TECH STUFF #6
Apps and Tech Info 4/14/16
NEW QUIZLET LIVE!
How Quizlet Live compares to other class quiz games?
Free ebook: “The Digital PIRATE,” tech and PIRATE teaching
So, I made something for you. I hope you like it!
Dave Burgess’s book “Teach Like a PIRATE”has been an eye-opener for me and countless other teachers around the planet. The book demonstrates how to use passion and the art of performance to create unforgettable learning experiences. It includes my favorite part, hooks — practical ideas you can implement in class immediately that can boost student engagement.
I took on “The 30 Day Pirate Challenge,”where I tried to incorporate something from the book each day to engage, inspire and entertain my students. In the ensuing reflection post, I shared my successes and failures (yes, there were both!).
As I dig deeper into the book, the techie teacher geek in me keeps asking, “How could technology take these ideas to the next level?”
Or, another way to phrase it: “How could I become a digital pirate teacher?” (No, I’m not talking about pirating digital music!)
After some brainstorming, I’ve compiled 20 teaching ideas that incorporate an engagement hook from “Teach Like a PIRATE” and a free digital tool.
Tech integration + PIRATE teaching = exciting learning!
I’ve described a few of the ideas in this post. To download the entire ebook for FREE, click the image of the book to the right (or just click here)! (If you’re signed up for my e-mail updates, check your e-mail for a link to download the ebook.)
1.Using the Backwards Hook with WeVideo — The Backwards Hook is about showing students the end before explaining how it happened. Think of movies or TV shows that show the aftermath of destruction or a character in a tight spot. Then the rest of the show explains how it all happened. WeVideo allows users to create video projects with text, images and video clips. Create a short video introduction to show students the end first, piquing their interest for a discussion or activity.
2. Using the Board Message Hook with PowToon — The Board Message Hook suggests that a provocative, attention-grabbing message written on the board can engage students before class even starts. Creating an animated “board message” (video) can do that in a flashy way. PowToon makes creating customized animated videos easy. Play one to start class to get everyone’s attention!
3. Using the Mime Hook with Gone Google Story Builder — Using silence or written messages is what the Mime Hook is all about. Gone Google Story Builder allows users to create a video that looks like people are typing messages to each other in a Google document. Those written words could set the stage for a lesson or punctuate it at the end. Type the words and generate a link that anyone can view later.
There are 17 more hook + tech activities in the “The Digital PIRATE” ebook. Click here to get your copy and check it out!
By Matt Miller
FREE E-BOOK DOWNLOAD IS BLOCKED, YOU WILL HAVE TO DO IT AT HOME.
iMOVIE TRAILER PLANNERS FROM TONY VINCENT
THE EXPEDITIONS PIONEER PROGRAM
There is no charge or cost involved in the program.
MAKE MUSIC WITH THESE COOL APPS
Apple’s Classroom App For iPad Released, Requires iOS 9.3
Apple has continually been promoting the fact that it has a keen interest in becoming known as an educational innovator in the digital space, and that once again shines through with the immediate availabsility of the company’s new Classroom app for iPads running iOS 9.3.
The new iPad Classroom app made a brief visual appearance during yesterday’s Spring 2016 event, but Tim Cook, nor any of his executives, went into any great detail on the app and exactly what kind of experience it would bring to educators and the educational sector.
The Classroom experience is intended to turn an iPad into a powerful teaching assistant by targeting a number of key areas in the teaching experience. Guiding students through a lesson, seeing a student’s progress, as well as tracking that progress in real-time. Though more importantly, it allows complete management of students’ iPads.
One of the really interesting aspects of the Classroom app is the luxury of being able to assign shared iPads to students that then allows the teacher in charge to perform a number of tasks directly on those iPads. Any app, website, or book can be invoked on one or many shared iPaddevices by the teacher. The devices can also be locked by the person in charge to prevent student access to the hardware. This is particularly powerful and important in a classroom environment to refocus the attention of students when necessary.
The new Classroom app is yet another step in the right direction in Apple’s plans to capture the educational sector and make iOS a staple part of the classroom teaching experience. Those wanting to use the app will require an iPad running iOS 9.3, and will also need to tick a few boxes that make it safe for use in a classroom environment, as explained below:
App configuration via Mobile Device Management server
Supervised Student devices enrolled in Mobile Device Management server
THANK YOU FOR READING!
Tim D'Amico
Email: tdamico@ems-isd.net
Location: Fort Worth, TX, United States
Twitter: @tinytrainings