20 Ways to Keep Your Students' Attention As the end of the year approaches, it can be more and more challenging to keep your students' attention. Brain Breaks are important, but there are plenty of things you can do within a lesson to keep kids from day dreaming...or worse yet, nodding off. Here are some ideas:Desk Switch: Students have ten seconds (count down from ten) to find another desk to sit in that is in a different part of the room than his or her normal desk. Students stay in that desk for the rest of the lesson. Did you get a new idea? How To 'App Smash' And Implement Digital Storytelling On The iPad App smashing, the process of using more than one apps in conjunction with one another to create a final product, is a concept that allows students to create engaging educational projects and illustrate their creativity in multifaceted ways. One of the most gratifying and effective ways to use app smashing in the classroom is to create digital storytelling projects. The concept of digital storytelling is emerging as a form of personal and collective expression of knowledge, ideas, and perceptions. Its numerous and positive effects on students’ communication skills are well documented. Digital storytelling is the perfect vehicle for the delivery of visual and audio stimuli that greatly enhance a storyline or a simple narrative. Here is an iPad app smashing activity you can use in your classroom in order to create professionally looking digital storytelling projects. Getting Hands-On: The Project A typical app smashing activity has four steps: First, you start with the end product in mind.
Excellent Audio Recording Apps for iPad The huge importance of iPad as a learning and teaching device lies in the fact that it can be used as a fundamental media production tool with students inside the classroom. Educational Technology and Mobile Learning has been tapping into some of the areas and ways teachers and educators can use iPad both constructively and productively. We have , for instance, reviewed apps for video creation , apps for storytelling, reading apps, apps to improve writing, and the list goes on. Today, we are providing you with another great set of iPad productive apps but this time for recording and generating audio clips and messages to share with students . Check out the list below and let us know what you think of it. Enjoy 1- AudioBoo Audioboo is an application for recording and sharing your voice with the world. 2-`iTalk Recorder `` iTalk Recorder is a full-featured recording app with a streamlined and intuitive user interface. 3- Mobile Podcaster 4- iPadio 5- Voice Recorder HD 6- Audio Note 7- Sound Note
iPads in Guided Reading Before a class set of iPads I was differentiating my literacy centers for guided reading. Here were some of literacy centers and how I differentiated them: 1. Word Study--At the beginning of the year, it is beginning sounds. I made copies of the CD's or tapes so I would not use my originals in tape decks (so little hands would not ruin the tape by pushing record). Now, I use iPads during guided reading. Here are some of the apps I use. I am working on incorporating Raz-kids where the students will also be assigned leveled books based on their guided reading.
How To Safely Clean Your Tablet Or Smartphone's Touchscreen Cleaning a smartphone touchscreen is simple. You don’t need a special cleaning kit or cleaning solution to safely clean your tablet or smartphone’s touchscreen – you can do it with materials you probably have on hand. However, you do need to know what to avoid – many common types of cloths and cleaning solutions can damage a touchscreen. Once you understand what to do and what not to do, you can safely clean a smartphone or tablet’s touchscreen in just a few seconds, removing the build-up of oil, dust, and other grime that can accumulate on these devices as we rub our fingers over them all day. What Not To Do Before we go over a quick and easy method to safely clean your device’s touchscreen, let’s cover some things you should never do to clean a smartphone touchscreen: NEVER use harsh chemicals, including Windex, anything with ammonia, or alcohol-based cleaners. This process will be different if you have a screen protector on your screen. Get a Microfiber Cloth Why a microfiber cloth?
Megan's Recommended Apps for Deployment Let’s Talk About Captions! 21 Aug I’m always looking for ways to help history come alive for my students. The Perfect Captions app is a great way to incorporate technology in your classroom in an engaging way. Customize the size, shape and color of the talk bubbles and text Check out my lesson plan on using Perfect Captions in the classroom! Tags: Internet, iPad education, Lesson Plans, student work 7 Excellent Tools to Publish Students Work There is nothing much rewarding for students than to see their accomplished work being published and celebrated with others. This is very much motivating and is a strong impetus for them to achieve more and work harder. There are several online tools that you as a teacher can use to host your students work and share them with the whole class and as well as parents .Below are some tools that can help you do that. 1- Flipsnack Fipsnack is an online flipping book software that allows you to convert PDF documents into Flash page flip digital publications ideal for publishing students work. 2- Issuu This is another popular website where you can upload and share your students work very easily and for free. 3- Tikatok Tikatok lets you easily create an unlimited books online . 4- Mixbook Mixbook lets you make completely customizable photo books, yearbooks, cards, and calendars and many more. 5- ePub Bud 6- Lulu Lulu is a website that lets you publish print books and ebooks for free. 7- Other tools
iPad Acceptable Use Policy iPad Aceptable Use Policy Although many schools have a good ICT Acceptable Use Policy, the introduction of iPads and other handheld devices is a great time to revisit your current policy. Bringing in a new policy will also re-focus staff and pupils on your policy. Download the iPad Acceptable Use Policy (Word) Download Enter your email address and download the document here iPad Acceptable Use Policy (and iPod Touch) for School The policies, procedures and information within this document applies to all iPads, iPod Touches or any other IT handheld device used in school. Users Responsibilities Users must use protective covers/cases for their iPad. Additional Responsibilities for Pupils If an iPad is left at home or is not charged, the user remains responsible for completing all schoolwork as if they had use of their iPad. Safeguarding and Maintaining as an Academic Tool iPad batteries are required to be charged and be ready to use in school. Lost, Damaged or Stolen iPad
Top iPad Apps for PDF Files Many students and teachers at BHS have trouble with PDFs on their iPads. They don’t know what apps to use to view them or how to edit them within those applications. Thats why in this article I compiled a list of the top iPad applications for viewing and editing PDF files in no particular order. They are all pretty good at what they do so it’s up to the user to decide what app fits them best. 1. Goodreader is a useful app for PDF file viewing and editing. 2. iAnnotate PDF This app is very professional looking at first glance it has a smooth user interface with tabs at the top to organize your files similar to most internet browsers tab feature. 3. Many people may remember this app as noterize, but it recently underwent a name change in the app store. I would recommend getting iAnnotate PDF if you have the money but Paperport notes is a good alternative if you are strapped on cash. Like this: Like Loading...