10 Reasons Education Should Be EDcited About iOS 5!

Mobile learning is a popular topic in education right now, and Apple just took it to a new level with iOS 5, their newest operating system for the iPod touch, the iPhone, and the iPad. A new operating system means new features for iDevice users. Apple’s announcement of their upgraded operating system for iOS devices has started a new discussion with educators using them: how will these new features impact education? We are just beginning to learn about the new upgrades in iOS 5 that could dramatically impact schools, and personally, I am very happy that we have all summer to think about that question. There are of course many questions that will need to be answered for educators as we move forward, yet so far, it appears that iOS 5 will offer some fantastic upgrades for those who are using iPod touches, iPhones, and iPads as mobile learning devices, especially with the addition of the iCloud.

Here’s a quick look at ten features of iOS 5 that both educators and students should be really excited about:

1. PC Free! Mobile really means mobile! Apple recognized the importance of allowing individuals to make an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch their ONLY device. No longer do you have to connect to iTunes in order to start using an iDevice. You can activate and begin using an iOS device without ever looking at a USB cable. For schools, this is a much needed, and appreciated, functional addition. The people who manage hundreds of these devices thank Apple for this welcomed component.
2. Behind the Scenes Stuff. There are so many incredible behind the scenes features in the iOS 5 update: WiFi sync, over-the-air software updates, delta updates, background sync, and downloaded app access. WiFi sync will wirelessly sync with iTunes on your WiFi network when the iOS device is connected to a power source to charge, and it runs in the background so you can still use the device while it syncs to iTunes. Individuals will have access to music, movies, TV shows, home videos, and photos everywhere they want them. Over-the-air software updates will be wireless, and with delta updates: instead of replacing the entire operating system, the new features are added to the existing operating system. Software updates will be more seamless and significantly shorter, a huge advantage for all of us in education. Another great feature is the ability to access all downloaded apps from within the App Store on any iOS device. You can easily install any app you want from your library at any time. And let’s not forget about all the iCloud integration that has been announced. That’s a whole other blog post! I hope this type of innovation drives Apple to look at schools possibly having the ability to host a school-wide library that all devices can quickly and easily access. I’m sure that all of these behind the scenes features will drive mobile learning in ways we have yet to experience.
3. Dictionary. An integrated dictionary is a hidden star in the iOS feature lineup. Reference tools are essential in the learning process, and having access to an easy to use dictionary is fantastic. Users will be able to define words in real time, which is an excellent learning tool. The ease of the built-in option will encourage students to discover the meaning of new words quickly.
4. Notification Center and Reminders. Apple redesigned their notifications process and introduced the Notification Center. Notifications are now practical, informative, and organized. This means fewer distractions during a task, and a more manageable way to access important, customizable notifications; both clearly benefits in the classroom.  Apple is also adding an integrated task management system… that is location sensitive. Schools, businesses, and families will all love how easily they can configure the customizable reminders; they will be an excellent tool for all iOS device users, especially students learning how to manage multiple assignments, tasks, and appointments. The Notification Center and Reminders app will help students acquire crucial 21^st century executive functioning skills.
5. Safari. The Reader and Reading List features for Safari are much needed upgrades for the iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad. The Reader is a fantastic feature that allows users to access content in a very clean and organized format, as it removes ads and other website clutter. Students can choose to save articles for access at a later date using the Reading List, or they can choose to share the article via email or Twitter. Tabbed browsing will be available for the iPad, which will make moving between sites on the iPad much more efficient. So much of mobile learning happens on the Internet, it is great to see features that will improve how students can interact with that type of digital content.
6. Twitter Integration. If you haven’t heard, Twitter is here to stay. Not only is it easy to tweet articles found on the Internet, the iOS 5 update makes it just as easy to tweet photos, locations, and YouTube videos. This feature can make Personal Learning Environments much more accessible to students, educators, and administrators. I even think we will see a rise in students using Twitter, just because the access will be so readily available.
7. Camera & Photos Apps. I am a big believer that “the best camera is the one you have on you”, and the iOS 5 update offers some great enhancements to the camera and photos apps. The camera app is faster, includes auto exposure, auto focus, and the option to access the camera from the Lock Screen. Not to mention you can take pictures with the volume button. Another excellent upgrade for the new iOS is the ability to do basic photo editing like cropping, rotating, red eye removal, and enhancements. More and more, students are looking to use photo and video to document their learning experiences, and the camera and photo upgrades are very nice additions for that reason alone.
8. Game Center. The iOS platform has become one of the world’s most popular gaming platforms, and there are some awesome upgrades in iOS 5 for education. The new Game Center encourages turn based games, friend discovery based on skill, game recommendations, and game downloads within the app. With more and more educators proving that gaming has an important place in education, the Game Center upgrades are a welcomed addition for many educators.
9. Accessibility. New accessibility options will make iPod touches, iPhones, and iPads even more accessible to individuals with visual, hearing, and cognitive disabilities. Features like custom vibrations, VoiceOver improvements, and LED flashing for incoming calls and messages are a few key upgrades for many individuals. iOS 5 also adds customized keyboard shortcut options, allowing individuals to type common phrases quickly and accurately (i.e. “TY” for “thank you” or your initials to sign your full name, title, and other related signature items). For iPad users, the keyboard has been upgraded to allow for a split keyboard design; this allows individuals to type much easier with their thumbs.
10. Airplay Video Mirroring for iPad 2. Anything you can do on your iPad 2 can be mirrored on an HDTV via Apple TV. You will be able to wirelessly, and securely, stream anything on iPad 2 to a big screen. This includes all apps, rotations, gestures, and video content. Yes, I understand that we as educators don’t have HDTVs in our classrooms right now… but this is a start. What this feature is an offer of hope, hope that we are moving towards having more opportunities to share wirelessly in the classroom, as we know the impact of this in education is huge. Like I said, these are certainly features we can at least get excited about!