The iPad Project: A Case Study in Content Management Becky Jo McShane October 7, 2011 RMMLA

Apple’s iPad April 2010 iPad 1 released; 3 million sold in first 80 days March 2011 iPad 2 released; 25 million sold by end of June 2

ENGL 4110 Content Management 1 class 10 students Professional & Technical Writing students 2 weeks with iPad 1 Research for white paper Focus on managing content 3

CM assignment For this assignment you will write a white paper that researches some of the following iPad applications and evaluates their usefulness for content management. 4

Apps iA Writer Notes Noteshelf Office2 HD Pages Plain Text Simplenote TextExpander 5

White paper results - 1 Choffel: For the iPad to ever be truly free of its cords, it must adopt a way to manage files within its operating system the iPad: a step back Coleman: The iPad fails in its aim to replace the average laptop and other similar devices The iPad: A cautionary missive 6

White paper results - 2 Cottam: It will not and cannot replace traditional computers in work and classroom settings There’s an App for That: But Is the iPad a Practical Device? Hein: Pages was the app that was both user-friendly and the most versatile The iPad’s Usability for Creation of Text Documents 7

White paper results - 3 Mitchell The file management must first become existent and then transparent to different systems iPad’s File Management System: Solution or Disillusion? Zike Scope and usefulness is limited and therefore not ideal for any sort of content management system The iPad’s Place in Content Management 8

ENGL 4110 conclusions heavy reliance on WiFi overly sensitive touch screen inconsistency of apps fragmented filing system inconvenient file sharing inability to multitask frustrating keyboard no USB port no Flash 9

ENGL 3100 Professional & Technical Writing 2 classes ~ 44 students Diverse backgrounds (CS, Engineering, English, etc.) 50 minutes with iPad 2 Survey with associated tasks 10

Turning Point survey - 1 Have you ever used an iPad before? 11

Turning Point survey - 2 Do you think you could write a document on an iPad? 12

Turning Point survey - 3 Would you like to write a document on an iPad? 13

Apps iA Writer Quickoffice Pro HD Office2 HD Pages 14

In each app, complete the following tasks 1.Open a new document 2.Type text 3.Format text 4.Save a document 15

In which of the followings apps, was it easiest to open a new document? 16

In which of the followings apps, was it easiest to type text? 17

In which of the followings apps, was it easiest to format text? 18

In which of the followings apps, was it easiest to save a document? 19

ENGL 3100 conclusions could use an iPad to write a document but didn’t want to found Office 2HD easiest for writing frustrated by touch-screen keyboard and lack of file management system 20

So what? I won’t replace laptop or desktop computers with iPads in the classroom I will encourage students to develop apps for content management themselves I will teach writing strategies for apps and mobile devices I will lug my MacBook to conferences 21

Acknowledgements The Teaching & Learning Forum at Weber State University provided use of the iPads and Turning Point clickers, through their Technology Library. Thanks to Adam Johnston for launching this initiative. See 22

Acknowledgements, continued The students in my ENGL 4110 (spring 2011) and ENGL 3100 (fall 2011) classes endured my requests to write documents rather than play Angry Birds;) A special thank you Andrew, Chad, Jill, Brett, Julie, and Briana who granted me permission to share their research. 23

References Choffel, A the iPad: a step back. Coleman, C The iPad: A cautionary missive. Cottam, J There’s an App for That: But Is the iPad a Practical Device? Hein, B The iPad’s Usability for Creation of Text Documents. Mitchell, J iPad’s File Management System: Solution or Disillusion? Zike, B The iPad’s Place in Content Management. 24