Friday Fab Four Finds

Find #1: App for Downloading Videos

Video Download Plus App for iPhone/iPad - Free at this time
   * Download videos from any site to watch later without internet connection.
   * One-touch download
   * Full featured safari like web browser
Benefit: Download YouTube videos and playback in class...no wifi needed!


Find #2: New Features in Poll Everywhere
Click here to read more about the new features.

Find #3: Class Messenger App

Class Messenger is a private messaging service to keep Teachers, Parents and Students in sync. Teachers use the mobile app and website to create quick short form messages in categories like Homework, Reminders, Surveys, etc. Parents and students get their messages from the app, website, email, push notification or even text message. It’s private, two-way, direct and ensures that everyone stays informed. Download app here. Read more about the service by clicking this link.

Find #4: Flocabulary's Week in Rap - 2013 Summer Recap
Each week Flocabulary puts out a video called "The Week in Rap" which is intended for grades 5-12. The videos are a recap of what has transpired around the globe during the week. What a great tool for history teachers. Take time to view the quality videos available by Flocabulary. While you are there surf the site for other free video sources. Watch the 2013 Summer Recap video.

Chrome Extensions and Apps Just for Educators

Having a job that requires many hours online, I've been reluctant to switch from Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox to Chrome browser. However, I've come across enough extensions and apps to make switch. The additions really make the use of the internet faster and more efficient. I will share a list of extensions and apps that have made a difference in my work day. First, let me describe the difference between a Google Extension and a Google App.

Google Extensions are extra features and functionality that you can easily add to Google Chrome. By using extensions, you can customize Google Chrome with features you like, while keeping your browser free of things that you don't use. Extensions are added to the upper right side of your URL bar. See example below:

 

Google Apps are web apps that are designed to be entirely used within the browser located on your Chrome dashboard. The great part of installing applications is that when you sign into Google on any computer your applications will follow. See picture example below:

My Favorite Google Chrome Extensions and Applications:

Google Apps and Extensions from Kristie Johnson

10 Reasons to Use Edmodo in the Classroom

I found this article by Mohamed El-Ashiry on Edudemic on "Reasons to use Edmodo in the classroom." I've read many articles on Edmodo but this particular article is simplistic and straight to the point. With flipped classrooms now trending, Edmodo is a great LMS tool to use...plus it's FREE! Read Mohamed's reasons below:

1. It is now very easy to share a worksheet or handout with my students on Edmodo. If I prepare a worksheet on Pages or have a worksheet in my Dropbox, all I need to do is ‘open in another app’ and select Edmodo. I prefer to share worksheets and handouts as a PDF, because that preserves the formatting of the document and it’s very easy for students to download an app that allows them to annotate PDFs (like Notability or TypeOnPDF).
2. Students can easily download a document from Edmodo, use it in another app (like a PDF annotation app) and then upload it again onto Edmodo to submit it as an ‘assignment’. This solves the whole ‘work-flow’ problem that many teachers faced upon the introduction of iPads into the classroom. Worksheets, handouts, task sheets, graphic organizers, anything you want the students to work on, just upload it into your library, add it to a folder that you share with the students or attach it to a post, then they access it and open it in another app. Once they have finished, they need to upload it into their ‘backpacks’ and then submit it as an attachment to an ‘assignment’ that you posted.
3. Edmodo’s ‘assignment’ feature allows me to post an assignment with a due date and a task sheet, see who submitted it and when, mark it using a PDF annotation tool, grade/assess it and give feedback all in one neat place. It really is hassle-free! While the desktop version of Edmodo allows better assignment-marking features than the iPad app, I can still mark simple assignments on-the-go from my iPad.
4. Edmodo’s ‘quiz’ feature allows me to create really quick and simple quizzes to use in class. Creating the quiz is really simple, and I can use multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blanks, matching, or even short answer questions. It also shows you some really cool statistics about the students’ answers.
5. Edmodo’s ‘poll’ feature allows me create quick survey polls in class and can be a very valuable formative assessment tool. It has been very useful in my Humanities class to help me decide what students may need to focus on more for the coming lessons, or what sort of format would they prefer to submit their assignment as, among many more polls.
6. Edmodo’s ‘note’ feature has been a great help in creating exit slips for the students. Right before the lesson ends, the students are asked to write ‘one thing I learned today is…’ or ‘one thing that surprised me today was…’ or ‘one thing I’d like to find out more about is…’. After posting their exit slips, they can all see what the others have posted and maybe comment on each others’ posts and respond.
7. Edmodo’s ‘members’ feature allows me to manage my students in each class/group. This has been very handy in reminding a student of their username in case they forgot it while logging in again, or resetting their password if they can’t remember it, or even changing a student’s member-status to ‘read-only’ if they have been posting too much irrelevant content and abusing the posting feature. I can also use this feature to award ‘badges’ to my students, which is a great incentive for many of them.
8. Edmodo’s ‘small groups’ feature makes group-work a lot easier to manage and assess. In my drama classroom, students are arranged in small groups or ‘theatre companies’, and a lot of their brainstorming is done on Edmodo, or even simply documenting group-work in a virtual group-work log.
9. Edmodo’s ‘folders’ feature makes it very easy to organize documents in a folder and share that folder with my classes. Standard templates like reflection help-sheets or rubrics can be placed in these folders so students can have access to them anytime.
10. Edmodo has made it much easier to teach ‘digital citizenship’ skills in a safer and more-controlled environment. Having a strong social-networking aspect to it, Edmodo allows the teacher to model appropriate online behavior and etiquette, and gives the students the opportunity to practice those skills in a teacher-controlled environment.

