5 Ways to Show Your iPad on a Projector Screen

Teachers really want to the ability to display their iPad or their students' iPads on a projector screen. Projecting on a large screen is great for demonstrations, simulations, explanations, and showing examples. There are several ways this can be done in the classroom. 

If you don't mind keeping your iPad in one spot, then a VGA adapter (for 30-pin Dock connector or for the new Lightning connector) or a document camera (or USB camera) should work for you. 

If you want to wirelessly transmit your device's screen and audio so that you or your students can walk around the room, then it gets more complicated. You'll tap into Apple's AirPlay feature that is built into all iPad 2s and newer, including iPad mini. AirPlay works over Wi-Fi and requires all devices using it to be on the same network.

Apple TV is a small black box that can connect to a projector. iPad can mirror wirelessly to Apple TV using AirPlay. Apple TV only outputs HDMI. Your projector might not have HDMI input. If that's the case, you'll need an HDMI to VGA adapter like the Kanex ATVPRO.

If you already have a computer connected to your projector, you should look into using software to turn that Mac or Windows PC into an AirPlay receiver. You can download and try for free AirServer or Reflector (formerly named Reflection). The software runs on your computer and allows devices to mirror iPad to the computer screen. Since the computer is connected to a projector, then the iPad shows on the projector. I've written lots more about both AirServer and Reflector.

In my visits to various schools, I'd say that Apple TV, AirServer. and Reflector work about 50% of the time. That's because AirPlay requires the device and the computer or Apple TV to be on the same network. Often schools have different networks for mobile devices and for PCs so AirPlay won't work. Also, AirPlay requires specific ports to be open on the network and frequently they are not. It's a good thing there are free trials of AirSever and Reflector so you can test your school's setup before purchasing.

I've whipped up a chart that compares these methods of displaying iPad's screen on a projector. You'll want to click the image to download the easier-to-read PDF version.

The Single Most Important Factor for iPad Success in Schools

When you think of iPads in schools, you probably think of a cart that's wheeled into a classroom. Youngsters cheer at the arrival of the cart. Devices are passed out, used for a lesson, and then returned to the cart. The cart is then whisked away to another classroom where the same thing happens.

Having a cart of devices puts the adults in charge of the technology. If possible, I would like to see students in control. Instead of teachers worrying about syncing, battery level, and app installation, learners should manage all of that. After all, isn't that a crucial skill for living in this century? 

The Technology Enhanced Learning Research Group, lead by Kevin Burden from the University of Hull, investigated the use of iPads at eight different schools in Scotland. The study took place between March and summer 2012 and analysis was completed in October 2012.

The researchers found that "personal 'ownership' of the device is seen as the single most important factor for successful use of this technology." They found ownership is fundamental for increasing students levels of motivation, interest, and engagement. Personal ownership promotes greater student autonomy and self-efficacy. Best of all, ownership encourages students to take more responsibility for their learning.

The study also found that teachers using iPads changed their approach to teaching. Pedagogical shifts include:

• more collaboration
• more creative expression
• a strong learning community
• better support for students of all abilities
• students take it upon themselves to teach and coach each other 
• higher quality of teaching perceived by students
• teachers give better feedback to students about their learning

Not surprisingly, teachers and students want to continue to have access to iPads and are convinced that their use has changed learning for the better.

Read the key findings or download the full report, which includes recommendations for schools, popular apps, parental and student survey results, school vignettes, and an Acceptable User Policy.

In search of more research about iPads in education? Go to my collection of bookmarks tagged iPad + research on Delicious or Diigo.

Creative Commons licensed photo taken by Lexie Flickinger
schooltechnology.org 

What I Bought in 2012

It's a tradition here at Learning in Hand that I share some of the technology I've purchased during the year. You can also check out what I bought in 2011, 2010, and 2009. Some of the technology I purchased is completely practical and useful. Other items might just be fun or silly.

What do I do with technology I no longer use? For instance, what about my old iPads, iPhones, and laptops? I've found selling on eBay frustrating, so use Gazelle and Nextworth. I don't generally get as much as I would selling on eBay, but I also don't have to worry about the hassles of eBay auctions. It's nice that Gazelle and Nextworth provide free shipping labels.

I liked the products below enough to spend my own money on them—I didn't receive free or special deals on them. Please note that I may receive an affiliate's fee if you follow referral links.

