School Bags becoming WAY lighter!

Not a post about an App BUT this video clip shows the incredible use of an iPad to phase out textbooks. Well worth watching.

Textbooks on iPad go way beyond the printed page. See how they bring learning material to life with video, audio, interactivity, and more.

Pirate Scribblebeard's Treasure

I love finding apps that encourage children's imagination and ideas. Pirate Scribblebeard's Treasure is an app designed to foster creativity and playful exploration, demonstrating the power of an iPad as a tool for learning. Based around the theme of pirates, pirates Oscar and Josephine take children on an adventure. Each page children are gently guided through the theme of the story creating their own illustrations that come 'alive' through animation. The story can be read and recreated many times.

Check out the developer's YouTube video:

This app is currently free through iTunes so give it a go and create your own pirate treasure!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Storyrobe Digital Story

Hey, check out this video I created using Storyrobe, a digital storytelling application now available on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

http://app.storyrobe.com/tmp/phpIJsQen-8_02_12.mp4

Visit iTunes and buy it today http://itunes.com/apps/storyrobe

Sent from my iPad

iTunes U

I love iTunes U.  It gives  access to a range of topics and speakers.  I can attend lectures from Harvard, Oxford or any number of Universities & Colleges from around the world.  iTunes U goes beyond Universities and features community groups, museums, science academies, language courses, music courses and the list keeps growing. There are a range of options for all ages.  Little Kids Rock is a favourite in our house as my daughter learns to play the guitar.

Not only can you access one-off talks, either audio or video, complete courses are also online.  TED has assembled some of its best talks around subject areas.  Once downloaded, they appear in your library in a 'notebook' where you can watch the videos, reflect on their questions, write notes and take part in the online at TED.

iTunes U works on iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.  All courses are downloaded to your library so you can watch at your leisure.  Check out iTunes U today and let us know how you find it.

Elmo explores ABCs for the iPad

Using Sesame Street's lovable Elmo, this App encourages young children to explore literacy through letters and sounds in the form of  games, videos, songs and more.

The main section of this game is based on levels, so that the letter must be traced with a finger before the next stage appears.   Children trace both the upper case and lower case letter that they have selected, then they can draw their own, hear the sounds of each letter, watch short video clips related to that letter and find hidden objects.  There are also alphabet songs, and letter matching games.

For adults who want the option, there is a tracking section that records how long the game is played, the child's favourite letter and favourite activity.

What I particularly like about this app is that it can be personalised to include words, photos and videos of the important things in children's lives, such as pets, family members, favourite toys, and in this case, even workplace!

There is lots to explore in this app that is filled with colour, sound and clear images.  Give the free lite version a trial today!

Scrabble Anyone?

I love a good board game over summer with the family:-) My children are now teenagers and it is much harder to entice them into playing with me! At the end of last year a friend of mine was playing scrabble, on his iPhone, against his partner who was then living in Australia. This intrigued me, how cool that they could play a game together from different countries! Since then, I have utilised good old google and you tube to find out more! I am yet to get together with my family to give it a try and look forward to a weekend at the beach over Waitangi weekend to entice them. I am also going to introduce this concept to the teachers at Whangarei Primary and suggest children in different classes trial playing games of scrabble together:-) Would love to hear from anyone who has tried scrabble on the iPad/iPod out:-)

Jamming with VidRhythm

Thanks to our colleague DK for sharing this FUN and creative app with us recently, certainly promoted lots of laughter in the workplace:-) If I was really brave I would post our experimental video clip but 'not so brave' so check out this great example to give you the idea.



VidRhythm is a free app and I thoroughly recommend trialling it with your friends, whanau and students.  Try out the different songs and styles and share your musical talents!  There are lots of examples on You Tube to check out for ideas to inspire.