"APP for That" - "iPads in the classroom"

My photo of MacWorld magazine article on "Appstravaganza!"

"APP for That"  EDUCATION- Fine Arts Photo /Music/Presentation
 With over 200,000 apps for the iPhone and 1,000s' for the iPad-we can usually find an app for all kinds of things- including education.  I did a Google search for "iPads in the classroom" to see 82,000 results about how ipads support teaching to see how others are using ipads and encourage you to do the same.   This new tool with it's mobility is rising in use and has educators why should I use it in schools? Change for what?   I ask, "how can I use iPads in the classroom", "how is it better than a laptop", and "what apps work for what"? 


If the tool can help me manage my classroom more efficiently, than I want it. 
If the tool helps kids learn, I want it more. 
These questions take some time to research, try it, and see if YOU like it. It means changing the way you do things and at first that always takes more time- AND finding out what does NOT work but there is no easy answer.   Educators continue to select a certain book or lesson as it fits their style or addresses students' needs so I don't advocate for ONE tool to fit everyone's needs! 


However, putting a tool in each student's hands that is mobile, multi-tasking, and engaging - there is plenty to do to make teaching and learning more efficient, rewarding, and advanced.  For our students today are not going to be tied down to a pc or limited to reading paper only- they are digital natives born into a life of mobile devices and communications. Books will not be replaced but reading will be and IS on many platforms not just Paper. Writing on a surface to share with others is here to stay but we do have more tools than cave people or Egyptians did. 


As a lifelong Mac lover, I am more open to portable devices that offer the array of apps and design for easy access and learning  I love my iPhone - and appreciate the iPad introduction to more to do with more mobility than my MacBook Pro. Hence, I am exploring this first edition to new learning for "iPads in the classroom". You make your choice.

Here are some apps suggestions.

Presentation tools and more...



Presentation apps in addition to using iPad vga connector and document camera with great reviews: 
iDemoWeb by MightyMeeting Inc to use a VGA out using iPad as a web browser to connect to projector.  $1.99 

2Screens-Presentation Expert   2Screens has the ability to output to a projector from a web browser in addition to many other useful features.  $4.99

Keynote -$9.99 -slide show presentation




WRITING APPS  
Pages-$9.99- word processing program, nice templates, will save  as word document.


Scriptwriting- free- one writes and it will set the format for scripts.

Dragon Dictation- free-Voice recognition to speak, see, and read text, then share to edit and email


ART -Photo

Impression- free - allows you to add a water mark to pics

Photo PAD- free- manipulate pics and make products Zaggskin

PhotoShop Express-free-  tools for cropping, color correction, borders


Louvre- free- Museum art work in gallery form

Getty Images- free- wonderful photographs displayed in true Getty form-editorial, creative, searches

Reuters Gallery- free- News in Pictures and video- great gallery updated daily

HIGH SCHOOL
Notes - free - note taking and saving
Evernote- free version- jot down notes, take pics, and voice recording, more versatile, can save many places 


SCIENCE
GoSkywatch- free- great astronomy tool

MUSIC

Music Studio Lite - free- allows you to create instruments and record tracks 
Entrackment- free- allows remote  controlling devices.  
Virtual Sheet Music- free- access to virtual sheet music
Pandora- free- Start with favorite music or artist and it creates a library or station of similiar music. 

FOR FUN
Frogs in a POCKET- free -  non-violent game getting frogs to develop and multiply for points
Netflix- subscription for film rentals 

Using "iPads in the classroom" is a hot topic as more students and their families are sharing them at home for school research, entertainment, and communications with reports of  how happy they are as the tools are "easier to hold" and multi- task. It's one big advantage being is the mobility, using less paper and ink, and multi-access to resources.  
The apps make it increasing more user friendly and applicable to enriching our lives. 
I will be exploring more and making more reviews for use, in the meantime, Enjoy! 















 

Related articles

• SketchPad: A Filmmaker's Storyboard Soon to Revolutionize Moviemaking (prweb.com)
• iPad and iPhone artists attend the Mobile Art Conference (macworld.com)

John Lennon Legend -Google Tribute

Our world has been touched by great musicians and innovators. "The Beatles" legendary, John Lennon whose songs forever touch our hearts and spoke of the world being a 'better place" was celebrated by  Google  who recognized John Lennon's 70th Birthday with this doodle on Google sites. I chose this model for my digital design classes as an example of creativity, technical skills,  musical content, and history. I feel fortunate to have seen him perform live in their first concert to the U.S.A. and follow his life as his music changed the world forever.  Thank you Google for remembering him and  Thank YOU, John Lennon for leaving us your songs to live by.