Brother QL-570 Label Printer
If you watch my podcast, you know that I'm crazy for QR codes. Sometimes I want to print QR codes, so I ordered the Brother QL-570 label printer and am very happy with it. The handouts for my workshops and conference sessions are always online. I usually display a slide with the web address for the online handouts for participants to write down. But now I like to give them a sticker with the web address and its QR code. I can make stickers that are just the right size to place in a notebook. Participants can stick it somewhere as a reminder of our time together and for easy access. 

This printer is great for teachers who want to enhance their textbooks. They can make a stickers that link to audio, video, or more information and adhere them to relevant pages. The text is now interactive!

This printer, by the way, does not use ink. It uses thermal printing. That means stickers can only be black and white, which is no big deal to me. It also means that's no need to ever buy expensive ink refills or ribbons. The label roll can print about 800 stickers (depending on the size you make them) and comes out to about 2¢ per sticker. It prints 68 labels per minute and automatically cuts each sticker. I've made hundreds of stickers in less than 10 minutes. It's fairly portable, too. I took the printer to the Georgia Educational Technology Conference last month because I wasn't sure how many labels I would need. So I printed labels as I needed them for my last breakout sessions.

Logitech Cube
I like to use a remote to click my way through presentations. I've used an aging Keyspan Presentation Remote for years. Using a remote allows me to walk about the room, instead of having to click my laptop's mouse button for each slide. (Or worse, we've all been subjected to presentations where there is a helper that takes orders from the presenter to advance the slides.) Yes, I know I can use an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to control my slideshows. However, remote apps have to be set up, and wirelessly pairing isn't very dependable. My adventures take me places where I have to set up quickly. So I like stick with a dependable and old-fashioned radio frequency remote. The receiver that plugs into USB, and there's no set up involved. It simply just works.

The Logitech Cube (which is actually a rectangular prism) is my new cool-looking (available in black or white) radio frequency remote. It has just one large button that you click/squeeze. While in PowerPoint or Keynote, clicking will advance to the next slide. If you need to go backwards, flip the Cube upside-down and click. The Cube can also be a wireless mouse and it charges via USB. I charge it once for every two days of usage. In addition to the high price tag, another negative is that I sometimes have to plug the tiny USB receiver into a USB hub into order to get it to work properly.

Nexus 7
Last year I was excited about the $199 Kindle Fire. This year Google and Asus have teamed up to make a $199 Android tablet. Nexus 7 is a full featured tablet that can use apps from Google Play and Amazon Appstore for Android. And it's way better than last year's Kindle Fire. It runs the latest version of Android while the Fire runs its own operating system that has Android buried underneath.

Nexus 7 has a high-resolution seven-inch screen. Unfortunately, it only a font-facing camera. The missing rear-facing camera is its largest drawback for me because I would like to make movies on this device. While lacking a rear camera, it does have a feature that I wish Apple would bring to iPads: multiple user logins.

Samsung Chromebook
Until recently, notebooks running Google's Chrome Operating System were priced around $350. For that price, why wouldn't you just buy a Windows or Linux notebook instead? You could install the Chrome browser on a cheap notebook and have many more features than a Chromebook. You see, the Chrome OS is basically just Google's Chrome browser. Most of what we do is now browser-based, so having a computer that's just a browser might meet your needs. You certainly have access to Gmail and Google Drive. You can install apps from the Chrome Web Store. Chrome apps tend to simply be bookmarks to websites, so don't get too excited about apps on a Chromebook. You can access these same apps on Mac and Windows as well. While Chromebooks have webcams and microphones built-in, they cannot run Skype. If you want to video conference, you'll need to use a Google Hangout.

The Samsung Chromebook retails for $249. While it looks like an 11 inch MacBook Air, it doesn't feel like one. The Chromebook is made of plastic. But for the price, the keyboard isn't bad, and the machine boots up in seconds. The thing is, without a Wi-Fi connection, the Chromebook isn't all that useful. Yes, you can save Google Drive documents to the notebook's 16GB solid state memory, but that's not what it's really meant for. If you're not around reliable Wi-Fi, then a Chromebook isn't really for you. If you live and breath Google apps, however, this could be a nice second laptop. And for schools that use Google Apps for Education with their students, this certainly could be a devine device. That's mostly because you simply login with your Google account and the machine is ready with your Chrome bookmarks, apps, and settings. To learn more, read Kathy Schrock's first impressions of the Samsung Chromebook. Additionally, CNET has an article all about Chrome OS.

