Sharing the planet: Using apps to express and explore

The Prep students have been growing a garden as a part of their inquiry into Sharing the Planet.The students have been using tellagami, Scootle and iPads to share their learning.

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See below for links to these apps and some tutorials.

Apps

Tellagami

Scootle

Using Scootle in Education Ed Of ICT wikispaces resources

Qwiki

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Students as creators and publishers

I love the tools that allow students to become their own publishers and creators.
There are many tools that support students to do this.
Some of these tools I have compiled on JSSALC Online Stories wikispaces page.
I am also excited by the simplicity of the iPad apps that support this process as well.
This list has some excellent examples of these.

App creators

I have been trialling a few app creators for students to use.

There are quite a few app_builder tools. Some of these can be found at my app_builder bookmarks on diggo.

Each has its advantages and disadvantages and must be considered in context. All of the below are web based apps, not native apps.

They listed below are in order of cost.

The first one I used is the iBuildApp.
The plan I am currently using is free. This tool would need the students to have more technical knowledge but allows for android and iOS devices.

This is the app I designed.

Recently I have been playing with tools that will also allow students to design ebooks. One of these is the Creative Book Builder.

This blog post explains how to use CBB from the point of view of Bloom’s (from Appsinclass blog). The advantage of these tools is not technical understanding is required (WYSIWYG).

The Creative Book Builder data can be converted to an app via the in-app purchase TouchApp Creator. The cost is roughly $10 (as you need to purchase both CBB and the TouchApp Creator).

Considerations for me with these apps (apart from costing) is that the data is retained in the app on the particular device (not via login). As I am currently managing shared devices, this can be an issue. Additionally, it only creates for iOS devices (note: ebooks created can be converted to a PDF). A positive is the upload/export option using the cloud (eg. Dropbox).
These are excellent apps that I can see would be simplest for the students.

This is an example of a converted CBB to an TouchApp Creator app.

The JS LIBRARY epub (image) data was then converted to an app.

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This SAMR SDS web based app was designed using TouchApp Creator from the converted data.
SAMR SDS

The JS LIBRARY web based app designed using TouchApp Creator.

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Finally, the most interesting choice to me, from an educational perspective, is Blippit as it allows me to manage and review student work before the apps are published.

Blippit explained

A free App about the Blippit App Maker

The cost is an annual subscription (online payment). The support has been very prompt and encouraging so far.

Blippit

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Screenshot of the QR code and link that is generated.

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JS LIBRARY app designed using Blippit.

I can see great potential for our students creating their own apps to support their PYP Exhibition journey.

Stay tuned for where we go from here.

Please note: the apps created with Blippit are no longer active.

As of March 2014 Blippit has changed to Blippit IO App Maker.
To retain the work of the students this presentation was created.

Introduction to Programming

This term we are running an Introduction to Programming for students in Upper Primary.

We are looking at a variety of apps (initially) in order to identify prior knowledge and to consider what is possible.

The free apps are excellent for developing programming concepts with younger students. The apps below (some come with in-app upgrades) were selected as they build on each other, don’t take long to learn and set the scene well.

  • BEEBOT
  • DAISY THE DINO
  • A.L.E.X
  • HOPSCOTCH
  • CARGO-BOT

As a part of this course students will consider WHAT that actually wish to do. To support this the Introduction to Programming Moodle course has tutorials and guides so students can be self-directed in their learning. journey. Students have the opportunity to access these resources outside of school time and to share and collaborate about what they are learning and doing with others via the Edmodo Programming group.

 

Students will also reflect and complete a GOAL SETTING sheet to clarify their thinking and give some direction to their inquiry.

 

For example, they may wish to explore the games and gaming, use the apps and websites (eg Kodu, Scratch) to create a games  (focusing  on visual programming language)

 

OR

 

Build their own app using a platform such as Blippit or iTouch App after you have created your book using Creative Book Builder.

Blippit – the original pop-up app maker from Get Logged In on Vimeo.

 

Creative Book Builder for CBB from Digital Roadtrip on Vimeo.

 

As these sessions are purely to expose the students to programming and creativity through this medium, I am looking forward to seeing what the students create and what they are interested in, to develop resources and future sessions.

 

 

Please note: the apps created with Blippit are no longer active.

As of March 2014 Blippit has changed to Blippit IO App Maker.
To retain the work of the students this presentation was created.

 

Kathy Schrock’s BLOOMIN APPS

Using Bloom’s with ipads and android devices – check out BLOOMIN’ APPS

Kathy Schrock is a well respected educator who is constantly producing fantastic resources for teachers to use in their classrooms.

Check out these resources to use with the iPads (and android). These are based on Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Kathy Schrock

Andrew Churches Edorigami

Dr L O Wilson

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