Apps Education

This is a great TEDxVideo of Thomas Suarez, a Grade 6 student explaining how he goes about developing Apps for iPhone, iPod and iPad. This is a great model for educators to create App developers in their own schools. Content creators as opposed to content consumers is a question we continue to ask ourselves. As Thomas says "sometimes students know more than teachers...with the technology......."

This kid is obviously a special student with a passion for programming but it would not be impossible to emulate this situation.

This is an excellent prepared inservice for staff or students on the iPad. This is a very extensive introductory self contained learning module. Have a look at the comprehensive links that BalancEdTech have included in this 6-12 hour set of iPad Professional Development.

Augmented Reality seems popular at the moment although many people think it is still beyond our reach as content providers. This has changed recently with the development of a new range of Apps that allow you to implement AR features on your iPad. Have a look at the three we have featured here for a peek at the way educational information could be presented. If you know of other please let us know so we can include them in the list.

1. Junaio - FREE

The new junaio 3.0 elevates the iPad 2 camera capability to a new level. Point your camera at whatever it is you want information on. This "Scan the World" feature can recognize pictures, QR codes and even product barcodes. Keyword search is still available, but the scanned image itself works now as a search query to get to content in junaio, making other kind of markers obsolete.

Junaio is an advanced mobile augmented reality browser, a mobile companion and instant source of information about places, events or bargains. What’s on at the movies, where is the nearest cash dispenser, taxi stand or subway station? Finding your way inside exhibitions, getting added information on products, ads or news articles. This and more at your finger tips with junaio, your mobile companion. 

View augmented reality enhanced QR codes created on daqri.com with the daqri App! Keep track of previously visited daqri codes in the History. Save daqri codes you really like to Favorites to check out later. Take photos with augmented reality and post them directly to Facebook!

daqri is an augmented reality platform that allows you to publish and view amazing augmented reality experiences, without writing a single line of code. With the daqri app, you can scan daqri QR codes to gain access to all kinds of content including videos, images, maps, phone numbers, links, and 3D augmented reality.

Layar is a mobile app for discovering information about the world around you. Using Augmented Reality (AR) technology, Layar displays digital information called “layers” into your smartphone’s field of vision.

Share your augmented experiences with your friends and followers. Simply connect to Layar with your Facebook or Twitter account and share your layers, spots and screenshots within your social networks.

Find your way around in Augmented Reality with Layar's intuitive user interface. Start directly from your most favorable and recently used layers. Easily explore brand new and featured layers.

Last year we introduced 3D objects in augmented reality. Now, 3D objects are no longer just waiting to be discovered. They can come alive!

The majority of these free Apps only work in the US, however the last App - Air Video is available everywhere.

Netflix	XFinity	ABC
TW Cable TV	Optimum	Hulu Plus
Vevo	PBS	Watch ESPN
	Air Video

This is an interesting article and subsequent list from Fraser Speirs about Apps that are pushing the boundaries around iOS 5. Some of these Apps are the obvious ones and not all of them are specifically educational but it makes for a great list. It also gives us, the consumers a set of higher standards to be expecting from Apps developers. If we have the capability to use these new features then we should not just be expecting them we should be demanding them - especially those features that make the learning experience richer or deeper for our students.

I like all of these and would add one myself that I stumbled on the other day - Gamebook Adventures: Temple of the Spider God. Good for decision making and risk taking as well as a great book for getting boys to read. Enjoy!