The Samsung Chromebook isn't the only low-cost Chrome OS laptop around. Acer sells the C7 Chromebook for $199.

iPad 4th Generation, iPad mini, iPhone 5
As part of my job, I have to have the latest gear, right? Getting Apple's 2012 offerings wasn't cheap. Moving into new devices meant that I needed to replace my old Dock connector cables and adapters with Apple's new Lightning connector. That includes the Lightning to VGA and Lightning to USB adapters. While I don't like the added expense of the switch, I do like the smaller Lightning connector. It's reversible so you don't have to worry about which side faces up. Apple used the Dock connector for 10 years. Hopefully the Lightning connector sticks around for years to come.

To be honest, I didn't want to like the iPad mini. I think that we can do more with larger screens. However, the size and weight of iPad mini makes is perfect for walking around classrooms. The mini with its 7.9 inch screen is much more portable than  iPads with 9.7 inch screens. I am used to Retina and hi-res displays on my phone, iPod, iPad, and Nexus 7. So iPad mini's screen is blurrier than what I'm used to. It's not awful, but the lower resolution is noticeable.

Of course, an Apple Device is just part of the expense. Then there's apps and media to buy. Do know that you don't have to have a credit card attached to your iTunes account? But even if you do, using iTunes cards for your personal purchases in the iTunes Store, iOS App Store, Mac App Store, and iBooks Store can save you money. I stock up on iTunes credit when I see sales. A few  times a year retailers like Best Buy and Walmart sell iTunes cards online and in-store for 20% off. Because I only buy sale-prices cards, I'm saving 20% on every purchase I make in iTunes, the App Store, and the iBooks Store.

Another expense is accessories for my devices. I have bought various cables, connectors, and cases from Monoprice in 2012. They offer inexpensive HDMI cables, car USB chargers, iPhone 4 and 5 cases, iPad cases, and more. They also offer very reasonable shipping rates. DealExtreme also specializes in low cost cables and accessories. I use their car windshield mount with my iPhone when using a GPS app.

  

Swivl Personal Cameraman and Wireless Microphone
Place an iPhone or iPod touch into Swivl's base and it becomes your motorized cameraman. Swivl comes in two parts. The first is the wireless remote. It can be worn or held. The remote functions as a microphone and transmits an infrared signal to the base. The base is motorized and is programmed to follow the remote's infrared signal. The base can be set on a flat surface or mounted on a tripod.

Swivl's base requires AA batteries and the remote needs AAAs. The company says that Swivl will operate for four hours on a fresh set of batteries. Keep in mind that Swivl does not charge your device. Also know that recording video can take up loads of memory, so recording something longer than 30 minutes may be out of the question. 

If you want to use Swivl with the newest iPhone or iPod touch with Lightning connector, you're going to have buy Apple's Lightning to 30-pin Adapter. 

Swivl works as advertised. While it doesn't follow your every move, when you get close to the edge of the camera's view, Swivl will rotate to reposition the camera. There is room for improvement for Swivl to move more smoothly. The company says it will have future firmware updates that may improve its performance.

While the wireless microphone sounds terrific, it does have a bright green dot on it. The dot serves no function and I think it looks tacky and distracting in videos. Perhaps a black permanent marker or some paint can remedy it's ugliness.

Teachers who record their lectures could use Swivl to record important portions of their presentations. The video would follow the presenter, not any slideshows, so some post-production work might need to be done in order to combine the lecture with slides or visuals. Swivl could be handy for pairs of students making videos. The students would not need a third to be the cameraman. Swivl really is a niche product, but for those in the niche, Swivl can be very much worth its price tag.

I filmed a short video so that you can see Swivl in action. My original review was published on the Appcessories blog.

  

Braven Bluetooth 650 Bluetooth Speaker/PowerBank
Sometimes the school or classroom I visit does not have speakers or a sound system for my computer and iPad. I used to carry in my Grid-It a small hamburger speaker. In 2012 I upgraded to a Braven bluetooth speaker. It is larger than a hamburger speaker, but it is also louder and sounds much better. The very first time I used the speaker I paired it with my devices. Now all I have to do is turn on the Braven 650 and the sound from my iPad or iPhone is routed through the speaker. I can also directly connect the speaker to my computer or device if I don't want to mess with Bluetooth.

Another reason I purchased the Braven 650 is that it is a battery for my mobile devices. It has a USB port for charging. And yes, the Braven 650 is powerful enough to charge an iPad. I don't have to use it often as a battery backup, but it is comforting to know I have it in my backpack tucked away in my Grid-It in case I need it.

