Thing 17

Today I explored a bunch of local Minnesota apps that could help me keep in touch with my community.

The only app that worked at all on my iPad was the Highlights of the Superior Hiking Trail. I couldn't get Minneapolis by Open Spaces or the Star Tribune's Going Out app to come up on my iPad. I managed to get them both on my iPhone but they seemed to not live up to the app introductions in the App Store.

I also wanted Explore Minnesota but that was a total bust. I am beginning to see the elegance of a finely tuned app. Many are not worth the bother. But I like the idea of these apps I checked out - hopefully I will remember to go back to see if they were more finely tuned.

Thing 16

I made a "boo" - a short, teaser recording from the picture book, A splash of red, by Jen Bryant. I will be featuring this book in next week's lesson on art media in children's picture books.

listen to ‘A splash of red, by Jen Bryant’ on Audioboo

Thing 15

I read through the INFOGRAPHS HUB app "getting started" - the app basically just gives you ideas for what you can create.

I read through the VISUALIZE app "getting started." This app has lots of potential. I watched the 8 minute video - so many possibilities. I sent away for my free stickers but they never came. One is really limited on how creative a homemade infograph can be with this app if you don't pay the $.99.

I started an infograph but did not have enough "tools" to finish it or do it right. Maybe on day...

Thing 14

OK. I read through the VINE app description and how-to and decided not to get that app at this time.

I did get the SOCIALCAM app and practiced with it here at home for awhile. This app I have plans for. I would like to have kids at school re-write in their own words and perform readers' theatre for some chosen picture books and even longer fiction. I have been reading From Children's Literature to Readers Theatre by Poe and love her ideas to make Readers Theatre very creative and personal.

I will have my iPhone movie camera at the ready with SocialCam. This will be a great way to post the finished video on our school FaceBook page.

Creative Commons License Example

http://www.mypeoplestickers.com/adventure-boy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Thing 13

I spent a lot of time learning how to use the Haiku Deck app. I love it because I will be teaching my students the annual lesson on Creative Commons soon and this app is so perfect for them to see the advantages of sharing/using photos appropriately on the web. Here is my presentation:
Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app

Thing 12

This Audiobooks app is a gold mine for me! I listen to "billions" of audiobooks every year. Now with this app on my iPhone I will seldom be away from a good story. I started up The Secret Garden by Burnett - and it keeps its streaming place for the next time I am available to listen.

I have a reading incentive program with the middle schoolers at my K-8 school. They need to "read" two classics and two biographies during the school year for an end-of-the-school-year reward. I can show them this app where they can find a great selection of books from those two genres - and have them ready to listen to whenever they want. Their book will be in their pocket!

Thanks for showing me this app!