The iphone: An Introduction and How it can be Used in

the Classroom

By: Lindsay MorrillLBSC 642 Summer Session 1

University of Maryland @ Shady GroveDr. Sheri Massey

June 11, 2009

PURPOSE

• To introduce some features of the iPhone and how to get started using your iPhone

• To apply the iPhone to the classroom and explain its possible uses

• To explain how to access “Help” if you should need to troubleshoot the iPhone

www.iphone.com http://www.apple.com/iphone/guidedtour/tour/small.html

Check out these websites to view

features, apps, and for support with your

iPhone!

Getting Started• Prerequisites-

– Familiarity with cell phone features

– Access to a computer – Access to the internet

• Relevance-– a cell phone first– mobile device for

computing – easily accessible and

handheld for use in the classroom

• Home Screen and customizing

• Features and Application (“Apps”)

• Uses in the classroom

“A Closer Look at the iPhone”

Visit YouTube and type in the below title to search for

the video to introduce you to

using your iPhone!

Home Screen and Customizing

• Features-Home Screen– Phone– Mail– Safari Internet Browser– iPod– SMS (text messages)– Maps with GPS– iTunes Music Store– App Store– Calendar– You Tube– Photos + Camera– Stocks, Weather, Notes– Calculator

Applications (“Apps”)• Apps Categories-FREE or PAY

– What’s New-The newest app releases available– Books-Ex: Bible– Business-Ex: PDF Reader, recorder– Education-Ex: Flash cards, graphing calculator, IQ test– Entertainment-Ex: Free ringtone recorder, Fandango, drinking games – Finance-Tip calculator, checkbook, stockwatch– Games-Ex: “Who wants to be a Millionaire? or Checkers– Healthcare and Fitness-Ex: Calorie tracker, pedometer– Lifestyle-5800 drink recipes, 12 steps AA companion, jokes– Medical-Ex: Police scanner, cat first aid, medical terminology– Music-Ex: Pandora, finger piano– Navigation-Ex: GPS, compass, traffic reports– News-Ex: horoscopes, newspaper, TV news– Photography-Night camera, wallpapers– Productivity-Ex: typing program– Reference-Ex: Wiki Mobile, iSpeak Spanish, periodic table– Social Networking-Ex: Facebook , Twitter, AIM, – Sports-Ex: Live Sportz or Score Mobile – Travel-Ex: Flight tracker, rest area stops, airfare– Utilities –Ex: flashlight, level– Weather-Ex: Weather Bug

Uses in the Classroom• The iPhone is a fantastic

teaching and course management tool. – From portable media, to

grading and evaluation, to class communication

– Carry practically everything in one small and handy package.

– Take students and classroom technology anywhere

– Take the classroom wherever you go and get things done in those small windows of opportunity that we have.

Uses in the Classroom• Audio Files

• Still and Video Images

• Class Participation and Competitions

• Marking Papers

• Reading

• Grading

Audio Files

Still and Video Images

Class Participation and Competitions

App called TallyCount

Marking PapersApp called PDF

Annotator

Reading

• Programs such as AirSharing or FileMagnet• Connect wirelessly to your computer and allow you

to transfer – PDF– Word– Excel– PowerPoint– RTF– html files– etc. to your iPhone

Grading• Moodle

http://moodle.org/

Pros• Sleek design (touch screen)-was the first

of its kind• Access to the web, e-mail, audio, and

video files and the ability to play them• Could be useful in the classroom (even if

it’s only for the teacher)• Available apps allow access to almost

anything from checking the weather to traveling to the latest news and sports scores

Limitations/Cons• Keyboard typing

– The keyboard is very sensitive when typing a text message or web address and many times will mistakenly choose a letter that you didn’t mean to touch.

• EXPENSIVE!

• Does not play Flash Player video

– This is the major limitation I found, because many videos and applications on the Internet use the flash player. Since I got the iPhone, I have come across this limitation several times trying to see a video using flash player, and it will not play on the iPhone.

– GOOD NEWS: There are supposedly programs that will soon be able to or already may be able to install a type of player that will play flash video.

Conclusion• May not be popular yet in the classroom but

could be wave of the future to use mobile devices in the classroom?

• Not only can I take students and many elements of classroom technology anywhere, but I can also take my classroom with me, in one convenient device that I am going to carry around anyway.

• “It is like the ultimate educational Swiss-army knife.” – http://fitsnews.wordpress.depauw.edu/2008/11/17/the-mobile-classroom-and-the-iphonetouch/