App Essentials: Pythonista

Platform: iOS     Cost: $6.99 (a bit steep) Pythonista is a must have app for any educator who teaches computer programming with Python. Few apps touch the functionality that Phythonista has to offer. As the name implies, this is a python editor for the iPad. There are a few other bells and whistles that I will run through, but this at its simplest level is a way to engage in and write code on the go. Now for the review… The App Pythonista is a clean Phyton editor for the iPad. There are only one or two dedicated Python editors available for mobile devices, and this is – in my...

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Game of the Week: Play to Cure

Platform: iOS     Cost: Free This week, my Game of the Week is a bit different, as it involves the idea that playing a game can help be a positive change in our world. Nobody has tried to make more ground on this front than Jane McGonigal. In this app, I feel like she would be proud! Here is a game that you can play that actually helps Cancer Researchers develop a cure for Cancer. It’s the dream folks, a game that can change the world. The gameplay is interesting… but… lets be honest: this is the Game of the Week because it makes a difference, not because it is the best...

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App Essentials: Tempo (Calendar)

Platform: iOS     Cost: Free In my productivity series, I am pushing my own boundaries – which is definitely the purpose of testing apps. When I first got an iPad, I used the standard apps for everything. After three years, I finally made the transition to third party applications. My first calendar was on Calendars 5 by Readdle, and that has been remarkably hard to beat – and remains as my go to Calendar. Tempo gives Calendars a run for its money with some integrations and features that I am greatly impressed with – enough so to make the switch.   The App As you...

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The Mad Dog and the Quest for the Onesy (GTA SEA)

Welcome to the Google Teacher Academy Well, it is official, I am here in Manila at the Google Teacher Academy. 53 applicants from around the world are meeting at the Asian Institute of Management. I got in the night before at rush hour and in the middle of a torrential downpour – there was knee-high water in the streets. The airport was great, but getting to the hotel – normally a 15-20 minute drive – took almost 2 hours. Since we are a bit isolated on Jeju, I tried to just take in the city on the way. When the driver said we were getting close, I spotted a nice Thai place...

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Game of the Week: Pandemic

Platform: iOS     Cost: $ Pandemic (the board game by Matt Leacock) was turned into a wildly fun iOS game about a year ago. I have had it on my iPad since it came out but it has not featured here on the Game of the Week Series yet. I realized today that not having it in that series is really a shame, and I should take the time to give the game the review that it deserves. Without further ado, here is my review and thoughts on Pandemic.   The Game First and foremost, this is a game. It was a board game initially – one that was insanely difficult – and it is now an iOS Game...

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