Be an AR Superstar in the Classroom!!

Augmented Reality (AR) has captured the imagination of educators throughout the country.  Apps like Aurasma have placed the ability to create and engage students in the world of Augmented Reality.  On the heels of this new dynamic trend, many new apps are emerging on the scene.  This blog features several apps guaranteed to WOW you and your students!!

ColAR Mix

ColAR Mix provides printable coloring pages that serve as triggers for the ColAR Mix app.  When the colored pages are held beneath the ColAR Mix app, the images SPRING to life with amazing animation.  My favorite is the flying, fire-breathing dragon.

I have shared this app with many kiddos and they're always in awe, eager to design and color their own version to view in 3D.



Ideas for use:

#1.  Ice Breaker.  Use the 'shoe' image to color and design a shoe that reflects you and your personality.  Be prepared to explain why.
#2.  Write a story based on any of the images.
#3.  Discuss voice and write from the perspective of a newly animated character.
#4.  Animate the airplane image and customize the banner with your class name or have students add math problems to solve!

See this Pinterest board for great examples of ColAR pages
Go HERE to download coloring pages.

AR Flashcards

These cute little alphabet flashcards will WOW the littlest learners.  Each colorful alphabet card contains a trigger that, when used with the AR Flashcard app, houses a 3D character.  As a teacher of 6th grade, I had trouble imagining how we could use it in our classroom.  My two immediate thoughts were:

#1.  Use the creatures as subjects for a research project and have students share the 3D character to add a little extra pizzazz.

#2.  Use the creatures as station letters or as scavenger hunt stops.  To 'prove' students were in that location, ask a question about the 3D creatures.  For example, does the elephant have tusks?  How many bumps are on the alligator's spine?

Aurasma

I've blithered on for 2 blog posts about this fantastic CUSTOMIZABLE app called Aurasma, and it continues to be my favorite.  Aurasma puts AR CREATION at your (and your student's) fingertips.

Tutorials:   Using Aurasma Studio   Aurasma in Action

Products:  Scavenger Hunt     Secret Reveal

 

DAQRI

The DAQRI option appears to be in development and specialized.  The greatest (and most accessible) example of this AR tool is the 4D anatomy.  Using the target below, DAQRI brings anatomy to life in STUNNING detail.  If you are teaching anatomy to any extent, this app allows you to focus on skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory and any other system.  Definitely worth checking out!

Download the DAQRI app and hold it over this image for  a stunning 4D anatomy lesson.

LAYAR

Layar works a LOT like Aurasma in the sense that it is customizable and allows you to place digital content within print.  The print serves as a trigger for the app and allows users to access whatever content you've created and embedded within the print.

Like Aurasma, Layar has an online development platform that allows you to create your 3D items.  Layar has MANY options for 3D triggers including video, phone, text, audio, image carousels, and social media.  In playing with this a bit, I found it more geared for full page triggers with many items included.

Fetch Lunch Rush

For elementary math teachers out there, this Augmented Reality App looks like JUST the ticket!  This app uses the camera to overlay computer-generated graphics on top of the physical, real-world environment.  It works to integrate tactile skills (targets) with a video game style interface to reinforce math skills.

 

ZooBurst

 Zooburst is a digital storytelling tool that lets anyone easily create his or her own 3D pop-up books. Essentially authors can manipulate and insert characters, setting, design and background as well as write story lines to accompany their stories. In addition to allowing for a narrative or explanation on each page, creators can also add speech bubbles featuring text OR uploaded .mp3 files for sound. The Pièce de résistance of the site is the augmented reality feature. Once a book is published, the site provides a target. When the target is ‘seen’ by a web camera, the book bursts open allowing for a three dimensional view of the story.

Sample Zooburst Poetry Book  
Blog posting on Zooburst

More AR Apps, Just for Fun

AR Magic Mirror

This free app focuses the camera on the user and allows them to try on different combinations of hats and glasses.  Let the kiddos run with their imaginations and capture their playful side.  Have them write a story or use their image as an avatar.

Dark Knight Rises Z+

Described as an Augmented Soundtrack Experience, this app was designed to be used while watching the Dark Knight Rises.  After downloading the app I realized that it is FANTASTIC for teaching TONE and establishing MOOD in writing at any age.  No lyrics and/or dialogue are contained within the app.  The dark, eerie music, responds and reacts to your movements and your voice.  Unexpectedly thrilling!


AR Basketball

Using a printable marker, this app allows you to shoot 'hoops' wherever you are.  Aim your iPad or phone at the marker and an AR hoop displays.   Shoot balls at the hoop for interactive fun without balls rolling all over the place!  Could be used as a class reward or challenge.   Warning, within minutes you'll be pretty addicted.  I was a BEAST at this one so look out!!

AR Missile

This app is irresistable, although I can't imagine the educational uses.  Frankly, it is downright fun!!  To use, line up a target in your sites and fire away.  The missiles launch and even track towards the target!  Take a picture at the moment of impact.  There are 2 types of missiles available for firing, and you can even launch in infrared format.

