Summer Fun!

This summer has been filled with day trips to some great places.  Today, we went to our local zoo to see the newest exhibit.  It has a large outdoor area, all for self-exploration and discovery.  Music, art, and nature were strong themes.  If you find yourself in New England, take a trip to the Roger Williams Park Zoo.  What a great way to spend a day with my little ones!

Inside the tent they built with silks!

By turning the wheels, gears spun the leaf images kaleidoscopic!

Up in a tree house, a music station!

Madeline goes on a nature scavenger hunt, all in a tree house.

Sarah builds a tower with natural materials.  We spend A LOT of time here!

Fishing with bamboo and experimenting with water flow

Madeline is working with the chalkboard, practicing some lowercase letters.  She's feeling nostalgic these days with the materials.  Her time at Montessori was very special.

Synth Apps Review:

A colleague recently sent us an email with a couple of recommendations for some great music synth apps. Mark Moriarty is an Education Officer in Wagga Wagga and has been a long time supporter of Apps in Education. He's been doing some fantastic Professional Development around implementing and integrating iPads in the classroom. Today we get the wisdom of that experience. Thanks Mark!

The Apps:

Sunrizer: $5.49 AU
Sunrizer synth is a virtual analog synthesizer that takes the definition of iOS synthesizer to the next level. Thanks to carefully designed architecture and heavy usage of co-processor it blurs the boundaries between iOs and hardware synthesisers. Sunrizer was built to perform and works perfectly with any MIDI keyboard or sequencer.

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/sunrizer-synth/id443663267?mt=8

Animoog: $31.99 AU

Animoog captures the vast sonic vocabulary of Moog synthesizers and applies it to the modern touch surface paradigm, enabling you to quickly sculpt incredibly fluid and dynamic sounds. Animoog’s unique user interface gives you the power to easily create a visually vibrant and sonically rich universe. It is the ultimate tool for total creative expression!

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/animoog/id471638724?mt=8

NLog Pro: $15.99 AU

An iOS synth with professional grade virtual analogue low latency sound engine. Play it from on-screen keyboard or use MIDI keyboards. Connect to your digital audio workstation via MIDI interfaces and play NLogSynth from other iOS apps like SoundPrism, polychord or Genome Sequencer via virtual Core MIDI. 

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/nlogsynth-pro/id393879841?mt=8

"These apps also have support for Core USB Midi which allows the connection of a USB Midi keyboard through the USB Camera Connection Kit adapter so that the synth can be played from the keyboard. External speakers can be attached through bluetooth or the headphone out on the iPad.

I have a Yamaha PSR S500 keyboard with USB Midi and have successfully connected to the iPad to use the apps. There are some expensive adapters for connection of keyboards to the iPad, such as iRig, V-Midi etc. but if you want a simple connection, the Camera Connection Kit works fine. Obviously it is going to run the battery down a bit, but for casual use it 'just works'.

Another new app is Fruity Loops, FL Studio HD for music creation via the sequencer method."

FL Studio Mobile HD: $19.99 AU

FL Studio Mobile HD allows you to create and save complete multi-track music projects on your iPad. You can even load the FL Studio Mobile projects into the 'FL Studio Desktop PC' version* and take them to the next level. If it’s a beat on the step sequencer, a melody on the piano roll or a full song on the playlist, FL Studio Mobile has you covered.


http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/fl-studio-mobile-hd/id432850619?mt=8

More on UW Online

Check out this morning's story from Inside Higher Ed for more information and questions. I'm told we can expect details from UW System soon, and I know many of us eagerly await them.

iMovie Trailer Storyboards - T.I.M.

I love iMovie Trailers. They are a useful way to get students to think about the main concepts and ideas of a particular topic. We have used iMovie to get students to create Trailers for novels, historical events or figures and even contemporary social issues. They are a great way to present part of a research project on scientists, mathematicians, explorers, artists or architects.

Timothy Jefferson has put together a couple of fantastic storyboards for creating Trailers in iMovie. These are great for students who get stuck getting started. These storyboards actually give you a guide to the type of footage you need and how much you will require - there is nothing worse than getting to the end and then realising that you do to have enough film to complete your Trailer. Make sure you check out Timothy Jefferson's blog, he has some really interesting resources that he is sharing. Thanks Tim.

http://timothyjefferson.com/blog/2012/06/imovie-for-ipad-storyboard-help-sheets-for-trailers/

Accessing Students Work on the iPad - Digital Roadtrip

I saw this link on Twitter this morning via @jnxyz @digitalroadtrip. This is the sort of workflow that will make things easy for teachers. It is one of the concerns the new or reluctant teachers are concerned about.  To be honest moving students work samples is something that, until you try it, you do not realise how time consuming it can be. I have included an image as a link back to the original site. Make sure that you have a look at the rest of the site for some good resources. Digital Roadtrip - Another great catch from the PLN of twitter.

http://digitalroadtrip.tumblr.com/post/25602693682

Wishy-Washy Thoughts on Gates

I'm no Diane Ravitch.  If I were, I'd use this blog to bravely state my concerns about the direction the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is heading with educational policy. I'd follow her lead and ask hard, pointed questions about the role that people with money play in driving major decisions in a democracy.

But I won't.  Because while I'm tenured, I am still fearful.  I have receiving more than $1 million in support from the Gates Foundation for my research on financial aid, and I am grateful for it-- and in need of much more.  That's the honest truth.  It's harder and harder to find funding for research these days, and while my salary doesn't depend on it, getting the work done does.

