Tablets & More

Goal: To utilize features and apps on tablets/mobile devices to develop and enhance student centric, assessable lessons. Assessment • Create and publish a set of QR codes that link to websites, text, and a video.  Evaluate an app based on app store descriptions and iEAR.org app reviews, then describe how it might benefit your classroom.

Why It's likely that you, your students, or their parents are carrying around an iOS or Android device right now.  Schools are purchasing more tablets each day.   Whether you've got a single device or a room full of them, knowing how to leverage the features and apps on these devices can truly enhance your lessons.   Without proper preparation, the devices can also be a big distraction.  In this module, we'll look at ways to achieve more of the former, and less of the latter.

QR (Quick Response Codes) What: Bar code like pictures that link to websites, maps, links, and text when scanned with a reader. Chrome, iOS, Android, Web How: Generate these codes on sites like QR Stuff and SnapMaze or via browser add-ons. The blocky pictures represent the letters or urls in your message (a longer url or message means a more crowded picture).  Why: Mobile devices can scan these codes and take students directly to the intended site, movie, map, etc.  Teachers can use them to create stations around their rooms or develop scavenger hunts or guided tours around a particular area.  It's also an easy way to post a big message in a small space.   Other Classroom Ideas For Your Tablet/Smartphone Document Camera  Use as a clicker As a wireless mouse Daily Archive with Evernote Class Dojo

Considerations and helpful sites iEAR.org - A site dedicated to reviewing educational apps. Quixey - A search engine for all app stores in one place TCEA App List - Huge spreadsheet of apps for all levels • With iCloud, you can sync a single app to multiple devices if you use the same iTunes account. • You can delete apps and re-add them later by syncing it to a computer if you want to limit access (for iOS 5 and lower) • In iOS 6 the administrator of the iPads can turn on single-app mode, which allows the user to run only the designated app.   To enable this go to Settings --> General --> Accessibility.   Turn on Guided Access, then open the app you want to  use by itself.  Triple click the home button and you can  set up Guided Access. Within Guided Access, you can even set parts of the screen to be un-touchable (you'll love it if you have little kids) • With Reflection (see left) you can mirror your iPad or iPod on your computer, then project it on a screen.  It allows you to wirelessly project your iPad.

My most used apps in the classroom:

Mouse Lite - Turns the iPad into a mouse and allows me to roam the room and control the computer from anywhere.

Class Dojo - It's a nice way to encourage good behaviors and help manage your class a little easier.

Camera and upload to YouTube - This app is built in and it's only one click to upload a movie to YouTube.

Science 360 - Tons a great Science pictures and content; always updated with current research from various scientific disciplines.

Pocket Law Firm - The app version of a game on iCivics that simulates running a law firm and teaches the amendments to the Constitution.

Google Earth - It's just a lot better on a tablet, than on the computer

Pandora - The Piano Classics and Bob Marley stations are my standbys for in class worktime.

EduCreations - Show a math problem, draw along to a story, illustrate a concept.  This app records whatever you draw, with audio.

Evernote - Keep track of daily assignments and much more on tablets, phones, computers and more