Good natured son enduring my missile launches.  

On target with augmented reality AND using Your Smarticles!!

Facilitate Close Reading with the iPad

Close Reading Meets Technology

Putting high quality, authentic text into the hands of students and providing them with opportunities to engage in a close reading of the text is a challenge now presented to educators. Close reading is the process of reading whereby the students are not simply consuming the text, but rather, re-reading and evaluating the text.  When students are close reading, they are engaged with the text and considering the author's perspective, main idea, what the text really says AND what the words mean. Undoubtedly, if you have familiarized yourself with the expectations of the Common Core Curriculum, the term close reading has been mentioned.

Close Reading Strategy
After perusing several articles regarding the concept of close reading, several keywords surfaced:

Naturally, my mind migrated towards the potential of technology to facilitate close reading.  

The purpose of this blog is not to outline how to instruct students on close reading, it is primarily to instruct the educator on how to incorporate technology into the close reading process.  

Below I demonstrate how to download a .pdf file onto your iPad to allow students to annotate that text thus providing students an opportunity to digitally 'close' read.

The Tools

• PC/Mac
• iPad
• Dropbox
• GoodNotesFree
• Stylus

Step #1:  Locate/Identify a .pdf file (on your pc) that you would like to house on your iPad.  If you need something for the purposes of this trial, here is a link to a reading passage that you can download: http://e-book.webpark.cz/pdf/whispering_knights.pdf

Step #2:  Download and install Dropbox onto your pc.  (FREE)

Step #3:  Locate the file that you would like to eventually place on the iPad for students to annotate.  

Step #4:  (There are 3 ways to upload your .pdf file)

• Copy and paste the file to Dropbox on your desktop. 

• Drag the file onto the Dropbox icon on your desktop.

• Go to Dropbox and Upload the file 

Step #5:  Download GoodNotes Free or GoodNotes $4.99

Step #6:  Open the GoodNote App on your iPad.  Click on the + icon at the top left hand corner.  You will see the drop box icon.  Click on that an scroll until you find the preferred .pdf file.

Step #7:  You will see a small thumbnail image of the .pdf that you just downloaded.  Tap on that and the .pdf will open allowing you to annotate directly on the document.  

Step #8:  You can use your finger to annotate, but a stylus works beautifully!  (Make FREE ones!)

A Quick Tutorial

 

Cross-Curricular Possibilities

Although the focus of this blog entry is close reading, this strategy can be employed with ANY worksheet that you currently use and wish to place on an iPad for students to complete.   Converting a traditional word file into a .pdf isn't a challenging process.  To convert, you can use an online converter, use your photocopying machine (many photocopy machines now allow you to copy and send yourself a .pdf file through e-mail).  Also, many versions of word allow you to save your file as a .pdf (under Save As).

Ideas (Not NEARLY an exhaustive list)

• Concept circles
• Diagrams
• Maps
• Math Problems
• Graphic Organizers
• Fill in the blank sheets
• Handwriting sheets
• Crossword Puzzles
• Word Search Activities
• Matching

Save paper, integrate technology, and use quality materials that you already use....now THAT'S using your Smarticles!!

Songify and Autorap

If you are an app fan, you understand the giddy feeling you get when you find a new one.  One app might hold the potential to organize your life like you've never known.  Another might simply occupy space on your device and never be used.  Some might hold the secret to engaging your students beyond belief.  Either way, the novelty of something new is addicting.

 

Recently I downloaded Autorap and Songify.  These free apps are designed to take your words and turn them into songs.  The singular purpose of Autorap is to make you sound like you can rap.  Any innocuous words that you record will synthesize through the app and be turned into some semblance of a rap song.  Songify is similar in purpose, except the product has more of a pop-like sound.

In my testing phase with this app, I decided to record a few basic instructional statements on Autorap to see what would happen.  My goal was to have background music that could be played as the students entered the room reminding them to get started with their tasks for the day.  The results...super silly, but indeed got my student's attention.  Here's my maiden attempt at creating an Autorap.    

Giving this process a bit of deeper thought, I decided to consider how the app might be useful as a classroom tool.  With a bit of creativity, I came upon a few suggestions/ideas and also noted how Common Core Learning Standards can be met with an app that (at first blush) didn't appear to have merit.

Elementary Grades

• Have students sing a song based on a phonic skill they've learned.
• Have student practice saying (and spelling) spelling words

Middle/Upper Grades

• Summarize and record key ideas from a piece of expository text (6.RIT.1, 6.RIT.10, 6.L.6)
• Watch a key event (like a debate) and record statements that make an impact
• Record character emotions/feelings in response to an event in a narrative text (6.RL.2, 6.RL.5)
• Have students introduce themselves at the beginning of the year (6.SL.6, 6.SL.5)
• Focus on vocabulary.  Have students record a vocabulary word, synonyms and/or related words.  
• Have students record synonyms/antonyms

Get the Common Core Widget: