ChatterPix, Bringing Still Pictures Alive! Volta School Caryn Mikkelsen, Librarian

It’s almost the end of the school year and I was looking for a fun project to do in the library that would only take 1-2 class periods.  We used the app ChatterPix to create simple autobiographies.  

The students worked in pairs and answered questions about themselves using a ten question form I created.  They then wrote a script using their responses. In ChatterPix, the recording time is only 30 seconds or less, so the students were told to keep their responses short and to the point.  

They were given the choice of taking their picture using the iPad or drawing a self portrait. Most all of the students chose to use the iPad camera for their picture!

When the scripts were ready the students uploaded their picture from the camera roll to ChatterPix and recorded their script.  This was an easy way to create fun and simple autobiographies in just two class periods!   

Second Graders Create App Using Tiny Tap, Erin McDonald, Librarian, Nightingale Elementary School

The second graders at Nightingale school are knee deep in Insects and Spiders this time of year.  I worked with their teachers to come up with a fun enrichment project that would also amplify their technology skills on the iPads.  This was all possible through the use of Tiny Tap.  On Tiny Tap students can create personalized games as well as play games created by other students and teachers worldwide.

Students were able to create an app that used pictures from their camera roll or internet and their own voice recordings.  The knowledge that once created, another student would be playing the app was highly motivating for the kids.  First, they played some of the games created by others and we watched a tutorial (made by kids) on YouTube.  Then it was time for students to become developers.  They used content from their unit  to create an app that would help others review and apply interesting facts about Insects and Spiders.  They really enjoyed recording their own voices, but make sure they have a quiet area to work.

Tiny Tap is very user friendly.  It would also be fun for the students to create apps for even younger students. There really is no limit to what pictures you can use, however, the questions are mostly who, what, where, etc.  It’s great for labeling or differentiating.  I also found the lesson to lend itself to practicing fluency as they are recording their own voices.  They had to learn to speak slowly and clearly so that they could be understood.  Students were able to choose different backgrounds and music to go along with their activities. There were a few glitches with the app but already new updates have been added.

After a few sessions of creating and testing out apps, we brought them to the classroom.  We used the interactive whiteboard to project a few of the apps and play them as a whole class. Then students paired up and played more on each iPad.  Students used a rubric to grade at least one of the apps they played.  The “developers” also used the rubric to grade their own creation.

Students who are creative, love technology and can think outside of the box will thrive with this app.  It was a very fun experience and I know my students will look forward to making more apps for each other in the future.

Here’s a video of one student playing a portion of the app they just created.

http://bit.ly/1ntd9QG

Storytelling with Puppet Pals, Connie Amon, Librarian, Galileo Elementary School

https://vimeo.com/96311267

The puppet center is the most popular place in the library during center time with the primary grades. Why not create and use puppets on the iPad? Having been impressed by the work of a colleague (thanks, Colleen!), I couldn’t wait to try Puppet Pals HD Director’s Pass. There are many versions of Puppet Pals, some are even free, why pay for Director’s Pass? In Director’s Pass, you can make anything a puppet, including your students!

The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School is a cute retelling of the famous tale, with lots of repetition and a brave little cookie. After reading this book, second grade students drew their own gingerbread person on a half sheet of construction paper and created a school-related background on a piece of 11x14 paper. They did this at the beginning of the school year, and I kept their work, hoping that there would be money for apps… And then I received the REVITAL grant! My first app purchase was Puppet Pals HD Director’s Pass.

https://vimeo.com/96310967

I pulled out their work from September, and students created a brief script between themselves and their gingerbread person. They then photographed themselves, their gingerbread person, and their background. Puppet Pals is quite easy to use, so in no time, we had these cute conversations with the gingerbread persons. Well, we had conversations, and some silliness. Some kids recorded for three minutes! Others created lots of action (but the original version has running and action, right?). What happened to those scripts they wrote? Some were tossed aside immediately, never to be seen again. Lesson? More structure was needed, or maybe not? What’s wrong with a little creativity?

My second adventure with Puppet Pals was also with the second grade. This time students had embarked on their first research project in the library on an endangered animal of their choice. After their research was reviewed and revised, they drew pictures of their animals and...wouldn’t it be interesting to share what we learned by having the animals interview each other? We could do it with Puppet Pals! So we did. More scripts. More lessons learned (by the teacher): Practice, practice, practice the scripts. Review, review, review expectations. Show examples of “good” projects. Be explicit.

Looking forward to applying the “lessons learned” next year!

