TECH- iPad Basics

For this assignment, I explored Keynote. I have used PowerPoint on a desktop in the past. Creating a Presentation in Keynote was relatively simple. The way the software is structured, it walks you through the steps of creation. Although PowerPoint has these options (and more) available, I appreciated that the program prompted me for each decision. PowerPoint only prompts selection of a template sytle when first opening the program. One negative of using iPads to create this type of document,  compared to a desktop, is that many formatting/selection options are simply not available. This would be one benefit of using PowerPoint versus Keynote. Both programs offer the choice of adding an unlimited numbers of slides, inserting textboxes and other graphics of choice, as well as the ability to organize the order of  the slides being presented. I believe if I were in a pinch and needed to create a Presentation in a limited amount of time, I would be more likely to select Keynote. Often times, the great number of formatting options available in PowerPoint can feel overwhelming and like you are attempting a daunting task.

Because I do not typically use an iPad, I noticed while comparing and contrasting Safari and Rover that I simply did not have as many options available. Because of the size of the screen and the need to streamline information presented on a tablet, many applications do not offer near as many functions as they would on a laptop or desktop computer. There were things I liked and disliked about both applications. On a basic level, I was not a fan of Rover's logo or style (mainly choice of color). For me, it is a bit distracting and obnoxious. I appreciated that Safari listed an option to airdrop to friends nearby or to share through email/social media. On the other hand, Safari seems geared toward the general population. I like that Rover's purpose is to serve teachers and students. Unfortunately, unlike Safari, Rover is not free and must be purchased (one time fee of $9.99). This is a game changer. An appealing setting on Rover is the ability to turn on a safe guard to protect children from accessing sites that may be inappropriate. It was a tough decision, but I would have to say I am partial to Safari because I prefer the layout of images/web links presented when you first enter your search subject. I enjoy seeing both when I am researching a word I am not familiar with. It is useful to see a short summary under the image of the topic. If I want a quick response without having to wade through link after link of unrelated information, Safari is my selection. One thought, maybe the use of Rover would be more applicable for younger ages and Safari for the older ones? This may ensure each group's search needs are met.

I enjoyed using iThought more than I did Google's Drawings. There is something about using your fingers to select and manipulate the bubbles in your mind-mapping. Often, when I am trying to organized my thoughts, I want the ability to totally rearrange everything. This seems less of a task on iThought. I like being able to enlarge the selection with two fingers to get a closer look. I can see this being used in the classroom for any pre-writing activity. It would be useful for making notes while reading a large body of text. It would also be neat to see a group of students use the application in working on a group project. The icons at the top are easy to interpret without having to "click to find out". I like the option of creating an additional, sub-bubble of sorts to include additional information about a given broader topic.