Ever wanted to learn a language…Here’s how!!

Arabic

• Arabic Language Lessons – iTunes Free
  • The US Peace Corps serves up 10 free lessons that will teach you the Arabic spoken in Jordan. The web site includes a useful transcript.
• ArabicPod iTunes Free
  • Includes mp3s and PDF transcripts.
• Foreign Service Institute Basic Course
  • Includes instruction on written Arabic, Levantine Arabic, and Saudi Arabic.
• Survival Phrases Arabic – iTunes Free
  • Provides the essentials you’ll need to get around.

Bulgarian

• Bulgarian Survival Phrases iTunes Free – Feed

Catalan

• One Minute Catalan iTunes Free – Feed
  • A good way to get going with a language still spoken by some 12 million people, many living in Northeast Spain.

Chinese

• Real Chinese – Web Site
  • Presented by the BBC. A lively introduction to Mandarin Chinese in 10 short parts with video clips from the Real Chinese TV series.
• Beginner’s Chinese iTunes Free
  • Introductory audio lessons provided by the Open University.
• Chinese Learn Online iTunes Free – Feed
  • A dialogue-based introduction to Mandarin Chinese. Load the lessons on your mp3 player and get up the Chinese curve.
• Chinese Lessons with Serge Melnyk iTunes Free –Feed
  • Weekly lessons in Mandarin that get very strong reviews from iTunes users..
• Chinesepod.com iTunes Free –Feed
  • A series of well-reviewed lessons that will let you learn Mandarin on your own terms.

• CSLPod iTunes Free –Feed
  • Here, native Mandarin speakers teach you Chinese as a second language. Audio and transcripts are available on the website. The lessons also place an emphasis on understanding Chinese culture.
• iMandarinPod.com iTunes Free –Feed
  • This series of lessons teaches Chinese by talking about Chinese culture or what is happening today in China. More advanced than others.
• Mandarin Chinese Feed – Web Site
  • 10 Lessons by the US Peace Corps. Make sure you visit the site and download the pdf that accompanies the lessons.
• Mandarin Chinese Characters iTunes Free
  • Created by Emory University, this series of video lessons will help you draw several characters and numbers.
• Mandarin in China Web Site
  • Lessons courtesy of the US Peace Corps
• News in Slow Chinese iTunes Free – Web Site
  • Designed for intermediate Mandarin speakers. Improve your language skills by listening to world news delivered in slowly spoken words.
• Numbers and Radicals iTunes Free
  • Emory University teaches you the proper form for writing numbers and radicals. In Video.
• One Minute Mandarin iTunes Free – Feed
  • A quick way to cover the very basics…
• Popup Chinese iTunes Free – Feed
  • Offers lessons for beginners and also students at intermediate and advanced levels. In addition to language lessons, Popup Chinese provides annotated short stories, HSK test prep materials and a variety of speaking and listening exercises. They broadcast out of Beijing, and all voice actors speak the standard northern dialect.
• Survival Chinese iTunes Free – Feed
  • Learn the phrases you need to get by while traveling in China.
• World Learner Chinese iTunes Free – Feed
  • Another in the mix of possibilities.

Danish

• Dare to Danish iTunes Free
  • This is not your usual series of language lessons. Here, a “dirty Dane” teaches you “stupid phrases and more.”
• One Minute Danish iTunes Free – Feed–
  • We get a lot of requests (believe it or not) for Danish. So here’s another useful primer created by the One Minute series.

Dutch

• Laura Speaks Dutch iTunes Free
  • Lessons that will help you travel to Holland. It’s worth checking out the accompanying web site.
• Learn Dutch iTunes Free
  • Culturally relevant lessons that are easy to listen to.

