Doodlecast Pro

Our school chose to celebrate 101 days of school this year instead of 100 Day.  We had a dalmation theme and the kids did all kinds of counting.  Now being the tech lover that I am, I named my pup techie, decorated my classroom door like a dog house and had the kids answer questions about 101 while I recorded their voice using Doodlecast Pro!

My original plan was to use Sonic Pics, but you could not add more photos once you started recording voice, so I quickly went in search of a new app!  Doodlecast Pro did the trick.  Now we certainly could have been MORE elaborate in our video, however, we were quickly rushing 30+ kids through the station with only 20 minutes available.  We sorted the kids by grade and then quickly snapped a photo of each of them... once they had been at the puppy ear station they looked adorable!  Next we opened up Doodlecast, inserted the picture and had them record their voice (I could eat 101 Smarties etc).  Once they were done speaking they went off to color a dalmation while the next person had a turn.  We inserted, recorded and moved on ALL AFTERNOON!

Speaking is an essential part of the curriculum and it is difficult for so many kids to do.  This project certainly highlighted that, but also reinforced the need for technology and how kids can simply make their own creations.

Here's the grade one finished video...............

I had also done a trial run the day before just to make sure it was going to work out for me.   I had my students tell me about their 100 Day posters!

Enjoy!

Snake Clamp-Doc Camera

Snake Clamp for the iPad
This looks like it might be worth the $60. to try out. It is a bracket for holding the iPad in place and is flexible to twist and use the iPad for a document camera. Of course it wouldn't be as elaborate as a doc camera but for $50. would it be worth it? Or would it work with the cases we have? It would be too much hassle to take the iPad out of the case. Hmmm!

Snake Clamp

Favorite Resources for iPads

Are you looking for just the right app to fit in with your subject area or theme. Here's a few resources that  are fabulous and well worth checking out. 

My favorite

Appitic

It gives apps in a list--by themes which breaks it down into subject areas. Excellent for ideas of new apps to try. It always amazes me how much time people put into getting these sites going for others to benefit from.

Another favorite

Mind Leap

This site has divided the apps by grade level and even reviews the apps for their educational quality, engagement factor and shelf life.  love it!

Others worth checking out:

ipads for education ning

Digital storytelling

This is a list of books that have been rated.

iPad sites

Here's some sites that are interesting to look at and see what others are doing with their iPads in their classrooms.


103 ways to use iPads in the classroom

Thanks for the suggestion, Jordy.


These sites came from Mrs. Malchow's blog

Teacher's with apps

Apps for teachers

iPads in schools[livebinders]

iPads in Education

Nov, 12 Inservice Day

Apps we shared:

Turns your iPad into a recordable whiteboard so either the teacher or the student can record, draw add photos etc.

Educreations is very similar to Show Me and I'm sure made by the same team.

Running Record App

Look to the link on the side for more info on Toontastic,

Look to the link on the side for more info on Voicethread.

Ideas for Voicethread -Make an ispy with students. Book discussions.. Talk about foods you like or dislike .If I were in charge of the world. social studies--our community-natural resources etc. the ideas are endless.

ImageChef s a free app and does amazing things to photos. One of the sections is Visual Poetry which creates simple and easy wordles amongst other cool photo ideas such as Wanted Posters etc.

A fast easy way to create a slideshow/ Creative Commons images are all there and simple for students to use/

Doodle Buddy- you can create drawings with tons of backgrounds and stamps.

Pictello is an app that you can make a books.

idress

ChoiceBoard Creator

ChoiceBoard Creator

This is an app we are trying with a couple of students with special needs. It looks awesome and I can see other students benefiting from it as well. Also please note the reference to the great site at the bottom of this post.

Choiceboard Creator App

Posted on March 21, 2012 

 Choiceboard Creator App is a simple, free iPad app that provides the ability to present questions and answer choices with visually and  audio capabilities. There is a simple method of designating which is the correct answer with an audio response provided when the correct answer is chosen by the user (clapping sound). Here are some of the features of the app as described by the developers:

• Large buttons, and black/white contrast to facilitate visual attention
• Box sizes are now adjustable for those who just need to see a little more clearly
• Clean board design to minimize visual distraction
• Space between choice buttons to avoid inadvertent hits
• Customizable to 1,2,3,4 or 6 choices
• Users can download their own pictures
• Users can create blank boxes as distractors to suit users of all levels
• Now users can preset multiple “correct answer” boxes, and download different sound files to each box – a feature that allows users to choose their favorite music with just a tap
• Other than image files, users can now type text into the choice box – use this feature to teach sight words, letter, number recognition
• Versatile application that can be used to create curriculum content to promote cognitive and literacy skills
• Ease of use. Intuitive interface allows user to set up activities in minutes
• Allows users to create multiple pages for each “game” or activity

Taken from http://otswithapps.com

This has other great resources for children that need extra ot support.

Mathletics

Mathletics   

Here it is!! Mathletics can be used on the iPad. It doesn't have as many features as it does on the computer but it is excellent. Students can log in and away they go. There is a log in for Teachers so they can manage their student's accounts but it is still in the development phase. I'm sure it will be up and going before long. The students can go to whatever the teacher has assigned for them as well as live Mathletics. 

 Mathletics is a site that you have to pay for which our school does and teachers and students love it!! The iPad app is an additional wonderful new feature.