Mobile Development Options - Part 2: MIT App Inventor

by Mark Giglione

Mobile Development Options - Part 2: MIT App Inventor

MIT App Inventor is a web based, visual programming environment for creating Android apps.  App Inventor’s Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is web based with a graphical user interface. Application programming is accomplished by stacking and connecting graphical building block components, reminiscent of jigsaw puzzle pieces.

App Inventor was originally developed by Google but the project is now maintained by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The intent of the App Inventor project is to provide an environment in which non-technical users can learn application development concepts without initially learning a formal programming language. The initial target audience was high school and college students but the software is open source and free to use by any interested party.

App Inventor is also representative of a class of web based, graphical development environments for building both Android and iOS applications. Many of these environments are commercial; typically the commercial services have a low entry cost initially but subsequently additional services for developing and publishing applications may need to be purchased. However, these services are broadly similar in concept to the MIT App Inventor and App Inventor can provide a “free” introduction for exploring and evaluating this type of mobile app development environment.

MIT App Inventor
http://appinventor.mit.edu/

Wikipedia: App Inventor for Android
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/App_inventor

Midnight Assignments - How do you set the date and time?

by Alan Regan

"I have an assignment due at midnight. How do I enter the date and time?"

This tip comes from one of our professors, Dr. Chris Heard of Seaver College's Religion Division.  Dr. Heard had an assignment due at midnight and he wasn't sure how to record the time.  Does he record the time as 24:00:00 (PM) on the day the assignment is due or 00:00:00 (AM) the next day?

Let's say that you want to have students submit an assignment by midnight on Tuesday, June 18, 2013.  You would set the due date to Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 00:00:00 AM.

Courses (powered by Sakai) will not accept 24:00:00 PM as a valid date.  The correct option for midnight is 12:00 AM the following day or 00:00:00 in military time.

Several other professors have chosen to simply set the deadline to 11:59:59 PM the day of the due assignment as another workaround.

Example 1: Activity is due at midnight on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 (they have all day Tuesday to complete the activity)

• Assignments: Jun 19 2013 12:00 AM
• Forums: 6/19/2013 12:00 AM
• Tests & Quizzes: 06/19/2013 00:00:00 AM

Example 2: Activity is due at noon on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 (they have until midday Tuesday to complete the activity)

• Assignments: Jun 18 2013 12:00 PM
• Forums: 6/18/2013 12:00 PM
• Tests & Quizzes:  06/18/2013 12:00:00 PM

We hope this "time" tip helps you in future assignments!

Mobile Development Options - Part 1: Overview

By Mark Giglione

Mobile Development Options - Part 1: Overview

This series will provide brief introductions to options for mobile app development with links to pursue each topic in more depth. The general plan is to begin with technologies that do not require a background in programming (or otherwise require traditional programming skills) and then explore options that progressively involve acquiring more technical expertise.

Part 1: Overview
Part 2: MIT App Inventor
Part 3: Mobile Web Development with Dreamweaver
Part 4: Titanium Appcelerator & Titanium Studio
Part 5: Processing
Part 6: Xcode for Apple iOS Development
Part 7: Eclipse for Android Development
Part 8: Other Tools and Wrap-Up

Overview

There are two primary strategy choices for creating mobile applications. The first is to create a ‘native’ application targeted for a specific device or device operating system (e.g. iOS devices, such as an iPad or iPhone, and Android devices like the Amazon Kindle). The second is to develop a website or web application that is designed for viewing by a mobile device.  

A native application is tailored and optimized for use on a specific device and is usually distributed through an online marketplace (for example  iTunes for iOS devices). Typically a native application requires the use of a traditional computer programming environment such as Xcode or Eclipse (but alternative development approaches are available).  

Mobile websites and mobile web applications can have a similar look and interface conventions as a native mobile application but are created using the tools and technologies that are typically used to create conventional web sites (e. g. HTML, CSS and Javascript). This has the advantage of utilizing tools that may already be familiar from previous web development work and the web based application is directly accessible from the web without first being downloaded and installed. While a native application may be a better choice where performance or device specific features are required, mobile web applications can be quite suitable for implementing simple to moderately complex applications. Mobile web applications are for the most part inherently “cross platform” since they are web rather than device based. Additionally, many mobile web applications can also be packaged and distributed as a standalone native applications.

The next installment will discuss the open source MIT App Inventor tool which uses codeless “visual” programming for creating native Android applications. App Inventor is also representative of a class of mobile development tools where the development environment is web based (rather than running on the desktop) but the final product is a native application.

Get Citations Right Through Pepperdine Libraries Search

by Alan Regan

Citing Made Easy: Leverage Pepperdine Libraries Search

You've asked your students to write a research paper but their citations are incorrect or consistent. In addition to pointing them to Pepperdine Libraries' valuable research tips, you can also point them to a solution that has likely been staring them in the face.