English

• Connect with English – Web
  • Featuring the story of Rebecca, an aspiring singer on a journey across America, Connect With English offers 50 fifteen-minute video programs that will teach English as a second language to high school students, college students and adult learners. Produced by WGBH Boston.
• The English We Speak – iTunes Free – Web Site
  • Each week, the BBC looks at phrases used in the English language.
• American English Speech – Web
  •  The OLI American English Dialect course from Carnegie Mellon supplies the necessary reinforcement of dialectical structure, audio, production technique and phonetic representation for each sound.
• 6 Minute English iTunes Free – Downloads – Web Site
  • Learn and practice useful English with the BBC.
• Better @ English iTunes Free – Feed
  • Focuses on conversational English, with an emphasis on idioms and slang.
• Business English iTunes Free
  • Learn the English you will need to function effectively in an American business environment.
• Effortless English iTunes Free Feed
  • It gets solid reviews.
• English as a Second Language iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • A very well liked collection of ESL lessons. Over 100 episodes in the collection.
• English in the Real World – iTunes Free
  • The focus here is on the business world and things financial.
• English for Spanish Speakers (’Por Fin Aprende Ingles’) iTunes Free Feed
  • Si usted haya asistido al menos a un curso de ingles, y usted necesita la oportunidad de escuchar al ingles y hablar el ingles, entonces ‘Por Fin Aprende Ingles’ es el podcast perfecto para usted. Presentado por Carla Staufert-Sauvier, una profesora de Mexico, y Jade Lindquist, una profesora de los EE UU.
• ESL Business News iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • A weekly wrap of international business news read in slow, clear English. Listen to the broadcast and follow along in the accompanying script.
• Grammar Girl iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • Grammar Girl provides short, friendly tips to improve your writing. Whether English is your first language or your second language, these grammar, punctuation, style, and business tips will make you a better and more successful writer.
• Speaking English iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • 100+ lessons focusing on English pronunciation and vocabulary.
• Tu Ingles! iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • “Tu Ingles” is designed to help Spanish-speakers improve their ear for English. The weekly program features drills of verb conjugation, interviews, advice about idioms, and excerpts of speeches and other recorded spoken material from famous English speakers.

Esperanto

• Esperanto-Lecionoj Feed Web Site
  • These lessons will help you become familiar with Esperanto, a purely international language.

Finnish

• Special Finnish Feed Web Site
  • For listeners with some command of Finnish YLE Radio Finland offers daily broadcasts in “Special Finnish”. The five minute broadcasts cover items of current interest. To ease understanding, we simplify the language and slow down the delivery. Some grammatical forms are not used at all. The level of Finnish used is planned to match the expected ability to understand Finnish shown by persons in Level Two Language Command (ofFinnish) as defined by the Council of Europe.”

French

• French in Action Free Web Site
  • Produced by Yale University, these video lessons uses the storyline of an American student and a young Frenchwoman’s adventures in Paris to teach the language.
• French 1 & French 2 from Carnegie Mellon – Web Site
  • The French courses are introductory, interactive video-based courses intended for use by university students and independent learners on the Internet. 
    
• Ma France Web Site
  • The BBC offers 24 video lessons that will teach you French.
• Easy French Poetry iTunes Free
  • A French as a second language program, using poetry as a topic for discussion using everyday conversational French.
• French for Beginners iTunes Free Feed
  • Fun, effective lessons for beginners. Provided by the French Ecole.
• FrenchPod.com iTunes Free Feed
  • A series of well-reviewed lessons that will let you learn French on your own terms. Lessons are accompanied by text expansion exercises and other tutoring aids.
• Le Journal en français facile iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • Nightly news from RFI presented in slowly spoken French to assist you with your comprehension.
• Learn French iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • A well-reviewed series of lessons for beginners and those who want to brush up on their French.
• Learn French with Coffee Break French iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • The producers of the very popular Coffee Break Spanish now offer a program that will teach you French.
• Learn French with Daily Lessons iTunes Free Feed
  • These lessons are brought to you by French teachers from Paris. They are best suited for those who already have some beginning French under their belts.
• Mali French Feed Web Site
  • The Peace Corps teaches you some of the French spoken in Mali.
• Native French Speech Podcast iTunes Web Site
  • Listen to interesting conversations between Native French speakers and learn about everyday life in France and cultural French topics
• News in Slow French iTunes Free Web Site
  • Program discusses the Weekly News, French grammar, and French expressions in simplified French at a slow pace.
• Talk French Web Site
  • A lively introduction to French presented by the BBC.
• The French Pod Class iTunes Free
  • A very popular collection that teaches students the French language and different facets of French culture.
• University of Texas: Francais interactif iTunes Free – Web Site
  • UT provides a series of interactive vocabulary lessons. Media can be downloaded from the site.

