However, using a mobile set of iPads in multiple classrooms has presented some challenges. The iPad was originally designed around a "1 device to 1 user" model so there was never any provision made for separate user spaces on the device. When the iPad is used by only one person, file management is a non-issue but when you move to a "1 device to many users" model it becomes a big issue. It then becomes a really big problem when Apple Configurator is used to manage App licensing on the iPads because supervised iPads are unable to connect to iTunes on any other computer to transfer files. So two big dilemmas to solve are how do we preserve student work in an isolated space when using the iPad, and how do we enable the ability for students to import their own personal digital content to the iPads?
Cloud to the Rescue!
Cloud storage can provide a secure location to backup work before the iPad gets used by another student, but this solution also needs to give users the ability to import their personal documents, pictures, audio and video back onto the iPad at a later date so they can continue their work.
The key pieces required for a working Cloud solution are a wireless Internet connection, a Cloud account such as Dropbox or Google Drive and a very handy little App called iFiles. The iFiles App normally costs $3.99 but it does occasionally go on sale for as little as $0.99. This App enables file transfer between a connected Cloud service and the iPad and it gives the ability to open those files in other Apps. The key difference between iFiles and the free Google Drive App or DropBox App, is it allows you to send pictures and video to your Camera Roll and it allows you to open documents and music in the App of your choice. So, by using iFiles and following a few simple steps, students can backup their data such as iMovie projects to the Cloud and import their own music and video from other sources into an iMovie project.
The W.E.C.D.S.B. has leveraged the power of Google Apps for Education to provide each student with 5GB of Google Drive Cloud storage space. By using Google Drive and iFiles we are able to provide a working Cloud storage solution to the file management problem on the iPad.
The following steps provide a how-to example using iMovie:
Backup your iMovie Project to Google Drive
- From opening page of iMovie make sure your project is in the middle of screen and select the square icon with arrow pointing to the right.
- Select Share Movie To "Camera Roll"
- Choose export size, Medium - 360p is recommended as it keeps the file size smaller for upload & download.
- Exit iMovie & Open iFiles
- In top left of Dashboard tap "+" to Add Service then select "Google Drive".
- Tap "Sign In" and provide user credentials for your Google Apps Account, then select "Allow access" when prompted, then select "Save", and then "Done".
- From Dashoard select your "Google Drive", then select "Home".
- Touch "+" at bottom of screen and select "Folder". Type "Videos" and touch "Done". This creates a new Videos folder on your Google Drive. Touch the "Videos folder" to open it then touch "+" and select "From Photos"
- Open your Camera Roll and select the Movie you wish to save to your Google Drive, then touch "Upload", your movie is now saved in the Cloud.
Import Video into iMovie from Google Drive
- Open iFiles on iPad and touch "+" to add your Google Drive service, sign in with user credentials and allow iFiles access to your Google Drive files.
- Open your Google Drive in iFiles and navigate to your Videos Folder.
- Touch and hold the video file you want to get into iMovie, when options appear select "Download".
- On Home window select "Movies" folder and your video will download to the iPad.
- Navigate back to "Home" and select "Movies" folder
- Touch "Edit" in top right corner, select video file you want to open in iMovie.
- Select "To Camera Roll" at bottom right.
- Close iFiles
- Open iMovie
- You movie file will now be available in the Video Library.
Import your music into iMovie from Google Drive
- Login to Google Apps Account on a computer that has MP3 audio file you wish to use in iMovie Project
- Create a Music folder on your Google Drive
- Upload MP3 file to the Music folder of your Google Drive
- Open iFiles and touch "+" to add your Google Drive service, sign in with user credentials and allow iFiles access to your Google Drive files.
- Open your Google Drive in iFiles and navigate to the Music folder.
- Touch and hold the MP3 file, when options appear select "Download".
- On Home window select "Music" folder and your MP3 will download to the iPad.
- Navigate back to "Home" and select "Music" folder.
- Touch and hold the MP3 file you want to open in iMovie, when options appear select "Open In", then select "Open in iMovie", then select an existing Project or create a New Project. Your music is now imported into your iMovie Project.
Housekeeping
Remember it is important when using class sets of iPads to always open iFiles and delete your Google Drive service before returning the iPad to the cart to prevent other users from accessing your Google Drive.
Hope you find this as useful as I have!
