Group items tagged

"You can build just about any app you can imagine with App Inventor. Often people begin by building games like WhackAMole or games that let you draw funny pictures on your friend's faces. You can even make use of the phone's sensors to move a ball through a maze based on tilting the phone. But app building is not limited to simple games. You can also build apps that inform and educate. You can create a quiz app to help you and your classmates study for a test. With Android's text-to-speech capabilities, you can even have the phone ask the questions aloud. "

OMG Kids building real Apps! You can build just about any app you can imagine with App Inventor. Often people begin by building games like WhackAMole or games that let you draw funny pictures on your friend's faces. You can even make use of the phone's sensors to move a ball through a maze based on tilting the phone. But app building is not limited to simple games. You can also build apps that inform and educate. You can create a quiz app to help you and your classmates study for a test. With Android's text-to-speech capabilities, you can even have the phone ask the questions aloud. Greg, this is for you.

"How are we creating learning which is transformational? What role are ICT tools playing in achieving this? What Is 21st C Pedagogy? How Is It Different? These are all wonderful questions that are being asked. Understandings generated through such questions can only inform and improve our practice. "

How are we creating learning which is transformational? What role are ICT tools playing in achieving this? What Is 21st C Pedagogy? How Is It Different? These are all wonderful questions that are being asked. Understandings generated through such questions can only inform and improve our practice.

Today I had my 3rd class of Pre-Kindergarteners. I decided today I would approach the whole lesson as a series of questions. Rather than explain to the students what they would be doing (my first approach) or model what they would be doing (my second approach), I tried to encourage them to explore the tools and when I noticed students who were not using different colours I asked them: "Do you know how to change the colour of the lines?" If the answer was yes, I let them get on with it assuming they would change colour if they wanted to. If the answer was no I asked, "Do you want to know how to change the colour of the lines?", if the answer was no I let them continue in their own way, if the answer was yes I showed them how to do it. In the same way if I noticed students who were drawing lots of similar shapes I simply asked, "Do you know any other shapes?"

a collection of videos to use to amaze, inspire, make learners think, ask questions...

"My frustration with Google Apps on iPads is well known, so I'm often asked how I go about addressing this given my use of both. Browsers. Browsers. Browsers. I'm constantly searching for browsers that work between the two. The good is that I can usually find one. The bad is that on any given day an update to either Google or the browser app could mean I'm searching again. Even worse, there is always a give and take on what actually works. Right now, the one I've been using most lately both personally and on our pilot iPads is the Rover browser app."

"My students were asked to write a math story problem and download the free trial of Animation-ish to animate their story! All students whose work is posted signed an agreement to allow me to share their project. The "ToonBoom" logo shows up in their animations because they used the trial version of Animation-ish. If you purchase the software, the logo will not show up in the liscensed version, so you will have a clean background in your animation."

Have a look and let me know if you would like your kids to learn how to do this.

"Guy Kawasaki last week wrote an item describing 'ten things you should learn this school year' in which readers were advised to learn how to write five sentence emails, create powerpoint slides, and survive boring meetings. It was, to my view, advice on how to be a business toady. My view is that people are worth more than that, that pleasing your boss should be the least of your concerns, and that genuine learning means something more than how to succeed in a business environment. But what should you learn? Your school will try to teach you facts, which you'll need to pass the test but which are otherwise useless. In passing you may learn some useful skills, like literacy, which you should cultivate. But Guy Kawasaki is right in at least this: schools won't teach you the things you really need to learn in order to be successful, either in business (whether or not you choose to live life as a toady) or in life. Here, then, is my list. This is, in my view, what you need to learn in order to be successful. Moreover, it is something you can start to learn this year, no matter what grade you're in, no matter how old you are. I could obviously write much more on each of these topics. But take this as a starting point, follow the suggestions, and learn the rest for yourself. And to educators, I ask, if you are not teaching these things in your classes, why are you not?"

Some very applicable skills for our pupils! An apt read for today.

Kids are one of the most curious groups of people on this planet. It is that curiosity that allows them to learn and explore by asking questions. Oftentimes kids will ask their parents questions that they just may not know how to give an answer to. From questions like, where are we going on vacation this year? Who will be the President in ten years? Sometimes, it is better to let the kids form their own visions by using their creativity

"Science Games Children have inquiring minds. They are always asking 'why' and are forever curious as to how things work. Science is a great way to satisfy this thirst for knowledge, but it has to be presented in a fun and easy to understand format. Games are undoubtedly one of the best mediums to do just that. The best online science games are engaging, educational and provide ongoing learning opportunities. The six that I have chosen for you today all meet, or exceed, this criteria and can be used with kids both young and old."

Good to add to your weebly.

"This is an amazing tool that is as interesting in it's process as it is in the majestic simplicity in which it performs it's task. Identifont asks you a series of questions about the characteristics of the font you are trying to identify. As you answer the questions more and more fonts are discounted as viable until you get the font of your choice."

Very cool way to track the font you want! I like the boolean link as well.

If you have an epson printer this will make your life so much better. No more printers dying or asking for a service when they do not really need it!

From the first week of school, the six-year-olds in my classroom begin to create an online presence in the form of a blog and digital portfolio. We use a blogging platform to do this, and include artifacts that show their progress in writing, reading, math, social studies, and science. I am frequently asked why I do this. Even more frequently, I can see in a colleague's eyes that they are thinking "why," even if they don't verbalize their question. The way that those educators have always done portfolios has worked well for them. Their students are learning the things they need to learn and are building a paper portfolio as they do so. Why do I take the extra time to upload those artifacts?

Capture daily life On May 15th we ask you to photograph what is close to you. Upload a photo, share it, compare it and join others all around the world doing the same. Let a part of your life inspire generations to come.