apps for the classroom

I was so excited to be a part of the technology seminar dubbed "Playdate58" this past week.  It was a great opportunity to connect with educators from a variety of fields, backgrounds, and teaching levels.  I made a great connection with another art teacher, learned about google forms and got a heck of a lot of ideas flowing. 

I lent a hand with fourth grade teacher, Brad Linko, to lead a discussion on chatting about teaching with 1 IPad in the classroom.  Below is what we shared with our session and I thought I would share it here as well.

SHOW
Camera - take pictures of students work.  Set up iPad as a document camera
Instagram - take pictures of classroom and projects to share with your classroom community
Majisto - use this app to combine short videos, images, and music to make stunning picture shows.  Fast and easy way to share tidbits of info with parents and students
Picstitch - combine photos together to make montages.  A great tool for creating your classroom website.
PBS app - instantly connects you to free, easy to stream educational material from PBS
Zinio - a magazine subscription service.  An easy way to share articles of interest to classes.
Keynote - show an informational slideshow on a topic of your choice
Prezi - Keynote’s cooler, good looking cousin

MANAGE
Clock - timer for activities and transition times.
Teacherkit - organize classes and students as well as track grades, attendance, and behavior
Stopwatch - keep time for oral reports 
Final Count - use as timekeeper for a small group work or timed test
Roundom - want to choose an activity or student fairly?  Spin the wheel for a random selection to be chosen
pdf it ALL - make any document a pdf instantly
TooNoisy - monitor your class’s noise level with this fun app
Reminders - Keep track of upcoming events and lesson
iBANNERHD - Get your kids attention when they first walk in

ASSESS
Video Camera - setup area in classroom as a reflection booth
Camera - take pics of student work.  Place in Evernote folder for each student.
FMM (Funny Movie Maker) - Have students make a summary while talking like a strawberry
8mm - shoot video clips that look aged - would be fun to tape oral reports with or make an all class video
educreations - Have kids work through a math problem and replay it back to another students as a student checkin
Artsonia - if your art department uses artsonia you can have students access their virtual portfolios and use an image as inspiration for a creative writing assignment or write a positive comment on someone else’s portfolio.

INTERACT
brain pop - show a short movie and have the class take a quiz
yoga studio - use this app as an all class brain gym activity
skype - hookup with a class across town or across the world and share information or videochat with an author
more educational app lists here - lists of the top educational apps in categories like; math, language arts, etc.

ACCESS
Google Drive - access your Google docs with this app
Dropbox - share files easily between computers and iOS devices (you can even set up folders!)
Pinterest - Create pinboards of images and websites that you want easy access on no matter where your logged in.
pocket - keep an ongoing “to read” list of the internet - access from anywhere
pandora - play a diverse variety of music - calm and classical to contemporary bollywood when you’re studying India

MAKE
Explain Everything - record your lesson, write/draw examples, post to class website
videolicious - combine images and still images with your voice over - would make AMAZING short reports
comicbook - Create a comic strip to illustrate a scientific principal 
puppetpals - Have students work in groups to create an animation demonstrating key words like community
imovie - have students create movie preview book reports

LEARN
Twitter - tweet different examples of lesson activities or start your PLN
Flipboard - up to the minute social news
TEDtalks - listen to some of the world’s most fascinating people with the most amazing and sometimes radical ideas.
youtube - find a infinite number of resources here - try and contribute some of your own!
podcasts - find an podcast on a relevant topic of study and share with you class - or have your class make one!

MANAGING STUDENTS AND THE IPAD

• Use IPad as a station
• Have students work in small groups
• Have students names on a numbered sign in sheet.  #1 teachers #2, #2 works and completes project and then teaches #3 and so on so forth
• Use IPad as an after activity

MANAGING STUDENT WORK

• Have students email their final work to your email
• Have students use the app, dropbox to access and turn in files.

It's a wonderful thing when you can get together with like minded individuals and share resources, ideas, and goals.  An inspirational day - thanks to the district 58 team for putting on such a great, FREE event!