Group items tagged

"If you happen to travel with your iPad or tablet and use it to present, you might be interested in a portable stand. Until recently, iPad stands where not very portable and impractical for me to take on my travels. Now I have two great options that fold flat and fit in my backpack: Justand Go ($79.00) and Belkin Stage Portable ($87.99)."

"The pitch is simple: Kingston's Wi-Drive enables three iOS users to wirelessly access additional media content stored on a miniature, fully-portable solid state drive -- the glossy black accessory's footprint is only slightly larger and thicker than a current-generation iPod touch."

"Earlier in the school year my students created whole-class videos using our large green screen studio. While I assigned students a variety of tasks (director, camera operator, acting coach), my students spent the majority of their time on the carpet as an audience member. At the end of these units I wondered how we could increase student ownership of the production. Could I have my students create a green screen movie without having to play the audience member for large portions of the time? Could they be empowered to create a movie independently of the teacher? Could this be done by kindergartners and first graders? For most of the school year I struggled with these questions. That was until I met Brenda Windsor and Mary O'Neil of Trumbull, CT at the Fairfield University "Education Technology Collaboration Day" in March.  Brenda and Mary presented on how they have incorporated green screens in the classroom, and shared the idea of using a pizza box to make a miniature portable studio. Here is a link to the video they created.  From that moment, I was on a mission to have my K-2 students write, direct, film & star in their own collaborative group mini green screen movies. "

"Which digital device is the better learning tool for students - a Chromebook or an iPad? If you're not aware of the hottest current digital device debate, you're probably not a parent or an educator. Once upon a time, that debate might have been about VHS vs. Beta, or Mac vs. PC. However, in prime time ed tech school district circles, folks are fiercely focused on Chromebooks vs. iPads (both now below $400). The big question? Which is the smarter purchase for their students? On the flip side of the classroom debate, Mom and Dad might not like the fact that portable digital tools are becoming more and more invasive. However, how's a parent to ignore these must-have lightweight mobile monsters, which are antiquating the family desktop and nurturing independence? Not to mention all your kids' friends seem to have one. So which digital device is best?" If you're not aware of the hottest current digital device debate, you're probably not a parent or an educator. Once upon a time, that debate might have been about VHS vs. Beta, or Mac vs. PC. However, in prime time ed tech school district circles, folks are fiercely focused on Chromebooks vs. iPads (both now below $400). The big question? Which is the smarter purchase for their students? On the flip side of the classroom debate, Mom and Dad might not like the fact that portable digital tools are becoming more and more invasive. However, how's a parent to ignore these must-have lightweight mobile monsters, which are antiquating the family desktop and nurturing independence? Not to mention all your kids' friends seem to have one. So which digital device is best?"

"PAT is a free, open source, collection of maps developed by Ian Macky. The collection includes maps of every country in the world. Regional maps were recently added to the collection. You can download any and all of these detailed maps for free. "

"Apple didn't include SD Card slots or other expansion options in its iPods or iPhones, and pretty much ruled out third-party storage accessories. With nearly 350,000 apps and counting, the iPhone's maximum capacity of 32GB doesn't allow you to even scratch the surface of the App Store's catalog. Thanks to the Kingston for their most recent innovations of new Wi-Drive."

"Last week I finally got my trifold recording reference posters assembled and was able to take them with me to some classrooms. I travel often so I needed something that I could easily fold up and carry. I've seen many teachers create small recording booths out of foldable storage cubes that are lined with foam to enhance the recording quality but I really wanted to use Erintegration's Recording Posters from her TpT Store as a point of reference. I posted this setup pictured below on my Instagram, Facebook & Twitter accounts and received some questions so I thought I would share it with you!"

"I made this Webinar a few months ago…. Creation Tools for the iPad… and today I wanted to share some of the apps and ideas around Creating "stuff" on the iPad. With the camera, it's portability and some fabulous apps, it has never been easier for us to create our own resources on the iPad. And when I say "us", I don't just mean educators - teachers, therapists, parents and support staff, I also mean, our students as well. Anyone and everyone can harness the power and possibilities in the iPad to create some amazing things!"

"While there is nothing new about utilising technology to brainstorm, using the iPad has added benefits. The touch interface, excellent visuals and portability of the iPad can make it easier and simpler to encourage students to generate new ideas, organize their known knowledge about a topic and make connections with ideas and the written word. There are lots of great brainstorming/mindmapping Apps available, but one that we have found useful at all school levels is Popplet."

"One of the core principles of good iPad usage that my EdTechTeacher colleagues have developed is the idea that educators should focus on creation apps rather than content apps. Most apps that are designed to teach specific content are terrible, so educators shouldn't think of iPads as repositories of apps but rather as portable media creation devices. Thus, educators don't need to review and master the hundreds of education apps that come out every year; rather, they should consider how a small suite of apps related to annotation, curation, and image, audio, and video production could support diverse student performances of understanding. "

"If you read my blog then you know I love all things Makey Makey!  While I was writing Makey Makey lesson plans last summer, I was super stoked to hear the announcement of their Kickstarter campaign for the super portable Makey Makey Go. Mine came just in time for Christmas, but unfortunately, I had to hold off on tinkering with it right away because Aaron and I have been busy working on projects for our upcoming book deadline. We've finally had some time to work out a few projects with the Go and I am in LOVE with it!"

"Longer text book apps - a hybrid of a book and an interactive game - are an emerging trend in the literary landscape. They can be read on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, so anyone with a portable device can carry a library in their pocket. As someone who has always loved to read, I can't think of a more wonderful thing."

"When the gift-giving season for 2011 came around, the dreaded word 'iPad' appeared on the wishlist of nearly half the children in America. Parents across the country feared that the expensive handheld would become just another video game console tossed in the toybox. Now, while the flashy graphics and wide array of entertainment apps can paint that sort of picture, many app designers are actually tending toward interactive learning tools for their younger users. Was this portable PC really designed with education in mind?"

"The Mac had a great year in 2013, with powerful new Macs on both the portable and desktop side, and the release of OS X Mavericks, which has been easily one of the best major updates to the Mac operating system in years. Here are thirteen of our favorite tip and tricks articles focusing on the Mac from the year past. From newbie tips to expert tricks, they may not have been the most popular but you're sure to learn something new regardless of your knowledge level. "