One of the things I love most about using an iPad in the classroom is that in unchains me from the “PC on the podium” model of using technology in the classroom. I like to be mobile while teaching, so the ability to carry the device with me is central to its value in the classroom. That said, I have also taken to using the iPad to completely replace my laptop in the classroom, so it is often used for giving Keynote presentations. The thing that always bothered me about this was the absence of a remote control for Keynote on the iPad. This “mobile device” was now changing my presentation practice, as I found myself stuck at the podium using the touch screen to advance the slides. No more.
Apple updated their iWork apps for iOS today, and one of the most exciting improvements to me is the ability to use Apples Keynote Remote iPhone app ($0.99 in USA store/ ï¿¥115 in Japan store) to control your iPad presentations. I tried it out in class today, and it works perfectly. 
The connection is via WiFi, while Bluetooth is also available for back-up, and the response is quite good.
Control your iPad Keynote presentation with your iPhone or iPod Touch.
The interface is actually quite nice. You have the option between using the iPhone in Portrait or Landscape mode when using it as a remote. Landscape mode will give you a view of your two slides, or slide builds, at a time.
The downside of this layout is that it will take two hands to work the iPhone, and there are no speaker notes on display. I could see this being useful if you were to present from a podium, while your iPad was off-stage, but I can’t see using this in the standard classroom. The loss of access to the speaker’s notes is also a negative point, as it is nice to have those in hand, so to speak. Although I have never used a remote with a built-in “cheat sheet” before, I am looking forward to trying it out this weekend at JALT-CALL in Kurume.
iPhoto using Keynote Remote in portrait view (left) and iPad display
Add to this set-up the Chronology timer running in the background on the iPhone, with the timer alerts set to vibrate, and you have a nice little presentation device.
What do you think? Not bad for $0.99.