If you own an iOS device of any kind (iPod/iPad/iPhone) you’ve probably got iTunes installed on on your home computer.  iTunes is Apple’s portal to managing content (music/videos/apps/books) on all their devices.  Whether you’re using iTunes on OS X or Windows, there are valuable tools at your disposal for managing the content you allow your children to download, view, and purchase.

In part two of this series on iTunes and iOS, I’ll be covering iOS restrictions.  Restrictions are important if you’re going to give your child an iTunes allowance because they help control the type of content available on their device. Next week I plan to cover iTunes parental controls.

To access restrictions tap Settings > General > Restrictions.  You will be prompted to enter a 4-digit pass code.  This should be different from the one you use to unlock the device, especially if you’re configuring restrictions for your children.

Once you’ve entered a pass code, you can choose to restrict access to the following applications and features on the device:

* Safari

* YouTube

* Camera (also disables FaceTime)

* FaceTime

* iTunes

* Ping

* Installing apps

* Deleting apps

* Multiplayer games in Game Center

* Adding friends in Game Center

Additionally, you can choose to prevent changes to the following settings/accounts:

* Location Services

* Accounts (disables changes to Mail, Contacts, Calendars, iCloud, and Twitter accounts)

Finally, prevent access to specific content types:

* Ratings (select the country in the ratings section to automatically apply the appropriate content ratings for that region)

* Music and podcasts

* Movies

* TV shows

* Apps

* In-App Purchases

iOS restrictions are an important p[art of managing your child’s device.  Combine it with iTunes parental controls (which I’ll discuss next week) and an iTunes allowance and you can be confident that you and your children will have a positive experience with portable technology.

Keep in mind that no system is fool-proof and that you must be aware of how your kids are using their devices and what kind of content they are consuming.

Other articles mentioned in this podcast:

App Review – Planets for iOS

Look Up for April 2012

What Happens in an Internet Minute [Infographic]

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If you’d like to leave feedback about this or any other episode you can call and leave a voice mail by calling 518-290-0228, send email to [email protected], or leave a comment on the blog. Follow me on Twitter: @jwilkers. Also follow the podcast on Twitter: @wiredhs. Join the Facebook page over at http://facebook.com/wiredhs

Music: Poofy Reel by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

WHS 42 – iOS Restrictions | bit.

If you own an iOS device of any kind (iPod/iPad/iPhone) you’ve probably got iTunes installed on on your home computer.  iTunes is Apple’s portal to managing content (music, videos, apps, books) on all their devices.  Whether you’re using iTunes on OS X or Windows, there are valuable tools at your disposal for managing the content you allow your children to download, view, and purchase.

In part one of this series on iTunes and iOS, I’ll be covering allowances.  Specifically, how you can give your child a monthly iTunes allowance and prevent them from draining your checking account with purchases. Future topics in this series will include iOS restrictions and iTunes parental controls.

Prerequisites

1. Install the latest version of iTunes on your computer.

2. You need an iTunes Store account (Apple ID) with a credit card associated with it. If you don’t have one, create a new account.

3. You will need to create an Apple ID for your child. That means they need an email address. If your child isn’t ready for email then create a GMail, Yahoo Mail, or Hotmail acount and forward it to your own email address.

Setup an iTunes Allowance Account

1. Open iTunes and got to the Store.

2. Click “Buy iTunes Gifts” from the Quick Links section on the right.

3. Click “Set up an allowance now” (you may need to scroll down).

4. Enter the requested information on the page.

5. Enter your password when/if requested.

Configure the iOS Device

1. Open the App Store on your iOS device.

2. Tap “Featured” at the bottom and scroll down.

3. Tap Sign In.

4. Enter the Apple ID with the monthly allowance.

Additional Considerations

1. When setting up an allowance, you are agreeing to give your child between $10-$50 per month to spend in iTunes. You may consider a one-time gift card as an alternative.

2. You should consider enabling content restrictions on the device and in iTunes (these topics will be covered in future podcasts).

