The Class Nerd

The Final Exam

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 09:11:23 -0500

Robby on Twitter - @robbyburns

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 09:44:55 -0500

🔗 Spending Time with iPadOS 13 — Robby Burns

This week on Robby’s personal blog, he shared some of his favorite features of Apple’s upcoming iPadOS 13. While he’s been on the beta far longer than I have, I agree with this list.

I did want to highlight two features I think will be most beneficial for teachers and students in an education setting: Desktop Class Safari and PencilKit.

Unfortunately, education is a field slow to embrace the latest technologies, and services like Infinite Campus, my school’s SIS, have been difficult to use from iOS’s version of Safari. No more. With a desktop class browser, all sites teachers need to use should be accessible from an iPad. I say should because I’m sure there will be outliers, but this is a big step forward.

With PencilKit, app developers will be able to incorporate Apple’s own Apple Pencil writing tools into their apps instead of having to design their own. In my classroom, I model writing and math problems regularly using GoodNotes over my projector. While GoodNotes’s pencil experience is good, it is slightly different than other apps like Apple Notes. Now I will can have a consistent writing experience across my entire device if developers adopt PencilKit.

I’m only on day 2 of my personal beta test with iPadOS 13, but working from an iPad has never been so good. I can’t wait to see how teachers are able to use it starting this fall.

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 09:27:16 -0500

Agenda 6.0 Adds Full Integration with Apple’s Reminders – MacStories

I have been on the beta of this feature, but with it being summer time haven’t been able to really utilize it in lesson planning. That said, in combination with Apple’s updates to the Reminders app coming to iOS, iPadOS and macOS this fall, Agenda and Reminders has the potential to be a powerhouse tool for teachers.

MindNode 6

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 10:50:12 -0500

Recently, Robby and I released an episode of The Class Nerd Podcast devoted to mind mapping. We spent most of our time discussing the amazing app MindNode.

Today, MindNode 6 is being released on The App Store.

I won’t go into all of the new features here. You can read about those on the Ideas on Canvas blog.

I want to specifically mention one aspect of MindNode 6 I think would be great for teachers: Focus Mode.

Focus mode brings only the nodes you want to the foreground, which will be great for presenting content to students. I’m excited to try it in my own classroom once our marathon of state testing is done.

MindNode 6 is a free upgrade for users of MindNode 5. It can be purchased both on iOS and the Mac.

Grader+

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 09:36:00 -0500

If you’ve been with The Class Nerd for a while, you may remember the name Peter Davison-Reiber. He contributed several articles to the site a couple years ago. Well today, Peter is releasing his first app to the App Store: a great utility for teachers called Grader+.

Peter created this app out of a need he had in the classroom. In his own words:

What I wanted was a way to record an individual mark with a single tap, and then save each mark quickly and easily. That core functionality was the inspiration of this app, and then the other features grew from there.

You can check out his blog post to learn more about the features.

Grader+ is available on the App Store for free with a $.99 in-app purchase to unlock dark mode and CSV export.

It’s a great tool, and I encourage you to check it out.

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 09:34:51 -0500

Today, Flexibits has released Cardhop for iOS which we discussed in our parent communication episode. It’s a really great way to manage contacts (especially groups) on iOS, and is on sale for $3.99 at launch.

Semester 2 Episode 10 - The Wrap Up Grab Bag

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 21:49:00 -0500

In the final episode of Semester 2, Robby and Craig revisit lesson planning. Then they get into a discussion of “Sticky Tech,” or apps and services that they keep coming back to.

Previous Lesson Planning Episode

Agenda - iOS, Mac

Bear - iOS, Mac

KeepIt - iOS, KeepIt

GoodNotes 5

OmniOutliner - iOS, Mac

DayOne - iOS, Mac

PDF Expert - iOS, Mac

Overcast

Exit Ticket

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Tue, 26 Mar 2019 21:47:20 -0500

We are aware of an issue with the latest episode and are working to fix it.

Semester 2 Episode 9 - Mind Mapping

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 08:01:09 -0500

In today’s episode, Craig and Robby explorer tools for mind mapping and how it can be useful for teachers in the classroom.

Show Outline in MindNode

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Semester 2 Episode 8 - Shortcuts

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 09:49:04 -0500

In this week’s episode, Craig and Robby try to explain what Shortcuts are (though Apple’s naming doesn’t make it easy), share several of their favorite shortcuts as inspiration, and then get to some listener questions.

Also, Craig’s kids were home during the recording of this episode…and you can definitely tell. Apologies.

MacStories Workflow Review

GoodNotes 5

Shortcuts App on the App Store

Drafts Episode

Number Talks Book

Number Talks Shortcut

Podcast Posting Blog Post

Robby’s Seating Chart Shortcuts

OmniGraffle

OmniOutliner

Start Concert Band

Craig’s Instagram Shortcut

Robby’s Wake Up Shortcut

Robby’s Coffee Shortcut

Robby’s Go to Work Shortcut

Robby’s Good Night Shortcut

Craig’s Makeup Work Shortcut

Variables Tutorial

Canvas Workflow Series Episode 1

MacSparky Video Field Guide

Matthew Cassinelli Twitter

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Semester 2 Episode 7 - Calendars and Time Management

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 13:22:05 -0500

In this episode, Craig and Robby discuss the differences between task and time management, then get into the apps and workflows they use to manage their busy teacher schedules.