Gaelic

• One Minute Gaelic – iTunes Free – Feed
  • Get a quick grounding in the basics…

German

• Deutsch – warum nicht?
  • An extensive collection of introductory German lessons put together by Deutsche Welle.
    • Part 1 iTunes Free
    • Part 2 iTunes Free
    • Part 3 iTunes Free
    • Part 4 iTunes Free
• Slowly Spoken News Feed
  • Deutsche Welle provides a nightly news broadcast in German that’s spoken slowly so that you can work on your comprehension.
• Talk German – Web Site
  • A lively introduction to German by the BBC. Presented in ten short parts.
• Deutsch – Lernen – Text
  • 10 German lessons for total beginners and 24 German grammar lessons. No audio; text only.
• GermanPod 101 iTunes Free – Feed
  • Offers materials for beginners, intermediate and advanced.
• German Podcast.de iTunes Free – Web Site
• GerGermanGrammar iTunes Free – Feed – Web Site
  • German grammar lessons aimed at American students.
• Lernen Wir Deutsch iTunes Free – Feed – Web Site
  • Presented in video, these “vodcasts” get high marks for being not only educational but also very entertaining.
• MyDailyPhrase.com iTunes Free – Feed
  • Learn German phrase by phrase over a course of 20 weeks. Lessons cover all the language you need to know to get by on a visit to a German-speaking country. This series is put together by the same people created the popular series “Coffee Break Spanish.”
• One Minute German iTunes Free – Feed
  • Presented by the Radio Lingua Network
• Slow German iTunes Free – Feed – Web Site
  • Annik Rubens reads slowly and clearly from parts of her popular program, Sleepless in Munich (Schaflos in Munchen).

Greek

• Learning Greek iTunes Free Web Site
  • From the Hellenic American Union, these lessons will teach students Modern Greek. For those who already have some foundation in the language.

Hebrew

• HebrewPod 101 iTunes Web Downloads Blog
  • A way to learn some quick Hebrew on the fly.
• Elementary Hebrew iTunes Free
  • The audio and video files come from a course taught in a seminary.
• Hebrew Journey – iTunes Video Free –  YouTube Free
  • 50 hours of Hebrew lessons that have a religious bent.

Hindi

• HindiPod 101 – iTunes Web Site
  • Learn Hindi with fun, interesting and culturally relevant lessons that are easy to listen to.
• I Speak Hindi iTunes – Feed Web Site
  • Coversessential words and phrases that you need for your trip to India. There are also Beginner Hindi lessons for those that want to seriously start to learn the language.
• Learn Hindi from Bollywood Movies iTunes Free Feed
  • This looks like a fun approach to learning a language.

• Namaste Dosti – Learn Hindi iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • There are few options when it comes to learning Hindi so the author decided to fill the void.

Hungarian

• Let’s Learn Hungarian iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • Learn with Steve or Gyorgyi, a native speaker.

Icelandic

• Icelandic Online – Web Site
  • Created by University of Iceland. The lessons use various media – text, flashcards, videos and so on. Lets you track your progress. Available up to expert level. (Requires registration.)

Indonesian

• Learning Indonesian iTunes Free Feed
  • A complete online Indonesian course geared towards developing conversational fluency in the Indonesian Language.

Irish

• One Minute Irish iTunes Free Feed

Italian

• Talk Italian – Web Site
  • A lively introduction to Italian presented by the BBC.
• ItalianPod.com iTunes Free Feed
  • A series of well-reviewed lessons that will let you learn Italian on your own terms.
• LearnItalianPod.com iTunes Free Feed
  • A series of Italian language lessons that will get you up and running. I have personally used them and found them effective.
• Let’s Speak Italian iTunes Free Feed
  • This collection will help you learn Italian in small, manageable 5-minute bites.
• MyDailyPhrase.com iTunes Free
  • Learn Italian step by step over a course of 20 weeks. Lessons cover all the language you need to know to get by on a visit to a Italian-speaking country. Created by the same people who put together the popular series “Coffee Break Spanish.”
• World Languages Podcasting – Italian iTunes Free Feed
  • It’s admittedly a bit of an untraditional way to learn Italian. Lets you listen to conversations about Australian culture in Italian.

Japanese

• Japanese Class (Video) iTunes Free
  • These videocasts from the Kyoto Japanese Language School get strong reviews. They use video effectively to demonstrate how to write in Japanese.
• JapanesePod101.com iTunes Free Feed
  • Over 100 quality lessons aimed at the beginner. Users give it high marks.
• Kanji Characters iTunes Free
  • Learn the proper form and stroke for several important Kanji characters. From Emory University.
• Learn Japanese iTunes Free Feed
  • Japancast teaches Japanese using lessons from anime and everyday conversation.
• Learn Japanese Symbols iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • These lessons teach students how to work with Japanese symbols, such as Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana.
• Survival Phrases iTunes Free Feed
  • Learn the must-know phrases for traveling in Japan.