3. No system is fool-proof so check what your kids are doing with their iOS device regularly.

Other things mentioned in this podcast

The Hunger Games – A Homeschool Dad’s Movie Review

Taming the Techno-Beast Review

App Review – Angry Birds Space

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If you’d like to leave feedback about this or any other episode you can call and leave a voice mail by calling 518-290-0228, send email to [email protected], or leave a comment on the blog. Follow me on Twitter: @jwilkers. Also follow the podcast on Twitter: @wiredhs. Join the Facebook page over at http://facebook.com/wiredhs

Music: Poofy Reel by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

No doubt you’ve probably already heard about Microsoft’s latest version of Windows, Windows 8, and the blessings or curses (depending upon your point of view) that come with Redmond’s latest operating system.

Windows 8 is being hailed as revolutionary and revolting by pundits all across the Internet. Depending upon your approach to desktop computing I understand both arguments. For everyday consumers this techno-babble causes FUD: Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. Hopefully in this podcast I can assuage some of the FUD and give you the information you need to know in order to wade through the waters of Windows 8.

First let me start out by saying that this is not a “how-to” episode. I’m not going to tell you how to install Windows 8 nor am I going to provide any tips, tricks, or instructional material that pertains to Windows 8. This is a high-level overview of the new operating system based upon what I’ve seen myself. With that said, let’s begin…

What

Windows 8 is the upcoming operating system from Microsoft:

It’s Windows reimagined and reinvented from a solid core of Windows 7 speed and reliability. It’s an all-new touch interface. It’s a new Windows for new devices.

-Microsoft

Microsoft has placed a lot of emphasis on touch interfaces. Windows 8 will be available for ARM-based devices (most likely keyboard-less tablets). This means the “hub” of Windows is no longer the desktop but a start screen with tiles for accessing applications and features.

When

According to Bloomberg, work on Windows 8 will finish this Summer with an expected release date of October 2012. While this means that Microsoft and its partners will miss the back-to-school purchasing window (pun intended) it will allow for a large roll out just in time for the holiday shopping season when the majority of new PC purchases historically occur.

Where

While there will be retail versions of Windows 8 available at retail outlets like Wal-mart, Best Buy, and Staples, most consumers will get Windows 8 with a new desktop, laptop, or tablet PC. I doubt there will be a downloadable version available on the release date but it wouldn’t surprise me is future updates come via a “Windows store”.

Should I upgrade to Windows 8?

No. Let me be clear: No. If buy a new computer (or tablet) and Windows 8 is available then moving to Windows 8 won’t be such a hassle. Upgrading your existing computer from Windows XP/Vista/7 is not something I’d advise for the average consumer.

Geeks like me will probably take the risk of upgrading our existing computers to Windows 8, after all, the latest OS is designed to run on today’s hardware. Unless you have a compelling reason to upgrade (like buying a new computer or having to support it for a job) I can think of no reason for you to upgrade.

Remember that quote from above? “It’s a new Windows for new devices.” Keep that in mind every time you ask yourself or if someone asks you if they should upgrade.

Most people won’t see Windows 8 until they buy a new computer and that’s OK. You’re not really missing out on any new technology. Windows 8 is based on the existing Windows 7 core but just has a new graphical user interface (GUI) that really takes advantage of touch devices. I suspect most people will first encounter Windows 8 on an inexpensive tablet they purchase.

The new “Metro” interface doesn’t really blend well with the desktop. The desktop is where average people spend their time on a Windows computer. Given the fact that you’re probably not going to update to the lat...

I’ve talked in the past about how blogging can help your children (and you) in your homeschooling. Today, I’m sharing the ways which podcasting can help your student in their education.

First, listening to podcasts can broaden your child’s learning experience.  Most podcasts are free and most people don’t profit from their podcasting.  That means you’re listening to people who are passionate enough about a topic to share their knowledge for free.  It gives your child a fresh perspective on topics.  You can find many podcasts about various topics in the iTunes store.

Second, by podcasting your child can learn the ins and outs of audio production, social media, and how Internet technology works.  Podcasting is not something every family may want to do but it can be a great learning experience.  Your child will have to organize his thoughts, research a topic, and develop his speaking skills.  It’s a great learning experience.

