Free Online Game Creator By kylemawer This free downloadable game creator let’s you make your very own flash games. If you’ve ever fancied turning your hand to making a simple flash game or perhaps you’re looking for a summer course project to run with learners then Stencyl could be just the program for you. It’s free, online, simple to download and use and it’s available for either a PC or a Mac. The program comes with a few examples to try out and customize. They are pictured here on the left. After a quick look I settled on the RPG (role playing game) option. the vocabulary looked a bit richer and there’s potential to exploit a narrative within the game.It also looked quite easy to understand and explain just by looking at the opening shot (see below)Learners could be away from computers and draw, design and discuss the game. Your question may be ‘how do I take this and use it on a summer course?’ Video Game Design and Creation Summer Camp
Kinect in the Classroom: Scratching the Surface of Potential CRAIG, Colo. – March 6, 2012 – First-grade teacher Cheryl Arnett spent much of last summer playing Kinect for Xbox 360 with her grandkids. For fun, yes, but the 19-year veteran teacher at Sunset Elementary School in Craig, Colo., also had an agenda. A longtime lover of technology, Arnett was looking for ways to teach with Microsoft’s controller-free device. When she brought Kinect to her classroom at the start of this school year, the reaction from her enthralled students was “over the top,” she said. First-grade teacher Cheryl Arnett introduced Kinect into her classroom at Sunset Elementary School in Craig, Colo., and has been delighted by the results, which include outstanding standardized test scores. “Bringing technology into the classroom inspires them,” she said. Since Arnett’s students started using Kinect to study subjects like animals, geography, and science, she has seen improvements in their comprehension and the retention of what they learn. Reaching Out, Touching Math
10 Best Augmented Reality Apps Augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. Augmented reality has many applications, and many areas can benefit from the usage of AR technology. It was initially used for military, industrial, and medical applications, but was soon applied to commercial and entertainment areas as well. The mobile Augmented Reality (AR) world consists largely of two different types of experiences: Geolocation and Vision based augmented reality. Geolocation based augmented reality uses GPS, compass and other sensors in your mobile phone to provide a display of various geolocated point of interest. Junaio Junaio is one of the best mobile augmented reality browser. It is the first mobile Augmented Reality platform, which can avoid accuracy limitations of GPS and allows usage indoors by integrating LLA-markers. Android | iPhone | iPad Google Goggles
Kinect Fun Labs – Free Interactive Gadgets For Your Kinect & Xbox 360 There’s only a few of these gadgets available at the moment, though Microsoft intends to keep adding new activities and mini games including the upcoming Avatar Kinect, a 3D chat innovation that can read facial expressions (and doesn’t require you to stand up!). Kinect Fun Labs is downloadable from the 360′s in-built Marketplace and accessed via the Kinect Hub, so make sure you’ve plugged in your all-seeing-eye before you try and play. Download & Play You can grab Kinect Fun Labs from the Xbox Marketplace, either through the console or a web interface. If you’re already in front of your Xbox you’ll find Kinect Fun Labs accessible from both the Game Marketplace menu and Kinect Hub menu. At the time of reviewing, two Gadgets were included with Fun Labs (under the heading My Gadgets) – Kinect Me and Googly Eyes. Rather frustratingly (and often a regular issue with Xbox 360 file transfers) I was unable to do anything else with my 360 whilst downloading these gadgets. The Gadgets Kinect Me
6 Platforms to Create Augmented Reality When most people first try augmented reality(AR) in education, they start with applications that have the AR content already built into the app. Apps like AR Flashcards, PBS Kids CyberChase Shape Quest, and Crayola Color Alive have this, and are a great way to get your feet wet. As educators, we know the power of creation. Hopefully one of the following 6 platforms will help you and your students dive in to creating your own augmented reality! The first creation platform is from our friends at DAQRI! * DAQRI 4D Studio is currently being updated and is* unavailable to new users. tuned for more exciting information later this year! Screenshots from 4D Studio Next is the augmented reality platform from Aurasma. *Metaio was acquired by Apple and is no longer available* Junaio Developer powered byMetaio Creatoris an online platform thatallows you to create AR content to view using the Junaio mobile application. I. II. Layar Creator is an easy to use free online platform.
Kinect in the Classroom One of the most interesting ways game-based learning (GBL) is being implemented is with the use of Microsoft’s Kinect. Kinect specifically is an accessory to the Xbox 360, where motion and gestures control game functions. From sports games, to “hack and slash,” the Kinect physically involves the player in gameplay. But why use it in the classroom? And how should you use it in the classroom? Today I present not only a great rationale for use the Kinect in the classroom, but also some specific ideas and resources for doing so. Brain-Based Learning As articulated in Edutopia’s “Six Tips for Brain Based Learning,” using active, physical modalities can help the learning process. Instead of having the physical activity as a break from learning to engage in later learning, the Kinect can use the best of both worlds, coupling brain-based physical learning and gestures with learning of content. Building Lessons Another important consideration is what game to use. Resources