ChatterKid

ChatterKid is a free app available in the iTunes store

Using this free app is as easy as 1, 2, 3

1. Take a picture with your iOS device, or use one of ChatterKid's preloaded photos

2. Draw a line to make a mouth

3. Record your voice, and watch your picture talk

You can also add filters, stickers and text to your photo.

Share your talking photo with your voice.

Some things this app could be used for:

Book Reports

How To's

Explaining How 

Greeting Cards

This app is appropriate for ages 6-12

ChatterKid can be used on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod. 

TED & TEDx Talks by Students (Youth) from all over the World

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to "Ideas Worth Spreading". It started out in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. TED talks are riveting talks by remarkable people...and even more remarkable are the inspiring TED talks given by students (youth) from all over the world.

In the classroom, TED talks:

• provide great content!
• bring traditional lessons to life.
• show real-life examples of curriculum knowledge being put to use in incredible ways.
• demonstrate the remarkable contributions youth have to make to the world!

TRY THIS:  Show a student TED Talk today and have your students think about the contributions they can make or hope to make in the world.  Looking for example videos?  Take a look TED under 20 or 9 Talks by Impressive Kids!

Below are a sampling of the youth TED talks you can find at TED.com and TEDxtalks.TED.com.

   

Nearpod for Elementary Classrooms

Keeping students engaged can be difficult if not impossible.  Perhaps the greatest hurdle for a teacher on a daily basis is to keep your entire class on task, participating, actively thinking and... wait!  Are we off task again?

4th Graders at Oakdale learning about the
Native People of Utah.

If you throw a class set of iPads into the mix chances are you've just given each student approximately two million more things to distract them while you're teaching.  Or did you?  Teachers at Willow Springs and Oakdale Elementary schools are finding the app "Nearpod" for iPads does just the opposite.

Nearpod (available for free in the iTunes store and online at http://www.nearpod.com/) is easy to start using.  Although the app is fantastic for iPad users, it's also available in a web based form at http://ws.nearpod.com/.  Try it with a MacBook lab, Chromebooks, or any web based portable device.  As long as you have internet connection you can have an engaging lesson.By using Nearpod you'll be able to hold their attention and control their screens.  As long as students don't leave the app, you determine what they see!


Step 1: Go to www.nearpod.com and click "Create Account"

Step 2: Complete the form fields required for your new free Nearpod account

Step 3: Watch the short "How Nearpod Works" video to get a preview of how your first lesson will run with students.

Step 4: Now that you're ready to go, browse the Nearpod Content Library available at http://content.nearpod.com/ to find a lesson you can use on your first run of Nearpod.  There are great resources here from LearnZillion, Time4Kids, and more.  Although some resources cost money, there are enough free opportunities for your first few activities.

Step 5:  What are you waiting for?  Fire up your computer or iPad, launch your lesson, and have your students jump in with the unique code that is given at the start of each "NPP", that's short for NearPodPresentation.  Although you might want to present your iPad or computer screen for the whole class, you probably don't have to.  Since all of the content you'll be sharing will appear on each student's device, don't distract them with another big screen.

Step 6:  How did it go?  If you liked it, but think the content library doesn't have exactly what you need for free, don't stress.  You can make your own NPPs with PowerPoint and upload them to your web account.  For directions on this check out the great tutorial available from "Making Tech Simple" at http://www.makingtechsimple.com/nearpod

For more info on how to use NearPod, visit the NearPod Community Blog at http://www.nearpod.com/blog/

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.

TEDxCSDTeachers on YouTube

We had an extremely successful TEDx event on the 8th of November. It was a great team effort lead by Rachel Murphy who started the dream well over a year ago. We have had a great reception to the talks given that day. The most often hear request now is when will they be online. We are happy to announce the availability of the TEDxCSDTeachers talks through the TEDx YouTube channel. The playlist for the videos can be found at http://cnyns.org/1gKpHw2?r=qr

Talks were provided by a variety of educators from inside and outside the district. Take some time to view them, you will enjoy what our great presenters had to say.

iTunes U and You...

iTunes U is a growing source of knowledge.  No longer are we kept from quality resources because of cost!  There are full courses and materials from the greatest educational institutions available for free for everyone.

Our Ed Tech department is taking a crack at creating content that is available to our own teachers and those who live/work in other areas as well through iTunes U.  A couple of great courses we created are "Using Pearson Successnet in your Classroom" (geared toward K-6) and "Designing Instruction for the 1 iPad Class" (designed for all grade levels).

Topics can be searched by genre, institution, or academic level (K-12/Higher Ed/Beyond Campus).  One featured piece was created by the University of Virginia.  It is called "The Kennedy Half Century" and chronicles his presidency and legacy following his death.  This is one example of how we have access to more knowledge that will help us to become even better teachers.  There are many examples of amazing content available to anyone with an iOS device.

From practitioner information to lifelong learning enrichment, it's all here on iTunes U.  Just download the Free App on your iPad, sign into your Apple ID and download a course that interests you.  For more information check out our ProLearning page on iTunes U!

Presentation Tools

Are your students tired of creating a PowerPoint every time they present to the class? There are many great options for students to create unique presentations that are just as clear and communicative as a PowerPoint, but mix things up a bit and encourage creativity. Check out this list of possibilities!


Computer-Based Software Tools:

• PowerPoint - A great tool if your students haven't used it a lot already

• Keynote - Similar to PowerPoint with great creative potential - Available for Macs only

• Comic Life - Create presentation comics or posters. Kids love using the software.

Web-Based Software Tools:

• Google Docs Presentation - Similar to PowerPoint, but students can collaborate simultaneously!

• KerPoof - "Kerpoof is all about having fun, discovering things, and being creative. Here are just a few ways that you can use Kerpoof: Make artwork, make an animated movie... tell a story..."
• ZooBurst - a digital storytelling tool that lets anyone easily create his or her own 3D pop-up books.
• StoryJumper - Publish your own children's book. StoryJumper is a place to create and discover stories for kids.

• Blabberize - Make your still photos talk!

• Glogster - Online poster creation

• Prezi - Presentations that zoom in and out

• Voki - "Create speaking avatars and use them as an effective learning tool.

• PowToon - Create animated videos and presentations

• Animoto - Create easy, beautiful videos online

• Gone Google Story Builder - Create videos with the look and feel of editing a Google Doc.

• Layar (augmented reality) - Bring print to life with digital content

• Weebly - Build your own website

• VoiceThread - Create presentations, then narrate them and have others leave audio comments.

• SlideRocket - "...make great presentations that engage your audience and deliver tangible results."

• projeqt - "Dynamic presentations for a real-time world"

• Buncee.com - "Your creation and presentation tool, simplified"

iOS Apps:

• Keynote - There's an app for that!

• Doceri - "The professional iPad interactive whiteboard and screencast recorder with sophisticated tools for hand-drawn graphics and remote desktop control."

• Stage - Interactive whiteboard and camera app

• Comic Life - Available for the iPad too

• My Story - Book maker app for kids

• Haiku Deck - "Meet Haiku Deck, a completely new kind of presentation software. We make telling your story simple, beautiful, and fun."

• KerPoof - There is now a KerPoof mobile app too!