SKYPE for the Classroom

SKYPE has unveiled an app designed for the classroom.  You can read more about it at http://education.skype.com/about.  It is still in beta format.  It will be interesting to discover how teachers are able to use the application in the teaching/learning process. 

Google Docs Support of New Microsoft, Apple, and Adobe Extensions

Google now supports 12 new extensions from Microsoft, Apple, and Adobe extensions in Google viewer. The announcement was made February 18th.  You can read more at http://googledocs.blogspot.com/2011/02/12-new-file-formats-in-google-docs.html

Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey

Linda added the following resource to the textbook website at http://dlthede.net/Informatics/Informatics.html

February 24, 2011 2011 HIMSS Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey. The HIMSS 2011 Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey builds on research that HIMSS released in 2004 and in 2007. Survey continues to suggest that nurse informaticists play critical role in the implementation of various clinical applications including clinical/nursing documentation and clinical information systems, computerized practitioner order entry (CPOE) and electronic medical/health records. Excellent information! (Chapter 18)

http://www.himss.org/content/files/2011HIMSSNursingInformaticsWorkforceSurvey.pdf

Countering Security Threats Due to Criminal Malware

Linda added the following resource to the textbook website at http://dlthede.net/Informatics/Informatics.html
February 23, 2011 InfoWorld iGuide: Security threats and countermeasures. Interactive guide to criminal malware, the risks to your company from both external and internal threats, and the steps you can take to guard against them including links to more information (Chapter 21).


http://www.infoworld.com/d/security-central/infoworld-iguide-security-threats-and-countermeasures-480?source=ifwelg_fssr#

iPad Apps for Education

Martha shared a gem of  resource - a listing of iPad apps for education.  I am copying the list below.  Hope that you find one or more of them helpful!
1. Teach with Your iPad
http://teachwithyouripad.wikispaces.com/  

2. Apps for Education - Assistive and children
http://www.connsensebulletin.com/2011/01/apps-for-education-update/

3. 26 Apps to Up Your Productivity
http://adrianbruce.com/teacher-toolbox/26-ipad-apps-to-up-your-productivity-learning/

4. iPadSchools
http://ipadschools.wikispaces.com/

5. iPads in Education
http://ipadineducation.co.uk/iPad_in_Education/Welcome.html

6. Apple's Rewind 2010 - Best Apps
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewMultiRoom?fcId=402041463

7. IEAR App Awards (Science and Math apps)
https://spreadsheets.google.com/lv?key=0AoiJs2gxg9KmdE1RQmtoanZpdnBlT0Vvam5jRDEwVWc&hl=en&authkey=CK6twdsC  

8. 40 iPad Apps That Librarians Will Love
http://www.onlinecolleges.org/40-ipad-apps-that-librarians-love/

9. Top 140 Best iPad Apps
http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/top-100-best-ipad-apps-681998?artc_pg=1&resize=003304d3-204d-4884-898f-f8350835c7ca&oldsize=160x600

10. HC iPad User Group favorite apps (Mobile, History/Geography/Economics, Sharing, Art/Drawing/Brainstorming, Bible, Voice Recording, News/Podcast, Reading/Books, Science, Math, Physical Education, Brain Games, Applications for Finding Apps, & General Apps)
http://walden.hollandchristian.org/groups/hcipadusergroup/wiki/19d60/Favorite_Apps.html

11. 30 Useful IPad Apps for Business and Presentation
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/useful-ipad-apps-for-business-presentation/

12. Apple's Recommendations - Check Both iPad and iPad/iPhone links (English Language Arts, English Language Development, Math, Science, History/Geography, Art/Music/Creativity, Health/Physical Education, Language)
http://www.apple.com/education/apps/

13. Escondido SD App Spreadsheet (A listing of apps by pertinent school grade levels)
https://spreadsheets.google.com/lv?key=tenru11ELMGfma9kDka2moQ&type=view&gid=0&f=true&sortcolid=0&sortasc=true&rowsperpage=250

14. Acalanes SD App List
https://sites.google.com/site/learningcontinuity/with-ipads

Searching for Apps

A. AppAnnie Top 500 Charts
http://www.appannie.com/top/

B. App Guide from MacWorld - iPad
http://www.macworld.com/appguide/browse.html?compat=iPad

C. Appolicious
http://www.appolicious.com/

D. AppShopper Top 200 Education
http://appshopper.com/bestsellers/education/free/?device=ipad

Creating Slideshow Movies on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch Devices

In a few months, I will be writing a chapter entitled "There's an App for That" - and I am really looking forward to the experience :-).  I am always on the lookout for simple and powerful ways to enhance the teaching/learning experience.  I stumbled across an app that allows users to create slideshow movies on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch devices with the capability to upload the movies to YouTube.  The app is called Sonic Pics (http://www.sonicpics.com/).  The free version is "crippled" because it allows the use of only 3 images.  That said, it certainly demonstrates the app.  The cost to purchase the app is $2.99.  The app website includes videos that step the user through the process.

