Evernote Peek

With Spring approaching standardized testing looms on the horizon.  How do you prep your students for the test?  Do you make reviewing the content you've worked on all year fun?  Evernote Peek is a great app that turns reviewing into a fun activity!

Evernote Peek is a fun tool that takes your notes and turns them into flashcards...but not just any flashcards. This app uses your iPad's Smart cover (if you have one) or an on screen version (if you don't have one) to display the content in sort of a game style format. It's very cool!

It's really easy to set up*.
1. Take notes in Evernote (on your computer, iPad, or phone)
2. Open Evernote Peek and sign into your Evernote account
3. Select the notes you wish to turn in to flashcards and it does it for you. Here are some tips on how to set up your notes.

One of the really cool things about this app is that it has the capability to add voice notes! You'll see a great example in the video below. There are also a bank of notes already created for you to draw from (like the periodic table, world capitals, etc.), or you can create your own. This app would be a great way to review as a whole class, or for independent practice.

If you were going to use this in an Elementary classroom for independent study you could set it up this way:

• Create a class Evernote account
• Prepare the notes ahead of time
• Have your students sign into the class Evernote account when they open the app
• Have students download your notes to begin using Peek

In a secondary classroom for independent study you could use Peek like this:

• Have students create their own Evernote accounts using their CSDdocs accounts
• Have students take or copy notes on the topic of study
• Have students sign in to Peek and download their notes to begin studying

*Click here for more detailed instructions on how to set up Evernote Peek.

Remind 101 is now "Remind" and is more AWESOME than ever!

A couple of months ago, Remind 101 (one of my favorite teaching tools) became Remind. Then they updated their app and website with more amazing features that make it much more than a way to send quick text reminders to students and parents.

If you are new to Remind, here's a short overview of the key features:

• Remind lets you connect with students or parents quickly and safely.
• Students sign up to get communications from you (the teacher) and they never see your phone number and you never see theirs.
• Recipients of your messages can't respond to you directly via text message.
• Messages can be sent via SMS text message, email or through the app (more on that below.)
• You can schedule messages. Do you have a test in 3 weeks? You can prepare messages with the info about the test and schedule them to be received when it is relevant to your students.
• Remind is FREE!

You can check out their website to learn more: remind.com/learn-more

Those are the basics, now for the really cool things you can do with Remind.

Teacher Setup:
You can create a new account and your first class from the App (Android and iOS) or from their website: www.remind.com. You give your class a name and then you are assigned (or if you create additional classes, you can choose) a class code. This is the code students and parents will use to register for your class messages.

Student and Parent Sign Up:

Once your class is created, you are ready to add the people who will receive your messages. Remind makes it easy and gives you a PDF flyer you can send home or post in class to help people sign up.

You can also have people sign up for your messages by having them download the Remind app and add your class using your class enrollment code. This is my new favorite way to use Remind, because there is added functionality in the app that makes this new version of Remind much more than a messaging app.

Student or parents who are using the app to follow your messages, can respond to your messages by clicking one of four icons (Remind calls these "stamps"):

There are four stamps and how you use them is up to you and their meaning may vary depending on the context of your message. Typically the star would mean a favorite, the green check would mean I have received this or I agree. The red X would mean I disagree or don't like this. And the question mark means I don't understand understand or I have a question about this/can we discuss this in class?

Students do see how many stamps of each type are shared by other recipients, but they don't see any names associated with each stamp. Teachers can see the names of students or parents and the stamps that they assigned to your message. In this way teachers could conduct quick polls or surveys of their students, check students preparedness for a test, or discover which parents received the letter or homework sent home that day. There are lots of options with these and it's one of my favorite new features of Remind, so have some fun with this.

Teachers can also see how their students or parents are signing up for Remind. The easiest way to view this is through the user dashboard on the Remind website: dashboard.remind.com. Select the class you would like to check and look for the subscribers list at the right of your screen. There  you will see the names of the subscribers and their chosen method(s) for receiving your messages.

Sending Messages:

Now that everything is set up and you have students and parents enrolled in your class, you are ready to begin sending messages. You can do this easily from the app or via your user dashboard on the website. Just select the class or the students you would like to send a message to (if you select individual users, you must select at least 3).

In the app or on the website, you can attach files (photos only from the app) or schedule your message to be sent to students at a later date. You are limited to 140 characters for your message, so keep it short and to the point.

From the app, you can now send voice memos to your students so they can hear your voice delivering instructions or asking questions. The voice recording is limited to 15 seconds and you don't have to take the full time if you don't need to.