So I won't say all that Diane just did.  Yet I have to say something, and as I wrote recently, I always attempt to do so.

Her questions deserve answers.  And they should be asked of the higher education agenda as well.  Why the huge investment in Complete College America, an outfit that is pushing an end to college remediation unsupported by the work of top scholars like Tom Bailey?  Why the growing resistance to funding basic research in key areas where massive federal and state investments persist absent evidence of effectiveness? Why sink $20 million into performance-based scholarships, based on a single tiny randomized trial in one site?

I'm sure there are good answers out there.  It's not the first time I've asked these questions.  And perhaps unlike Diane, the time I've spent with the Foundation has imbued me with some confidence that there are very smart, well-meaning people inside the place-- people I like quite a bit.  There's also a lot of turnover, and the outfit is a bit gangly in some areas, kinda like a teenager.

Actually, that's exactly it. The Foundation is one heck of a powerful adolescent.  And maybe that's ok, as long as it recognizes its stage in life, and continues to seek expert advice and wisdom.  Adolescents are good at asking questions and not so great at listening. That's something to work on. Places like the William T. Grant Foundation are full-fledged adult foundations who make smart and highly effective investments daily.  I'd love for Gates's ed portfolio to seek advice and hear from them.  It'd make a world of difference.

Have I just torpedoed my own chances for future support?  Well, I guess only time will tell....

Early Years Apps for Learning

More antidotes of very young learners becoming engaged by and using apps continue to surface. There is even early evidence that preschoolers who use iPads for some guided activities have a small advantage with language acquisition. Dr D Bebell, Sue Dorris and Dr Mike Muir from the Auburn School District presented to Auburn School District Committee. This has yet to be proven conclusively but may have interesting outcomes for early years teachers.

There was no suggestion of which apps were used in the study but it did make me curious to see what apps were available for early learners. Here are a number of apps that can be used by preschool and infants age kids.

Alphabet Deluxe: $0.99 AU

Learn - toggle through the alphabet to see the pictures and words that start with the letter chosen. Press the picture to hear it. Practice- Choose the letter that the picture starts with. Play- This fun activity is great for all ages. Press the circle to reveal a random letter. Choose from the nine colored markers and start drawing something that starts with that letter.

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/alphabet-game-deluxe/id528102498?mt=8

Stories about Me: FREE

Stories About Me allows parents and teachers to create their own social stories for their children and students. Blending photos, text, and voice recordings into a talking picture book, children can playback rich media stories of their own personal experiences. Swiping advances the pages and tapping plays the audio; simple as that!

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/stories-about-me/id531603747?mt=8

Letterschool: $2.99 AU

Learning to write letters and numerals will never be the same after a child tries LetterSchool. This app has raised the bar for all letter/numeral recognition apps. Children’s Technology Review. A fantastic program to familiarize kindergartners with the alphabet. This intelligently designed app will captivate the user through entertaining animations and an easy to navigate interface.

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/letterschool/id435476174?mt=8

Wonder Kids: FREE

Wonder Kids is an educational application for toddlers, pre-school and elementary school children. Fun Learning Activities, as coloring, drawing, matching games, jigsaw puzzles and Bingo games. Contributing to the all-round and linguistic development of kids, the application gives them a sense of achievement and enormous satisfaction.

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/wonder-kids/id446308264?mt=8

Spellmania: $0.99 AU

SpellMania encourages players to spell and learn harder and harder words. If the player makes a mistake, the host will repeat the word letter by letter with the correct spelling displayed on screen. Any misspelled words are more likely crop up again in the game, giving players another chance to get it right, reinforcing the learning.

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/spellmania-au/id526303637?mt=8

ABC FlashCards: $2.99 AU

Kids learn their ABCs through play when they make the 'D'inosaur roar, 'Z'ip the Zipper, and more! Every letter is a unique, interactive toy! The memorable flash cards engage children in learning and aid in development. Develops reading foundational skills including uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and phonics sounds

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/alphabet-abc/id383967580?mt=8

Ready to Print: $10.49

Created by an Occupational Therapist. Ready to Print is a tool for parents, therapists and educators to help teach pre-writing skills to children to build a strong foundation for beginning printers. Ready to Print progresses through the pre-writing skills so that children can master the visual-motor, visual-perceptual, and fine motor skills.

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ready-to-print/id513780564?mt=8

Pencils Words and Kids: $5.49 AU

This app is a How To guide for kids and their mentors to get the words flowing. This app is not about grammar and spelling. The creative writing process is presented in entries and photos of kids writing, original artwork, and inspiring scenes. The photos will fuel brainstorming for stories, essays and poems. 

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/pencils-words-kids/id488254899?mt=8

It's Learning Time: $0.99 AU

Can you complete each level by setting cuckoo’s clock correctly 12 times? Choose the level of play you wish to practise then drag the minute hand around the clock to match the time spoken. Press the yellow button to see if you’re correct, if you are, cuckoo comes out to say hello! Multiple levels.

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/its-learning-time/id403583181?mt=8

AAC Language Lab: $1.99 AU

This app addresses all four language objectives to help early language learners as well as children with expressive language delays who use augmentative and alternative communication methods. Use the ‘Learn’ and  ‘Practice’ buttons to direct the child to find a specific target words.


http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/language-lab/id527182200?mt=8