5 Ways Apps Fit Into Curriculum and Learning Strategies As the recently released "2012 Horizon Report: K-12 Edition" suggests, mobile devices and apps will become mainstream in a year or less. But apps aren't all about playing games. Converge asked three instructional technology coordinators and teachers to share how they're using apps to help students achieve learning goals. 1. Meeting state standards With the Common Core State Standards making their way into most U.S. states, educators are lining up their instruction with the standards their students are supposed to meet. Ladue School District in Missouri chooses apps that support learning and introduce new concepts, said Carol Kliesen, elementary instructional technology coordinator. When first-grade teacher Patti Anderson from Sam Houston Elementary School in Tennessee looks for apps, her first criterion is that they meet the state's first-grade standards. 2. "Content creation to us is really important," Norris said. 3. 4. "They will often ask, 'Do we get to share this with somebody?' 5.
Tagxedo - Word Cloud with Styles Top 7 Best Free iPad 2 Games apps | Techfudge iPad 2 is the coolest tablet developed by Apple that has been out lately. If you are here, then I guess you are one of the millions of iPAd fans who already owns one or is planning to buy in near future. This very magnificent gadget has created a buzz in the tablet industry. iPad 2 Inspired by the great success of the iPad by Apple, many other companies like Motorola, HTC, Samsung and Olive have come up with their very own tablets. Upcoming of these tablets created a sense of competition and hence Apple had to come up with a new innovation and this innovation soon came to be known as the iPad 2. iPad 2 has been a major success for Apple and Apple has made around 1 million sales since its launch. I did a bit of experimenting with that iPad and had a lot of fun handling it. So here is my list of Top 7 Best free iPad 2 Games, in short time killers Labyrinth 2 HD Lite Labyrinth 2 HD Lite is the sequel of the Labyrinth which was initially available for the iPad. Labyrinth 2 HD Lite Tap Zoo Tap Zoo
Wiimote Whiteboard What if you could turn each of your existing labs with ceiling mounted projectors into interactive smartboards? And what if you could do it for around $55? Parts needed: A Nintendo Wii controller ($39.99) A USB to Bluetooth adapter ($12.99) Momentary pushbutton switch (~$1.00) Infrared LED (~$1.00) Used dry erase marker (practically free) The Nintendo Wii controller is a bluetooth enabled device that has an infrared sensitive camera in it's tip. The LED, switch, and dry erase marker will be used to create a pen input device that emmits infrared light when the switch is depressed. Unfortunatly, I didn't take any photos during the main construction of the pen, but it's not a difficult device to understand. Here's a wide shot of the completed pen for reference: A closeup shot next to a AA battery for size. A closeup of the LED and switch. Here's the USB bluetooth adapter I'm using, a Trendnet TBW-105UB. Finally, here's a Nintendo Wii controller, commonly refered to as a wiimote.
25 Awesome Library Apps For Your iPad Libraries may be a symbol of long gone times for the rest of us, but they are a huge part of a student’s life. College students, particularly, spend hours at a time in their college libraries, especially before exams. But I bet all you library users wish there was a simpler way to get books and information than having to visit your library, find your book, sit at a public table, and take notes. Well, if you have an iPad, your life is about to become much easier. Just download one of these 25 excellent apps, and your iPad will be able to take care of all your library needs. 1. My Library is a very handy tool for organising your personal media collection. 2. If you borrow a lot of books from the library, but keep missing the return date, This app can really help you manage your library books. 3. GoodReader is one of the best reviewed iPad apps on iTunes, with many reviewers describing it as ‘essential’. 4. 5. iBooks 6. This free app lets you purchase over 50,000 books from partner stores.
Top 10 Kid Gadgets for Summer Road Trips Talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous. But a mid-transit chat pales in comparison to the distraction of driving with one (or two!) children wailing in the backseat. As parents, we can mentally cope with crying kids to and from the grocery store. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. iPad (Click to win an iPad through 6/4/2012) No, I'm not a fan of hours of screen time for little eyes, but during a road trip this godsend is a total catchall. Ashley Grimaldo comes from a long line of penny pinchers and enjoys blogging on money-saving tips and advice for frugal-minded parents.
Great apps for all book lovers to explore! Zip! Zap! Zoom! My library is anything BUT quiet during our recess time. Of course students are visiting and sharing about books they love. Do you have an iPad? The Monster at the End of This Book Callaway Digital Arts, 2011 Lovable, furry Grover gets kids giggling every time the read this book app. Press Here Chronicle Books, 2012 This app is an ingenious extension of Hervé Tullet’s book Press Here, which entranced kids, inviting them to interact pressing the yellow dots and watching what happened. Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Oceanhouse Media, 2010 Oceanhouse Media’s apps are developed with great thought and care of what will help new readers, often mimicking the way a parent or teacher would read with a child. Bats: Furry Fliers in the Night by Mary Kay Carson developed by Bookerella and StoryWorldwide, 2012 This excellent nonfiction book app layers clear text with interesting diagrams, photographs, and interactive features. The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Leonard Ink Robin, Inc., 2012
5 Apps for Designers and Typography Lovers Any self respecting designer holds a special place in their heart for a properly kerned word, an elegant serif, or a satisfying counter. There are countless typographic blogs, books, and magazines dedicated to the subject but now there are some mobile apps beginning to pop up which can be used not only for mere entertainment but are also supplemental to a work environment. So whether you’re seasoned designer looking for a new way to compare/browse fonts or a mere type fanatic who wants some playful ways to interact with typography, you’ve come to the right place. After the jump we have a wide range of apps which service all of the above. The Typography Manual ($3.99) For the iPhone and iPod Touch, this is an excellent typographic primer. It features a 60+ page book on type’s history covering everything up until present day implementation on the web. Typography Insight ($1.99) Created as a senior thesis project by Parson’s graduate student Dong Yoon Park. WhatTheFont (Free) Yay!
Technology Timesavers for Teachers - myTeachersLounge Teachers today are fortunate to have access to technological tools that make our jobs easier and minimize the paperwork involved in educating our students. I didn’t grow up with computers like today’s students did, but I’m very much on board with becoming more tech savvy and, yes, even accepting help from my students when I have technical difficulties. About a year ago I bought myself an iPad after saving for it for months. The first tool I use is DropBox and you don’t have to have an iPad to use it. DropBox is a way to store your documents “in the cloud” so that you have access to them wherever you are. I cannot tell you how liberating it was for me to kick my jump drive to the curb. I also don’t have the problem of having some files on my computer at home and some on my computer at school. That makes this control freak happy, let me tell you. The other website and free app I use is Dictionary.com. Do you see that little blue speaker up there in the upper right corner? Imagine!