apps in the classroom: making teaching and learning more fun!
DESCRIPTION
Using apps for iPads in the classroom is a great way to engage students in learning. This is a collection of apps that I have found helpful in the classroom. The prices are subject to change and the app icons include links to iTunes where the apps can be purchased.TRANSCRIPT
Apps in the Classroom:Making teaching and learning more
FUN!Melanie Place, MS, CCC-SLP
Berkeley County Schools Geek Week
iPad Shortcuts
• To take a screenshot, simultaneously hold down the Home button and Lock button for about a second. A screenshot will appear in your camera roll.
• To go back to the Home screen, pinch together four or five fingers.
• To use the Multitasking Gestures they must be activated under the General section of the settings.
iPad Shortcuts• To swipe between open apps, place four
fingers on the screen and slide the screen to the right or left.
• To see all the apps that are open, push the Home button two times OR use four fingers to push the screen up. This also reveals the Multitask bar displaying apps that are open.
• To delete an app, touch the app until it begins to wiggle then hit the small x to delete the app from your device.
iPad Shortcuts• To close apps that are open, either press the
Home button twice or swipe up with four fingers to reveal all the open apps in the Multitasking bar. Then hold down an open app from the bar at the bottom until it begins to wiggle. Touch the small red circle that appears on that app to close it. When you are finished closing apps, press the Home button once to stop the wiggling. Use four fingers again swiping down to close the bar.
iPad Shortcuts
• The side switch beside the volume controls can be used as a Mute button or Lock screen rotation. Change this in the General settings menu.
• To download a previously purchased app that got deleted, go to the App Store and search under Purchased. Touch the cloud to reinstall deleted apps.
iPad Shortcuts• To use zoom on pages without the pinch
feature to zoom, turn on Zoom in the General settings under Accessibility. • Double-tap three fingers to zoom.• Drag three fingers to move around the screen.• Double-tap three fingers and drag to change
zoom.
Reinventing Worksheets
• Take photos of worksheets using the iPad’s camera. It saves to the Camera Roll.
• Create photo albums for different subjects or topics.• Math• Science• ELA
Apps to use with worksheetsDoodle Buddy Picture Flash Cards
• Features:• FREE• Many different drawing tools.• Lots of colors to select.• The thickness of the line can be
changed.• Different stamps available with
sounds.• Can type on pictures using keyboard
with different fonts.• Can use provided templates or
pictures from Camera Roll• Easy to clear and correct mistakes.
• Features:• $2.99• Does not save photos to Cameral Roll
so you aren’t sharing with all of your devices.
• Can create labels and categories for photos or worksheets.
• Choose form 3 different colors and line widths.
Classroom Tools
• Tools that can make teaching a little more enjoyble.
• Click app icons to access the apps iTunes page.
• This is a small sample of ones that I find helpful. Below is a link to an infographic by Tony Vincent that goes more indepth.
iPad as the TEACHER’S PET
Classroom ToolsDropbox CloudOn
• Features:• FREE• Able to access files that are uploaded
from any computer or device.• Stores 2GB of information at no
additional charge.• Can view many video, music, and
image files.• Can store and view Powerpoint,
Excel, PDF, Word documents, webpages, and text documents.
• Features:• FREE• Able to create or edit Word,
Powerpoint, and Excel files without changing the format.
• Pulls stored files from Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, or SkyDrive.
• Can email files for easy printing and storing.
Classroom ToolsCommon Core
Miss Ward’s Classroom Ideas:Collaborative Learning
• Features:• FREE• Great reference for Common
Core objectives divided into Subjects and then Grade levels.
• Additional resources tab that provides documents that better explains the CC and how it can be used with ELL and SPED students.
• Features:• FREE• 29 different activities that can be
incorporated into your lessons that encourage collaborative learning.
• Each activitiy gives step by step instructions for implementation.
• You can keep track of your favorites with the “Favourite” tag at the top.
Classroom ToolsMindMapper Percentally
• Features:• FREE• For word or idea mapping• Easy to add parent and child ideas to
basic topic.• Can add pictures from files or take
photos to add to map.• Add notes to maps as well.• Capability of printing and emailing
map.• Can store and share with dropbox• Several different styles of maps
available.
• Features:• $2.99• Can add multiple groups and multiple
names.• Easily edit names and labels• Can tally with correct/incorrect and
gives percentage.• Email tally information to store records.• Not available as an iPad app but can
be enlarged for use on iPad.
Classroom ToolsDecide Now! HAT by Cool Classroom
• Features:• $.99• Fun wheel that can be edited to
meet your needs.• Use in Language Arts, games, or
whatever else you can think of.• Change colors and number of
spaces available.• Able to email wheels.
• Features:• $.99• Can edit list and use dropdown to
select list.• Shake to draw a random item or
name from the hat.• Has a Secret Bunny motivator as
well which you determine the frequency of his appearance.
• Fun way to draw names
Using QR Codes
• QR stands for QUICK RESPONSE.• Companies use QRs to promote their products
and now you can use them to engage your students in their learning.
• When you scan the QR code it provides you with more information. A QR code can open a web browser to a website, display a picture, play music, or start a video.
• Sean Sweeney of SpeechTechie.com explained them as “high-tech hide and seek.”
QR Code Generator
• Kaywa is a website to generate FREE QR codes. You can create codes linked to websites, text, or pictures. It is incredibly easy.