  

Dropcam HD Wireless Video Monitoring Camera
I'm away from home a lot and I like to keep tabs on my cats. Dropcam HD is great because I can watch in my web browser or in the iOS or Android app. It's pretty simple to set up and streams 720p video and sound. The night vision is great for checking up on cats when the lights are out. If you pay $9 a month, the Dropcam website stores two weeks worth of video for you to review. If you don't pay monthly, you can only access live video.

AR.Drone 2.0
AR.Drone is an iOS/Android controlled quadricopter equipped with a camera. I bought the original AR.Drone in 2009. The 2012 version has a high-definition camera and is easier to control. It's essentially a flying camera! You can take still photos and record video right inside the app while you're flying. The drone is easy to crash and is delicate, so I'm a cautious pilot. One battery lasts about 12 minutes, so I have a couple extra so my flying fun doesn't have to end so quickly. It's an expensive toy, but a very, very awesome one.

  

Sphero
Sphero is an iOS/Android controlled ball. It's pretty much the ultimate cat toy. It can change colors and there are a variety of game apps to use in conjunction with Sphero. I've taken it into classrooms studying 3-D shapes. But, truthfully, Sphero spends a lot of time on my shelf. If you like practical jokes, check out this video where Sphero is placed inside of an orange and rolls around the fruit aisle.

I've added the above items to my Products I Love board on Pinterest.

Now You Can Upload Photos and Videos to Websites from Your iPad

iOS 6 adds a much-needed feature—the ability to use Upload, Select File, or Choose File buttons and links found on websites for submitting files. Previously, when browsing websites that have a button for uploading files, nothing would happen when you tapped it on iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. Now with iOS 6, tapping that button on webpages brings up your Media Library where you can select an image or video to upload.

Because of this simple addition to the operating system, you can change your profile photo on social networks, upload photos to a blog, insert a photo on a Linoit canvas, and submit videos to websites from iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch without having to install an app.

This is a big deal for schools using iPads. Email has been a primary way for teachers to collect student work (which often might be an image or a video). Email can be challenging to set up in school environments, especially on shared devices. Furthermore, email has file size limits—most notably you cannot email videos longer than 50 seconds using iOS's Email app.

So being able to simply navigate to a website or course management system and upload is handy. I love that there's no need for a separate app, which is the way many sites have dealt with the limitation. For instance, the only reason to use the Edmodo iPad app (aside from it remembering your login) is to upload photos and video. And it has been a multi-step process to add media to an Edmodo post from a device's photo library. With iOS 6, you can simply upload directly to a post on Edmodo by tapping the File link. It's so great that the File link now works, even though it feels like it should have worked like this from the beginning.

A handy way to collect student work is with Drop It To Me. It's a free service that gives you a URL where others can upload files directly into your Dropbox account. Students do not need a Dropbox account, only the teacher receiving the files needs one. Before signing up for Drop It To Me, you to sign up for a Dropbox account. Drop It To Me works well for collecting videos from Apple devices. Drop It To Me has a file size limit of 75 MB, which should be large enough to accept a video that's six minutes in length. Students can simply go to a teacher's Drop It To Me page, input the page's password, and select a file to upload. The video then shows up in the teacher's Dropbox. However, because you cannot change the name of an image in your Photo Library, photos submitted through Drop It To Me overwrite each other because they have the same file name. 

It sure would be nice to also be able to upload other files types, like PDF, Pages, and Word documents. Apple doesn't give us access to a device's file system, so don't expect this kind of functionally any time soon. We're lucky they let us upload photo and video files...

Limit an iOS Device to Running a Single App

Apple has introduced Guided Access in iOS 6. It keeps your device in a single app and allows you to control which features are available. 

Locking a mobile device into a single app has been a request of parents and educators for some time. Using Guided Access to limit an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to one app can be handy when you want a child to remain on task and focused. It is also nice for youngsters who might accidentally click the Home button.

To start Guided Access: 

1. Launch the Settings App.
2. Go to General and choose Accessibility.
3. Turn Guided Access On.
4. Set a passcode.
5. Launch the app you want lock the device into.
6. Triple-click the Home button.
7. You can choose to disable touch or motion in addition to disabling the Home and volume buttons.
8. Tap the Start button. 

To exit the app, triple-click the Home button and enter the Guided Access passcode.

iOS 6 is now available as a free upgrade for iPad 2, iPad 3rd generation, iPod touch 4th generation, and iPhone 3GS and newer.

