edshelf is a site that allows users to create collections of web tools (including apps for iOS and android,) rate and recommend them for others. I have compiled my collections and a few others here for you to look at, including STEM tools, Special Education tools and reading, writing & literacy.
I just posted a new EdShelf of what I consider to be the “Must Have Teacher iPad Apps.”
If you have some that you can’t live without that are not on here, please let me know Continue reading
This was a Prezi that a colleague of mine stumbled upon and shared with me and I thought I’d share with you! Continue reading
Evernote is an app that keeps everything organized for you using tags and a notebook based filing system. This app is available on ANY device (computer, web, smartphone, tablet) so if you have an internet connection you can access your data. You can type directly into Evernote, upload documents, insert pictures, record audio, clip from a web browser and more. For more information on Evernote see my other posts. Continue reading
Photo courtesy of NBCNews
This past week many of us watched live via the News Channels or a streaming website the announcement of the new Pope. My hope is that Catholic Schools around the nation tuned in to watch.
The photo above was posted on Facebook with this caption:
Wow – Pictures ARE worth 1,000s of word … My how time & technology change things … (not always for the better)
This happened yesterday and seeing all of the phones (and ipad ;)) leads the question: Are we too often trying to capture the moment instead of living in the moment, or, can you do both? Tell us what you think… (photo via NBC news).
My response was that we were “Capturing the moment allows us to re”live” the moment again and again. I think it is great!”
What are your thoughts on this topic? Were all these devices inappropriate at this holy occasion? Are we missing some of life’s precious moments because we are distracted by our gadgets? You do not have to be Catholic to see this is an interesting debate.
Please post your thoughts here.
TeachThought.com posts 48 Free Educational Apps Rated & SortedThanks to TeachThought.com and Gary Toews, Education Consultant at Abbotsford School District, for putting together the following list of some of the best free educational apps, helpfully sorting them by grade level, and even assigning a rating to each as well.
Click here to get the app today!
Where Do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery : a creativity-enhancing kid’s book by Jamie Lee Curtis (by Auryn Apps) by Auryn Inc.
This interactive book can be read to user (by JLC herself) or it can be read independently. Either way there are amazing interactive activities around every corner (uhhh page.)
My son is a “spokesperson” for this app!
Every fifth-grader at Heim Middle School in Williamsville recently received an iPad to use until the end of the school year. Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
I just read this article from the Buffalo News about the iPad initiative that is rolling out in progressive public school districts.
“It’s transforming instruction,” “I’ve got kindergarteners who email me their work.”
“the change in classroom instruction has been huge.”
“No more stumbling over unknown words in reading class. A light tap on the electronic page calls up the definition from Webster’s Dictionary.”
The use of polling apps, emailing assignments, instant access to digital content like definitions and e-books this is amazing. The article states that iPads in education is still in infancy and there are still bugs to be worked out, but for the most part they are successful at this time.
I am waiting for the research to be complete from the University at Buffalo to see if iPad use translates into improved academic achievement.
I recently stumbled across a blog post that talked about how to project your iPad to a projector on the TeachingWithiPads.com site. I liked both methods described in the article, but I was able to quickly implement Method 2, in 10 minutes.
Method 1: Use AirPlay with AppleTV to projector (or in some cases a TV monitor.)
Method 2: Use Reflector software, installed on a Mac (or PC) that is hooked up to the projector.
I purchased the Reflector software for $12.99 and was able to install it on my MacBook via download and activation. I turned on my iPad and made sure both devices were on the same WiFi network. I double clicked the “home” button and swiped right to get the AirPlay activation.
I selected “my computer” and turned on “Mirroring” and viola I was up and running.
Reflection in Full Screen
Reflection on the Desktop
Although there have been no Blog posts this last week I have been updating pages of my Site. (Remember this is just the beginning. I am relying on my fellow teachers to add to this content as we find it.) Here is a quick overview of what has been added:
In the Articles section I have added 2 pages, Flipped Classroom and Paperless. I will continue to add articles on these topics as I come across quality reading.
In the Teacher Resources section I have added 3 new pages under iPad Apps: Science Apps, Math Apps and Literacy Apps. These pages are just the beginning of providing links to iPad apps that may be useful in your classroom.
Be sure to subscribe to the Blog so you know when new content is added. You don’t want to miss out!