Korean

• KoreanClass101 – iTunes Free
  • Features daily audio lessons, video lessons, word of the day, etc.
• Korean Langauge Adventure – Web Site
  • These lessons have been developed in the theme of travel and adventure, allowing learners to take a virtual journey to Seoul and its nearby popular tourist destinations.
• Korean Learning for Correction Pronunciation – Web Site
• Online Intermediate College Korean – Web Site
  • A web-based online courseware based on Intermediate College Korean(University of California Press, 2002).
• Pathway to Korean: Beginning Spoken Korean from Zero –Web Site
  • Created by the National East Asian Languages Resource Center at The Ohio State University.
• Survival Phrases iTunes Free Feed
  • Gets the phrases that will get you by.
• Talk to Me in Korean – iTunes Free – Web Site
  • Korean learning made simple and easy.

Latin

• Nightly News in Latin Web Site
  • “Nuntii Latini – News in Latin – is a weekly review of world news in Classical Latin, the only international broadcast of its kind in the world, produced by YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Company.
• Latinum iTunes Free
  • The Latin Language Learning program from London.

Lithuanian

• Lithuanian Out Loud iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • Offers beginners, intermediate and advanced lessons.

Luxembourgish

• One Minute Luxembourgish iTunes Free Feed
  • Another niche language covered by the Radio Lingua Network.

Maori

• Toku Reo Web Site
  • Learn Maori, the language of New Zealand’s indigenous people. Although these lessons accompany a television programme that is currently running, the essential bits of the episodes are available to be watched right here on this site. The course starts at square 1. Site includes video lessons. Another useful site for learning the grammar can be found here.

Norwegian

• One Minute Norwegian iTunes Free Feed
  • Learn Norwegian in minutes with the Radio Lingua Network.
• Easy-to-Read Newspaper Text
  • This is not audio, but it’s useful nonetheless. A newspaper that helps you learn Norwegian by using large fonts and basic language.

Polish

• One Minute Polish iTunes Free Feed Web Site
  • Another helpful audio series provided by the Radio Lingua Network.

Study says “Art Students Perform Better on Standardized Exams”

West Virginia high school students who take more than the required amount of arts classes scored better on math and reading portions of the Westest than students who did not, according to a study scheduled for release today.

“Students who earn 2 or more arts credits during high school were about 1.3 to 1.6 times more likely to score at proficient levels for mathematics and reading/language arts,” the study states.

Conducted by the Office of Research within the state Department of Education, the study includes information from 14,653 public high school students between 2007 and 2010. Researchers considered any music, visual or performance arts courses for the study.

The study also found students with more arts credits performed better on the ACT PLAN exam, a preparatory test before students take the actual ACT.

Researchers couldn’t say why the correlation exists. State education officials, however, are confident the arts are linked with better academic performance.

“The WVDE believes that a broad curriculum that is arts-rich (as well as having foreign language, movement, etc.), does lead directly to higher student achievement, as indicated by measures such as the Westest2,” Superintendent Jorea Marple said in an emailed statement.

The department is releasing the study as Marple visits several arts programs across the state. She is scheduled to be at an art class at Magnolia High School in New Martinsville today. More stops in Wetzel, Marshall and Ohio counties are scheduled for the week.

The study focuses on high school students, but officials believe the same results would be found at any age.

“The research data indicate that arts participation is positively associated with academic outcomes, meaning as participation increases, so does achievement,” Marple said in the statement.

“We do not contend that participation in arts causes those outcomes, but we know they are related in a positive way and that the relationship is statistically significant.”

West Virginia high school students are required to take one arts credit to graduate. Elementary school students must take music and general art classes every year.

Both chorus and band must be offered starting in sixth grade, and middle school students must take a cumulative of 18 weeks of music and art classes before going to high school.

The study looked at high school students who took two or more credits, and examined Westest and demographic differences.

For reading, the relationship between arts and higher test scores was consistent across all study groups, researchers found. The trend held true in math only for students not from low-income families and without disabilities or students only from low-income families. Overall though, the study states any student’s odds of scoring “above mastery” or “distinguished” on the Westest go up somewhat if they earn additional arts credits.

All studies have limitations: Researchers measured arts credits for the student group into the 12th grade, although the Westest is not taken beyond 11th grade. There’s a similar limitation for the ACT PLAN test, which is given in 10th grade.

The study also assumed a correlation between arts and improved test scores exists. Several national studies are also referenced, but researchers noted most focus on slightly different aspects.

(c)2012 the Charleston Daily Mail (Charleston, W.Va.). Visit the Charleston Daily Mail (Charleston, W.Va.) at www.dailymail.com. Distributed by MCT Information Services.

