After generating the API key Box.net will now appear in the file picker. Clicking on Box.net will bring up the login page. Box.net has recently changed it’s authentication to OAuth and Moodle developers have yet to implement this change, so clicking on login in the file picker fails.  Thankfully, a developer has created patched files for the Moodle Box.net repository which worked great on our site.  You can download his patched files here (zip file download).  He has also created video instructions and put them on YouTube. The instructions from the readme file are below.  Thank to iacordova for the fix!

In searching this issue I had a harder time than normal finding a solution, at least a free one.  I was not interested in paying for third party software.  The first solution that looked like it was heading in the right direction was found on serverfault.com in a comment.  From this comment I found a Microsoft knowledge base article detailing the install of IISADMPWD. After installing IIS and ASP.net on a secondary domain controller I followed the steps in the article to get things started.  I set the PasswordChangeFlags to 1 since I only wanted users to change passwords from the LAN and did not want to deal with the complexity of ssl.

I went to http://[server address]/iisadmpwd/aexp2b.asp and the page to change my password responded.  After entering the information and clicking submit I got a 404 error, it was sending me to an https page.  I opened the aexp2b.asp page with Notepad and found the reference to https://[server address]/iisadmpwd/achg.asp.  After changing https to http and saving the page I got my next error, stating that Either the password is too short or password uniqueness restrictions have not been met.

After digging some more I found another Microsoft knowledge base article solving a problem with users not being able to change their password in Outlook Web Access. I followed the instructions in the workaround and was able to successfully change my password!

As painful as the initial setup is I know things only get better from here, at least until Apple updates the OS.  Last semester I did not have to update or restore a single student iPad and I would expect the same thing this semester.  We will be more focused on the use the iPads and may need to update apps but that will be simple compared to the initial install.

Here are the apps that I installed for our students:
YouVerison Bible, Civil War, DocToGo, Dragon Dictation, Dropbox, Evernote, Flashcards, Google Earth, HistoryTools, iBooks, iResponsePro, Kindle, LabTimer, Math Ref, Pandora, ChemTouch, GraphicCalc, Chemistry Tutor Videos, Calc XT, The Elements, Good Reader, iThoughtsHD, Keynote, Whiteboard, Numbers, Pages, PhatPad, SketchBook Pro, USA Today, and TWC Max+.

We are using the Apple iPad cases.  I like the protection but they are very difficult to keep clean.  I will be on the lookout for a good basic case that will protect the iPads but that is not so difficult to keep looking good.

I have created an iPad Policy document that our students and parents will sign before they are permitted to take the iPad home.  You can access the document here.  I have also created a MindMap (with iThoughtsHD) that attempts to show what I am thinking for the iPad Pilot program.  I am working on a video and a page on our website, but they are not ready yet.

I’m not too excited about the first round of any of the iPad competitors…except for the possibility of HP and I think they will be just as expensive. Here are my reasons:

-Windows – Balmer has said they are not developing an OS specifically for the touch tablet but that Windows 7 is ready today. I don’t agree that Windows 7 is right for touch tablets, nor would I want to manage a network where every student had a Windows 7 device.

-Andriod – a lot more promise when the next version comes out but I think it will take Google and the vendors a year to get things worked out. It is going to be harder to develop for the range of screen sizes and device types that we are hearing about.

-Hardware – this will be the first time that most of these vendors attempt and device like this. First generation device = trouble. I don’t see the iPad as a first gen device. Apple learned from the iPhone and iPod Touch before they attempted the iPad. The other PC vendors don’t have that same mobile device experience. The mobile phone vendors have the experience with the smaller touch devices but they don’t have the PC experience. Apple has done both well and the iPad fits in a neat place in-between the 2.

