Whose Land?

This FREE APP will definitely be a great resource when talking about the land acknowledgement on our morning announcements as well as for teaching Canadian History. 

Educational videos are available to watch that will give you a better understanding of why land acknowledgements are important, and the way Indigenous people view their relationship to land.

Description

Whose Land is a web-based app that uses GIS technology to assist users in identifying Indigenous Nations, territories, and Indigenous communities across Canada. The app can be used for learning about the territory your home or business is situated on, finding information for a land acknowledgement, and learning about the treaties and agreements signed across Canada.

The Whose Land app is a collaboration between Canadian Roots Exchange, TakingITGlobal, and Bold Realities. The app consists of six different maps of Indigenous territories, Treaties, and First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities.

Each community's location will eventually host a land acknowledgement video, and other information that the community would like to include on their page. The app will be used as an educational tool to create dialogue around reconciliation. It will be a starting point for conversation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous citizens across this country about land, territorial recognition and land acknowledgement.

Google Arts and Culture

GOOGLE ARTS & CULTURE

Who is your ART twin?

O.K. I admit it. I have been having so much fun with Google's Arts and Culture App. You take a selfie and it uses facial recognition to match you with some of the world's most famous portraits.

My Dad 

Everywhere I go I ask people if I can take their picture.

Tawny Stewart

Over 40 million selfies have happened world wide with people trying to find their art twins. It isn't however without controversy. Some states do not allow access because it infringes on their biometric privacy laws. The App also is not very equitable. There are more than 700,000 items from the United States, more than 75,000 from the United Kingdom, and nearly 60,000 from Germany. Compared to only 16,000 from Mexico. This does tend to limit results to be bias towards white users.
Give it a try and see who you look like.

Apple Classroom

If you have not tried Apple classroom to monitor your students iPads give it a try.

An overview of the app can be found here:https://www.apple.com/ca/education/products/  

(it’s about halfway down the page under the title ‘meet your new teaching assistant’).

We have developed a guide on how to set up and use Apple Classroom.  It’s on the staff intranet here: http://bit.ly/2kltr3a Please note that this application only works with iOS 10.3 and above, so older iPads will not be compatible.

Here is the GIST

-The teacher is the only one who downloads apple classroom.

-All students must have wifi and bluetooth on

-Teacher opens up the app it will generate a code for the student to input

-Students open their settings page

-Under bluetooth an orange icon will show up (students tap on classroom icon)

-Settings will come up asking to allow.

-Students must accept always.

-DO NOT use Never require teacher to ask permission

Sometimes it is a little glitchy and won’t work if students have bluetooth off. However you can still see what they are on if they are online.

Thanks to Clare Babbit who showed me apple classroom in action.

New Feature! Publish online with Book Creator!

We have written about Book Creator in the past, as it's one of our apps that are "Worth the $". They have just come out with a great update that allows you to publish books online!

You can click on this example to see how it works:

New Book Creator Features!

Click to read this book, made with Book Creator

https://read.bookcreator.com

TouchCast Studio

TouchCast is a must have media creation app if your students enjoy using green screen! It offers basic green screening options with built in news studio or talk show backgrounds, but you do have the option to use your own images and videos. What sets TouchCast apart from other green screen apps is that your videos can be interactive. Your audience can click on links, see a live Twitter feed, or even answer a poll question. Students are able to annotate maps, websites, images, or variety of other vApps (video apps). It even has a teleprompter and sound effects!

What's So Great About It?

• Creates high-quality interactive videos
• News studio, talk show, and other default studio backgrounds included
• Annotate websites, images, videos, and maps
• Various features include whiteboard, teleprompter and sound effects 
• Editing features are built in to the app

How Can I Use It?

• Bring the writing forms to life with video. Students can report on a current event to demonstrate their understanding or create an opinion segment for news show
• Create instructional videos for science and math
• Take viewers on a virtual tour of a country, city or town
• Produce school news videos to share with the school community
• Role play a character from a story and bring it to life with video

Where Do I Start?

The TouchCast website has good tutorials, a quick reference guide and an Educator's Guide you can download to iBooks. It is full of ideas on how to engage students using TouchCast in the classroom.  

Treat of the Week: Clips

Have you seen the new Clips app for iPhone and iPad?  We love the fun filters, titles, and the fact that it can use voice recognition to automatically add subtitles.  Finally, you can choose a soundtrack that will automatically adjust to the perfect length for your video.  It's great for the classroom because the app keeps your video right on your device until you are ready to share it.  That means that there are no Terms of Service agreements or age limits to worry about.