Follow Mohamed El-Ashiry's blog by clicking here. Edmodo has apps for both iOS and Android devices. Click here to download either app:  http://www.edmodo.com/mobile/

Apps Just For Coaches

Since coaching is where I got my start, I thought I would share four apps that can be used for coaching instruction. At first glance, my thought was "where were these when I was teaching a left-handed slapper to bunt." These tools allow coaches to video tape an athlete, slow-speed review, annotate on video and highlight techniques that are either excellent or need improvement.Coaching is about immediate feedback and what better way to offer this than by video. It makes coaching much easier when a student can actually see themselves on film.

Here are the app recommendations:

Coach My Video Mobile 
Cost: FREE (for a limited time only)
Device: iOS only; compatible with iPhone, iPod, iPad


Benefits of Using this App:
☆ Real-time Video-Instruction: IMMEDIATE, ON-THE-SPOT COACHING
☆ Frame-Capture: get the PERFECT PICTURE
☆ Instantly REVIEW and ANALYZE videos in Slow-motion:
☆ FORWARD / REVERSE / PAUSE / & 3-Second INSTANT-REPLAY ↺
☆ FRAME-BY-FRAME control
☆ ACCESS VIDEOS & IMAGES directly from your CAMERA ROLL
☆ CAPTURE the perfect action-shot: Save FULL-RESOLUTION IMAGES from your HD videos!
☆ DRAW on Videos & Photos using LINES, CIRCLES, RECTANGLES & FREEHAND.
☆ Calculate the ANGLE between lines
☆ ZOOM option
☆ ADVANCED VIDEO-EMAILING OPTIONS: Email HD-video directly from your device!

Sample Video:

Coach My Video Private
Cost: $1.99
Device: iOS only; compatible with iPhone, iPod, iPad


Benefits of Using this App:  
☆ Frame-by-frame & slow-motion video analysis
☆ Draw/mark-up your video in our telestrator
☆ Coach / Chalk-up on-line REFERENCE VIDEOS *without* leaving the App
☆ Email+ video-sharing, up to 720p HD
☆ Frame-Capture in Full Resolution from HD videos
☆ AirPlay Connectivity for the iPhone 5 and iPad: control your video on the large-screen from the palm of your hand.
☆ Customize the iPad's home page with your own branding- contact us for more information
☆ Instant-access to Camera Roll and Photo Albums (no waiting for video-import)
☆ iPad: STOPWATCH: easily time splits, etc. on a video
☆ iPad: side-side comparison with synch-playback
☆ iPad: side-side comparison with REFERENCE VIDEOS

Coach's Eye
Cost:$4.99
Devices:  iOS and Android


Benefits of Using this App: 
☆ VIDEO CAPTURE AND IMPORT
       ★ Record HD video.
       ★ Import video from your device’s Camera Roll, email, or apps like Dropbox.
       ★ Instant import of videos shared from other Coach's Eye users.

☆ INSTANT VIDEO ANALYSIS
       ★ Slow-motion video review is easy using our flywheel for precise video scrubbing.
       ★ Zoom and pan videos during analysis to see just the details that matter.
       ★ Draw on videos using lines, arrows, circles, squares, and freehand tools.
       ★ Create videos that include audio commentary, annotations, and slow-motion.

