Week 4 Review: Tech EDGE: Mobile Learning in the Classroom
UNL Tech EDGE is a partnership between Nebraska school districts and teacher education programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Concordia University, Nebraska to "define and implement best practices in using new literacies and 21st century technologies in the elementary classroom." As I scrolled through their YouTube channel, I found a surprisingly large amount of content. They post weekly podcasts that are available on YouTube, as well as iTunes U. On iTunes U, the videos are sorted into categories and I specifically looked at the Tech EDGE iPad Edition-Reading videos. I noticed a few things as I searched for a specific podcast to review:
Overall, I believe that this would be a helpful website for current and future teachers who are looking for different technology resources to use in their classrooms. I watched some different podcasts in my English content area and below I've included two that stuck out to me. Take a look!
- There is a large variety of content for different subject areas.
- Each podcast highlights some helpful apps, but also provides helpful tips for integrating these into your classroom.
- Though the YouTube channel began in 2012, their videos seem mostly updated.
- When there is a guest presenter on the channel, they seem just as knowledgeable as the main host, Dr. Guy Trainin.
Overall, I believe that this would be a helpful website for current and future teachers who are looking for different technology resources to use in their classrooms. I watched some different podcasts in my English content area and below I've included two that stuck out to me. Take a look!
Episode 172, Digital Book Reports talks about new engaging ways to use technology in an English classroom when students are presenting about a book.
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Episode 192, Telling A Story with More Then Text also challenges the usual perception of a "book report" and emphasizes how important images can be.
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These two podcasts both contain information about some great apps that could be used in the classroom. In particular, I really liked these two apps!
Super fun movie maker that lets you write, direct, and star in your own TV show.
Typical book reports can be boring and not fun for the student to give or the class to watch. This app offers an interactive alternative to a book report. The Telestory App for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, allows students to create fun, short videos using props and provided scenes and camera angles for a much more engaging presentation.
How it works:
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The Bottom Line
While this app is created for children, I think that teachers could still use it in their classrooms as an interactive alternative to a book report. This is good for learning because it challenges students to think about different, non-textual ways to present their information. Also, utilizing elements from their social lives outside of school (i.e. Snapchat) may also further engage students in this alternative form of presentation. I gave this app a 4.5 out of 5 because it is functional and user-friendly, but it is gauged towards a younger audience and there is not a large selection of possible scenes to choose from.
Hakiu Deck makes it a snap to create beautiful presentations that will wow your audience - whether you're pitching an idea, teaching a lesson, telling a story, or igniting a movement.
Another app highlighted in Tech EDGE's podcasts is Hakiu Deck. This app is similar to Canva (see my review of Canva here) in that both make graphic design much more attainable for the average person, but Hakiu Deck works mainly with presentations. While the website is much more popular (& some would argue "more user friendly") there is an App available for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.
How it works:
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The Bottom Line
This app could liven up a normal lecture or a presentation done by a student. Teachers could use this in their classroom as yet another alternative to the standard book report, but this could also be helpful for students making presentations who think in a more image-based way. I think with the right amount of practice, this app could assist in developing design skills, as well as providing an additional way for students to express themselves through their work.
@burtnessenglish 9/15/2016