What Else Can Remind Do?
As great as Remind is for connecting with students and parents, it can also be used for professional development, faculty meetings and other professional uses. One really cool idea that I just heard about was a sort of micro MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) being run by Angela Maiers. Last month she announced a #YouMatter class that she would be running on Remind. I signed up and since that time, I have received dozens of great tips and advice on how to create a school culture where students and teachers believe that what they do matters. If you want to join her class, you can follow the instructions on her website, or simply enter the code @YouMat into your Remind app.

Inspired by this great work, I have also started a Remind class. I will share regular ed tech tips and ideas with subscribers, conduct regular polls through the app, and encourage discussion via twitter.

To join my Ed Tech Tips class and play along, follow these steps:

• Download the Remind app for iOS (iPhone) or Android.
• Search for our class by tapping the “+” next to “My classes.”
• Enter @EdTechTips and sign up.
• No smartphone? Text @EdTechTips to (302) 536-2705 and follow the instructions.
• You can also visit remind.com/join/edtechtips and enter in your phone number to sign up.

Remind is a fantastic app and with the new updates and upgrades, it just keeps getting better. Let me know what you think in the comments below or on twitter @wardjhs #edtechtips.

-Jared.

Apps for Apes

iPads aren't just being used by people anymore!  Over 13 zoos across the nation have started using iPads with their Orangutans as part of the Orangutan Outreach program. Utah's Hogle Zoo is one of these participants!  The iPads are used to draw pictures, play music, listen to animal noises, and even Skype with other orangutans who have been transferred to another zoo as a method for easing separation anxiety.   The iPad itself is kept outside the cage as a safety precaution.  If you visit Hogle Zoo this summer, make sure you stop by the ape exhibit!

Forget about clickers, make your own Plickers

A classroom set of clickers, aka Student Response System can cost anywhere from $1000 to $3500 depending on the brand you choose, yet most of the teachers I have worked with use their clickers for quick multiple choice and true/false assessments.

My first set of 40 Plickers. Printed on white card stock and laminated.

I recently discovered a new iOS app and website (and Android app) called Plickers, short for Paper Clickers, that allows teachers to create and collect data from multiple choice assessments for little to no cost (provided they have a smart phone, iPod, or tablet.) Here's the basic idea: each student in class gets a paper card with a unique matrix design similar to a QR Code. When asked a question, students hold up their card with the correct answer positioned at the top of the card. The teacher scans the room with a smart phone or tablet (iOS or Android) and answers are recorded.

This is what it looks like in action:

As you can see, as I scanned the classroom, each student's name appeared on my screen to confirm that their card had been read and their response recorded. When that process is complete, I then get aggregate scores from the class displayed as graphs as well as individual scores for each student. Here's what the data looks like in the app and on the website:

This video shows what the results look like in the app. Scrolling through students, I can quickly see who answered correctly, who answered incorrectly, and who didn't answer the question.

Aggregate and Individual Scores via the Plickers website.

It's a pretty simple process to set up. The steps I followed are all listed below. The only trick is to remember that you need to visit the website to set up your classes and then you have to use the app to set up your questions. The other thing to remember is that when you create your quiz, you can't enter the responses for A, B, C, and D. So, I built my quiz as a PowerPoint presentation listing one question and possible responses on each slide. This way students could easily see the options for their responses.

When I was teaching with Plickers and sharing how to use them, I wrote these steps for setting it all up on the board.

One additional note, I added an answer key to the back of each card. I thought this would help students identify their answer while holding their card up for the teacher to scan. I made the letters for the back of the card in a thin font and used a light gray color so that the answers wouldn't be readily seen by a student's neighbors.

Here are all of the files that I used and created to make a set of Plickers and to get started.

• Set of 40 5-1/2" X 5-1/2" Plickers (recommended, scannable from 20-25 feet.)
• Set of 40 8-1/2" X 8-1/2" Plickers (scannable from 30-40 feet.)
• Set of 63 5-1/2" X 5-1/2" Plickers (for large classes or groups.)
• Plickers Answer Key (these were cut out and glued to the back of each card before laminating.)
• Plickers Instructions (from their website.)

Additional ideas:

• If you use small whiteboards in your classroom for student response, Plickers could easily attached to the back of those whiteboards and used for quick response questions. 
• Because the cards are so easy to make, you could make one set of each class and students could keep them in their binder or notebook for your class. 
• If they get lost or damaged, it is very easy to print new Plicker cards. 
• The biggest limitation is that you can't currently track and export data for a class or track student progress directly in the app. But the website says, "Online tracking/reporting tools coming soon," so hopefully that functionality is added soon. 

So, now that you can make your own set of clickers for next to nothing, how will you use them?