☆ SIMPLE VIDEO SHARING
       ★ Email/Text Message
       ★ Facebook/Twitter
       ★ YouTube
       ★ Device Camera Roll
       ★ Other Apps (Dropbox, GoodReader, Evernote, and more).
       ★ Use Coach's Eye on the big screen for optimal video analysis in a group setting.
       ★ Free online account gives you web access to videos you have shared or liked.

Ubersense Coach
Cost:  FREE
Device: iOS only


Benefits of Using this App:
☆ Record HD video and playback frame-by-frame.
☆ Instant slow motion analysis, zoom and advanced drawing tools for any sport.
☆ Compare videos side-by-side or overlay using slow-motion controls.
☆ Create video reviews with audio commentary and annotations.
☆ Import videos from Camera Roll, email, and apps like Dropbox.
☆ Share instantly with athletes, coaches and friends directly from your phone or tablet

Getting Started with Ubersense (video)

Educational Apps Collection

Did you know that there is a section in the iTunes App Store called Education Collections? The Education Collections section features 27 sub-sections including reading, math, physics, chemistry, music, writing, geography, astronomy and earth science, foreign languages, test prep, and lots more.

Apps for Teachers
Also included in the Education Collection is an Apps for Teachers section. The section has apps for classroom tasks, curricula support, instructional tools, personal organization, and reference applications. Free and paid apps are listed.

Special Education
A great new additional is the Special Education section. The section highlights apps for communication, emotional development, seeing and hearing, language development, literacy and learning, diagnostics and reference, organization, and life skills.

Other resources for educational apps and uses of iPads in the classroom:
☆ Tony Vincent's Learning in Hand Blog
☆ Richard Byrne's iPad Apps for School
☆ iPads in Schools Livebinder
☆ TCEA iPad App Resources
☆ The Mobile Native Blog

Build Your Own Event App with Yapp

Build your own event app? Absolutely. Why am I just learning about Yapp? Today's post from Edudemic caught my eye with the words "event app." Each year my colleagues and I put together a virtual conference for our district. Yapp offers us a way to create an app for our conference. I could not be more ecstatic. Take a look at what Yapp can offer for you.

Special Features of Yapp:
☆ Invitation – Get all the key information in the palm of your hand
☆ Schedule – See up-to-the minute information so you know where to be when
☆ People – Get bios on people, sponsors, and key contacts
☆ News Feed – Connect with others and receive breaking news
☆ Photo sharing – Take and share photos. See official photos in the Gallery
☆ Offline browsing – See your content even if you are out of network range

NOTE: At this time you can only login with Yapp or create a Yapp account by logging into your Facebook account. Yapp has stated that they are working on another login solution but until then you can only use a Facebook account to login.

 Screenshots of Yapp:

 

 Yapp Tour Video:

Create and Publish with iBooks Author

The TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association) conference starts today and I will be making posts on classes that I attend and how you can be a part of that learning experience. I start the day with the session "Create and Publish with iBooks Author." The purpose of the session is to learn to create your own interactive book using iBooks Author.

Educational Purposes:

• Students publish their own work, individually or in groups.
• Students develop a digital portfolio.
• Teachers create curriculum books based on the needs in their class.

Tips and Tricks to Remember with iBooks Author:

• The Table of Contents pages cannot be deleted.
• Do not delete text boxes on the template.
• Separate your content into sections and chapters.
• Consider locking the orientation.
• There is no spell check in iBooks author.
• Pages can be inserted from Pages or Word document.
• Need Numbers to create charts. Not editable once imported into iBooks Author.
• Audio needs to be mp4 format.
• Advised to keep book at 1GB (cannot be more than 2GB).
• Review widget does not report data to you; it just allows the reader to participate.
• Bookry.com allows you to use their free widgets unless you want to see your book. To use their widgets for a book for sell then you will have to pay for that widget.
• Must use iTunesConnect to publish your free or paid book.
• When preparing to publish a book be sure to include screen shots for previewing.
• Don't forget to site sources and own the images submitting.
• BEST Book for Quick Help (free):  Publishing with iBooks Author: An Introduction to Creating eBooks for the iPad by Nellie McKesson and Adam Witwer 

Bad News: iBooks Author software is only available for download for Mac computers. Sorry PC users you will have to find another format to create interactive books.

