Reflection on Challenge 5

Dropbox was easy to use but I do have to admit I have been using it on my PC for about 6-9 Months now that way I don't have to remember where my thumb drive is. I can work on files at home and they are automatically at school when I get there. I update my morning message and if I am out sick I can give the sub an explanation about how to open the file. I have been doing some thinking about workflow and what I want kindergarteners to use the iPads for and some ideas that come to mind are for them to create books, use apps to develop literacy skills such as letter ID, phonological awareness skills & some problem solving. Initially the kids will need to be taught how to use and treat the iPad, then they will need to be taught how to use specific apps. Depending on their knowledge of technology & devices this could go quickly or more slowly. I am sure using iPads will be motivating to them no matter how they are used. It also is going to be essential as a teacher to know each and every app thoroughly and how students are going to share their work... If the workflow doesn't work smoothly then frustration will mount for both students and teachers I am glad we are going to spend some time learning about workflow since it is different than the PC workflow we are used to...this too can present challenges for kids. I am curious about who is responsible for loading and updating apps we may choose as a grade level team and how purchasing apps with budget $ will work?

Pam Farmer has shared 'Video Jul 18, 6 21 40 PM.mp4' with you using Dropbox

Hi,

Here's a link to my woodland animals "Video Jul 18, 6 21 40 PM.mp4" in my Dropbox:

http://db.tt/Npv5rWfk

Sent from my iPad

How to post a New Background.

Here are the steps I took to change my background.  I had a request to share and thought I would share with everyone since I took the time to type it up.

How to change your background:

1. Email picture to yourself

2. Go into your email and download the picture to your computer.

3. Go to the picture in your computer...where ever you saved the download to ( ie down load file or pictures)

4.right click on the picture a screen will come up...choose open with Microsoft office 2010.

5. Choose edit pictures on the tool bar.

6. On right side of screen choose compress pictures and I think I chose web pages (but it might have been documents).

7. Click ok...then save this file(I renamed it so that I wouldn't lose my original in case it didn't work( and it didn't the first time which is why I can't remember whether it was web page or document).

8.go online to blogger.com & sign into your account

9. Click on view blog

10. Click on design

11. Click on customize

12. Click on background. You should see whatever your current background is.

13. there is a little down arrow next to your image click on it and a screen should pop up and at the top of this screen it says upload image

14. Click browse and find it on your computer and open it

15. Once it has uploaded click done.

16. Then in top right corner it says apply to blog. It either changes it right then or you can click on view blog to see the changes.

Pam

Sent from my iPad

On Aug 8, 2012, at 7:05 AM, Cindy <noreply-comment@blogger.com> wrote:

Cindy has left a new comment on your post "New Background":

Reflection on Challenge 4

So I have been giving some thought to how I would use this weeks apps with kindergarten kids and this is what I've come up with. Either of the mapping programs would be good to use to make character maps or story maps; however, I would want to do this on my smart board more as a group activity since the kids can't type themselves. This means I would need to come up with an apple tv which is not a cheap expenditure with limited teacher $. As stated in my comments about write pad, it could be used to have kids practice letter formation or simple CVC words. NeuAnnotate is something that I might see myself using but not really an app that I could see kindergarten students using. I am sure that some of the kids would really enjoy the art programs... I still like the messy real life art mediums for young kids but this could have it's place. For instance when we did our plays in the spring the kids drew their characters and we had to photograph them to make our power point presentation with these art apps there would already be an electronic painting thus saving one step in the process. I think I liked the mapping apps the best because I like to be able to show how ideas link together and I find these visuals useful as a learner. I also think these tools will be useful in developing kids visual literacy skills. It just occurred to me that I could adapt an activity I had parents do, choosing 5 words that describes their child and use the mapping app to produce the results both electronically and in paper form for display.

New Background

So here is the new background I created in Art Rage...not sure how much I like it but I will give it a few days to grow on me.

ArtRage: thoughts from the couch

One of my ArtRage Paintings: thoughts from the couch

ArtRage: Darkness

An extra picture for your enjoyment.

One of my ArtRage Paintings: Darkness

ArtRage: Test artwork

Art rage is a bit more complicated to use but I think with practice you could make some pretty amazing pictures. When I went to the Art in Bloom Festival there were two artists there who used iPad apps to create paintings...it was pretty cool to watch. They both used styluses to complete their masterpieces.
One of my ArtRage Paintings: Saved_2012-08-03

Attached: My Drawing Pad Artwork

Here is a test creation. This program is pretty easy to use and I like the stamps as a way to enhance a picture since I don't draw on the iPad very well.

with Drawing Pad - http://drawingpadapp.com

Write pad

This program is pretty interesting. I could see having kindergarteners practice writing letters and then have a copy of it in text form...it is not as good as having the actual writing sample but it does provide some formative information about the accuracy of their letter formation, especially when done on the yellow lines.

Write pad trial

This program was fairly easy to use...it might provide good letter formation practice. I would want to test it with young kids.

Ghost writer

I have been messing about with ghostwriter. I wish I had a stylus to try as I think I might like this program better with one. I do not like trying to read my hand writing when written with my finger. Ghostwriter has some cool features and I was able to import my review file from Dropbox as well as a photo from the camera and the photo roll. I think neuAnnotate and noteability were easier for me to intuitively pick up and use. In my doodling days of high school I think this would be fun with a stylus.

Pam: idea sketch

This app was user friendly as well. However, when linking multiple bubbles it wanted to use a dashed line to connect my brothers to their child but I didn't like the way it looked visually. I wished it had given me the option to use either solid or dashes for the line. This was not a big deal and the app is pretty easy to use.

Inspiration Maps Lite document: Pam

So somehow my original map had some of the details deleted just before I sent it...so I went back and edited it and that is when I discovered that I could change the ovals to clouds. This would be a great tool to use with kids before writing.

This document was created using Inspiration® Maps™ for iPad. See www.inspiration.com/ipad to try Inspiration Maps for yourself.

Inspiration Maps Lite document: Pam

This document was created using Inspiration® Maps™ for iPad. See www.inspiration.com/ipad to try Inspiration Maps for yourself.