If you don’t know how to podcast you can learn how to podcatst for free with Cliff Ravenscraft’s Learn How To Podcasting 101 course.  It’s a great starter course and will teach you eveything you need to know to start podcasting.

If you start a podcast, be sure top share your podcast in the comments below.

Other things mentioned in the podcast:

Do you have the new iPad? Did you wait in line? I blogged about the line at the local Apple Store.

Intel AppUp Store is not ready for primetime.

Bill Maher vs. Rick Santorum on homeschooling.

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If you’d like to leave feedback about this or any other episode you can call and leave a voice mail by calling 518-290-0228, send email to [email protected], or leave a comment on the blog. Follow me on Twitter: @jwilkers. Also follow the podcast on Twitter: @wiredhs. Join the Facebook page over at http://facebook.com/wiredhs

Music: Poofy Reel by Kevin Macleod.

The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network. For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

On Wednesday, Apple announced their “new iPad”. Rumors and speculation before the actual announcement were abundant. Most of the guesses about the technology in the new device were correct but the gadget soothsayers got the name all wrong. Rather than name their latest “post-PC” device the iPad 3 or iPad HD Apple chose to simply call it “The new iPad”. After the astonishing statistics about the iPad, iPhone, and iPod, Tim Cook revealed the new tablet to thunderous applause and the applause was merited.

Apple’s “new iPad” sets the standard for educational technology. Tablet makers around the world should take notice of Cupertino’s grab for the classroom whether it’s in a educational institution or in the home.

There’s no doubt this is a great device. With a display resolution greater than the average HD television and a dual-core processor “the new iPad” is as revolutionary as Apple claims, perhaps even “resolutionary”.

With the new processing power and brilliant display at their disposal, app developers are sure to develop some beautiful apps that take full advantage of the increase in processor power and display resolution.

One piece of technology was missing, however: Siri. The voice-activated assistant present on the iPhone 4S isn’t available on “the new iPad” but there seems to have been a nod to the technology with the new voice dictation feature. Perhaps we’ll see Siri on the iPad in iOS 6.

Rather than run down the list of specifications, I want to talk a little about how this can impact homeschoolers. With iWork and iLife available on the new iPad the need for a second computer or budget laptop is essentially eliminated. Parents can purchase an iPad for their children rather than a laptop. It’s easier to use a much more portable. iWork and iLife allow your children (and you) to create documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and more on a device that you don’t need to worry about crashing or backing up (if you use iCloud).

iTunesU and iBooks add even more educational value with free books and college-level courses for your child. The growing library of interactive books and courses available for free provides an increasing array of educational gold waiting to be mined by you and your children.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s a cornucopia of educational apps that you can purchase or install for free that tailor to various educational levels and styles. I’m amazed each time I look in the app store by the fantastic educational apps available for the iPad. It seems like the options are limitless.

What do you think? Would you get an iPad instead of a laptop or desktop as a secondary computing device?

Some of the new iPad Specifications:

* Height: 9.50 inches (241.2 mm)

* Width: 7.31 inches (185.7 mm)

* Depth: 0.37 inch (9.4 mm)

* Weight: 1.44 pounds (652 g)

* Retina display

* 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology

* 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi)

* Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating

* Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously

* Dual-core Apple A5X custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip with quad-core graphics

* Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)

* Bluetooth 4.0 technology

* Wi-Fi + 4G for AT&T model: LTE (700, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

* Wi-Fi + 4G for Verizon model: LTE (700 MHz); CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz); UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

Having recently discovered Pinterest, I decided I’d talk a little about how homeschoolers can use this virtual pin board to compliment their current homeschooling program.

If you do a search for the term “homeschool” on Pinterest you’ll get thousands of results that will take you on so many rabbit trails on the Internet you’ll end up in Wonderland. Homeschoolers have been active on Pinterest for some time now but the service has recently hit its stride and is getting adopted as a social media tool that individuals and companies are leveraging to find valuable resources (and customers in the case of companies) online.

If you’d like to see what I’ve been pinning to my pin boards, just go to pinterest.com/wiredhs.