Introducing the Socrative Garden

Socrative now has a learning community filled with ideas, videos, user guide, and samples from classrooms. If you are not familiar with Socrative, let me introduce you to a simple student response system that empowers teachers to engage their classrooms through a series of educational exercises and games via smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Mobile apps are also available for iOS and Android devices. Visit the Socrative Garden by clicking here.

Socrative User Guide:

Users guide-how-to-v4 from Kristie Johnson

Socrative How-To Create an Activity/Quiz Video

How To - Create Quiz/Activity from Socrative Inc. on Vimeo.

Favorite Apps of 2012

As the year 2012 ends I decided to share my favorite apps by category for the year. These are great apps that I find myself using on a regular basis. Most of them are free, but the paid ones are worth every penny. The best advice I can give is to download AppsGoneFree app and AppShopper app so you can find free or discounted apps for your apps library.

Education

Socrative: Student and Teacher
Platform: Web-based, iOS student/iOS teacher, Android (student / teacher)
Price: FREE
Socrative is a smart student response system that empowers teachers to engage their classrooms through a series of educational exercises and games via smartphones, laptops, and tablets

Educreations
Platform: Web-based, iOS (requires iOS 4.3 or later)
Price: FREE
Educreations is a recordable interactive whiteboard that captures your voice and handwriting to produce amazing video lessons that you can share online. Students and colleagues can replay your lessons in any web browser, or from within our app on their iPads.

Flashcard [+]
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later)
Price: FREE
Flashcard [+] allows users to create and share cards, organize cards into folders, combine or split decks, Text-to-Speech, and download flashcards from Quizlet.


Photography

Phonto
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android (requires 2.2 or later)
Price: FREE
Phonto is an application that allows you to add text to pictures. Text color, size, and gradient is changeable; items are available to add; and share on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

PicFrame
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 4.3 or later); Android (requires 2.1 or later)
Price: $.99
PicFrame helps you combine multiple photos into amazing looking frames with 71 fully adjustable frames supporting up to 9 photos, text labels, rounded corners, photo effects, shapes, shadows, and plenty of patterns.

Big Lens
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 4.0 or later)
Price: $.99
Big Lens turns your mobile device into a SLR camera with their smart focus system, apeture control, filter effects, instant focus/blur tool, and a before/after preview.


Social Media

Instagram
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 4.3 or later); Android (requires 2.2 or later)
Price: FREE
Instagram is a fast and easy way for users to create photos, add filters, share photos, follow and comment on friends' photos. Think of it as social media through pictures.

Twitter
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android (requires 3.6 or later)
Price: FREE
Twitter app has been much improved...toggle between multiple Twitter accounts, tweet from within a webpage, choose one of 8 filters to edit pictures within the app (all devices but iPad), and add background to your account header.

Hootsuite
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android
Price: FREE
Hootsuite is a web-based application and has mobile apps that allow the user to manage multiple Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN and Foursquare accounts. My favorite features are URL shortener, schedule events and send updates to all accounts with one push. 

Productivity

Google Drive
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android (requires 2.1 or later)
Price: FREE
Google Drive apps allows users to create and edit Google documents and spreadsheets, view offline files, view all files within Google accounts and share photos.

CloudOn
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android (requires 3.1 or later)
Price: FREE
CloudOn brings Microsoft Office to iPhone, iPad and Android devices and links to Box, Dropbox, and Google Drive accounts. Create, review and edit Microsoft Office documents and link to cloud accounts.

PDF Max Pro 
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 4.0 or later)
Price: $7.99
PDF Max Pro is for those looking for a full-featured PDF annotating, form-filling and note taking app. Also changes made to PDF files synchronize between all iCloud devices.


Lifestyle

My Fitness Pal
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android (varies on device)
Price: FREE
My Firtness Pal is the largest calorie counter app on the market. Use the apps recipes calculator, scan barcodes for calories, choose from over 2, 000,000 foods in the database and track cardio and strength exercises.

iPlan Calendar
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later)
Price: $.99 (on sale for a limited time)
iPlan calendar is a new app. Features include integrated weather, multiple calendars display, swipe for a different view-daily, week, or monthly, and import the to-do list from Google.

Starbucks
Platform: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later); Android (requires 2.2 or later)
Price: FREE
The Starbucks app lets you pay for your purchases, track your stars for the Starbucks Reward, reload your accounts, transfer balances between multiple cards, and find Starbucks locations near you. Click here to find out more about the Starbucks Rewards Program...best part...every 12 stars = free drink or food.

