The iPad in the Public Speaking course

Regular readers know that I have had my iPad for about 9 months as part of our university Quality Enhancement Plan and I am rapidly wondering how I ever taught without it. A few weeks ago, I gave a presentation about using the iPad in the Public Speaking course. Since then, I have received emails and inquiries about apps, iPads, and instruction. I thought we might all benefit from sharing our favorite apps and iPad (or other tablet) use in the college classroom.

Below you will see the Prezi used in my presentation along with links to my most used apps below.

iPad in Public Speaking classroom on Prezi

The apps depicted within the Prezi above (and a few more) are:

• CourseSmart. My students use a text that has an e-version, and the app to explore their e-library is very user friendly. Plus, the app is free! Students can easily access the text without carrying around a book and that makes it more likely the students will explore the text, have access during class, and look up/bookmark terms. 
• The Attendance App. This was previously explored in another blog entry (see "Easier attendance: There's an app for that" - January 2012)
• YouSeeU. Again, the YouSeeU site has saved the day for my online course and now they have an app for students! (see also "Online Public Speaking?! - YouSeeU to the rescue" - October, 2011)
•  Blackboard. We are currently using Blackboard 9.1 and my students love having access through an app. While I can't do EVERYTHING I want through the app (like grade or re-set exams), I can certainly post announcements and materials and review work submitted by students.
•  The iPad camera and video chat options are great when teaching online and you have many choices. There is, of course, the iPad's (iPod's, iPhone's) Camera/Facetime features which foster connectivity. The students can easily record their speeches right to the YouSeeU site using the camera feature (they just click it over to video camera mode) and can access each other or the professor with Facetime (or the Skype app, or Oovoo app, or Yahoo IM app, etc.).
• There are tutorials about public speaking such as Public Speaking Pal. Since we have an iPad initiative, my students get this little app pre-loaded (along with most of the apps on this list) on their iPad.
• Students can incorporate presentation apps, too. My favorite is Prezi (rather obviously) and this helps students to work with presentational aids and visual cues throughout the semester. The app is user friendly and intuitive (called Prezi Viewer)
• Students can explore speaking notes through apps like Promptster Pro and many others offered through the App store. 

I have a folder for the public speaking class with timers, notes, speech samples, books, and apps (the majority of which are free) and refer to the folder every day when teaching. I have another folder of general class items, such as the attendance app, the Blackboard app, a few grade book apps I am testing out, etc. 

I find my tablet is a great resource as a teaching tool. When integrated purposefully, it can enhance the class environment. 

Using the iPad has been an on-going journey for me. Consider a few of the many blogs about this process below:

"iPad and higher ed: making the transition" - January 2012

"From paper to app: productivity plans for a new semester" - January 2012

"Teaching presentational aids with Prezi and the iPad" - March 2012

"Easier attendance-there's an app for that!" - January 2012

"The lost ink pen" - October 2011

and "Gadget girl" where I first ponder if an iPad could work for me - February 2011

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