This would be a great app to use for creating how-to videos.  You can also use it with still pictures, zooming and panning around the image to share important details.

Clips is available on the App Store for devices running iOS 10.3 and above.  Check it out!

If your students make something great using Clips and you'd like to share it with the world, post it to Twitter using #ClassroomClips or #AppleClips. And, of course, don't forget to add our #EngageLK hashtag as well!

Treat of the Week: Texting Story

Adobe Spark Post

Adobe Spark Post uses professionally designed templates and themes to create beautiful graphics. With just a few taps on iPad, students can add text and an image/video to design their graphic in minutes. A graphic can be remixed with a new layout or theme with a single tap. Graphics can be easily saved and shared.

What's So Great About It?

• Easy to use K-8
• Multi platform (can be used on iPad, Chromebook, laptop)
• Professionally designed templates and layouts
• Search for photos within the app or choose your own from the camera roll
• Easy to edit a project

How Can I Use It? 

• Design simple posters 
• Publish a piece of poetry
• Create a meme for a piece of persuasive writing. The meme can support the main argument 
• Identify key words/quote from a story and decide what colours and images support the mood
• Create an advertisement/public service announcement for an idea, event or cause 

Things To Know

The Adobe Spark apps all require a (free) account.  If your students are under 13, create a class account so all students will log into the same account.  You will be able to see every student's work.  If your students are over 13 they can use their Google account to log in.

Where Do I Start? 

When you open the app it will give you hints to create your first post. You can also watch the "Video Guide" located in the apps's settings (the gear icon in the upper left corner). 

Treat of the Week: Recap

Recap is designed to quickly gather information from students in video format.  Educators assign a question to students, and students take a short video in response.  Then, Recap puts all those videos together into one for quick viewing by the teacher.  It's a great way to quickly assess whether students got the main idea of a lesson, or get information from lots of students quickly.  You can also have students self-assess using a thumbs up/thumbs down system and receive quick visual feedback about whether students feel confident in what they have learned.

Teachers have to use a browser on a computer to access Recap (though they have assured us that they are working on a Teacher iOS app!) but students can use the iPad app or a browser to respond to questions using Recap.

If you want to know more about Recap, watch the Quick Start video on their website. 

SeeSaw: The Learning Journal

SeeSaw: The Learning Journal is a student driven portfolio that allows students to capture, document, share and reflect on their learning. Students can use photos, videos, drawings, notes, links or PDFs to show what they know and share it with their class, teacher, parents and even the world! 

For teachers, SeeSaw is a great tool for assessment, feedback and teaching digital citizenship skills.  It allows teachers to see work from the entire class or a single student. There is an option for creating folders to tag items by subject area and a calendar view to easily see when items were posted.


What's So Great About It? 

• User friendly and multi platform (can be used on iPad, Chromebook, laptop)
• Captures student thinking and learning (photo, video, audio, drawings, notes, links, PDFs)
• Sign in options that work for all ages (QR code or Google email)
• Builds connections between home and school
• Students can import work from over 100 different apps

How Can I Use It? 

• Take a photo/upload a photo of a page of a book and use the drawing tool to identify parts of speech or use the audio recording tool to practice reading fluency 
• Take a video/upload a video of a science experiment and have students explain what is happening
• Use the drawing tool to solve math problems and have students explain their thinking
• Use the notes tool to author short stories and then practice reading them with the audio recording tool
• Create a coding project and link it to SeeSaw to receive peer feedback 

Things To Know

SeeSaw is a free app that offers unlimited storage and allows two teachers per class. You can upgrade to SeeSaw Plus for more advanced features but the free version offers many solutions in the classroom. 

Where Do I Start? 

When you open the app you will be asked to create a teacher account. Once your account is created you can create your class. SeeSaw's Help Centre offers excellent tutorials and activity ideas for Grades K-12. They also host a webinars series called "PD in your PJs".

Flipboard

 

Flipboard is a magazine app where content from social networks, publishers, online sources and photo sharing sites can all be stored in one place. 

What's So Great About It?

• Create and customize your own "magazines" from multiple sources
• Easy to share magazines with others
• Add any weblink to magazine
• Students can follow topics of personal or educational interest
• Engaging, multimedia reading experience

How Can I Use It?

