App Spotlight: StoryKit

StoryKit is an app that's available for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. It allows users to create stories that they can anonymously upload to the StoryKit server. Here's a brief look at StoryKit:

Ideas for the classroom

Individual students: Students could use StoryKit to create and share stories.

Small groups: Students could work in groups to create stories using StoryKit.

Whole class instructions: Students can create stories as a class in exploring parts of a story or other instruction.

Tip: StoryKit has some built in public domain books that children can remix.

Caution: Remind students about privacy and security with respect to posting information online.

Quick Facts

Description: Students can create stories or remix stories.
Cost: Free
Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/storykit/id329374595?mt=8
Grade Levels: K-12
Groupings: individual, small group, whole class

App Spotlight: Puppet Pals

Puppet Pals lets users create stories and scenes using characters, sound and movement on an iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Puppet Pals HD is only available for the iPad. The video below is a demo of the Puppet Pals app.

Ideas for the classroom

Individual students: Students can create digital stories and scenes to show scenarios, explore solutions, demonstrate understanding of concepts. Puppet Pals allows students to be at the heart of creation.

Small groups: Students can do tasks in a collaborative way using Puppet Pals. Each student can play the role of a character in their creation.

Tip: Puppet Pals has a few backgrounds and characters available. Additional characters and backgrounds can be bought in the app or added using the camera.

Caution: Be careful with logged in accounts in the App Store as purchases can be made in app.

Quick Facts

Description: Create scenes with sound, movement and characters.
Cost: Free, with pay add-ons
Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/puppet-pals-hd/id342076546?mt=8
Grade Levels: K-12
Groupings: individual, small group

Links

• http://www.ipadsforeducation.vic.edu.au/education-apps/apps/38-puppet-pals from the Government of Victoria
• http://www.tme.ie/tablet-apps-in-education/2011/6/2/puppet-pals.html
• http://www.mindleaptech.com/language-arts/puppet-pals/

App Spotlight: Idea Sketch

Idea Sketch is an app that lets you create diagrams from outlines and outlines from diagrams. Diagram may be concept maps, mind maps or flowcharts. The app runs on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Ideas for the classroom:

Individual students: Students could use Idea Sketch to create mind maps, concept maps or flow charts  for brainstorming, for planning systems, papers, or events, and to show connections between ideas. 

Small groups: Students can do the same activities as in individual use while sharing an iDevice, especially for collaborative work.

Whole class instructions: This app is useful for whole class brainstorms, and planning, for teacher modelling of mapping or planning, 

Tip: Copy diagrams created in Idea Sketch to any other program on your device.

Caution: Idea Sketch allows connection with Facebook.

Quick Facts

Description: Create diagram and outlines.
Cost: Free
Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/idea-sketch/id367246522?mt=8
Grade Levels: K-12
Groupings: all


Links

• http://www.ipadsforeducation.vic.edu.au/education-apps/apps/22-idea-sketch with ideas for iPad use in the classroom from Victorian government in Australia
• http://educationaltech-med.blogspot.com/2011/05/sketch-free-brainstorming-and-mind.html Educational technology blog
• http://ieducationappsreview.ning.com/profiles/blogs/idea-sketch?xg_source=activity from the iEducation Apps Review

App Spotlight: Brushes

Brushes is an app that's available for iDevices. It allows users to create paintings. Watch the video to see it in action:

Ideas for the classroom

Individual students: Students could use brushes to create paintings. This could be used for illustrating a story, in art class, or for representing situations/scenarios 

Small groups: Students could represent group problems in Math or science class, or collaborate on drawing tasks.

Whole class instructions: A teacher could demonstrate elements of design and/or art to students in a class. The painting process can be saved and students can refer to it at their leisure.

Tip: Brushes can get quite complex with layers, opacity, etc. Remind students to work at their level of complexity and ignore features that they do not need.

Caution: Brushes allows connections with flickr. Remember to discuss intellectual property, privacy and safety with students in relation to the use of multimedia in social networks.


Quick Facts

Description: Create a painting
Cost: $7.99 (iPad), $4.99 (iPhone/iPod Touch)
Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/steve-sprang/id288230267
Grade Levels: Any because the program is scalable
Groupings: Individual, small group, whole class