To find books and articles on a desired research topic, your class is hopefully taking advantage of the many physical and digital resources offered by our Pepperdine Libraries.  These materials are available through a powerful, central search tool, powered by WorldCat.  In addition to finding these resources, the tool will also provide the correct citation based on several common formats.

Instructions:

1. Visit http://library.pepperdine.edu.
2. Enter your search term or book title in the main search box.
   
   
   
3. Click the title of a search result.
4. Click "Cite/Export" in the options near the top right, next to "Print" and "Email."
5. Click the desired format, e.g. APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA, and Turabian.
6. Copy the full citation.
   
   
   

It's that easy to find the correct citation for a book, article, or other resource.

Social Learning

by Hong Kha

Encouraging Social Learning Tools in the Classroom

We still have faculty who forbid students from using their cell phones and laptops in class because they don't want students to be distracted. I say take those weaknesses and turn them into strengths. Engage your students by using their own devices. Tools such as Today's Meet, and Poll Everywhere can help you incorporate social learning to help your students interact and understand the material you're teaching. Websites like http://todaysmeet.com lets you create a back channel allowing students to comment or ask questions while you lead a class lecture or discussion. Other sites such as http://www.polleverywhere.com allows you to create an interactive poll to get a pulse on student understanding during a lecture. Sites like these empower students to interact during class lectures by using their own laptops and smart phones. With today's technology, I'd encourage you to stop discouraging the use of technology in the classroom but to allow them to empower you in new ways of engaging your students in the classroom.


Poll Everywhere
http://www.polleverywhere.com

Today's Meet
http://todaysmeet.com

ELI 7 Things You Should Know About Backchannels Communication, Educase
http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-backchannel-communication

Summary of Social Development Theory by Vygotsky
http://www.learning-theories.com/vygotskys-social-learning-theory.html

Finding free images in a Google Image search

by Alan Regan

Google Images: Finding Photos You Can Freely Use

There are millions of photos and graphics available on the web. Some of these images we can use freely in our presentations or materials, others we can't because they are covered by copyright restrictions. How do we find the images we can freely use?

One way is by using the advanced features in Google Image search.

Instructions:

1. Visit http://www.google.com and click Images in the top menu. (You may also visit http://images.google.com.)
2. Enter your search term, e.g. "desert."
3. On the listings page, click the gear icon (Options) at the top right.
4. Select Advanced Search.
5. Scroll down to the "Usage rights" option.
6. Select "Free to use or share" or "Free to use or share, even commercially," depending on your needs.
7. Click Advanced Search.
8. The results will be filtered by images listed under Creative Commons licenses.

Other Sources:

• Flickr http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons
• Stock.xchng http://www.sxc.hu/
• Freerange http://freerangestock.com

Reminders:

Of course, you still need to do your homework. Don't assume each image is automatically free to use. Visit the site and view the page for information on the Creative Commons license used and/or any other notice the copyright owner may have added to the page.

Just as we cite sources in our academic writing, we must also cite our use of images. Be sure to place a "Photo By" credit near the image and place the full citation on your works cited page or slide. Although MLA doesn't seem to require it, I always like to place the web address (URL) in the citation.

Finally, many of these images, especially from Google searches, will come from third-party websites.  Use normal caution when browsing unknown websites. Be sure your anti-virus software is enabled and up-to-date. Also, read the pages carefully. Some advertisements are deceptive and you may accidentally click on an ad rather than the view or download button for a photo. When in doubt, close the window or cancel the download.

I hope this information helps you find images you can freely use in instruction or speaking events!

Embedding a Google Doc Into Courses

by Landon Phillips

Using Resources to Link a Google Doc Into Courses

Google Docs offers a fantastic way to enable students to collaborate on group projects or create living documents that can be shared with the entire class. But did you know that you can embed these documents directly into your Courses site? The Resources tool enables you to do this.

1. Open up the Google Doc you’d like to share, and click the blue Share button in the top right of the screen.
2. By default, the document will be set to "Private - Only the people listed below can access." Click the blue Change... link to the right.
3. Select the option "Anyone with the link."
4. (Optional) If you’d like your students to be able to edit the document in addition to simply seeing it, click the blue "can view" drop down button, and then select "can edit."
5. Click the green Save button.
6. At the top of the share window, you'll see the "link to share." Copy that link by right clicking it and selecting "Copy." You can also use the keyboard shortcuts CTRL-C (Windows) or Command-C (Mac).
7. Log into Courses and click the tab for your site.
8. Click Resources in the left menu.
9. Click Add next to the folder into which you want to place the link.
10. Select Add Web Links (URL).
11. In the ‘Web Address (URL)’ box paste your Google Doc link by right clicking and selecting "Paste." You can also use the keyboard shortcuts CTRL-V (Windows) or Command-V (Mac).
12. In the "Website Name" box enter a title for the Google Doc link as you’d like it to appear for your participants.
13. Click Add Web Links Now.

The Google Doc is now available to your site participants.

Did you know you can also link to a Google Doc as your class syllabus? You can either place the link in Resources or use the "redirect" feature in the Syllabus tool.