teacher

How to figure out the new iTunes U

With the spotlight turned on education after Apple's latest media event, iTunes U has gotten a facelift as well as some important resource pages on Apple's Web site.

iTunes U is a source for hundreds of thousands of lectures, videos, books, and other resources originating from many of the world's leading educational institutions. There are thousands of subjects to choose from for those wishing to supplement their education using an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC.

To get better acquainted with iTunes U, Apple has put up a help guide for new users on its Web site. It … Read more

The 404 975: Where we're making educated guesses (podcast)

The format of today's episode is a little different, as we discuss all the products to come out of Apple's Education Event at the Guggenheim Museum here in New York, along with Bridget Carey who reports from the field on iBooks 2, iBooks Author, and the revamped iTunes U platform.

Even after the press conference is over, we're still left with questions about hardware deployment and format compatibility, so CNET's David Carnoy joins us as well to give his take on the e-publishing industry and the challenges Apple will face alongside district budget cuts and existing … Read more

The 404 938: Where crikey! That's so grouse, Gary! (podcast)

CNET Australia transplant Ty Pendlebury joins the cast of The 404 to talk about the brand-spanking-new GTA V trailer, online sales tax, and Aussie Rules Football.

It's been a while since Rockstar Games even mentioned the Grand Theft Auto franchise, let alone gave details on the next installment in what's widely regarded as the most infamous video game series in history. We'll chat about the new trailer and whether or not it impresses.

Next up we'll talk online sales tax and how it may become a reality for consumers who shop at sites like Amazon.com. We've been enjoying tax-free shopping for years now, but will that soon be coming to an end?… Read more

Sony PlayStation Vita delayed in U.S.

Skype for Android expands two-way video calling to more phones, Apple's Find My Mac makes its debut on the developer testing version of iCloud.com, and Sony delays the launch of the PlayStation Vita handheld console in the U.S. and Europe.

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded:

PlayStation Vita to miss U.S. and Europe holiday launch New device tests for HIV Gmail offering lower international rates Two-way Skype video chat arrives on more Android phones Find My Mac and iTunes Replay Missouri stops teachers from friend students Subscribe:  iTunes (MP3) |  iTunes (320x180) |  iTunes (HD) |&… Read more

Take guitar lessons on your iPad

Nothing, but nothing, can take the place of a good teacher. Especially a good music teacher, like the ones who helped turn my daughter into the amazing piano player that she is. They're worth every penny.

That said, music lessons can get expensive, and they're not always easy to work into your schedule. For example, I recently acquired a guitar, but I've yet to find the time or spare cash to take lessons.

I do, however, have an iPad. And with Howcast's new Guitar Lessons app, I'm getting professional instruction in basic guitar--on my schedule, … Read more

Pick from the hat

Like many free applications, The Hat from Harmony Hollow Software uses software to do something usually done "the hard way." In this case, it's drawing names from a hat, the time-honored method for randomly selecting individual entries from a group. The app can randomize a list of names so no one can complain about who goes first and who goes last. It can also draw individual names or pairs of names for raffles, sweepstakes, and ongoing contests. It does this all without requiring you to actually write down names, cut up the list, and throw it all … Read more

For calculating types

Scientific calculators are essential laptop utilities for engineers, scientists, researchers, builders, teachers, and students. College Scientific Calculator 27 from Tvalx is a fine choice to fill the bill. It offers precise calculations to 63 digits; hyperbolic, trigonometric, and inverse functions; memory for frequently used figures; and the capability to store and reuse calculations and formulas, print them, or save them as text files.

College Scientific Calculator 27's interface is different from most desktop calculator applications, which usually try to mimic the look and feel of a handheld calculator as closely as possible. This program's interface more closely resembles … Read more

Robot as second language? Korean kids learning it

It should come as no surprise that Korea, the same country that's building a robot theme park, is planning to send English-teaching bots into its schools. Are we sensing a theme here?

After ongoing classroom trials, South Korea will spend approximately $45 million for an "R-Learning" program that places a range of robotic teaching assistants in 500 preschools by 2011 and in 8,000 preschools and kindergartens by 2013, according to io9.

For now, the terribly cute robot instructors--which teach via voice recognition and telepresence technology--won't take over all classroom duties, but will do things like … Read more

Simple test maker

QuizMaker Pro 2009 allows users to create interactive tests in a variety of formats. Although it's not the most intuitive program we've ever used, we liked it quite a bit once we got used to how it works.

The program's interface is clean, but it wasn't immediately obvious to us how we should get started. Fortunately, the program comes with both a built-in Help file and a Word document Quick Start Guide, so it wasn't too difficult for us to figure things out. The program allows users to easily create quizzes with a variety of … Read more