"Learn how to setup, use and moderate content on a classroom blog to improve student writing skills. A moderated classroom blog is the ideal platform to use to share announcements, classroom news, and student work for a public audience. In this workshop we'll use several free blogging and learning management tools. These will include KidBlog (powered by WordPress), My Big Campus, and Edmodo. We'll also explore how free Posterous.com sites can be used to share rich media including images, audio and video files from iPads including "cart-based" iPads using a shared student "sending" email account. In addition, we'll learn how to create enhanced/multimedia eBooks including digital text, hyperlinks, images, and embedded videos using iPad apps as well as other software programs. These will include Book Creator for iPad, iBooks Author software, Apple Pages software (part of iWork), and Calibre software (free and cross-platform).
Digital Show and Tell from Day 2"
"Apps aren't just great for keeping you entertained, they can also be good for learning. This Discovering Chinese app is ideal for those who would like to learn the language of Chinese or even brush up on your Chinese skills."
"We know that apps are here to stay. Schools are jumping on board quicker than you can say, "WOW!" Our request? Please look at the gaps in education, as far as apps are concerned. ABC and Math apps are covered! How about some apps that address the various skills involved in reading, social studies, history, science, health, nutrition and physical education. There is a definite need for apps that cover content"
"Being on the yearbook staff can be a daunting task, requiring strict organization, great social skills and amazing design talent, but don't worry, there are quite a few apps out there that can help you."
"Writing is the backbone skill in literacy learning0 There are actually several free web tools that teachers can use to easily develop and boost their students writing capabilities"
"Reading is not the most straightforward skill to teach young children. There is a great deal to it in terms of constructing sounds, understanding grammar and finally comprehending what is actually being read."
"This is a great site for locating apps for special needs education. a4cwsn is committed to helping the families and carers of children with special needs and the wider community of educators and therapists who support them, by producing videos that demonstrate how products designed to educate children and build their life skills really work from a user perspective. They have an easy to use apps index.
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"Apps and web apps are only as purposeful as the products and projects that they are used to create. After spending copious amounts of time publishing "Hot Apps 4 HOTS" to iBooks, I felt I should allocate some time to focus on web apps and how they too can be used to support higher order thinking skills."
"Taking this as a starting point, some individuals and organisations have come up with a number of applications that can be used to assist children with learning difficulties. The apps currently on the market cover a variety of developmental issues - including emotional, social, organisational and basic skill learning.
Below is a selection of apps I discovered and tested that are available for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. For the full selection, view the gallery."
"Maths is one of the most fundamental skills that any child needs to succeed at school and life in general. Make the learning less of a chore by implementing gaming elements into the learning process. Lots of kids chose to play these games even knowing that they are maths based. That says something about the concept on which these types of games have been developed. See if any might be suitable for your class or perhaps just for one or two struggling students."
"The ultimate goal of reading is good comprehension. We've gathered information about apps that provide practice with specific comprehension skills, including sequencing, differentiating between fact and opinion, developing word awareness (through antonyms, synonyms, and homophones), as well as several mind mapping apps. "
"Sector 33 is a new educational game from NASA that allows anyone to step into the shoes of an Air Traffic Controller. The game, which simulates the experience of directing flights safely into airports, is designed to challenge students in middle school and above to use basic math and problem solving skills"
"Of all the requests for recommendations I get, the most common seems to be from parents & teachers looking for book apps for children in 4-6+ grades (ages 10-12+) who are struggling with basic reading skills."
"Just a little reminder, Blooms HOTS ( higher order thinking skills ) are : Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, and Creating. If you are not familiar with Bloom's Taxonomy I recommend that you read : Everything you Need to Know about Bloom's Taxonomy .
Here are the apps according to the HOTS mentioned above :"
"This was the perfect way for teachers to share skills and ideas, have professional conversations and extend their professional learning. During the session, teachers were given the challenge to "Create a digital story where you become the characters of a fairytale." They completed this in small groups using Dropbox to share photos, Strip Designer to cut themselves out and place themselves onto backgrounds and finally Keynote to put the story together."
"This blog post is going to examine how the iPad was used to improve the pedagogy of a Design & Technology project and allow child initiated learning by motivating the children to discover new skills and knowledge through project based learning.
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"NewsMaker is a video news-making tool to help provide students an easy, affordable, and fun platform to practice writing, speaking, and presentation skills."