August 2012 issue of Geeks and Speaks is out

Geeks and Speaks

Here is the August 2012 issue of Geeks and Speaks, the monthly newsletter which highlights the great finds of the previous month. This issue is heavy on Evernote tips. If you are not already using Evernote, you should be; it is a great tool for remembering everything. I linked to a post on remote printing with Dropbox that I believe you will find useful. There are links to articles about bookmarking tools, Google+ uses, iPad tips, creating your own stock photos, ideas for leveraging Twitter, and other great programs. There is a link to an interesting activity for the classroom. I also included a link to the Webinars listed at learn.extension.org; there are always great classes going on at eXtension. Finally, there is also a link to a new book review… this time on Mobile learning. Enjoy!

July 2012 issue of Geeks and Speaks is out

Geeks and Speaks

Here is the July 2012 issue of Geeks and Speaks, the monthly newsletter which highlights the great finds of the previous month. This month I am sharing the first three of my informal learning guides; this supports my dissertation project on informal learning for Extension educators. Additionally, Theresa Chavez outlines how to do Extension reporting on an iPad, and Kelsey Roop shares her Meat Quality Assurance video series. This issue also provides some great ideas relating to blogging, a couple of articles relating to computer maintenance and security, and a few articles showing how to get the most out of Evernote. I added some articles on Google Docs, flipping instruction, Moodle course modeling, better presentations, screencasting, Twitter, and YouTube. Finally, there is also a link to a new book review… this time on Gamification. Enjoy!

How to move photos to and from your iPad using Dropbox.

Earlier today, I was asked how to get a collection of photos off of an iPad. Thinking I had the answer, I started walking the individual through the process. I soon discovered I did not have the entire process down. I took a couple of minutes to get smarter on the subject, and here is one possible method for transferring images for the iPad native photo app to Dropbox. I also included a process for transferring photos from Dropbox to the iPad. Before I explain these processes, I will explain how to capture a screenshot with the iPad.

Capturing a screenshot with the iPad

There are times when you need to capture an image of something being shown on your iPad, for example, to explain how to transfer photos to and from Dropbox. In order to capture an image, you need to be knowledgeable of two buttons:

The On/Off, Sleep/Wake button: This button is on the top of your iPad, and you use it to put your iPad’s screen to sleep or wake it up.

Home button: No matter what you’re doing, you can press the Home button at any time to display the Home screen on your iPad.

1. To capture a screenshot, navigate to the page that you wish to capture.
2. Press the On/Off button and hold it down, and then press the Home button. You should see the screen turn white. Immediately, release both buttons. This should all occur within one to two seconds.
3. Check the Photo App for your image.

Transfer images from iPad native Photo App to Dropbox

In order to transfer image from the iPad to Dropbox, you must have the completed the following:

• Created a Dropbox account
• Load the Dropbox App onto the iPad, and configured it.

Here are the steps to transfer photos from the iPad to Dropbox:

1. Check to ensure that you have images in your iPad Photo App.
2. Open Dropbox.
3. Select the Uploads button at the bottom of the Dropbox list. Note: You may have to authorize iPad to communicate with Dropbox.
   
4. Select the + button at the top of the Dropbox list.
5. Choose and upload location at the bottom of the Dropbox list, navigate to the folder that you wish to use. Select Choose.
6. Click on the photos that you wish to upload. A red circle with a checkmark should appear in each photo.
   
7. Click on the Upload button in the top right of the Dropbox list.
8. Photos should now upload to Dropbox.

Transfer images from Dropbox to the iPad Photo App

Here are the steps to transfer photos to your iPad using Dropbox:

1. Open Dropbox, and navigate to the folder with your images.
   
2. Select a photo that you want to transfer.
   
3. Select the send to button in the upper right corner, then select save photo.
   
4. Return to your Dropbox folder to repeat the process.
   

These are rather easy processes. If you get hung up, let me know and I will clarify more.

How I navigated the ASTD conference with an iPad, Evernote, and GTD

Evernote screenshot

I recently returned from the 2011 American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) conference in Orlando, Florida. On this trip I decided to approach my note taking just a little differently. Normally, I take notes with a traditional paper and pen. This time, I took all of my notes on my iPad, and it worked out wonderfully.

My primary application of choice has been and will be Evernote. Evernote allows me to capture my ideas easily and I can then organize them in notebooks, tag them, and make them available through the cloud.

Knowing I was going to the ASTD conference, I started to prepare early. Using strategies from Getting Things Done (GTD), I created a tag to identify my postings. At a minimum, I tagged them with “ASTD 2011.” I used other tags depending on the topic. All of my notes or postings were added to my Reference notebook because these were ideas I would use later but did not require a next action.

In preparation for the conference, I forwarded my airline, car, hotel, and conference information to the appropriate tag and notebook. It was very useful to have this information at my fingertips.

During the conference, I used the ASTD application extensively to schedule the sessions I wanted to attend. While in the session, I took notes directly into Evernote. I gave each session its own note page.  Any pictures I took during a session, I emailed directly to Evernote and appropriately tagged and placed in the Reference notebook.

Once I returned from the conference, I was able to use the desktop Evernote client to help assemble my trip report. By using Evernote and the GTD strategies, I feel I was more prepared and I worked less. Normally, I have to do double duty on my notes, when I write them on a legal pad and then transcribed them to my trip report. With Evernote, I had the additional benefit of being able to search through my notes immediately.

Here are a couple of lessons I would like to pass on: 1). ensure your iPad is fully charged before starting the day; I came close to running out of power and 2). spend time to prepare for note capturing before you actually get to the conference.

I had a tremendously positive experience using this method; I expect to continue to using my iPad and Evernote to capture conference notes well into the future.