• Just enter the information you want to appear when the code is scanned and generate the code. Use static codes for items that you are going to print.
• Right click to save as an image or copy to put in a document.
Scanning a QR Code
• To scan a QR to produce an image, text, or website in your classroom you will need a device with a camera to scan the QR and a program that reads QRs. There are a few options:• Scan from mobile device (iPod or smart phone)
using a downloaded QR app and the devices camera• Scan from a tablet (iPad, Kindle, etc.) using a
downloaded QR app and the devcies camera• Scan from a laptop or desktop computer using a
website (Qreader) and a webcam
Apps you will need for QRsScan RedLaser
• Features:• FREE• Use this app for scanning QR
codes• Uses the devices camera to scan
QRs or barcodes
• Features:• FREE• Use this app for scanning QR
codes• Scans barcodes and UPCs as well
Ways to use QRs in the classroom
• Sequencing activities: Sequence events from a story or steps to complete an equation using QR codes.
• Extended learning: Create QR codes for extra credit activities or websites to expand on the lesson.
• Interactive Displays: Make bulletin boards interactive with QR codes. Place around the school for a virtual school quide.
• Scavenger hunt: You can hide different QRs throughout the school or class and have the students scan the QRs to figure out a topic or make inferences.• To generate multiple QRs for a scavenger hunt use
Classroom Tools: QR Code Treasure Hunt. It allows you to enter in multiple questions and answers to generate many QRs for an activity.
Ways to use QRs in the classroom
• Put a QR code in the back of a book linked to a web resource about that topic or online resources for that author.
• Use QR codes to allow student to create their own adventures. At the end of a passage the student gets the choice of two QR codes. Whichever one they choose decides how the story continues.
• Homework Helpers: Add QR codes to homework sheets so parents and students can access websites that can help explain a concept or how to solve an equation.
Other Apps to use in the Classroom
Talking Character Apps (Talking Larry the Bird)
• Features:• Repeats everything you say. Also fun ways to
interact with the characters.• Students can practice reading to the character for
auditory feedback on their fluency skills.• Students can practice phonics skills with the
character. • Great for providing auditory feedback.• Must speak in shorter sentences, not a long
memory on these apps• Prices range from FREE to $1.99
Apps by Textbook Companies
• McGraw-Hill Education Company• Apps for all subjects• Everyday Math apps & fun grammar
and vocabulary apps• iBooks also available• Prices vary but the Everday Math and
Reading/LA apps frequently go FREE.
Apps by Textbook Companies
• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt• iBooks available• Apps for Math and Reading/LA• HMH app is a collection of books
divided by grade levels from the Journey series. The app is FREE but you must purchase the book packages.
Apps by Catalog Companies
• Catalogs are starting to develop apps based on their popular selling products. Here are a few links to catalogs that I know develop apps:
• Lakeshore Learning• Super Duper Publications• Attainment Company• Linguisystems• Pearson
More Apps for the ClassroomJumbled Sentences Story Lines for School
• Features:• FREE• 6 different leveled apps with 3
levels in each app• Find the level your students need.• Auditory feedback of words and
fun design.
• Features:• FREE• Focus is to help develop new
vocabulary and concepts that are grade appropriate.
• Divided into levels: Elementary, Intermediate, Quotes, or SAT words.
• It is the telephone game for vocabulary words
More Apps for the ClassroomThe Opposites Mad Libs
• Features:• $1.99• Fun game to practice antonyms.• Difficulty increases with each
level• Challenging game of speed and
comprehension
• Features:• FREE• Focus is grammar by telling
humorous stories.• Select from 21 different stories
with the option to buy more.• If you can’t think of a word for the
category, tap HINTS for a sliding selection of words for that group.
Apps for English Language Learners (ELL)
There are a huge amount of apps intended to help others learn the English language. These apps teach vocabulary, grammar, and listening comprehension skills . Students who struggle in these areas can benefit from ELL apps. You can find different levels to meet your student’s needs. Here are a few:
Other Apps to use in the Classroom
Bitsboard
• Features:• FREE• Collection of flashcards created by other users or
you can create your own from pictures or clipart• Hundreds of topics including foreign languages,
states & capitals, and counting money• After you download or create a card set, you can
choose how to use them: flashcards, photo touch, true or false, pop quiz, match up, reader, word builder, spelling bee
• Lots of classroom applications
More Apps for the ClassroomVocabulary Spelling City Friendzy
• Features:• FREE• Fun games to practice spelling
and vocabulary.• Create your own list from their
website and students can connect to your page to play games on their devices.
• Available upgrade for a yearly subscription price.
• Features:• FREE• Students can play quiz games
against others in their class or children from other places.
• A HUGE amount of different Friendzy games including for each grade.
• Multiple levels in the subject Friendzy.
Game Apps
It is no secret that most children (and adults) love to play games. They can be used as a great motivator in the classroom. Have the students sling a bird or take a turn after they answer correctly. Here are a few that my students enjoy playing:
EDMODO• Safe website for teachers to communicate with their students and
parents.• Teachers can post assignments, answer homework questions, and
promote class discussions.• Students can play educational apps directly on the website.• Students cannot communciate with other students privately, so all
conversations are visible to the teacher.• The site also has mobile versions for iPads and iPods.• FREE
Thank you for attending my session. I hope you found this information useful in your
classroom. If you have any questions please email me