Graphing with Desmos & GeoGebra, Jean Scheda, Westinghouse High School

 The iPad PD sessions have generated great teacher/librarian collaboration opportunities.  I have several iPads projects lined up.  Numerous projects involve the application of iMovie along with a math project, graphing with Desmos and GeoGebra.

Ms. Jackson, a Pre-Calculus teacher, approached me and inquired about using some applications for her class. She informed me of an application called Desmos and I recommended the GeoGebra application.  Ms. Jackson explored both applications after I had downloaded them to the iPads.  We then discussed the schedules and how the lessons should be carried out.  

Desmos is an iPad application visualizing and demonstrating math ideas, graphs and concepts. GeoGebra also visualizes and demonstrates math concepts, but gives students more flexibility to graph dynamically with more functions. Both applications engage students with hands-on activities and enhance the students’ learning experience by helping them understand and analyse graphs.

When we teach iMovie, KeyNotes, Educreations and other iPad applications, we focus more on using the application itself; these applications could fit into any subject or topic.  Desmos and GeoGebra are subject specific applications; they are designed for math and could only be used for mathematical purposes. Students could understand better and learn faster if the teaching of these applications and the teaching of math happen simultaneously.  During the class, while the math teacher led the course, I co-taught by walking around assisting students in using these applications, such as graphing circles, lines and triangles.

Ms. Jackson was pleased to integrate iPad technology into her classroom instruction.

Schedule:

Day 1 and 2: Desmos - students work on Conic Sections

Day 3: Desmos - students work on Circle.

Day 4: Desmos - students work on Conics: the Ellipse

Day 5 and 6: GeoGebra - students work on Conics: the Ellipse

2014 Phillips High School PSA ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’, K.C. Boyd, Librarian, AUSL Wendell Phillips Academy High School

Every year I try to contribute to the school wide message of teens abstaining from drinking and driving during Senior Prom.   In years past, classroom teachers led the project with my support of use of technology.  This year’s project was a little different.

The students had the opportunity to participate in a lecture series provided by the Grand Boulevard Coalition of Bronzeville.  This year, a representative from the organization provided a ‘deep’ discussion with Phillips teens about the dangers of drinking, driving and use of illegal drugs.  The students were definitely impacted by this presentation because the presenter was very direct and to the point.  

Weeks later, one of the members requested that I provide him with some additional support.  Their town hall meeting for the community was quickly approaching and they needed some help getting the ‘word’ out in an innovative way.   In addition, they needed a public service announcement created and starring Phillips students.  

I recruited five seniors, one junior and two sophomores to create two videos, provide voiceovers and create/locate interesting graphics online.  These students took control of the project and talked about the dangers of alcohol and drug consumption especially on Prom Night.  Phillips teachers, security staff, administrators and our own Mercy Clinic supported this effort.  The first video below is the announcement featuring a sophomore and junior student, encouraging the community to attend the townhall and the second video is actually the public service announcement featuring the seniors.  Please keep in mind, the students are using language (lingo) that they understand and would send a strong message to their peers.

The students were rewarded with a pizza party for their good work!

iPad Creativity at Sabin!, Meghan Gabler, Librarian, Sabin Dual Language Magnet School

The students have had a fabulous time using the iPad’s at Sabin! As it is the middle of testing time Library Media class has been shifted quite a lot. The times I’ve had to go into a classroom to teach I am even more grateful for the iPad’s. Thanks to our incredibly generous A.P. she has lent two iPads to the Library collection and has purchased stylus’s for us to keep. The two extra iPad’s make it possible to do a full classroom activity in partners with my larger classes.

While in the Kindergarten classroom due to testing in the library, I was able to bring the iPad’s along for extra learning. We read our story, we did our activity, we shared our learning and then we had time leftover (which usually happens in an hour long period with the little ones!). As a reward of sorts for good behavior, I was able to set all of the students up in groups of two with an iPad. They were able to access Raz Kids, which we use in the library, but a few other free apps that I had thankfully downloaded . One app, Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Games allowed the students to trace letters and numbers while another option in the app allowed them to choose the correct shapes and colors. I set a timer so the students could share the iPad and the activities. It was very successful and the kids loved it.

While having to visit the 5th graders in their classroom during testing I was also extremely thankful for the iPad’s and the stylus’s. We have been working on college/university research that will culminate into either an iMovie or a Prezi via the iPad. Most of their research has been done on the desktops and saved in Google Drive. On this day, the students were able to work with their partners and get the additional fun facts and research they needed to add to their projects. The stylus’s made it easier for the students to type and save pictures into notepad. They then emailed their notes to their CPS email accounts via the “fake” email account I added to all of the iPads (sabinlibrarycps@gmail.com). It was great to see the kids dive into their research and stay motivated even though we were in the classroom. They also then took turns reading articles from Achieve3000 when they were finished with their research.