"John Lennon Google Tribute"

iPAD- "Coming to a school near you?"

iPads are coming...to school, well, colleges right now.

A few signs that iPads are coming to school officially began last week in my first online class with California educators on the topic of "How to use the iPad in Education".  The enthusiasm and high interest of fellow educators whose comments were well founded in creditable, applicable uses of a new tool made for a good reason to embrace this new tool. I thank them for sharing new apps and ideas.

Other signs on the college front, are the lucky students will be getting free iPads at the some colleges and universities including the  Illinois Institute of Technology .  They are providing their undergraduates iPads in order to introduce them to new technologies. Seton hall is also giving all entering students an iPad for connectivity. There are some glitches (no surprise for new tech)  in the networking connectivity in a few colleges- Princeton and George Washington University - but Apple is working on the security issues.

My thoughts always go back to the basics, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic in which the iPad has made some great progress.  An advantage the iPad has is in Reading.

READING BOOKS

My preference for 'reading books on the iPad' includes  the visual swish of the page turning, ability to lighten the screen with no need for a night reading light, definitions of words readily available WITH additional info, and books are cheaper! One can also have the text read aloud to them by changing the settings for voice aloud- very helpful for dsylexic and  visually impaired challenges are overcome as one can have books read aloud.

 One book or app can be shared on one computer with many iPads ( at least for now) which means we save on purchasing many books or apps. In our fiscal crisis now, that is a big plus!

It still seems more likely that the iPad is prompting the digital textbook era indicated by the new Kindle app for the iPad and the app for Direct purchasing of textbooks.

As for reading, Palm Beach State College has a e-digital library with iPads that patrons can check out and download a book to read. It is a service beyond it's time and sounds wonderful.

My prediction is: let it get into more people's hands and used more often. The real test is in it's use.

iPad is sooo cool!

iPad 
Case
After shopping around to find a pocketbook or travel bag, I went to Ebay and got a great iPAD case.
 $10.95 and free shipping - this is a great buy and works really well. Also has a kick stand that slides nicely against the back cover when not in use. It feels and looks like leather and holds the iPAD in place while using it in all positions. Never use an iPad without a case!

APPs  Although I have Pages and Keynote on my Mac- I need SOME creative tools on my iPAD so bought them for about $20 this week and really love the Keynote ( similar to PowerPoint for presentations) but has the most gorgeous and eye captivating wipes and visuals. It is easy to use to make your content look very professional and eye catching especially on The iPad. Plus, you can connect the iPad directly to show it to a group without carrying your computer. Pages ( like Word) is for making word documents for Mac products and transferable to Word documents. The templates for teachers, home, and business produce professional documents.

Urban Spoon: Looking for a place to eat and want more info than Yelp, go to URBAN SPOON. I  love it! It identifies places to eat, maps, reviews, etc in an easy format with a fun spin! iPad version is so easy to view and locates your choices on a map connected with reviews and directions.
With over 25,000 choices in LA alone, it helps as it narrows down the choices by cost, all types of food, and locations.
Games:  I was up late at night this week, trying to get past  Level 4  on "Angry Birds" lite version -video.  Physics problem- solving skills are useful as one uses little birds to tumble down walls of crystal, wood, and bricks surrounding smiling pigs. The animal sounds are annoying and if you turn them down, you miss the tumbling crystal and poofs of success. Yes, I downloaded the HD version and made it to Level 10 in no time. Physics is helpful. Some have said that you can download the iPhone version for one dollar but the iPad version has better graphics.  Thanks, Clenet, for telling me all about tapping for extras, ie. blue birds burst to three, red birds to power thrust, and patience!

iPad in Education: Yes! iPADs are great for schools!  I am a working model of how it is so applicable to the schools and learning and will report to you all.   Students are really excited, so excited that it is becoming a popular choice for birthday and graduation gifts. High school students are leaders and smart about grasping to new things! This is one of them.