0 Symmetry: Where Everything is Equal

Symmetry is always a fun concept to learn about in any grade level. Here are a few great apps to use for this topic.

• Nikki from Uncommon-to-the-Core blogspot submitted a post about a great free app, Face Symmetry Tester HD . The student products consisted of a Wall of SymMEtry of Me photos. Check out her post about this app.
• For K/1 students the app, Felt Board ($2.99 but worth the price) is wonderful. Students may use the wide variety of props (i.e. geometric shapes hats, butterflies, trees, etc) then save to photos. Using any Whiteboard app (i.e. Doodle Buddy) students will draw lines to show symmetry/equal parts. You could also use the app, Doodle Buddy and utilize their stamps. (The stamps are limit but enough for the students to demonstrate their understanding of the concept.)

0 The "Tech"ing Hour: A Spook"tech"ular Event!

Yesterday, my teachers were treated to a spook"tech"ular event during their planning time. Stations where set up, highlighting 8 productivity ipad apps for them to visit. For each station, teachers viewed a YouTube tutorial then they were asked to create a quick (hands-on) product for each station they visited.

A Halloween theme was utilized throughout the staff development and of course, goodies for them for taking time out of their busy planning schedule. They seemed truly engaged.  Please view some of the comments below.

We are so busy this time of year. Honestly, I looked at it as something else to have to do when there were many other things that seemed more important. However, it was SO nice to go in there and leave everything else at the door, have time to explore apps, and think about ways to use them. By the time I left I was very thankful we had the time set aside to do this.  

I liked that it was come and go and I got exactly what I hoped to get out of it. Thank you for taking the time and the money it must have cost to set up such a fun environment!

LOVED IT! It was very hands-on and engaging. I enjoyed being able to move at my own pace and write down notes that applied to my own subject area. I really liked the YouTube tutorial videos that further explained the app.

Check out the Animoto of the event:

0 Another Example of Layered Apps Utilizing Wordfoto and Tellagami

A 2nd grade class, at one of my schools, utilized both Wordfoto and Tellagami for their States project for Social Studies...Another great job!

0 Applify Your Learning: App Smashing

Applify your student’s learning by layering your apps. Utilizing multiple apps to create a final project is a great way to enhance student knowledge and creativity! One of my teachers jumped at this idea for a project with her 5^th grade students. For this assignment, students researched a specific scientist, downloaded a picture, created a Wordfoto, (Turns Your Photos and Words into Stunning Works of Art - $) and inserted the Wordfoto into the Phoster app. (Make your own poster $) Then the students inserted the Phoster as the background image for a Tellagami project (Free). Check out the below example as well as these student project examples.

1 Insects: A Collaboration Between Technology and Library

Working collaboratively with my librarian, 5 stations (for Kindergarten) were created around an Insect theme. The educational goal was for the students to discover various facts about insects.

• Parts of an Insect
• Why they are important
• Difference between an insect and not an insect
  

Numerous devices were utilized (i.e. iPads, Macbooks, PhotoBooth) as well as online resources.

 Both students and teachers seem to enjoy the joint efforts of this collaborative project. Please view the below Animoto of the results:

0 NEWSFLASH: Cool Apps for Schools in its Development!

If you are not familiar with the site, Web 2.0: Cool Tools for Schools, you have to check it out! It has copious amounts of Educational Technology and Web 2.0 tools for both educators and students to utilize in the classroom.  

BUT WAIT......

This great site is in the development stage of creating a wiki for apps for mobile devices called Cool Apps for Schools. If this is anything like the Cool Tools for Schools wiki…we are in for a treat!

The wiki is arranged very similar to its sister wiki; Cool Tool for Schools.  It is broken into categories with each category showing the app icon, blurb, whether it is a free or paid app, as well as the approximate grade level. Keep this in the back burner, because when it is completed, I am sure it will be a valuable resource!

1 Heroes in History and Literature: A Technology and Library Collaboration

Working collaboratively with my librarian, 10 stations (for 3rd Graders) were created around Heroes in History and Literature. The educational goal was for the students to discover what the person/character did and why they were famous.  Below are the heroes the students researched. The final project will result in students creating Taboo cards with their information.

State and National

• Daniel Boone
• Davy Crockett
• Molly Pitcher

Folktales and Legends

• Pecos Bill
• Paul Bunyan

Mythology

• Hercules
• Perseus and Medusa
• Theseus and the Minotaur
• Menelaus and the Trojan Horse
• Zeus 

Various idevices were utilized (i.e. iTouches, iPads, and Nanos) as well as online resources. Both students and teachers seem to enjoy the joint efforts of this collaborative project. Please view the below Animoto of the results:

0 Robert Munsch: A Technology and Library Collaboration

Working collaboratively with my librarian, 5 stations (for 2nd Graders) were created around the author; Robert Munsch. The educational goal was for the students to discover at least 2 facts about the author. Various idevices were utilized (i.e. iTouches, iPads, and Nanos) as well as online resources.

Both students and teachers seem to enjoy the joint efforts of this collaborative project. Please view the below Animoto of the results:

0 OMG - APPitic - What a FANTASTIC site!

What a FANTASTIC site! APPitic is a collection of 1,300+ apps for Education. Created by Apple Distinguished Educators, APPitic is a directory of apps to "transform both your teaching and learning". It is divided by catagories:

• Preschool
• Themes
• Multiple Intelligences (How cool is this!)
• Bloom's Taxonomy

Not only have they reviewed the apps.....the site has a blog with helpful tricks and tips. This is a must see site!!!!

0 Pumpkins: Technology and Library: A Collaboration

Working collaboratively with my librarian, 14 stations (for Kindergarten) were created around a pumpkin theme. Various idevices were utilized (i.e. iTouches, iPads, and Nanos) as well as various online resources. Each station was approximately 4 minutes and the focus of the stations revolved around the following Kindergarten TEKS:

• Technology (2A-C, 5A, 7A)
• Science (K10.B)
• Math (K5.A, 6.0. 6.A)
• As well as other various skills

Both students and teachers seem to enjoy the joint efforts of this collaborative project. Please view the below Animoto of the results:

0 The "TECHing" Hour Staff Development

During their planning time, classroom teachers, participated in a Halloween theme staff development. It was my hope to make it festive and fun as they experience hands-on activities utilizing itouches, ipads and various Web 2.0 online tools. The teachers were very supportive and I believe it went over very well. Thank you teachers! Please view the following Animoto.