Animoto

Animoto is an online program that allows you to create videos using photos and video clips.  It’s fast and very easy to use.  Creating an Animoto account is free.  With the free account you are limited to creating 30 second videos.  However, educators can apply to upgrade their subscription to the Plus package for free.  With the Plus account you can create videos up to 10 minutes in length, choose from 51 templates, and have access to more than 300 music tracks.  

To create an Animoto:

1. Choose a style
   
2. Add pictures and/or video
   
3. Add text
   
4. Adjust the order of pictures, videos and text by clicking and dragging
   
5. Preview and save your Animoto
   
6. Share the final product.

             

Save Money with RetailMeNot

Whenever I shop for home or school, I always check the Retail Me Not iPhone app or website for discount codes to stretch a dollar.  Depending on the store, coupon codes are available for in-person and/or online shopping.   Start saving today!

forScore App

This post is for all you musicians out there. One of my most frequently used apps on my iPad is forScore. This app manages all your sheet music, making your music rehearsals, performances, and teaching much easier. The forScore website describes it perfectly:

"Shelve those 3-ring binders. Get organized. Download and play something new in seconds. With forScore, your sheet music has never been better -- it's everything you can do with paper, and so much more."

ForScore allows you to import pdf files of sheet music. Once the music is imported, you can annotate it with a number of different pens. You can create set lists to manage your music. You have access to a metronome, piano keyboard, and pitch pipe to help you rehearse. ForScore can even be paired with a page turner to help those instrumentalists who need to use their hands to play. This is only a small list of this app's capabilities.

The forScore app quickly became my favorite music app. It costs $6.99 in the Apple iTunes Apps Store. Give it a try!

Turn your iPad into a Document Camera

For about $45 you can purchase an iPad stand that will allow you to use your iPad as a document camera. You can use the Camera app to show work to students just as you would any document camera. Or you can use an app like Stage to record and annotate over live images captures with the camera on the iPad.

When you pair this stand with AirPlay or AppleTV, you can project these images to your students in class.

This iPad stand can be moved around your room to a lecture stand or a student desk. That way you can teach from any location in your classroom and share your own images, student work, or have students share ideas with the whole class.

Stick Around

Stick Around is a fabulous new app by the creators of Explain Everything. This app allows you to play, design and share customized puzzles. The app comes with several preprogramed puzzles and lots of templates to help you start creating your own puzzles. This app can be used for any subject matter. Your puzzles will be as creative as you make them! Students love this app and the self checking feature.

Share the puzzles you create with students via QR code, Google Drive, Dropbox...and many other ways! Check out the video below for an idea of what Stick Around can do for you!

I used Stick Around with a 4th grade class at Altara Elementary this week.  I linked the puzzles in I made in Stick Around to QR codes and placed those QR codes around the classroom.  The students used iPad minis to scan the QR code and open the puzzles.  After solving one puzzle they would find the next QR code, scan it, and solve the next puzzle.  This activity was self guided and self paced.  The students loved it!  It was a great way to review concepts they learned throughout the year and ask questions when they needed help.  You can scan the QR codes below for a sample of the puzzles I created.

LucidChart and LucidPress

LucidChart and LucidPress are two products made by a Draper-based company.  LucidChart (iPad and web) creates collaborative flow charts and diagrams, and LucidPress (web only) creates interactive and collaborative documents such as newsletters, presentations, etc. Both programs have easy drag and drop features to add text, shapes, images, and even video.  

Click the image above.

LucidPress was used to create the Ed Tech Times Newsletters for January and February 2014 and was used to showcase a Video of the Week feature on Fotobabble.

Watch the videos below to learn how these great products work!  Teachers and students can sign up for these free programs using their CSDDocs account!

  

iOS for Admins

So you have an iPad! Now what?

An iPad can be a great tool for an administrator if you know what apps to use. As I have observed the many apps used by admins, I have noticed a pattern of how these apps are being used. The following infographic shows these categories and lists a few apps that accomplish the goals of each category. Give these apps a try, and you'll be well on your way to transforming your administration with your iPad!

Find My iPad

If you have an iPad or other Apple device (iPhone or Macbook Pro), knowing how to find it if lost is a MUST!  This is a great tip to know even if you misplaced your device in your house, bag/purse, car, or pile of papers on your desk.  

Even though the app and demonstration video use an iPhone, the app and features function the same way.  Watch the video or follow the written steps below:

1. Install Find my iPhone app on your iPad. 
2. Enable Location Services for Find my iPhone app in Settings> Privacy> Location Settings> Turn On AND Settings> iCloud> Log in with iCloud or Apple ID> Turn on Find my iPad.
3. Log onto icloud.com with your Apple ID on your computer or other internet-accessible device.
NOTE: You can use different Apple ID's for your different devices, just remember which is which.
4. Click the Find my iPhone button and select the device you would like to find from the device drop-down menu.  
5. After clicking the green button on the map, you can choose to play a sound, lock the device, or erase the device.

