operating and whenever needed. system, which can at times frustrate users who identify ideal apps that do not work on Forum categories their devices. A device will often come with How they can be used Pedagogy Forum a few default apps that were created by the Productivity apps can be useful in a teaching Hopkins professors share same company/developers that created the or professional setting. Listed below are successful strategies for teaching . These default apps are usu- categories of productivity apps with brief excellence ally very basic but perform well on the device. descriptions of each. Technology Forum Information about emerging Control technologies, who is using them, Apps like “Gmote” for Android and “Touch Mouse” for iOS allow you to control a com- and why you should know puter’s cursor from across the room using your smart phone. This can ‘untether’ instructors Best Practice Forum or presenters from podiums and allow them to walk about freely while controlling their “How To” workshops on using presentations. The “Crestron Mobile” App allows iOS or Android devices to control lights, technologies and applying media, climate and projector controls remotely in any of the “Smart” classrooms at JHU. innovative instructional methods Contact IT@JH for information on using this app in specific classrooms. Forum File Management Android has a convenient app for managing the files on your device: “ES File Explorer.” With it you can move, copy, rename, make folders, and even unzip compressed packages. It also comes with a simple text/image viewer to give you a better sense of the content of a file. File Transfer When you need to make files available for multiple people (yourself included) to view Technology later or on a different computer, “” for iOS and Android lets you store your files in the “cloud” for sharing. Using “SkyDrive” with your Windows Phone affords a similar ever-present file repository.

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receiver (ex: 3G, 4G) or a WiFi receiver. The The receiver. a WiFi (ex: 3G, 4G) or receiver of the location on highly is dependent latter sig cellphone opposed to as hotspot, a WiFi a connection require apps Most nal towers. your function. Consider to theinternet to smart your use when purchasing intended apps. and plan, data phone, Typically, the device’s operating system has has system operating the device’s Typically, and browse to you allows that app a default their offer developers Some apps. purchase find that may this case, you In free. for apps appear that (ads) advertisements they have the developer. support help to in the app a free app of the fullversion for Paying usually ads. of the appearance excludes free and for apps create developers Some this rare. though is a donation, for ask may “free” a sale will offer for sometimes Apps experience can you so that version “lite” or purchasing. before features limited the app’s sometimes free, is the app not or Whether service online a supplemental for up signing user or data of storage/access as -such So while account necessary. is information- using free, for the app obtained have may you theserviceBe incur cost. a tied is may to it user reviews and the description read to sure apps. purchasing before Other thoughts internet its will obtain phone smart Your signal cellphone a through either connection Where are they going they are Where the downloads from app of number The 30% about by increased Store App iTunes one-half over of 2012, totaling 2011 to from is Apple that Considering apps. million leader inthe smartcurrently phone sales the production that this indicates apps, and only not will increase, steadily apps of for iOS but also other systems operating app more and More through competition. ways exploring are developers to provide a rich human-computer experience a with smart phone. started get to How each device for available are stores Online app below). (links provided system operating

(WP7.5): http://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/ios/id36 http://play.google.com/store/apps (iOS): provides training on a variety of programs, aids in educational in educational aids programs, a variety of on training provides expertise information shares on and development, resources campus. the Homewood faculty at design for graphic and a MA in Digital Arts and in Illustration a BFA holds He Art. College of Maryland Institute from A member of the Center for Educational Resources, Reid Resources, Educational for the Center of member A (Android): (Android): http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/marketplace Store App iTunes Google Play Marketplace Phone Windows • • • Author’s Background Author’s Reid Sczerba, JHU Resources, for Educational Center Multimedia Developer, Additional Resources Additional manager built in. Staying on schedule is made easier by the app’s ability to sort, to ability the app’s easier made by is schedule on in. Staying built manager computer. your sync with and send notifications, Task Management Task like apps using phone smart your through be can tasks managed Everyday a task has Phone device; Windows Android iOS or an on the Milk” “Remember for translation to over 20 different languages. “Wolfram Alpha”, another great reference reference great another Alpha”, “Wolfram languages. 20 different over to translation for technical questions. to answers robust you gives Android, iOS and for available app Webster’s Dictionary” for iOS and Android will ensure you are never at a loss for for a loss at never are you will ensure Android iOS and Dictionary” for Webster’s languages, different to be needs to translated material reference when your And words. speak or words write to you allows Android, iOS and also for Translate,” “Google allows you to sync and read all your purchased Amazon e-books. Amazon purchased all read your allows and sync to you Reference “Merriam- like apps reference anytime, fingertips your at information With wireless internet connection. The “GoodReader” app for iOS is a robust reader robust a is iOS for “GoodReader”app The connection. internet wireless share view and PDFs, videos annotate file, any about just render to you allows that every for device; it available is app “Kindle” The others. with read you’ve what reading material with you wherever you go. Apps like “Instapaper” and “Read “Read and “Instapaper” like Apps go. reading you wherever you with material or with webpages share sort, and save, to you allow Android iOS and for It Later” signal or a cellphone have don’t even if you anytime, reading for images without Reader heavy normally your bring easierto it makes phone a smart of portability The you to extend your postproduction editing options and edit GPS data. If a single a single If GPS data. edit and options editing postproduction your extend to you “PhotoSynth” and “360 Panorama” like apps justice, location do your doesn’t photo experience. a panoramic for together photos stitch WP7.5 can iOS and for device comes with basic camera functionality, but apps like “Camera Zoom FX” Zoom FX” “Camera like apps but functionality, basic camera with devicecomes settings, the camera’s of control will iOS you give for “Camera+” and Android for postproduction support and takea good photo, you’ll the chances increase editing/enhancingWP7.5 also for allows Editor” Photo “Thumba the photos. of Photography Each take photos. to the ability is useful the most phone aspects a smart of One of latter has more features, such as storing audio, images, and maps, and it is available available is it and maps, and images, audio, storing as such features, more has latter which Mobile,” “OneNote with also WP7.5. WP7.5 comes and both Android for taking app. the basic note than features more you gives Note Taking Note you let that use easy programs to very popular, are “” and “Simplenote” iOS device. The an from computer your them sync with tag them, and take notes,

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