• To curate teaching ideas and activities
• To collect news articles about current events for students to read
• Gather many sources of information related to a class inquiry
• Share different magazines with groups of students to differentiate instruction
• Older students can create magazines to collect and share information related to an inquiry

Things to Know

Flipboard is intended for students 13 and older.  As a teacher, you can create a class account for your students and provide them with the login information. 

Where Do I Start? 
When you open the app you will be asked to create an account and choose topics that interest you. To learn more about the app and how it works you can visit their tutorial website. 

Dash & Dot: Coding in French

Blocklify is a version of Wonder Workshop's Blockly that provides multiple languages. It's a drag and drop coding app that brings programming to life, and in French! There are two versions of the app, Blocklify and Blocklify 4 Kids. Blocklify 4 Kids is a more simple version with introductory lessons built in.

Paper by FiftyThree

Paper by FiftyThree allows students to combine shapes to create beautiful graphics, icons, and emojis.

What's So Great About It? 

• Easy to use K-8 
  
• Bring sketches, text, and images together
• Create beautiful drawings in a virtual sketchbook
• Easily create diagrams and checklists
• Export as individual images or as a Presentation

How Can I Use It?

• To capture sketchnotes 
• To draw on top of an image to clarify information
• Create original images to use in other projects
• Use the diagram tool to create graphic organizers
• To replace a paper notebook in the classroom

Things To Know

You can only import one image into each Card.

Where Do I Start?

While experimenting with the tools is a great way to get to know Paper, FiftyThree also offers some great tutorials to learn to use all the features of Paper.

Challenge Your Students!

Students don't need to steal images from the internet! They can use Paper by FiftyThree to draw their own.  If a student isn't sure how to draw something, they can find an download an image, import it into Paper, and then trace over it.  Once their drawing is complete they can erase the photo so only their drawing remains.

Additional Resources:

Check out this blog post about how one primary teacher uses Paper in her lessons.

Assembly

Assembly allows students to combine shapes to create beautiful graphics, icons, and emojis.

What's So Great About It? 

• Easy to use K-8 

• Creates high-quality designs 
• Layer, flip, rotate, stack, and position icons exactly as you need them 
• Exports to the camera roll with a transparent background so you can use your image anywhere
• Export creations as a video so you can see the process students went through to build their image

How Can I Use It?

• Create logos for classroom-created products
• Create characters and backgrounds for graphic novels
• Create tessellations in art class
• Investigate 2D shapes and transformational geometry
• Create and visualize fractions

Things To Know

Assembly does have shapes for purchase, however, the shopping area is unobtrusive, and the free app allows access to all features and many shapes.  

Where Do I Start?

The best way to get started is to open the Assembly app and go through the tutorials.  You'll learn all the basics of creating your own designs.

Challenge Your Students!

Have students write instructions for creating a shape using math language.  Each student can challenge a friend to create their design in Assembly.  

Additional Resources:

Visit the Assembly Website.

Spark Page

Spark Page is an easy way for students to create stunning webpages from their words and images.

What's So Great About It? 

• Easy to use K-8 
• Search for Creative Commons photos and icons from inside the app
• Build webpages that include photos, text, and videos in minutes
• Choose from beautifully designed themes so your page looks amazing
• Edit your story on iPad or on the web

How Can I Use It?

• Create a newsletter to share with the school community
• Publish the results of an inquiry to share with the world
• Create an online art portfolio
• Share photos of a school event
• Publish a photo essay

Things To Know

The Adobe Spark apps all require a (free) account.  If your students are under 13, create a class account so all students will log into the same account.  You will be able to see every student's work.  If your students are over 13 they can use their Google account to log in.

Where Do I Start?

The best way to get started is to open the Spark Page App and go through the step-by-step hints to create your first Page.

Challenge Your Students!

Spark Page creates public webpages that can be viewed anywhere.  Students can create a webpage to inform the community about how to contribute to a solution to a local problem.

Additional Resources:

Get ideas from Adobe Spark in the Classroom

Shadow Puppet EDU

Shadow Puppet EDU is a simple way to capture student thinking and learning in the K-8 classroom!

What's So Great About It? 

• Easy to use K-8 with simple editing features 

• Tell stories, explain ideas & document student learning  
  

• Combine photos & videos, add narration & music and overlay text & drawings on the screen

• Educational image galleries including NASA, Met Museum of Art, The British Library and more! 

