iPad Academy

iPad Academy: The Short Version

A place for you to learn about using the iPad, apps and accessories, led by a teacher who’s been helping others to make sense and make use of technology for more than 20 years.

iPad Academy: The Longer Version

iPad Academy was formed as the result of two momentous events. A major career change (see below) and the release of Apple’s iPad. For the first time in my long career in educational technology, I had the opportunity to be in the the vanguard for a new Apple product. Apple’s tablet offers a powerful combination of form, function and flexibility. iPad Academy will help you transform the potential of the iPad into a practical and purposeful tool.

You’ll find tutorials, tips, training and how to articles on the iPad. You’ll discover productive apps, practical applications and useful accessories. iPad Academy is for anyone who wants to improve their iPad knowledge and skills. As you learn, I hope you’ll also find ways to share that knowledge and skill with others.

Inside iPad Academy you’ll find:

• iPad tips, techniques and tutorials
• how-to articles on the iPad
• knowledge to improve your iPad IQ
• links to valuable iPad sites and resources
• conversations on iPad topics and tools
• information on iPad apps and accessories
• products to make your iPad more functional and more fun

Now you know the purpose and benefits of iPad Academy, what you’ll gain by being a regular visitor. I’ll offer you real value in exchange for your time, participation, feedback and feedforward to those in your social network. If you enjoy the free resources, perhaps you’ll sample the premium offerings or other products and services you find on the site. Starting and running iPad Academy in 2010 and watching the audience grow has been very rewarding. Those intangible rewards encouraged me to organize the blog for better access, add commenting so we can be better connected and focus the content on learning about the iPad. But I’m willing to chance getting a few tangible rewards too [grin].

iPad Academy has no entrance requirements, no tests and no grades. Dress however you want or not at all. Attend whenever it’s convenient, as often or as long as you wish. You can learn as much or as little as you like. Though I think you’ll learn quite a lot.

About The Author – The Portable Prof™

Formal Introduction
Andrew J. Brovey, Ed.D.
aka Dr. Brovey

Informal Introduction
I’m Andy Brovey and The Portable Prof™ is my professional brand. I’m a “recovering academic” who recently left full-time employment in higher education. I resigned from a tenured faculty position. No kidding. My family and colleagues are still trying to figure that one out. To answer your next question… I chose to leave. I wanted to pursue my passion for helping others make sense and make use of digital tools, beyond the formal courses and folderol of the typical faculty position.

I’m now a “freelance professor of technology.” It says so right on my business card. The world’s first and only such prof, at least as far as I can tell from Google. I offer lively learning, engaging presentations, professional development and personal support to educators, trainers, entrepreneurs and other adult learners. On site and online. This blog is a big part of that effort.

I’ve led sessions in classrooms and virtual spaces, courses and workshops, conferences and conference rooms. I’ve spent thousands of hours teaching educators at all levels, from kindergarten to university. I owe them all a debt of thanks. I hope they learned as much from me as I did from them. Even the difficult ones. Occasionally, that was me.

In 2007, I was honored to be named an Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE). The Portable Prof brand originated in an exercise at an ADE Summer Institute on defining our professional roles. I consider ADE Institutes and my ongoing relationship with ADE colleagues the best professional development of my career. That includes professional development sessions I’ve led, and I’ve led plenty. I’m the first ADE with a book in Apple’s iBookstore, entitled iPad Academy: Tips, Tricks and Clever Techniques (no surprise there). I researched, wrote and published it. The iWorks team at Apple even asked me about the process.

I hope as we get together online we can follow this simple principle:

We should share what we know with humility and what we believe with civility.

Thanks for reading this far. If you wish, you can learn more about me at portableprof.com

All the best!

Andy

Full disclosure: In addition to being an ADE, my wife and I own a few shares of Apple stock. Almost enough to cash out and buy a few new Macs.

updated June 2011