(This post actually has resources. Scroll down to skip my little love story.)
I’ve never been a real gadget girl. Perhaps I’d never met the right ones before. But this was the year I fell in love. Twice. First it was my Kindle.
Late last month I bought my husband an iPhone for his birthday. Could anyone blame me for getting in on the plan?
Anyway, even though our relationship is still quite new, I am in love. Until it rings, I often forget it is a phone. I want to name it. (Suggestions are welcome.)
My daughter, who understands my need for green accessories, bought me a new case for the holidays. (The above pic represented the one drawback I have found. The iPhone cannot take a picture of itself!)
So let me count the ways:
- My very favorite thing is access to my various email boxes. I no longer rush to my laptop when I get home. I no longer worry about what’s waiting for me while I am out. A quick peek allows me to relax a lot more.
- the camera is incredibly handy
- my access to my Twitter network through Tweetie
- my ability to take both voice and text notes with Evernote
- the little flashlight and nightstand clock
- my handy Google Mobile App. (Okay, it’s less-than-perfect voice search cannot get my name straight. Not such a big deal. I could stop searching myself.)
- my regular Google Search and all of my other favorite Google apps, including Google Earth!
- my iTunes is now portable
- my iCal sincs with my phone. I am more organized
- the very wonderful Pandora internet radio is a click away and I am discovering new music everyday
- Shazam allows me to identify music I like that I catch playing anywhere in earshot
- I can catch up with YouTube videos (my kids are always borrowing the phone to show me new stuff)
- Wikipedia Mobile is awfully useful in an on-the-road information pinch
- I can use this tool for accessing ebooks. I am just discovering Stanza for books old and new and for document storage! The connection to Feedbooks, offers a library of thousands of free titles.
I am beginning to discover how much I have yet to discover.
I’ve also discovered that I am approaching this technology like the typical tech newbie, by discovering the apps that make my own life easier and more connected. Only now that I am hooked am I thinking about what this means for my practice.
Clearly, it’s bigger than me.
In the month that has passed since girl met gadget, I’ve discovered a world of support from others who are similarly taken with their gadgets, for the good of learners! (More and more compelling evidence for a kinder, gentler school cell phone/gadget policy.)
Consider the portability of texts, the potential for blogging or taking notes and pictures in the field, the use of GPS for science and geography, the possibilities for organizing learning, the options for the music classroom, the opportunities to collaborate with other learners in geography-agnostics ways.
If you are curious about how you might use your own iPhone for deeper purpose–in addition to the many educational apps–free and low cost–available at the App store, check out:
- OEDb’s (Online Education Database) list of 50 iPhone apps for education
- Kathy Schrock’s experience described in a couple of blogposts: iPhone apps that sinc and Living with the iPhone
- Lucy Gray’s iPhone and iPod Touch Users Group on Diigo
- ReadWriteWeb post on iPhone as ebook reader (imagine the potential for portable texts!)
- Classroom 2.0 Ning’s iPhone discussion
- Elliot Masie’s video on the iPhone and mobile learning
- ScienceFix’s short list of iPhone apps for the science classroom
- Paul Reid’s iphoneined blog
- the iphoneteacher blog from the UK
- Wes Fryer’s Teach Digital wiki resources
- the News Observer’s story on 1-to-1 use of iPod Touch in schools
- Planeten Paultje’s list of iPhone apps for education (scroll down for list)
- Gizmodo’s Best iPhone apps of 2008
Please share your own iPhone or iPod Touch discoveries in your comments!
About Joyce Valenza
Joyce, It would be hard to add to your list, you have covered most of my favorites (and given me new ones to explore). You might like urbanspoon for searching restaurants and I am also playing with Speakeasy for recordings. Great post. All the best for the New Year!
Joyce, I named mine Imogene (the magic machine). It’s truly an all-in-one pocket-sized wonder.
You’ve pretty much covered everything that I love about the iphone. My newest favorite app for the iphone is the Animoto app. I use Vlingo for voice searching (works for dialing a contact, searching the web w/either Google or Yahoo, and even update your social networking sites)
One trick I learned today is that you can take a screen shot of whatever is on your screen by clicking the home button and the sleep button simultaneously (the picture goes right to your camera roll).
Thanks for the great list (especially the link to science apps) &
Wow, more to explore! I’ve played a little with Urban Spoon and hope to really test it at conferences. Can’t wait to test Speakeasy and Vlingo and Animoto. I LOVE that screenshot tip. edh, I am so glad I am not the only one thinking of names!
I have the iTouch which I won at FETC (Florida Education Technology Conference) last year. The iTouch has most of the features as the iPhone except of course it is not a phone. It does not take photos nor does it have automatic wireless. I have to use it at home (our home has wi-fi) or I have to find a hotspot when I am away from home. Still, I love it! (What’s not to love when it was free) I can download any of the applications, of which I have many that you mentioned. I just downloaded cartoonize me, which has a small fee (.99 on sale) but it allows you to cartoonize photos. I can access my iPhoto images on the iTouch even if I can’t take photos. Thank you for sharing some of the other apps I had not explored as yet. Admittedly, I am a gadget girl, as my friends refer to me that way. I opted not to get the iPhone since I have the iTouch. My phone does so much even though it is not an iPhone and I am happy with its many features. I have a Treo which I love for the ability to access and create documents such as MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and more. It’s great for long waits in the doctors office. But I digress. Keep exploring the iPhone and sharing your newest discoveries. Oh, I almost forgot! My library now has audiobooks that can be downloaded onto mp3 devices. I just downloaded Anna Karenina to my iTouch! I love my iTouch! I must give it a name. I can see the potential for many uses in the classroom. The cost of the device would be the only drawback in my district. Let’s keep sharing!
Joyce, you have me drooling. I have my iPhone on order…yes, they have run out! I can’t wait to join you in my own love affair
I have been dying to get an iPhone. I love that you have given me a list professional reasons to add to my frivolous reasons for getting one. Thanks!
Hello Joyce, Great lists for me to use with my undergrads. I also use Stage Manager (on Mac) and Stage Hand (on iPhone) to present my Keynote lectures. A new wireless network can be setup on the Mac and the iPhone will detect and use it for a stable presentation. really nice to walk away from the lectern and still have your slide notes in your hand.
*Sigh, don’t we all love iPhones
iphoneappoftheday.com
Now, how about we change the policy of student cell phone use in school libraries (usually banned).
I’m ready to take the leap!