Apps in Education Could Doceri be the IWB killer? Just before Xmas I reviewed a potential IWB killer app called Idea Flight. This was the first of a batch of iPad apps that I have found which attempt to replace the need for an IWB. Idea Flight attempted this by enabling the networking of groups of iPads and one of the primary criticisms that readers pointed out with this system is that it was limited to contexts in which students all had iPads. Doceri takes a very different approach though. Doceri requires that you have a data projector with either a laptop or desktop attached, but using a small app on the iPad and a small piece of software on the computer, it enables you to take control of the main computer with all it’s installed software, and Flash functionality, directly from your iPad. Here are just a few of the features of the Doceri app shown as iPad screen grabs. You see the computer desktop on your iPad and can access all the computer's software through the interface. You can call up an onscreen keyboard for text input. Best
New App Tells Teachers When Students Are Confused Much has been said about how connected devices, whether in college lecture halls or elementary school classrooms, can distract students. GoSoapBox aims to show how such devices can also help keep class on track. The startup, which is launching Tuesday, makes a web-based app that serves as a constant back-channel to classroom discussion. Students can use it to post questions about the lecture, vote up questions their classmates have already submitted, set their statuses to "confused," and contribute to polls and questions posted by the teacher. "With the app, students are less likely to get distracted because they’re staying engaged with the material," says GoSoapBox co-founder and CEO John Pytel, who says he got the idea while attending large lectures at Michigan State University. To use the service, teachers pay $15 per month or $90 per year, and 1,300 of them have already enrolled in the free beta program. Is GoSoapBox viable for all classrooms?
It's an Interactive Whiteboard! It's a Doc Cam! It's... Apple TV! Over the holidays I asked Santa for an AppleTV and boy did that jolly old elf deliver. I had some networking issues to work out (see the end of this post for the issues and solution), but once that was taken care of, the magic began. This $99 device has become the all-in-one accessory for my iPad classroom. AppleTV starring as... a TV! On the simplest level, the AppleTV can stream media. AppleTV starring as... a Doc Cam! Using the AppleTV's AirPlay Mirroring function, I can have any iPad in my classroom instantaneously mirrored - sound and all - to the screen. AppleTV starring as... an Interactive Whiteboard! When I first got my Promethean board, I was quite concerned about being anchored to it constantly. AppleTV and our Network In our district, many schools have two wireless systems: an enterprise system and a secondary system. Unfortunately neither will run the AppleTV. I bought a $179 AirPort Extreme wireless base station and plugged it into the ethernet in my wall.
10 educational iPad apps recommended by Explore Knowledge Academy - Tuesday, Feb. 21 iTunes/App Store Word Wizard Word Wizard is a spelling application for the iPad that allows students to hear sounds of letters and words using an interactive alphabet. The application also provides a spelling quiz with more than 1,400 questions and answers. Elementary school students can tap on alphabetic or QWERTY keyboards. Costs $2.99 in the App Store. iTunes/App Store BrainPop BrainPOP is a subscription-based application that brings 750 or more movies and quizzes in science, math, social studies, English, engineering, art and health to the iPad. iTunes/App Store BrainPop BrainPOP is a subscription-based application that brings 750 or more movies and quizzes in science, math, social studies, English, engineering, art and health to the iPad.
Higher Colleges of Technology Reflection App Brings iOS Device Mirroring to the Mac It’s not very often that I get extremely excited about an app. Then again, it’s not very often that an app like Reflection is ever released. As TUAW reports, Reflection is a brand new app that allows you to do something that many have been waiting a matter of years for – mirroring your iPhone or iPad’s screen on your Mac. Reflection lets you view your iPhone 4S or iPad 2′s screen in real time with no prior set up – just launch the app, select your Mac from your iOS device’s AirPlay menu, and you’re streaming. It’s an extremely fast and extremely simple solution. But why would anybody want to mirror their iOS device on their Mac? Mirroring also opens up plenty of new entertainment uses – you can stream your favorite HD iPad game (for instance, Infinity Blade II), and play it in high definition on your Mac’s display without having to use a television or an Apple TV. The app requires an iPhone 4S or an iPad 2, and you’ll need to be running OS X Lion in order to make everything work.
100 iPhone Apps for Kids Anyone without children has a pretty difficult time understanding how a person decides to hand their $200 cell phone to a three year old, but the truth is iPhone’s can be an incredibly rich learning and entertainment tool for children. The directness of the touch screen interface means that children can easily figure out a number of different apps with very little instruction. If your kids love your iPhone as much or more than you do, you’ll definitely want to take a look at the huge list below of great apps for kids of all ages. Music and Audio: Toddler JukeBox Toddler JukeBox – “Toddlers love music and singing along to great songs. Children’s Animal Sounds HD – “A fun and educational app for young children (2-5 years) to tap and hear twenty animal sounds from all over the world! a World of Lullabies – Lullaby your Kids – “With our application your baby will fall asleep faster then ever, this will give you some free time for you to relax. Games: Bubbles Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom
The Must-Have App Review Rubric Added by Jeff Dunn on 2011-11-22 So you just downloaded a few educational apps that you think might be useful in your classroom. How do you accurately compare and contrast them? On a related note, the Edudemic Directory features many educational apps and lets you quickly compare them to see how they stack up. I’ve rewritten the original rubric from eMobilize and tailored it to fit all school districts. Download The Rubric Here (PDF) Overview of the App App Title: App Publisher/Developer: Version: Link to App Store: Curriculum Compliance Yes/ No – Is it relevant to the curriculum framework? Operational Yes/ No – Is navigation easy? Pedagogy Yes/ No – Does the material accommodate diverse ways in which students learn? Comments are closed.
80 Apps to Learn a New Language You’ve been telling yourself for years that you’ll learn a new language or at least dust off those high school Spanish skills. How about starting when you’re in line at the grocery store or waiting for the bus? Having language lessons on your iPhone means you can learn at your own pace, wherever and whenever you have the time. Below you’ll find 80 apps for learning a number of different languages: everything from Chinese to sign language! Spanish Spanish! Spanish! iStart Spanish! FREE Spanish Tutor – 24/7 Tutor Spanish goes beyond the simple talking phrasebook or flashcard programs, providing a set of engaging, interactive study tools that help you really learn the language. AccelaStudy Spanish | English – AccelaStudy is the award-winning language education software that helps you understand and pronounce words in the shortest possible time. Basic Spanish For Dummies Spanish Anywhere – Learn and communicate in Spanish and English, anytime, anywhere! uTalk Spanish Toddler Time! French German