The Class Nerd - Semester 2 Episode 3 - Task, Reminder, Project, and Habit Apps, Oh My!

Timepage

Calendar 366

BusyCal - Mac, iOS

Fantastical - iPhone, iPad, Mac

Fantastically Good Event Parser Drafts Action

Google Calendar

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Semester 2 Episode 6 - Parent Communication

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 06:58:05 -0500

In this week’s episode, Craig and Robby dive deep into ways to make parent communication easier using technology. Robby gives helpful tips, and Craig goes off the JavaScript deep end.

To Automate or Not Episode

Scriptable Script for Saving Contacts to Contact Group on iOS

Spark

Cardhop

FileMaker Episode

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Semester 2 Episode 5 - Research and Reading Apps

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 06:47:28 -0500

Teachers (and hopefully people in other professions) should always be lifelong learners. In this week’s episode, Craig and Robby share their workflows, primarily on iPad, to help make continuing education and learning easier.

PDF/Research Apps

Book Reading Apps

Kindle
Apple Books

Club MacStories

Everything Buckets (Again)

Scrivener

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Wed, 13 Feb 2019 10:22:00 -0500

I should clarify that Agenda probably wouldn’t say the biggest features is a bug fix, but it is to me who has been experiencing this bug for a while.

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 10:20:11 -0500

The folks at Agenda just released version 5.0, and the biggest feature is a fix for an exporting bug. It’s what initially turned me off from using Agenda as my lesson planning app. With this fixed, I can whole-heartedly recommend Agenda for teachers.

Semester 2 Episode 4 - Handwritten Note Apps

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 09:16:37 -0500

In this week’s episode, Craig makes Robby’s editing job difficult, and we discuss apps for taking handwritten notes on iPad.

The Class Nerd - Semester 1, Episode 4 - Drafts

The Class Nerd - Semester 1, Episode 3 - Notes

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Tue, 12 Feb 2019 09:04:57 -0500

We’re having some technical difficulties getting today’s episode posted, and both of us have started our school days. We hope to have it posted by lunch time. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Semester 2 Episode 3 - Task, Reminder, Project, and Habit Apps, Oh My!

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 09:17:50 -0500

In this week’s episode, Craig and Robby get into a listen requested topic discussing the differences between different types of apps in the productivity category and how we use them.

OmniFocus (iOS), (Mac)

Things 3 (iPhone) (iPad)

Craig’s Things Blog Post

“Getting Things Done” by David Allen

Habitica (Robby referred to this in episode as Habit RPG)

Shortcut for Note Tasks

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Semester 2 Episode 2 - To Automate or Note to Automate

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 07:38:50 -0500

Craig and Robby wax philosophical about automation, and then turn to everything bucket apps.

Semester 1 Episode 3 - Notes

Bear

Drafts 5

Semester 1 Episode 4 - Drafts

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Semester 2 Episode 1 - Apple Watch in the Classroom

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 07:44:26 -0500

In the first episode of a new semester, Robby and Craig discuss their new iPad Pros and then how they use their Apple Watches in the classroom.

Robby Blog Post about iPads

Semester 1 Health Episode

Apple Watch Complication

Semester 1 Drafts Episode

Craig’s Watch Face

Modular

Date
Things
Calendar
Activity

Robby’s Watch Face

Infograph Face

Alarm
OmniFocus
Date
Calendar
Timer
Activity
Drafts 5
Carrot Weather
Waterminder

Apps

1Password
Due
Things
OmniFocus
Mail
Slack
Timelogger
Spire
Breathe
Tempo
Tonal Energy
Tacit (pulse tempo)
Keynote

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Extra Credit Episode 1 - Apple's Big September

Sun, 30 Sep 2018 18:44:46 -0500

In this bonus episode, Craig and Robby talk a bit (ok, a lot) about the products Apple is releasing in September, and then move on to their favorite features and apps of watchOS 5 and iOS 12.

The Class Nerd

The Final Exam

MindNode 6

Grader+

Semester 2 Episode 10 - The Wrap Up Grab Bag

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Semester 2 Episode 9 - Mind Mapping

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Semester 2 Episode 8 - Shortcuts

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Semester 2 Episode 7 - Calendars and Time Management

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Semester 2 Episode 6 - Parent Communication

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Semester 2 Episode 5 - Research and Reading Apps

PDF/Research Apps

Book Reading Apps

Everything Buckets (Again)

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Semester 2 Episode 4 - Handwritten Note Apps

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Semester 2 Episode 3 - Task, Reminder, Project, and Habit Apps, Oh My!

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Semester 2 Episode 2 - To Automate or Note to Automate

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Semester 2 Episode 1 - Apple Watch in the Classroom

Craig’s Watch Face

Robby’s Watch Face

Apps

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Extra Credit Episode 1 - Apple's Big September

Apps

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