Wednesday, July 10, 2013

iPad Workshop -- Day 3 -- EdTechTeacher.org -- Hauser Hall/Harvard -- July 10, 2013


Well, Day 3 has arrived.  In most ways, these sessions have breezed by and now we're at the final session of this workshop.  Kinda difficult to believe.....

The list of "apps on tap" for today include:



We started out spending some time hearing about how to project an iPad on a computer.  Most time was spent on Reflector which is an app that you install on both your computer (which apparently includes both Mac & Windows) and on the iPad you want to project.  More information about that available at:
http://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/

Reflector is not the only option but, at $12.99, it is a relatively low-cost option for making it possible for a tablet to be mirrored on a screen

A .pdf of some instructions put together by EdTechTeacher can be found at:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-zMx78MK6cFNld2ZzZsSTBkVzQ/edit

Another option for "mirroring" an iPad is AirServer which appears to cost $14.99
http://www.airserver.com/

A further option with perhaps the most limitations/iffy would be to use Bluetooth

Then we spent a chunk of time watching the movie "trailers" that people made yesterday at the end of the day using iMovie.  Some pretty effective, not to mention entertaining and clever, videos were created in really a very few minutes by folks in the workshop using the Trailer tool in iMovie.  And iMovie makes it pretty nearly a breeze to do.  Easy to get sold on an app with such ease in putting together some video.

It would have been interesting, though, to create something more open-ended using iMovie rather than the trailers.  Those trailer templates are very well-designed and organized.  Again, they are a lot of fun, but I'm not sure the "trailer" approach would be that helpful with a video project in a classroom that has depth to it.  But, there's a lot to say for having fun making a project!!

Staying with the video topic, we briefly weighed the use of  YouTube as an option to upload class videos, particularly uploading and saving videos in one of the private modes that keep student work inaccessible to those who have no business watching them and yet available to all who should be able to see it.  Having this option is reassuring but pointing students to YouTube even with private URLs still begs the question of whether it is wise -- certainly with kids in elementary and middle school -- should be nosing around YouTube.  A number of schools represented by the workshop participants to not allow YouTube access by students at school.

In terms of some other options, reference was made to Vimeo and iTunes U although, a bit surprisingly to me, not SchoolTube.

Today's app expedition and share impressions included the following:
  • Aurasma
  • 30 Hands
  • Haiku Deck
  • Popplet Lite
  • Nearpod
  • Spreaker DJ
  • TouchApp Creator
  • Trading Cards
  • Videolicious

The results of the group sharing of impressions of these apps is available here.



The final project of the workshop was next up on our agenda.  And our task.....

Use Book Creator to create a ePub of your experiences,
notes, resources, etc from the past 3 days
Use the agenda and Today’s Meet to guide you.

This was also a time when Sam and Carl circulated around the room answering some individual questions that people had about what we've explored since Monday.

Near the end of the day, Carl called our attention to a couple videos that speak to starting a movement and doing something to bring attention to an important cause.  Here were two examples of the power of video not to mention the power of the energy, creativity, and commitment our kids can bring to all of our lives.

Derek Sivers shows us how movements get started.  He shows video of the start of a movement all of which happens in less than 3 minutes.  Check it out.

Next came a very powerful video that was spearheaded by two kids with the help of an interested adult who had the means to create a song and record it.  This is a wonderful example of what our students can do not to mention the importance of putting kids in charge of projects that meets their passion. In this case, the idea was to create something to counter bullying and finding ways to help those who are the victims of mistreatment.  

Called "Lend a Hand", it is a YouTube video that was quite amazing to watch.  You can watch it here.

It was a great way to bring this workshop to a close and I'm grateful to both our facilitators for the great experience that was this iPad Classroom Workshop.