Must Have App: Adobe Voice

Adobe Voice is a great free App that allows you to create narration over images, text, and photos. The many templates allow you to tell a story in a clear and concise manner. It is very intuitive and easy to use. Your students will have no problem completing a project in a short amount of time. The share option allows you to share the final product through a web link, email, or as part of the Adobe Voice network. If any you have used Adobe Voice in class, please feel free to comment with the link so we can see how you used it in class. Here is my video tutorial on Adobe Voice: http://youtu.be/TgWQIk5aC3M

Must Have Apps

As a faculty, we have recently had professional development in project based learning, assessment, and differentiated instruction. When we consider how best to use technology within each of these areas as well as how best to engage our students, the iPad becomes invaluable. Now, as we have developed killer lessons within our disciplines, I'm positive that we have come to grow fond of specific apps that allow us to:

• S-substitute 
• A-augment
• M-modify
• R-redfine

The ability to get to the highest level, redefinition, is what we are ultimately after. But that doesn't mean we can't use each of the other stages as a springboard for a great lesson. 

My question is, what apps do you regularly use to engage your students? Everyone knows iMovie, Keynote, and Pages. You've seen me use Nearpod. Now comment below with your favorite apps and the lesson you have built around it. 

My hope is, we can spur discussion and create a MPS must have app list!

Apple TV

Apple TV

What is an Apple TV? What is AirPlay?

First, Apple TV isn't actually a television. It's a small black box that connects to your projector via HDMI connection. The Apple TV allows you to mirror teacher an student iPads or MacBooks.  Unfortunately, our ASUS laptops cannot be mirrored with this technology. This type of mirroring should sound familiar to us--it is a similar service to Reflector/Reflections.

With the iPad mirrored and projected on the screen, teachers can demonstrate how to use an app, zoom into maps, show what is under an iPad's camera, etc.

• To connect to AirPlay with your iPad:
• Use the silver remote and wake up Apple TV by pressing large round button
• The white light should appear on black box connected to projector
• Use the black remote for your projector to ensure that HDMI 2 input is selected
• Swipe up from the bottom of your iPad to reveal the AirPlay icon
• Tap on the AirPlay button and find the Apple TV associated with your room
• Make sure you toggle "mirroring" on
• It will then prompt you to enter a PIN number on your iPad. The pin will be projected on your screen. 

To disconnect AirPlay from your iPad:

• Swipe up from the bottom of your iPad
• Tap AirPlay, then tap iPad
• This will ensure that your iPad is no longer projecting on the screen 

eBackpack Tutorial

eBackback has really caught fire in popularity among both teachers and students. The workflow app allows you to create, deliver, collect, grade, and return all assignments in a paperless fashion. No more lost papers. No more "I handed it in, " and now its gone. There is proof in date and time of delivery of assignments. If this sounds daunting, it's not. I have a youtube tutorial link here that will walk you through the basics. Remember, if you don't feel comfortable doing all of the work flow all at once, feel free to accomplish it in chunks. Create and view assignments first, then move your way along to full eBackpack usage!!

Introducing App: ThingLink

Here is another free app that I would recommend to every teacher: ThingLink. This app allows images to come alive with text, video, and audio. Students can create an interactive image, then use it as a presentation tool in class. It can be viewed and shared via email or on the web. Some of you have used tiki-toki before to create a timeline. This can do very much the same thing as tiki-toki. The language teachers have asked their students to create a project describing their family. Using Pic Collage to capture multiple images then opening the collage in ThingLink makes the process simple and easy. Here is a link to my tutorial. THINGLINK

Introducing Apps: Tellagami and Pic Collage

Two apps with unlimited potential are Tellagami and Pic Collage. Tellagami is an app that allows you to tell a story via a Gami (avatar). The story can be recorded using your own voice or using an artificial voice to communicate a type written text. I recommend you download the app today, by clicking here, as it is free for a limited time. Click here for my tutorial about Tellagami. Pic Collage is a handy collage making app. You can think about it as a way to make an electronic poster complete with text and stickers. It is very simple to use, yet has some pretty powerful editing tools. Pic Collage is an outstanding app to use in conjunction with other apps, as everything you do in Pic Collage can easily be saved to your camera roll. Click here to download Pic Collage for Free. Click here for my quick tutorial for Pic Collage.

Introducing App: Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck is a presentation software great for the student or the teacher. It is really intuitive and simple to use. The hundreds of creative commons images are really handy, too. Here is a link to my tutorial: Haiku Deck Video