How to use iPads in the Classroom
Here are some ways in which iPads can be used successfully in the classroom to enhance teaching and learning. If you can think of any more please let me know!
1. Augmented Reality using Second Sight
What Is Second Sight?
Second Sight is a revolutionary augmented reality application, designed to enhance printed material such as: Books, Magazines, Programmes and guides or even displays at museums and heritage locations.
Aside from any Internet links, all the content is pre-stored on your phone in the Experience Packs you can download for free! This means you only download the content you want! And you can get enhanced multimedia experiences while reading content outdoors, in the car, on the train, just about anywhere! Once the Experience Pack is downloaded, you can use Second Sight in any location.
Second Sight is a revolutionary augmented reality application, designed to enhance printed material such as: Books, Magazines, Programmes and guides or even displays at museums and heritage locations.
Aside from any Internet links, all the content is pre-stored on your phone in the Experience Packs you can download for free! This means you only download the content you want! And you can get enhanced multimedia experiences while reading content outdoors, in the car, on the train, just about anywhere! Once the Experience Pack is downloaded, you can use Second Sight in any location.
Using Second Sight in the Classroom
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Science:
Create a Augmented Reality Solar System - Download images, video, animation etc. about the Solar System and link them to one of the supplied QR codes. Scatter each of the codes around the room and ask pupils to put them in order. Possible extension task: Print out more codes with information about each of the planets moons then ask pupils to group each moon with its corresponding planet. Geography/History: Create an interactive visitors centre. Students can use software such as Crazy Talk, iClone, ComicLife, iCan Animate, movie maker or audacity (iMovie and Garageband if you are using a mac) to create interactive content (Read my article on using multimedia to support teaching and learning) which can be used to inform visitors about a local place of historical interest. Art: Create an Interactive Tour Guide - Contact your local Art Gallery and get your students to create an interactive tour to provide visitors with additional information. about the gallery's works. |
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Publisher: Black Ridge Technologies
Free Trial: Download a free trial here
2. Use your iPad as a Document Camera/Visualiser
Tony Vincent has kindly tweeted this handy piece of kit which allows you to turn
your iPad into a document camera. With AirPlay, you can wirelessly mirror your
iPad's screen to an Apple TV. or a Mac/PC. Justin's iPad stand can also be used
with an iPad VGA or HDMI adapter.
Can't afford Apple TV or don't want to buy adapters or convertors? ReflectionApp http://www.reflectionapp.com/ or AirServer allows you to mirror your iOS device
using Windows or Mac.
Visit Learning in hand to find out more.
your iPad into a document camera. With AirPlay, you can wirelessly mirror your
iPad's screen to an Apple TV. or a Mac/PC. Justin's iPad stand can also be used
with an iPad VGA or HDMI adapter.
Can't afford Apple TV or don't want to buy adapters or convertors? ReflectionApp http://www.reflectionapp.com/ or AirServer allows you to mirror your iOS device
using Windows or Mac.
Visit Learning in hand to find out more.
3. Stop Motion AnimationApps such as i Can Animate (Kudlian Software) allow you to use your iOS device as a Stop Motion Animation studio. (Note: Requires a device with camera support such as iPhone 3Gs, iPhone 4 & 4S, iPod touch (4th generation) or iPad 2 & new iPad.
Stop Motion Animation can be used for a wide range of activities and with any age group. Animation can be a great medium for encouraging team working skills and allowing less confident students to express themselves. Example uses: Science: Time-lapse photography for practical experiments e.g. Growing plants. Geography: Explaining the rock cycle or water cycle. English: Telling a story or re-enacting a scene from a play. |
i Can Animate allows you to use your iOS device for Stop Motion Animation and Time Lapse photography.
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Publisher: Kudlian Software
Price: £1.99
4. Use your iPad as an Autocue / Teleprompter
Apps such as Remote+ (iPhone) and Teleprompt+ (iPad) allow you to use your iOS device as a autocue / teleprompter.
Simply write your scripts directly in Teleprompt+ using the built in text editor or sync your text documents via Dropbox or Google Docs. eBay has an array of iPad stands which allow you to attach your iPad to a tripod or camera.
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Use your iOS device as an Autocue or Teleprompter
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5. Use your iPad as a ebook reader / encyclopediaAs ebook readers go, there are much better alternatives available such as Amazon's Kindle which boasts a nearly book-like grayscale matte which makes it easier and more comfortable to read text based content, particularly in bright sunlight. However, where the iPad excels is when multimedia rich content is involved. Another advantage of the iPad as an ebook reader is the ability to allow readers to change the size and the style of a book’s fonts, adjust the screen brightness level, and search a book’s contents. One of the most notable features is the ability to hold a finger over a word in iBook and look up the definition.
Apps to look out for: iBooks: FREE An amazing way to download and read books. iBooks includes the iBookstore. Browse your library on a beautiful bookshelf, tap a book to open it, flip through pages with a swipe or a tap, and bookmark or add notes to your favourite passages. Dictionary .com: FREE The free Dictionary.com app delivers content from Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com, including nearly 1,000,000 definitions. No Internet connection is needed. The app also features audio pronunciations. Free Audiobooks: FREE We take 2,947 of the greatest classic books in human history, package up their audiobooks, and make them available to download and listen to anytime, anywhere. Perfect for supporting SEN! |
Google Earth on iPad
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Podcasting
Podcasting is a wonderful way of allowing students to share their work and experiences with a potentially huge audience over the Internet.
A podcast is like a radio show. However, instead of being broadcast live, a podcast is recorded and then distributed over the internet or to a mobile device, so that you can listen to it whenever you please.
A podcast is like a radio show. However, instead of being broadcast live, a podcast is recorded and then distributed over the internet or to a mobile device, so that you can listen to it whenever you please.
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Benefits of using podcasts
- Give students a potential audience of thousands for their work - Develop literacy skills (writing scripts, setting up interviews, allowing pupils to develop and practise their speaking and listening skills) - Develop teamwork skills |
Garageband for iPad
Garageband turns your iPad into a full-featured recording studio, where you can play instruments, record music, and share songs / podcasts via iTunes or email. It includes a music library (including sound effects, instrumental loops.
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Publisher: Apple
Price: £2.99
6. Be a music producer
With the iPad Camera Connection Kit (around £22 on Amazon) you can connect real instruments (guitar, keyboard etc.) via USB or record audio using a USB microphone.
YouTube's very FIRST Digital Orchestra of 24 iPads, all performing original music, entirely composed on the iPad.
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Less than the price of a mac book and more portable than an iMac, you can have your very own mobile recording studio.
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