Turn your iPad into an Interactive Whiteboard

Recording a video lesson has never been easier! 

There are several apps that will let you share a presentation (photos, PowerPoint presentations, etc.) and record your live annotations and voice notes. I want to share information about two of these apps below, but there are several others available in the app store.

First up is Explain Everything. This is a paid app ($2.99) but with all of the recording and import/export options it is well worth the money. When you create a new project with this app, you are given the option to import a PowerPoint, PDF, or photos from your iPad or from your online file storage program, like Dropbox. You can also start with a blank screen and add your own notes and annotations. Once your recording is completed, you can save the movie file to your iPad or share it via Youtube.

Another great app is Educreations. It is free and they are adding features all the time. Any presentations you record are saved to your iPad and can be shared via email or via a link to your video on their website. The Educreations website is also a community of other teachers who are creating and sharing their videos, so you may be able to find other presentations that work for your lessons.

See the images below for a comparison of the recording screens in Explain Everything and Educreations: 

In Explain Everything, the primary controls and settings are listed to the left of the recording screen. The page selector, playback, recording and saving options are listed at the bottom.

In Educreations, the controls for recording and other controls are displayed above the recording screen. You can use the controls at the bottom of the screen to change the paper, duplicate and add pages.

Both of these apps work do a great job of presenting and sharing information live or creating screen recording from your iPad for students to review concepts or to share information with students who may have missed your class. From math instruction to annotating parts of the anatomy, class reading projects to professional development, these two apps have application for almost all teaching situations.

BONUS App: Knowmia Teach is also Free, has a database of teacher-created content similar to Educreations and has a ton of great recording tools like Explain Everything. It also allows you to use the front-facing camera on your iPad to record your face while you are teaching to make the videos a little more personal. See more about Knowmia Teach, including some great screenshots on the Knowmia website or in iTunes.

My Story

Today I am spotlighting My Story-Book Maker for Kids. This fun and engaging iOS app allows students to create and share ebooks.

Students become authors as they add text, drawings, photos, and stickers to each page. Then, they can record their own voice on each page and share the story with friends, family and classmates via email, iBooks, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.

My Story is very teacher friendly because you can add multiple authors to the app and sync across multiple iPads. You can have all of your classroom iPads sync to one teacher account via a free Bright Bot Classroom account. It is a perfect app for the classroom and well worth the $3.99 purchase price!

View the video below for a demonstration of how the app works.

App Feature: Red Stamp

Red Stamp is one of my favorite apps for creating beautiful birthday cards, thank you notes, invitations, letters, and more!  The app is free and does not require a login to create or send notes via email, text, tweet, Facebook or Instagram.  Red Stamp will even print and mail your cards for you (login and payment required)!  Some templates even allow pictures!

Ways to use Red Stamp in the classroom:

• Inform parents of upcoming events
• Thank you notes to students for a job well done
• Student Spotlights
• Introduce yourself to parents/faculty
• Class party invitations
• Class Posters

Templates are organized into categories on the main page and then subcategories on the next page.

There are over 600 designs to choose from and each design comes in several different color options.

You might even recognize some of these flyers hanging around your school!

 Try Red Stamp for free today!

Write About This

An app I recently shared with the teachers at my schools is Write About This.  It is a great writing app. You can use this app in whole group or small group lessons, or as an independent activity. Prompts include a picture and a written prompt. Use can use the preloaded prompts, or create your own. The app allows you to type your response to the prompt or vocally record a response.

The free version of this app provides you with 50 preloaded prompts and the ability to try the create your own feature. The paid version allows you full access to all features and costs $3.99. Your students are sure to love this app!

Watch this video for a demonstration of the features and ideas on how to use it in your classroom.

SlideShark

An app I recently became aware of and started using is SlideShark. This is a fantastic app if you are looking for a way to present from your iPad using a PowerPoint. This powerful app has lots of features including presenter view with notes, live slide annotation, broadcast and sharing capability, and a remote option.

Teachers at Butler Middle School just started using this app in conjunction with their iPads and AppleTV. Teachers create a free account online and upload their Powerpoint presentations, or save them in cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc). Then, you connect to your AppleTV and iPad via Airplay, and open the app. Your presentations appear in the app ready for use! The teachers at Butler love the mobility and flexibility the app offers

This video walks you through how to use the app and how to upload your PowerPoint Presentations. Best of all...it's free! Check it out!