Skip to main content

What apps do I use?

I've been looking at the #appnesty hashtag with interest and thought I'd share what I use, rather than what's on my phone.  In the process, I looked back on this 2012 post to see what has changed.  Personally, I don't think that a story full of screenshots is that useful to readers, so instead here are some of my thoughts about apps.

Principles

Firstly, I have a set of principles about my App usage.  This has meant that  I've kept my usage sustainable.
1. Apps must be multi-platform and run through a broswer.  It shouldn't matter about the flavour of device, but the power of the tool. This goes for a sync function also - these days there shouldn't be a need to get stuff from one place to another. It's not about the device but behaviour and learning.
2. Separate personal use and work use. Of course, there is some cross over, but how i use my personal apps I leave to your imagination....
3. Use what we've got but better. Originally a BETT related pun, but I believe that we should use a limited selection of tools really, really well.  Constantly changing to use the latest often leaves staff behind.  
4. Would I recommend the App to students. If I wouldn't, then it's not worth pursuing.
5. There has to be a genuine learning purpose to the App.
6. I still use analogue. Indeed, I think and plan analogue with blank paper and really fit, tactile notebooks.
7. I need to share what I'm working on.
What I use, daily.
With the advent of the iPhone my professional life was saved, just the basic functions of a calendar, reminders were great.
Dropbox Holds everything, both personal and professional. Myself and former colleagues pay for the professional version.  Means i can get my entire curriculum anywhere.  Excellent recent functionality includes being able to edit using Office from the device and leave comments.
Evernote combined with the If This Then That recipes it's my notetaker of choice.  
OneNote - this is the jewel in the Microsoft Office crown - a great tool and digital exercise book. I use this to organise research and meetings.
Google stuff - Used to collaborate on various shared documents and keep an eye on various forms and files. This includes Google Earth and Maps
Microsoft Office Stuff - I don't believe in free stuff - there is no service level agreement, most of my stuff uses Office as, quite frankly, it's better than the competition.  It's how you use rather than what you use.
Over - my photo thing of choice
MindNode - really useful mind mapping tool
Office Lens - Really useful scanning App - some of the best Apps are from Microsoft.
Collect - Really nice App designed for 365 type photo projects.  Reminds me, which is important.
I could go on to my collection of running apps.... but that's for latr....
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

High Impact, Low effort

This month is the start of the #29daysofwriting challenge.  I enjoyed this last year and will be using my Staffrm account to post.  I'll also be reporting here, both to give a little more detail and to keep a log of what I have written. The challenge developed a great sense of community last year, which is why I'm choosing to write on Staffrm. What I would say to those who are new to writing or don't want to run out of ideas is: Write for yourself. Clarify an idea, write something out loud. The process of distilling thoughts into writing is immensely beneficial to your practice. If other read, comment and respond, that's a bonus. Ignore the muppets who know nothing of your context, style or students. Mix it up - I like to read about real stuff from real classrooms and schools and also about other stuff.  If we always write about school, how does that work for workload? If you've nothing nice to say, don't say it. So, the following has been 
5 comments
Read more

What makes a learning experience profound? Personal reflections and possible implications for classroom practice.

I have recently begun a Leadership Pathways journey.  As part of the first core day, we were asked to reflect on a profound learning experience. This got me thinking about how many profound learning experiences I have both been involved in, and how many I have been able to give to others.  Our group came up with a huge long list, but these are my five. Emotional Connected Demanding Reflective Collaborative As always, these are personal thoughts and quite mixed up.  I put them here so that I can look back on them (plus they’d get lost inside my world-cup-free brain) 1. Emotional I can’t think of a time where deep learning hasn’t engaged my emotions.  From being awe inspired to that tingle feeling when a student gets a light bulb moment.  From this-is-the-happiest-day-ever, to I-think-I’m-about-to die.  How often do we engage the emotions of those we teach?  Here, I would argue that having a safe learning environment is not always conducive to profound
4 comments
Read more

The danger of Teaching and Twitter conversations: poorly formed bipolar arguments.

Sometimes in life, there really are only two options.  Get the wrong one and you can look like a muppet.  Take this useful sign for the toilets in Morocco.  I successfully navigated it, choosing the right option.  The result? No egg on my face.  As a mountain leader, there are many right or wrong decisions that I’ve faced, as there are all over life.  It’s not a good idea to let inexperienced young people walk themselves down Snowdon.  They may die or be seriously injured.  If someone is showing the signs and symptoms of hyperthermia, you need to treat it fast in a specified way.  There is no real arguing with this sign: Other options are less obvious.  Take this sign recently spotted near to where I live: Now, I wouldn’t consider sleeping in a bin.  However, faced with a sub-zero night, I could see the appeal.  The danger? Being tipped into one of those huge lorries with a compactor. (by the way, I only really considered all of this thanks to questions from my four year old boy).
1 comment
Read more