How to Become a Mobile App Developer [Infographic]

It's still no easy task to develop your own apps. Yes, some talented teachers have programmed their own. I know many adults and youth are interested in developing apps. I was pleased to see Schools.com produce this infographic about how to become a mobile app developer.

Courtesy of: Schools.com

Build Positive Behavior with ClassDojo Website or App

When I was a fifth grade teacher I made my own database to track student behavior on my Palm handheld. It was very effective because I could quickly take my device out of my pocket and with a few taps add a record to the database. In fact, my students knew exactly what I was doing if I looked at them and then started tapping on my device. My students knew I kept detailed records on how they behave in our classroom.

 

It was super handy to have all my anecdotal notes in a sortable database. It helped when I conferenced with students and parents because I had specific data collected over time. It certainly helped when completing report cards. And, for whatever reason, digital information is perceived by students and parents as more valid than if I had a paper notebook with my handwritten observations.

 

I used a Palm app (which is now an iOS and an Android app) called HanDBase. Years ago I wrote instructions on how to set up your very own class behavior database. Today, however, instead of buying the app, I suggest looking into ClassDojo.

 

I've been a fan of ClassDojo since I learned about it in the spring. Class Dojo is a free website and a way to track student behavior digitally. 

A teacher sets up a class on Class Dojo. Each student can have a cutesy monster avatar. After set up, start the class and can click any name to add a positive or negative behavior. The behaviors are tallied. If you choose to track negative behaviors, it's possible for students to have negative scores. The leader board can be private for just teacher use. However, the list of names and scores can be projected for the class to see. In fact, the leader board works well on an interactive whiteboard.

 

When class or the day is done, ClassDojo will show a report of the class' overall performance. Reflecting on individual and class performance and setting goals for next time can improve classroom climate. Teachers can always access a complete record for every class session for each student. 

 

Class Dojo has been very mobile-minded. The site works well on an iPad and through a mobile browser so teachers can use a smartphone to award behaviors when away from a computer.

 

And now ClassDojo has released an iOS app. The free app allows teachers to set up classes and monitor and track behaviors instantly. The app also has a random student picker.

 

 

So, before creating your own behavior-tracking database, check out ClassDojo and see if it meets you needs. 

Bring Your Own

In the spirit of bringing more opportunities into learning environments, more and more schools are inviting students to bring their own technology. Shortened as BYOT or BYOD for Bring Your Own Device, the concept is catching on.

AZCentral.com has an article about Phoenix-area schools that are piloting or continuing BYOT. I like the quote from Kyle Ross, Scottsdale Unified School District's director of instructional technology about cheating with digital devices. He says that instead of taking away or banning technology, they are "treating the act, not the tool."

There are many issues that schools have to consider for BYOT, including network capacity and professional development. There's a Twitter hashtag where educators are discussing issues, successes, and tips: #byotchat. Also, read 10 BYOD Classroom Experiments (and What We've Learning From Them So Far) for vignettes and articles from around the United States.

OnlineColleges.net put together an inforgraphic as a graphical overview of BYOD, including pros and cons.

Marc André Lalande in Canada put together an 8-minute cartoon titled BYOD in the 21st Century. It's Star Trek themed and lays out advantages and limitations.

Above are just a few of a growing number of resources about BYOT, and I'll be sharing more in the future.

Project-Based Learning Teaser

I made a three-minute video for teachers in Fulton Country, Georgia who are coming to a project-based learning workshop I'm leading next month.  I thought maybe others would like to see the video as well, so I've posted it on Vimeo and YouTube.

I love that project-based learning gives us a framework to authentically use technology with students. It doesn't matter much what kind of tech is available. Students just need resources and guidance to question, investigate, share, and reflect.

Read and watch more about project-based learning with iPad and iPod touch on my PBL page. Just know that the video is a couple years old now and could use some updating...

Click or Scan for a Random Educational iOS App

There are lots of places to find educational apps for iOS, including the App Store, Appitic, Twitter, AppShopper, etc. Yet, despite so many resources, I come across countless apps by chance. That is, I wasn't setting out to find a particular app, but after following link after link I come upon some gems.

In the spirit of serendipity, I've developed a way to discover educational apps. Simple click the button, scan the QR code, or go to learninginhand.com/random to be taken to an app's details page in the App Store. 

learninginhand.com/random

The link will redirect you to a random item from my list of excellent educational apps. At the time of this writing the list has 200 apps, which I intend to add to over time. They are all ones I feel are good for teaching and learning. Most apps are free, but some are paid. Already own the app or the app doesn't apply to who or what you teach? Then click again for another random app! Click or scan as many times as you'd like. Because it's random, you might see some repeats, so simply click click or scan again.