The key is focusing on tools that are web based on the iPad and not app based so that we are not locked into any platform and that is going to be hard to do until HTML5 is a standard.

http://mobile.discoveryeducation.com/

I set the slate down and picked up my iPad to write down some of my thoughts and immediately thought the iPad would make a great slate product.  Being touch based and having a real display would solve the issues I was having with the other slate products.  I did not want to have to connect the iPad to a VGA cable and be tethered to the front of the room so I looked for a VNC application that would allow the iPad to control my MacBook Pro.  I downloaded the RealVNC VNC Viewer app ($9.99).  Because I was on a Mac I was able to use the built in screen sharing app after enabling screen sharing inside of sharing in system preferences.  For Windows machines I download the free RealVNC Server to make the connection.  After setting up the host computer and verifying that VNC was running, I made the connection by entering the host name or IP address and password in the VNC Viewer app on the iPad.

The VNC Viewer app behaves like VNC or Remote Desktop on a computer giving an image of your computer screen and full control of the keyboard and mouse functions.  The biggest issue I ran into was remembering that my touch was controlling the cursor on the computer just like I would use a trackpad on a laptop.  So, if my cursor is in the upper right corner of the screen and I want to click on a hyperlink in the lower left I can not just touch the hyperlink.  I have to use the touch screen like a trackpad to move the cursor of the the hyperlink and then double tap to follow the link.  This took a little getting used to but after using it for a few minutes I began to like it.  Another challenge is with multiple screens.  If you have your computer setup in a dual display configuration the VNC Viewer on the iPad will move between the displays as you drag the cursor.  It is actually a very slick implementation but it makes it harder to control from the iPad.  A final issue is writing on the iPad.  Because you are controlling the cursor and not interacting directly with the touch interface it is difficult to write.  It is usable for quick notes or for highlighting text but not for heavy writing or drawing.

I have used this setup in the classroom and it has really freed me from my computer and the front of the room.  I appreciate being able to keep my focus on the class and still see what they are seeing from the projector.  It has also been very helpful to be able to jump online and have full use of my computer without having to go back the desk.  I am confident that the iPad with a VNC connection to a computer will help teachers to be more mobile.  It will give them Smart Podium type interactivity for a fraction of the cost and with increased mobility.

http://www.labnol.org/software/keyboard-typing-shortcuts-for-iphone-ipad/13564/

The first product we were able to demo in house was the PolyVision Eno Click.  The eno was delivered by a PolyVision sales rep who went above and beyond in coming to our school to setup the demo and spending the afternoon helping me understand how to use the hardware.  He also spent a great deal of time talking about the different software options such as RM Easiteach and Wiz Teach.

The eno click is very easy to install and setup.  The board has large magnets in each corner and can be installed without any tools over a magnetic whiteboard.  There is no wiring needed to setup the board.  The pen connects with the host computer via bluetooth.  It took us about 5 minutes to get the pen to sync with OS X.  I had download the software and drivers from the PolyVision site prior to the setup so once we got bluetooth working we were able to get right to work.  The calibration of the board took another minute and we were ready to go. Another big positive of the board is that it is designed to be written on with standard dry erase makers and can be used just like a regular white board.

If you stopped here with the review you would think I was ready to go out and purchase these for every classroom in the school.  We did not do that, for a couple of reasons.  The biggest issue with the board was writing on it with the interactive pen.  It just did not feel natural and even after using it for a week and did not feel any better about it.  I do not see that it is a great tool for writing on the board.  The other big issue was that teachers would still have to have their backs turned to students to work with the board.  We also tested the eno mini slate but I found that to be very difficult to use because you can see what you are writing on.  Another issue for me was the requirement of the pen.  I have grown found of the touch response of the iPad and want an IWB that gives us similar functionality.

I do not see the PolyVision Eno Click as a bad product.  It does what it was designed to do well.  In a high school classroom I do not see the educational benefit of the eno.

We have decided to revisit this area again this summer.  I have spent some time doing research and am in the midst of testing various products.  As we progress in our evaluations I will keep you up-to-date on what we like and what we don’t.  If you’ve had successes or failures with IWBs or have a product you think we should evaluate let me know in the comments.