This app may be a perfect solution for faculty in the GC Faculty Development Workshop using the iPad. We will be covering podcasting in an upcoming workshop.  Sonic Pics may not be as robust as using KeyNote and GarageBand, and iTunes, but it is certainly a reasonable alternative. 

PollDaddy and SoftChalk

  The past two weeks, I used clickers (TurningPoint) in class and the students really liked the anonymous polling.  I decided to try to have a few online class meetings in my legal and ethical issues class - so how to replicate that experience? 

All of my face-to-face classes are "hybrid" classes, meaning that the course resources are all in a learning management system.  I had designed the lessons using SoftChalk, so I needed an online polling solution.  I decided to use PollDaddy.  I selected a court case study from the textbook and entered the questions into PollDaddy - along with some choices for answers.  PollDaddy provides the "code" that you can copy/paste for web pages.  I copied the code and then opened my course lesson in the HTML view - and copied the code.  All I could see in SoftChalk was "Script" buttons.  However, when I previewed the poll in a web browser it looked PERFECT!!  Yesterday I made the announcement to the students that the poll was open.  Today a third of the students have already take the poll and are split 50/50 on the answers.  They are looking forward to hearing feedback about how the case was decided in court. 

Polling, whether done in the classroom or online is phenomenal resource! 

Wifi Hacking Problem

One of my friends experienced fraud recently.  There is a rash of fraud involving debit cards at the university.  I read in the newspaper this morning about a new free app that cybercriminals are using to hack debit cards.  You can read more about the problem at http://www.indianexpress.com/news/new-hacking-tools-pose-bigger-threats-to-wifi-users/752559/

Violation of HIPAA - $4.3 million penalty

HHS imposed a $4.3 million civil money penalty for violations of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on Cignet Health of Prince George’s County, Md.  According to the news CIGNET refused to allow 41 patients access to their medical records between September 2008 and October 2009.  This was the first civil penalty that HHS has issued for HIPAA violation.  Read more at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/02/20110222a.html

Another Data Breach

Tracy shared this article noting another data breach, this time at the Charleston, West Virginia Medical Center.  Read the article in Modern Healthcare.  It is clear that although IT provides the opportunity for significant benefits - there are dangers when facilities do not make certain that information is secure. 

Join.me

Discovered a new app that allows users to share the desktop of a Mac or PC with others who have a mobile device, such as an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch (probably works with  Droids, too). The FREE app is Join.me https://join.me/.  Participants can also use the app to share files and chat. 

Nursing Podcasts

Nursing Schools.net posts podcasts of interest to nursing at
http://www.nursingschools.net/blog/2011/02/50-awesomely-educational-podcasts-for-nurses/

According to the website, the podcasts come from nursing journals, news, and other resources.  You may find something of interest on the site. 

Central-line Catheter Bloodstream Infection Prevention

In an earlier blog I discussed central-line bloodstream catheter infections and the reporting system in the state of Maryland.  The IHI has published resources to reduce the problems, Prevent Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections.  The resources are free and can be downloaded from http://www.ihi.org/IHI/Programs/Campaign/CentralLineInfection.htm

Creating Videos for the Web

The first three days of class were cancelled at Georgia College this semester because of snow and ice.  I had all of my courses, except one, were designed in a hybrid mode, but not stand alone online.  Since timing of getting courses started was a critical factor, I created several podcasts to introduce the course syllabi, calendar, and navigation.  The Mac laptop (KeyNote, GarageBand, iTunes) and the free Elluminate headset (give-away at a conference last year) were immensely helpful.

After I created the podcasts, I uploaded them to the GC podcasting server.  One student had difficulties viewing them, so I also uploaded the PowerPoint equivalent (no audio).  The podcasts served as a work around to assist the students to get started on their courses.
We began a new series of Faculty Development workshops yesterday.  My goal is to improve the quality of my podcasts and to share resources that I discover helpful with everyone.

One of the education listservs that I follow has a very nice resource designed to help others create video for the web.  The resource is designed by Richard Byrne.  It is online at http://issuu.com/richardbyrne/docs/making-videos-on-the-web/1

ICU eLearning

The Society of Critical Care Medicine has an elearning website at http://www.learnicu.org/Pages/default.aspx  Interesting resources!