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iPads; iTunes accounts; Configurator; iBooks Author; Gmail

Gmail accounts & iTunes

This year we bought 30 iPads to use with our introductory English classes. The ACT Dept of Ed requires each iPad to have its own iTunes account and each app must be bought individually for each iPad. Thus comes the challenge of creating 30 email addresses in order to set up 30 iTunes accounts.

Google only allows you to set up about 4 Gmail addresses at one time (I think you can set up more the next day). A solution is to set up one Gmail account. Then when you are using this Gmail address to set up an iTunes account (or other class account), just use use the + sign to create the other account names. You don’t actually create these + accounts in Gmail, they just link back to your original account. Gmail ignores any letters & numbers after the + sign and sends any email messages back to the main account.

eg. Create Gmail account capitalschool@gmail.com. Your first iTunes account becomes capitalschool+ipad1@gmail.com, your second iTunes account becomes capitalschool+ipad2@gmail.com etc

We soon found out that you couldn’t complete the iTunes setup unless you provided credit card details or an iTunes card…..that’s our next step. And our very secure wireless network isn’t kind to iPads – it keeps prompting for internet passwords etc But one day….soon…

http://help.edublogs.org/2009/02/27/creating-student-accounts-using-one-gmail-account/

Apple Configurator

Released 7 March, Apple Configurator makes it easy for anyone to mass configure and deploy large numbers of iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches in a school, business or institution. Up to 30 at once can be set up & apps installed. Download the Configurator app from the Mac App Store. Very useful for schools where students do not have their own iPads, but use a class set. However, in Australia at present, you can only use Configurator to install free apps (we don’t have the Volume Purchase Program for paid apps yet). It is also good for updating the iOS on multiple iPads.

http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/03/apple-configurator/
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apple-configurator/id434433123?mt=12

 The Apple Volume Purchase Program (VPP)

Released in the US in July 2011 – no news yet as to when it might come to Australia…..would be great though. VPP allows schools to purchase iOS apps & books in volume (for iPads, iPod Touches, iPhones) and distribute them to students & teachers.

http://www.apple.com/education/volume-purchase-program/

 iBooks Author

Free app from the Mac App Store; released Jan 2012. Make stunning multimedia interactive ebooks easily – only for the iPad. Write in it directly or import from Word or Pages. Add photos, movies, music, quizzes, diagrams etc. Add interactivity using widgets. Export your work in the .iBooks format, drag it into iTunes & sync it. Also, any PDF on the iPad can be sent and read in iBooks.

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/graphics-and-media-software/desktop-publishing-dtp-software/apple-ibooks-author-1062792/review

http://www.edsocialmedia.com/2012/03/ibooks-author-review-free-textbook/

 iBooks textbooks for iPad

In January, interactive textbooks from McGraw-Hill & Pearson (mainly science; created with iBooks Author) were available in Books in iTunes US for $14.99. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt are also creating textbooks. None of these interactive textbooks are yet available in iTunes Australia. The price is right – perhaps we will get them soon after publisher negotiations?

 iPad apps – useful sites

http://appsineducation.blogspot.com.au/p/tas-ipad-apps.html – A very comprehensive resource; many links re iPads; apps in subject areas.

http://learningwithipads.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/digital-textbooks-with-ibooks-author.html – Informative site by Catholic Office, Parramatta, NSW. App toolkits for primary, secondary, special ed, subject areas.

http://eskymaclj.blogspot.com.au/p/ipad-app-reviews.html – Many links to other sites with reviews & lists.

http://www.iear.org/ Ed. apps review: a community effort to grade ed. apps.

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