Cooperstown Home School Discovery Day – The Farmer’s Museum and National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown have collaborated to bring you a day of homeschool programming.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (9:00-12:30)

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum welcomes families and groups who participate in home education to a special day of programming on April 11th from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Guided and self-guided exploration activities will be available for students in grades K-12 and will focus on the core subjects of math, science, social studies, the arts and character education.

Participating students will receive the education admission rate of $5.00/student and one adult chaperone per five students will be admitted free.

For more information or to register for the Hall of Fame’s Home School Discovery day call 607-547-0347 or email the education department at [email protected].

The Farmers’ Museum (1:00-4:00)

Join us at The Farmers’ Museum this April 11 for a special day of programming designed specially for home schooled students. Two hour guided tours based on historic life and farming begin at 1:00 and end at 3:00. Attendees are welcome to stay at our museum to self-guide after the program with no additional admission cost. Admission for students is just $4.00 each, and one adult chaperone per five students will receive complimentary admission. Additional adults will receive a special education discount of $9.00 per person.

Reservations are required for this event. Please call (607) 547-1461 or email [email protected] for more information and to save your space today!

Apps for Homeschooling – If you’re looking for great apps that you can use for homeschooling then this is the place for you.  iOS, Android, and Nook devices are all covered.

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If you’d like to leave feedback about this or any other episode you can call and leave a voice mail by calling 518-290-0228, send email to [email protected], or leave a comment on the blog. Follow me on Twitter: @jwilkers.  Also follow the podcast on Twitter: @wiredhs.  Join the Facebook page over at http://facebook.

Computers are becoming more and more pervasive in our lives.  Kids learn to use them at a very young age these days and for some their interest goes beyond playing Angry Birds or using Facebook.

If you have a kid interested in learning to write programs, where do you start?  What resources are there available for the homeschooling parent?  Fortunately, the same tools available to public schools are available to home educators.

Here’s a brief list of some of the more popular offerings:

* Scratch – for ages 8 and up. Children create interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art while learning mathematical and computational ideas, critical thinking, systematic reasoning, and how to work collaboratively. Cost: free.

* LEGO Mindstorms – for ages 10 and up. With LEGO Mindstorms children learn to build programs that control robots that can perform a variety of tasks. Cost: $279.99

* Alice – for ages 6 and up. Teaches object-oriented programming in an interactive, 3D environment. Children can create stories, interactive games, or videos to share online. Cost: free.

* Phrogram – for ages 10 and up. Built on .Net, this programming languages gives kids a real taste for writing code using plain language. Cost: $34.95 and up.

* Stanford School of Engineering – for ages 13 and up. Stanford offers a number of free, online courses that self-motivated students can use to learn actual programming languages. Cost: free.

Mark Markuson asks,

I have 5 kids and we are online but I want to protect them. Do you like Windows Live family safety? Are their any other free online protection suites that are Christian or Family Friendly?

For filtering I recommend using OpenDNS Family Shield. It’s free and when used in conjunction with your router protects all the devices connecting to the Internet.

If you’re looking for accountability software check out Covenant Eyes.

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If you’d like to leave feedback about this or any other episode you can call and leave a voice mail by calling 518-290-0228, send email to feedback [at] thewiredhomeschool [dot] com, or leave a comment on the blog. Follow me on Twitter: @jwilkers.  Also follow the podcast on Twitter: @wiredhs.  Join the Facebook page over at http://facebook.com/wiredhs Music:Poofy Reel by Kevin Macleod.  The Wired Homeschool is a proud member of the Tech Podcast Network.  For more family-friendly tech podcasts visit techpodcasts.com

Tim Tebow Law – Is it really good for homeschoolers?

I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about the “Time Tebow” laws that are in various state legislatures around the U.S. I have some mixed feelings about such laws. I live a highly-regulated state and I really don’t want to give the state another reason to scrutinize my homeschooling. On the other hand, I understand the viewpoint that we still pay school taxes and so our children should be allowed to participate in the same extra-curricular activities as public school students.

Geek Dads have something to hide?

