Arkansas IDEAS Contacts

Contact: Arkansas IDEAS Help Desk
Phone:   1-800-662-2386
E-mail:   arideastech@aetn.org    or     ideas@aetn.org
M – F  8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Contact: Arkansas IDEAS Help (Crowley’s Ridge ESC)
Person:   Leon Brown
Phone:   1-870-578-5426
E-mail:  lbrown@crmail.k12.ar.us
M – F  8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Print from your iPad to any Printer!

Printopia 2 has made printing from an iPad or iPhone so much easier. It is not an app you install on your mobile device but a download for your Mac.

Printopia 2 allows your mobile device to print to a shared printer on your Mac. In addition, you can send an image or other doc to your Mac or to Dropbox as a pdf.

Great possibilities for use in the classroom!

Many schools are jumping in and purchasing class sets of iPods or iPads. Printopia 2 adds another way for students to save work from their mobile device. Students can send their work to a Printopia 2 enabled Mac computer or to a classroom Dropbox account. Worried about print costs? Don’t be! Printopia 2 allows you to print a pdf “virtually” without sending it to your printer, saving money on paper. Of course, you would be able to print to any shared printer enabled on your Mac.

So don’t worry about AirPrint printers and Printer apps for your mobile devices. Try Printopia 2.

On a personal note I have tested Printopia 2 and have printed to an old HP LaserJet 1320 and an HP Color Laser Jet 4600n. Printopia 2 worked flawlessly. When testing the “Send to Mac” feature, again it was flawless and sent an image instantly to my Mac computer. Installation is simple and in about five minutes you will be printing from your mobile device!

http://www.ecamm.com/mac/printopia/

About: ARKANSAS on iTunes U

Here are a few links to help you on your search for information about Arkansas on iTunes U.

FAQ

Wiki

Provider Packet

Help Stop Cyberbullying!!!

I ran across this video from Childnet International on YouTube dealing with Cyberbullying and had a chance to play it recently during a workshop on internet safety.

Net Cetera

There is not a shortage of cybersecurity tips on the web but it may be hard to find resources that are applicable to students, teachers, and parents all in one place.  OnGaurd Online provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.(http://www.onguardonline.gov/default.aspx)

There are numerous tips, games, and videos that will address many of the worries about online safety.  OnGuard Online also offers a free booklet called Net Cetera-Chatting with Kids About Being Online.  We have ordered this free booklet to give to workshop participants.  Some school districts have expressed interest in handing these to parents at parent / teacher functions, which is a great idea.

Recent studies have shown that internet safety is still not reaching every student.  OnGuard Online makes it easier to get the message out.  I always liked the analogy that letting a child access the internet is no different than handing them the keys to a car.  You better be sure they know the dangers that lie in wait.

You can order free copies of Net Cetera at bulkorder.ftc.gov.

IDEAS and My Events Registration

STIN Lookup

Arkansas IDEAS provides Arkansas educators with a variety of professional development opportunities. Arkansas IDEAS is also working to bring registration for cooperative and state workshops into the portal. Though dates are not set to begin the registration system, pilot programs have began at certain schools and cooperatives. This system will take the place of your shoebox and is called My Events.  A State Teacher Identification Number (STIN) is needed to register.  Click on the link below for directions on how to obtain your STIN through your district.

STIN Lookup

PASCO (Science)

While at the Educator’s Technology Conference in Springdale, AR this past week, I attended a workshop discussing the PASCO Spark Science Learning System.  For those of you that are not familiar, PASCO , according to their website description “Offers a variety of interfaces and sensors (probes) bundled with computer-based activities for chemistry, biology, physics and general science”.  The Touch Screen Learning System was very impressive and may remind you of Vernier’s LabQuest.  While looking through the catalog I noticed a free app from this company that includes four built in experiments (measuring acceleration).  The app is called SparkVue and can be downloaded from the App Store.

Aside from the built in experiments the app will allow you to use over 70 different probes along with the bluetooth PASPORT AirLink 2 ($179.00 on website).  There is no cost to use the built in experiments.

Arkansas iTunesU

The Arkansas Department of Education will begin its presence in iTunesU on August 16th, 2010