Educational Apps

Looking for apps to use in an educational setting? A new site is now available for educational apps. Click this link below and subscribe to the "Educational Apps" blog. You will receive an email each time a new apps has been added to this site. The information will be short and concise and how the applications for education.

8 Apps to Take on Vacation

December has finally arrived and it’s time for that well-earned Christmas/New Year's vacation. But that doesn’t mean you leave your smartphone behind. In fact, your mobile device can be a lifesaver, helping you to plan your trip, find out more about the places you visit, and even communicate with the locals!

 

Whether you are heading overseas or staying closer to home, there are literally thousands of apps that can help you make the most of your summer break. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started. Just make sure you stay on top of your data plan and don’t incur any unforeseen charges! 

Be sure to click on the app to find it in the iTunes store!

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  Packing Pro

An enjoyable vacation starts with a well-organized suitcase and Packing Pro will make sure you have everything you need. Whether it’s bathing suits, batteries or baby wipes, Packing Pro will make sure nothing gets left behind. Make your own list or use one of Packing Pro’s suggestions. Plus, with the new iCloud support, your lists can be accessed from any connected device, so you can add or delete items whenever you want. You can also edit your lists with Excel, Numbers, or Google Docs.

Platform: iPhone, iPad
Cost: $2.99

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 Wi-Fi Finder

Whether you are looking to catch up on some work, surf the web, or just check e-mail, Wi-Fi Finder has you covered. It uses your phone’s GPS to find a wireless connection point, and then gives you precise directions on how to get there. It’s great for travel, with over 650,000 locations in 144 countries, making sure that you can minimize those costly data charges. You can even filter by location type – restaurant, café, hotel, etc.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: Free

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 Pocket

 Have you ever been stuck in an airport or on a plane without anything to read? The Pocket app (formerly Read It Later) allows you capture articles on the web and sync them to your phone or tablet for reading later, even without an Internet connection. You can Pocket pretty much anything that appears on the Web, including text, photos and videos. Once the content is saved, it can be accessed from virtually any device, including your computer.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: Free

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 iSunBurn

Don’t be fooled by those clouds. Download the iSunBurn app and get the UV Index forecast for wherever you happen to be. iSunBurn will tell you what SPF level of sunscreen you'll need and how long it will take unprotected skin to burn. Keep your family safe and comfortable and make sure you always take appropriate precautions against overexposure to the sun, even when the UV Index shows just moderate readings! 


Platform: iPhone
Cost: $0.99

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 Ski and Snow Report

One of the most popular snow sport and weather apps, the Ski & Snow Report App is back and packed with new features for the 2012-13 ski season. Ski & Snow Report will help you figure out the best place to spend your time up at the mountain. Add up to 12 resorts via GPS or pick them from a world wide list. Get push notifications when there is new snow and when vital conditions are updated such as the amount of trails open, snowfall over the last 72 hours, depth at the base and at the top, and a 5-day forecast.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, iPod
Cost: Free

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 Swim Guide

Need a beach? Download the Swim Guide app and you'll be able to get directions to the closest beach, plus real-time information on water quality. The app features over 1,800 different beaches, including lakes, traditional oceanfront beaches, and city parks. The app includes photos and some background information on history, geography and local culture. Use the social media and sharing features to invite friends to join you!

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: Free

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 Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder

If exploring, backpacking, camping and hiking are on your list, then the Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder app is a must. It will tell you the best spots in the U.S. for camping, swimming, hiking, boating or bird watching. It will even show you where the nearest frisbee golf course is! No matter what park or activity you have in mind, Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder will find it for you.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: Free

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 AroundMe

Whether you are looking for something specific or you just want to know what’s in the area, AroundMe is the quickest and simplest way to find out information about your surroundings. Using your smartphone’s built-in GPS technology, AroundMe can pinpoint and direct you to the nearest gas station, bank, hotel, movie theater, restaurant, supermarket or anything else you need. Every listing is located on a map, with easy directions on how to get there.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: Free

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 Google Translate

The amazing Google Translate app can instantly translate words and phrases between more than 60 languages. In many cases, you can just speak your phrases and have the translation spoken aloud back at you or the people you are with. You can pre-record and store previous translations for use when you are off line, or use many of the app’s standard phrases. There is even a full screen text mode for extended conversations. A must-have app for any traveler.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Cost: Free

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All information from this blog post is from The Online Mom blog. 
Read more from The Online Mom blog.