The final success I have had with the iPad’s and the Macbook Pro is finally being able to connect all to the projector and project whatever we need onto the Smart Board. I finally purchased the correct VGA adapter to connect the Macbook Pro directly to the projector. Then I purchased Apple TV and I wonder why I didn’t do this sooner! Students can now sit at their seats, swipe the bottom of their iPad, click on Airplay, then Apple TV, then mirror. With this option students can show one another what they are working on while they are working on it and without having to get up from their seats. I can also switch back and forth to the MBP and my own iPad to demonstrate different tactics depending on what we are working on. It’s fabulous!

Getting Started with iPads, Amy Stipp, Librarian, Corkery Elementary

This has been quite the busy month!  Our students are still enjoying the opportunity to work with the iPad.  I have been busy trying to sync and configure them all. Students have been busy using them for research, e-mail, poetry creation, and movie making.

One thing I spent time doing is number each iPad and change the background to reflect that number.  I also created a quick checkout system students use when they use their iPads.  I put a pocket on the back that contains a checkout card.  Each checkout card has the corresponding iPad number written at the top.  As students check out their iPad to use for that class session, they will fill out the card and put it on a pocket that has been placed on the iPad holder.  This system seems to work well.

I also learned how to set a page as an icon on the home screen and how to manipulate the icons.  I went through each iPad and moved icons around and deleted some that automatically came with the iPad that required subscriptions that we don’t have (I hope that was okay to do).  I then changed the home icons to the cps e-mail, our Corkery Library website, and Safari.  Those are the three websites students will access most.  I wanted them to be readily available.  

Next, I downloaded and played around with several apps such as Notegraphy, Phonto, Word Mover, Animoto, Haiku Deck, and SkeletalLite.  I’m still working on getting iMovie, Pages, Keynote, and Number through Apple Configurator.  I am working with Apple for additional support and will have the mission accomplished soon.  

My second grade students really enjoyed using them as they did research on dinosaurs.  My 6th grade students enjoyed using them to give showcase the PowerPoint presentations they created to one another. My Battle of the Books students enjoyed using them to create book trailers.  Check this one out.

We’ve had yet another great month of learning and working with the iPads!

Integrating Video with iPads, Juan Fernandez-Saines, Librarian, Pickard Elementary School

When technology is used for the first time it can be a little overwhelming.  The iPad has many capabilities, especially with the thousands of apps available for education.  There are numerous projects the teachers and students can create, narrowing it down to basic components is crucial.  At our Pickard School, teachers have been integrating literacy with software programs such as Publisher and PowerPoint since Windows was the dominant force in computing.  But times have changed dramatically.  With open source apps and mobile devices, there are other forms of learning we are transitioning to.  Having the iPads at our school is allowing our students to take advantage of newer technologies that have all but replaced the standard programs.

That is why our most recent lesson plan integrates research with video.  There was a time when video was done separately---a handheld camcorder which from there, the final video had to be exported onto a computer for editing.  The iPad is in all-in-one device.  Students can do their research and record video using the same device.  The first time I introduced the lesson I know my students were trying to make sense of the goal.  I could hear their thoughts.  Our iPad lesson integrating literacy and video actually began a few weeks prior when I taught them about biographies and how to use newspapers. 

For this lesson I asked the students to brainstorm several topics of their choice they would like to make a final presentation about.  They asked me, “Mr. Fernandez, are we going to do a PowerPoint presentation?”  To which I said, “No, we are not.”  Originally I was hoping to create a podcast.  But when I realized that podcasting was two to three steps above where we were at I felt the need to start with video recording.  From there we moved on to reading a short script sample.  Again, I did not want to overwhelm my library students.  I needed to have this project be manageable.

After we knew that we had to be brief, students were asked to create a narrative of their research using chart paper.  The chart paper would enable us to be able to read what they had learned and film it.  For this purpose I assigned roles to highlight their strengths.  I told my students that some of them are very good at writing, others maybe real good at facilitating, and yet others may not be so shy and would be willing to appear on camera.  It worked very well because immediately they decided among themselves who would do what role.

I can’t overemphasize how much fun the students had doing this project. Everything came full circle when I asked my students, if they had ever done this type of work before in their seven to eight years of schooling.  They told me “no, we have not.”  Every joyful minute spent working on this project became self-evident.