I posted an infographic earlier this week pertaining to “geek dads” and the greatness of being a dad who’s technically savvy. However, there are some downsides to being a “geek dad” like the ability to hide our activities.

Class Dismissed Shares the Stories of Homeschooling Families

Class Dismissed looks like it’s going to be a great film about homeschooling. It appears to be coming from a secular point of view but that’s OK. There’s more reasons to homeschooling than religious and moral reasons. While those are the primary reasons that my wife and I cite, we also have other reasons not associated with our faith.

Urban Homeschoolers Seem to Carry More Clout

An article in Newsweek titled, Why Urban, Educated Parents Are Turning to DIY Education, seems to subtly imply that those who homeschool in urban areas and for non-religious reasons are more “normal”. Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a great article but I can’t help but sense that the writer is implying that those of us who homeschool for religious or moral reasons aren’t as justified as our secular counterparts. Maybe I’m just being paranoid.

Homeschool Dad Tip

Offer to help you wife with the homeschooling when you come home. Do this before she asks you to help! I know, you’ve had a long day at work but she has too. If there is still any schooling left to be done you can help carry the burden.

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If you’d like to leave feedback about this or any other episode you can call and leave a voice mail by calling 518-290-0228, send email to [email protected], or leave a comment on the blog. Follow me on Twitter: @jwilkers.  Also follow the podcast on Twitter: @wiredhs.  Join the Facebook page over at http://facebook.com/wiredhs Music:Poofy Reel by Kevin Macleod.

Apple announced the reinvention of the textbook last week when they launched iBooks 2.

Fast facts:

* 20,000 education apps built for iPad

* 100,000s of books in iBook store

* 1.5 million iPads are currently in use in educational institutions and schools

* iTunes U has seen over 700 million downloads

* Video, interactive features, search, common iPad “gestures” like pinch to zoom, swipe, and tap

* Portrait mode is optimized for reading

* Highlighting and note-taking

* Study cards from notes and glossary terms

* Textbooks not available on iPhone or iPod

* iBook Author only available for Mac

More information about iBooks is available at Apple’s website.

Genesis Technologies offers discounts of up to 85% for homeschoolers. This is a great way to get a discount on software.

Jay Ryan’s Celestial Almanack will have you looking up when you step outside at night.

Simplex Spelling Sight Words and Phonics 1 are great ways for children to learn to spell.

Video review of the Belkin TuneDok. It’s a great accessory for keeping your iPod or iPhone safe in your vehicle.

If you’d like to leave feedback about this or any other episode you can call and leave a voice mail by calling 518-290-0228, send email to [email protected], or leave a comment on the blog. Follow me on Twitter: @jwilkers.  Also follow the podcast on Twitter: @wiredhs.  Join the Facebook page over at http://facebook.com/wiredhs Music: Poofy Reel by Kevin Macleod.

This time on The Wired Homeschool I discuss the news about Minnesota’s new homeschooling legislation, the decision of Rebecca Black’s parents to homeschool, and review the iOS app Oregon Trail.

Make sure you check out the press releases I’m now placing on the website.

Sources for finding homeschooling news:

* HSLDA news page

* Facebook groups and pages

* Yahoo! Groups

* Google Alerts

How to setup a Google alert:

Note: in the episode I stated that you would need a Google account to setup a Google alert.  That is only partially correct.  If you want to send the alerts to an RSS feed you will need an account, however, just to send alerts to an email address that’s not necessary.

* Go to http://google.com/alerts

* Type your search string into the search box

* Choose what type of information you want in the alert (Everything, News, Blogs, Video Discussions)

* Choose how often you want the alert to update (As-it-happens, Once a day, Once a week)

* Choose the quality of content (Only the best results, All results)

* Choose the email address you want the alert sent to.  If you’re registered you’ll have the option of creating an RSS feed.

If you’d like to leave feedback about this or any other episode you can call and leave a voice mail by calling 518-290-0228, send email to [email protected], or leave a comment on the blog. Follow me on Twitter: @jwilkers.  Also follow the podcast on Twitter: @wiredhs.  Join the Facebook page over at http://facebook.com/wiredhs