• Add maps & satellite images directly into your video

• Export to camera roll, SeeSaw, Google Drive or copy/paste a link

How Can I Use It?

• Summarize a story's beginning, middle and end

• Geometric shape or fractions scavenger hunt

• Document a science experiment and explain the results

• Pretend to be a historical figure and share your thoughts on an issue

• Create flashcards for learning a new language

Where Do I Start?

The ShadowPuppet EDU website is full of resources and includes a quick start guide! 

Challenge Your Students!

Are you learning about a famous artist? What about an artistic movement? Your students can create a virtual museum of projects they have created throughout the year. 

Spark Video

Spark Video is an easy way for students to create compelling animated videos in minutes.

What's So Great About It? 

• Easy to use K-8 
• Search for photos and icons from inside the app
• Record and edit your voice separately on each slide
• Choose from beautifully designed themes and music to match the mood of your video
• Automatically creates transitions and enhances your voice so your videos look and sound amazing

How Can I Use It?

• Create "All About Me" videos to get to know students
• Create Public Service Announcement videos to persuade your audience
• Tell a narrative story in words and pictures
• Write a procedure to help another student learn a skill
• Create an advertisement for a school event

Things To Know

The Adobe Spark apps all require a (free) account.  If your students are under 13, create a class account so all students will log into the same account.  You will be able to see every student's work.  If your students are over 13 they can use their Google account to log in.

Where Do I Start?

The best way to get started is to open the Spark Video App and go through the step-by-step tutorial. 

Challenge Your Students!

Spark Video makes it easy to share your learning with others!  Create a video to teach someone else how to count in another language.

Additional Resources:
Get ideas from Adobe Spark in the Classroom

Notability

Notability lets you combine handwriting, photos, and typing in a single note.

What's So Great About It? 

• Easy to use K-8 
• Add photos, drawings, PDFs, and shapes to your notes. 
• Organize your notes into colour-coded folders so you can find them later
• Add web clips to your notes so you can return to helpful internet sites later
• Auto-backup to Google Drive so you never lose your work

How Can I Use It?

• Replace student notebooks in a 1:1 setting
• Capture real-time anecdotal notes to provide feedback to student on oral presentations
• Record information with sketchnotes (visual note-taking)
• Annotate PDFs and photos
• Collect research for an inquiry, including web clips that link back to the location of the information online

Where Do I Start?

The Notability website has excellent resources to help you learn how to use the app. Here is a link that will help you get started.

Explain Everything Classic

Explain Everything Classic is an easy-to-use design, screencasting, and interactive whiteboard tool.

What's So Great About It? 

• Draw, annotate, add photos, videos, docs, PDFs, webpages, and sound
• Record your voice and what is happening on the screen as you interact with objects 
• Never run out of space with Explain Everything's Infinite Canvas
• Add text and math symbols with the Equation Editor
• Share to Google Drive as an Explain Everything file or as a video

How Can I Use It?

• Record students reading to assess fluency
• Record yourself explaining math concepts for students to access if they need help
• Use the drawing tool and shapes as virtual manipulatives to explain their math thinking
• Add webpages and prompts to guide students through an activity
• Record information with sketchnotes (visual note-taking)

Where Do I Start?

The Explain Everything website has excellent tutorials to help you get the most out of the app. Here is a link that will help you get started. 

Challenge Your Students!

You can create amazing animations in Explain Everything.  See this great example for inspiration!

Additional Resources:

Explain Everything Lesson Ideas on the iBooks Store
A collection of math and science Explain Everything project files

Popplet

Popplet is an easy-to-use way for students to organize ideas on iPad.

What's So Great About It? 

• Easy to use K-8
• Gather facts, thoughts, drawings, and images
• Organize ideas by linking them together and adding colour
• Share your Popplet as an image or PDF
• Available for iPad and on the web 

How Can I Use It?

• Mind mapping
• Organizing research from an inquiry
• Brainstorming
• Compare and contrast 
• Creating flow charts

Where Do I Start?

Popplet on iPad has limited features which makes it intuitive for the user.  If you get stuck while you're in the app, tap the ? in the top right hand corner of the screen and this help image will appear:

Challenge Your Students!

Use Popplet to build a timeline showing important events in a person's life or period of history.  Students can add written information, images, or add QR codes to link to videos and online resources.