Ryan Collins

Bought my 6 year old daughter an iPhone

// June 29th, 2010 // No Comments » // 21st Century Skills, Op Ed

My daughter is an avid reader and writer, so as she is preparing to go into 1st grade, I wanted to give her an outlet to publish online. What I did was set up a Tumblr blog for her at gracyl.ryancollins.org. I chose Tumblr because it allows her to easily post through email, so she can post through her computer, my cellphone or her mom’s cellphone.

In the process of setting her up, I decided I wanted a more portable way for her to write posts. I thought about giving her my 1G iPod Touch, but went on eBay to look at the iPhone 3G (I wonder how you are supposed to use the plural of iPhone 3G?). They seem to be selling for right around $150, so I bid on a couple and finally won one at $138. I’m not planning on activating cell service on it and will use it just like an iPod Touch. The advantage of the iPhone 3G of the iPod Touch is the inclusion of the camera and GPS (I’m not certain the GPS works without cell service, I guess I’ll find out).

With the Tumblr app installed, she will be able to post to her blog anywhere she has wifi access. I’m excited to see how well it works, and if she’ll stay away from Tap Fish long enough to find out what else the iPhone can do!

Organize your email with a Flagged folder

// May 12th, 2009 // No Comments » // Featured, Mobile Computing, Software, Time Management

I have multiple email accounts, and read it from various devices. It’s all based on IMAP, so folders, messages read, etc. stay the same from device to device. The problem I was having was when I’d read a message on my iPod Touch or Samsung Omnia (a Windows Mobile cellphone). Sometimes it would be a message that I would need to act on, but can’t right at that moment. A lot of email clients allow you to flag a message so you can remember to go back to it, but that’s not an option on my iPod Touch or the Omnia. At first I’d just mark the messages unread, but that also gets messy (not knowing if I have new messages because of the unread indicator).

What I’ve done now is to create a folder called Flagged for each one of my email accounts. Now when I get a message I need to act upon it later, I’ll move it to this Flagged folder.

Sometimes I will just forward the message to my Remember the Milk account, but that’s a post for another day.

Interactive response systems

// April 4th, 2008 // 4 Comments » // 21st Century Skills, Classroom Management, Hardware, Mobile Computing, Software

photo credit: swpermanAs we investigate ways to use mobile Internet devices in our classrooms, it hit me that they could be used as an interactive student response system (ISRS). Since current ISRSs are around $100 per person, why not invest in a more useful device such as the iPod Touch, Sony PSP, or Nintendo DS (with Opera)?

I found one company that already is thinking this way, Pocket Mobility with their Quizzler Pro product. Me on the other hand, loves the challenge of coding something up myself.

Has anyone worked with ISRSs? What did you like? What didn’t you like? Is this something I should look at as a summer project?

The iPod Touch Trial

// March 13th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // 21st Century Skills, Hardware, Mobile Computing

I’ve ordered three iPod Touches to be used in a trial at the high school, middle school, and elementary level. Stealing some ideas from John Schinker, I’m putting forth the following questions for the participants to answer:

Does this device work well enough to have a place in our schools?

How could this be used effectively with students?

What limitations are there that would affect its usefulness?

Are there solutions to overcome those limitations?

What technical hurdles would have to be overcome to make the use of these devices successful?

If we were to start using these computers, what could they replace? What could we buy fewer of to make this cost effective?

Are these durable enough for student use?

Is the iPod Touch too complicated / different / cumbersome / annoying to be used in this environment?

I’ve started to come up with some ideas on how they can be used. My main goal to start is to focus mainly on communication. I’ve setup the Prologue theme for Wordpress, and am currently recruiting teachers to try it out. I’ve also installed the Elgg.org Open Source social network software at the HS and am investigating ways that it can be used in the classroom.

What are some of the important aspects that you can see implementing with a 1-to-1 program?

p.s. I’m trying out publishing from Google Docs, let’s see how well that works!

Google Reader and the iPhone/iPod Touch

// March 10th, 2008 // No Comments » // Mobile Computing, Web 2.0

Using my RSS reader of choice Google Reader, I’ve discovered two ways to use it on my iPod Touch. If I navigate to:
http://google.com/reader/m I get a slightly different interface than using http://google.com/m#reader. The former address gives me a nice icon when I add it to my home screen, but the latter address works better on my touch.

Does anyone know what the differences are? Why can’t I get the nice icon to add to my home screen with the second address?

Day 4 with the iPod Touch

// March 5th, 2008 // No Comments » // Hardware, Mobile Computing

The honeymoon isn’t over yet with the Touch. The battery so far hasn’t had a problem lasting through the day, and that is with me using wifi a lot! The keyboard is interesting. As long as I keep typing the autocorrect really does its thing, making email and this post pretty easy to do. I do have problems typing certain characters, but I think that is a combination of me learning and the case I have.

I ordered a couple for the district and will have a couple of teachers trying of our in their classrooms.

The iPod Touch

// March 2nd, 2008 // No Comments » // Hardware, Mobile Computing

I picked up an iPod Touch on Saturday, and am I impressed. I have been testing out the Nokia N800, but when it comes to Internet usability, the Touch wins hands down. Surfing is very, very usable.

I’m still getting used to the onscreen keyboard, but it is already a lot better than the N800. The question I have remaining, “Is the touch more useful I’m the classroom than the Asus eeePC?