App Spotlight: Screen Chomp

ScreenChomp is an iPad app for creating videos with sound by working on a digital whiteboard. For the style of videos, think of RSA or Khan Academy. Here's a brief demo inserted from youtube:

Ideas for the classroom:

Individual students: Students could use ScreenChomp to create tutorials or explanations.

Small groups: Students can present explanations or tutorials to peers making use of videos created with ScreenChomp. Students can collaborate on ScreenChomp creations, taking turns with drawing, and speaking.

Whole class instructions: Teachers could record presentations in ScreenChomp and make them available to students to review instructions/processes/explanations.

Tip: Only one background can be placed in each screencast.

Caution: Ensure that students are following the school's acceptable/responsible use policy in the information that they provide in the screencast if videos will be uploaded to web hosting sites.

Quick Facts

Description: Create screencasts with sound and images created on a digital whiteboard.
Cost: Free
Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/screenchomp/id442415881?mt=8
Grade Levels: K-12
Groupings: individual, small group, whole class


More information

• http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/mac/easy-whiteboarding-with-screenchomp-for-ipad/1324
• http://www.labnol.org/internet/khan-academy-style-videos/19875/

App Spotlight: Noterize

Noterize is an app that's available for the iPad. It allows users to take notes, and annotate notes and documents. Watch the video for an overview of what you can do with Noterize.

Ideas for the classroom

Individual students: Students could use Noterize to take class notes, for annotating and highlighting documents and sharing it with the teacher through Google docs or Dropbox, and for quick notes in the form of stickies.

Small groups: Students could give feedback to each other for peer editing using Noterize. Students could also share documents from Noterize to each other via e-mail, Dropbox or Google docs.

Whole class instructions: A teacher could model proofreading, editing, or other skills related to writing.

Tip: Noterize has a number of features that make it a useful productivity app. Try it yourself to determine its usefulness in your classroom.

Caution: Make sure that students are using authorized accounts if connecting Noterize to the cloud.

Quick Facts

Description: Create notes, or annotate documents.
Cost: Free
Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/noterize/id364906681?mt=8
Grade Levels: Upper Elementary +
Groupings: Individual, small group, whole class

Welcome

Image via Wikipedia

Welcome to the iPad at Schools blog. This blog will highlight iPad apps that can be used in the elementary classroom. For each app, we will provide a description, suggest grades at which integration would be appropriate, and present a variety of ideas for how the iPad can be used in the classroom.

If you have suggestions of apps for us to highlight, please leave a comment and we will explore the apps.