For even more serendipity, scroll to the bottom of the app's details page in iTunes or on iPad to see apps listed under "Customers Also Bought." There might be more treasures just waiting to be downloaded! 

iPad icon by: FastIcon.com

Mobilize for Productivity [Infographic]

Nowadays many of us carry mobile devices like an iPhone or iPad, keep a digital calendar, and work from multiple computers. Chances are you feel like a slave to email, having perhaps hundreds of messages in your inbox. You probably spend a lot of time online and might have trouble managing all of your files among your devices. Instead of blaming technology, let's use that technology to make you more productive!

We're becoming more mobile all the time, whether the information follows us in the cloud or we have a device that accesses that info. It's very helpful to learn how others are improving their personal productivity, so I've collected some of my best productivity tips and tools and put them in an infographic.

Click the image to download the PDF. You can click hyperlinks in the PDF where websites and apps are mentioned.

Got a productivity tip or tool to share? Tweet it and include the hashtag #4productivity!

7th Graders Publish Their Own Textbook

I thought of my fifth grade classroom as a web publishing organization. Whenever it seemed appropriate, we shared our artwork, writing, videos, and other projects on our website, Planet 5th. If I was teaching fifth graders today, we would be crafting our own learning materials, including writing our own textbooks. That's exactly what Andrea Santilli and her seventh graders at Woodlawn Beach Middle School have done. Their eBook, Creatures, Plants and More: A Kids Guide to Northwest Florida, is a top seller in Apple iBookstore. Here's the description of what's in the free eBook's 133 pages:

Creatures, Plants and More is an interactive field guide of Northwest Florida.  The stories and photos are a collection of what students  from Woodlawn Beach Middle School have compiled for everyone to enjoy.  If you are interested in visiting Florida's Best Kept Secret, look no further, the answer lies within the pages of this book!  Enjoy fascinating interactive photo galleries and videos that will AMAZE you!

Andrea and her Advanced Life Science students used iBooks Author to create their highly interactive eBook. All of the photos in the book are ones in which students took themselves. The same goes for the book's videos. The students did a great job. It's not a professionally produced book, but there are lots of things other aspiring iBook authors can learn from these seventh graders. Andrea tells me that currently the book has had over 2,700 downloads from 23 different countries. Those numbers serve as validation of her students' hard work.

 

Mac Life wrote an article titled Super 7th Graders Publish Their Own eBook to the iBookstore. It explains the project in more detail. "Each student has to choose an organisms they wanted to study and were required to submit their topic for approval. Afterward, students had to write informative – but entertaining! – articles about their organism."

Andrea collected work from 69 students and entered it into iBooks Author. iBooks Author is free but only works on Macs running 10.7 Lion or higher. I'm not sure how Andrea did it, but I would have students layout their pages in their own iBooks Author files, collect their files, and copy and paste the pages into a master book. 

iBooks Author is a fantastically powerful tool. Although it is similar to Pages, Keynote, and Numbers for Mac I find it slightly complicated to use. Luckily, you can find some great iBooks Author tutorials and helpful websites:

• Apple iBooks Author Tour Video on YouTube
• Publishing with iBooks Author: An Introduction to Creating eBooks for the iPad
• Create an Interactive eBook for the iPad Using iBooks Author: The Complete Guide
• iBook Creatives: The Community for iBook Authors
• Class Widgets: Custom iBooks Author Widgets

There are some disadvantages to using iBooks author for crafting your own learning materials. The biggest issue is that iBooks Author books can only be read on an iPad in the iBooks app. You can't even read the eBook on an iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, or PC. iBooks Author will export your work as a PDF, however, the PDF will lack the interactive table of contents, photo galleries, videos, and other hands-on elements. While I love the format iBooks Author provides, I think that I might still publish a student-made textbook as a website so that it is accessible on all devices and computers. It's just that what you can make with iBooks author is so slick and impressive. Another plus for iBooks Author is that by going through an application process you can have your book listed in the iBookstore.

Check out what Andrea and her students say about writing their book. Fox 10 News filmed a story about the students' publishing efforts that aired May 9, 2012.

I think the comment by CNEBBY in the Customer Reviews of Creatures, Plants and More sums up the project well: "This is an awesome example of what kids can do when they are properly motivated by a skilled teacher."