Tablet_Tableau: Basics for Education

• iPages vs Word
• Similarities
• Both offer advanced text editors and there are many options to embellish the document with pictures, charts, and symbols. 
• Both offer online storage: Microsoft utilizes OneDrive and Dropbox where Apple has the iCloud Drive.
• Both allow the user to work on a document at the same time with another person. 
• Differences 
• Word is better for note-taking and outlines.  When creating an outlined list Word recognizes a tab to be a new indent and gives it a new bullet, and a backspace (before information is typed) means the user wants to go back one level in the outline.  Pages moves the bullet to the right when the user presses the tab key, but the move is minimal and the bullet does not change.  Additionally, if the users backspaces Pages erases the bullet and the user must manually put in a new bullet at the desired indentation. 
• Pages paintbrush provides an easier method for modifying different components of the document.  All you have to do is select what you would like to edit-text, images, charts-then select the paintbrush and it will open a separate box with multiple editing tools. 
• An extensive comparison of Microsoft Word and Apple Pages can be found at the website titled Macworld
• Box.net
• Box.net is an online storage space that allows the user to store everything from documents to photos and presentations to videos. 
• This program also allows the user to save documents for offline use. 
• Uploading Documents
• iPad
1. Pages has a sharing option that allows the user to upload documents to different accounts such as iCloud and and Box.net.
2. Uploading is very user friendly. 
3. Photo editing is more difficult on the iPad, but document editing is just as easy. 
• Computer
1. I uploaded the document using the web browser and searching for a document from the computer, this was like any other upload. 
2. Editing the photo I uploaded required the download of different desktop application.
• iThought
• Review
• iThought and mind-mapping applications were designed for professionals.  There intended purpose was task management.  iThought allows the user to expand and collapse diagrams.  Each individual web and box can be manipulated.  
• iThought is equipped with a shortcut to creating new webs.  Three returns creates an branch from the current web and three spaces creates a daughter to the web you are on. 
• Classroom Use
• Although iThought was designed with professionals in mind I think it would be a great tool for webbing in the classroom.  Teachers instruct students on webbing techniques to aid them in brainstorming and note taking. 
• Macsparky is a blog with more information about iThoughts and iApps in general. 
• Safari vs Rover  
• Similarities
• Both are equipped for your typical web browsing needs such as viewing and interacting with web pages and using search engines. 
• Rover is designed for safe web browsing and Safari offers many filters to protect viewers from adult content.
• Both include a "tabbed browsing" feature.
• Differences
• Rover is designed as a browsing app and specifically equipped with educational games. Furthermore, it is a supplement for applications that need flash software that Safari does not support. 
• Rover requires significantly less bandwidth for operation than Safari. 
• My Preference 
• In the classroom, Rover seems to be a necessary app. If the classroom is equipped with iPads (as apposed to Android or Microsoft tablets) Rover would allow the teacher to be more confident that the students will find clean results in their searches.  Additionally, Rover allows students to play games and watch videos that require flash software that is not applicable to Safari.