The 50 Best Videos For Teachers Interested In Gamification

Designing a classroom for the 21st century

It’s not enough to take a traditional K-12 classroom and fill it with technology. The smart classroom requires a more methodic approach that factors in the design of the basic shell, the teacher’s space, and the students’ independent and collaborative work areas.

Schools that ignore this step, said Issac Herskowitz, director of New York-based Touro College’s instructional technology program, will wind up with smart classrooms that fall short of their goals. “Designing classrooms for today’s learners requires a different approach than what’s been traditionally employed in K-12 settings,” said Herskowitz.

Here are six design elements that should be incorporated into the 21st Century classroom.

1. Desks and furniture that support collaboration. The days of the single desk and chair are gone, according to Herskowitz. He said he envisions a time when all K-12 classrooms are developed around the concept of collaboration–between student and teacher and among the students themselves.

“You want students to be able to do discovery learning and to work together on projects and problem-solving,” said Herskowitz.

To support that concept, he said, furniture should be able to accommodate multiple learners and then be repositioned for independent learning (such as testing). “When you start with this foundation,” said Herskowitz, “the collaboration comes naturally.”

2. Ample electrical outlets. Not all students will come to class with their iPads and laptops charged up and ready to go. To make sure 21st Century learners have the power they need to engage in classroom activities, Amber Golden Raskin said her school uses a combination of electrical outlets, some of which are integrated into the classroom furniture, and power strips that are distributed through the classroom.

3. A “smart” teacher lectern. Teaching in a smart classroom requires a “smart” lectern, said Herskowitz, who advised schools to put time and money into the structures that teachers will use as their home bases. USB ports that allow for easy document camera connections, interactive whiteboard equipment controls, and other features should be incorporated into the fixtures.
“You really want to make everything accessible for the teachers that are using the technology,” said Herskowitz. “If instructors are comfortable in the space and able to use all of the tools that you put in front of them, half the battle is won.”

4. Lighting that’s easy to control. With audiovisual technology becoming more advanced and even more useful in the K-12 classroom, the need for lighting that’s easy to dim or enhance is imperative. The student sitting furthest away from the projection screen, for example, must be able to see the workspace clearly and without interference from shadows.

“Factor in the natural lighting, the fixtures, and the controls,” said Herskowitz, “and focus on accessible lighting controls that allow the teachers to adjust quickly.”

5. Physical space that goes beyond the single classroom. Who says the 21st Century classroom has to be a single room? At SVCi, a four-year-old charter school, Raskin said holes were intentionally punched in classroom walls to help create a collaborative environment that expands beyond a single room. “Students and teachers can go in and out of the openings, which are covered by curtains when not in use,” said Raskin.

The strategy works particularly well when teachers collaborate on interdisciplinary projects. “Being able to share across classrooms is a big deal here,” said Raskin, “and something that we strived for when designing our learning spaces.”

6. Fewer expansive gathering areas. The traditional, campus-wide auditorium didn’t have a place at SVCi. Instead there are several mid-sized gathering areas designed to accommodate three or four classrooms full of students who need to come together to share, collaborate, or watch a live presentation.

“We went with smaller common areas rather than just one big assembly room,” said Raskin. “Our goal was to get students exercising the ‘expression’ muscles in smaller groups that lend themselves to more participation and collaboration.”

At its core, Raskin said, the modern-day classroom’s design should revolve around the idea that students should no longer be sitting alone at desks “spitting out answers” to a teacher who stands behind a podium. “In the last century we were a factory-driven society and schools were designed around that concept,” said Raskin. “Today we must create spaces where students can collaborate and participate in real-life environments where they can learn how to work on teams; that’s what they’ll be doing in the work world.”

Gamification in Education

E School News Top 10 Android Apps

Last year we presented “Ten of the best Android apps for education,” which highlighted some of the best apps for Google Android-based mobile devices. Now, with recent upgrades in touch technology and HD features, we’ve come up with a new list of the best Droid-based education apps for 2012.

This year’s list includes some of the most highly rated apps, both by teachers and by students, and features a range that spans from an innovative and hyperlinked dictionary developed by the Cognitive Science Laboratory at Princeton University to an interactive whiteboard app for tablets.

For every app we’ve listed, we’ve included a brief description, software compatibility, suggested use, features, price, rating, and a link to a more in-depth summary with an option to purchase on Google.

Don’t see an Android app you love on this list? Be sure to let us know—or leave a suggestion in the comment section.

(Apps are listed in alphabetical order.)

1. Name: Advanced English & Thesaurus

What is it? Instead of following the standard dictionary format, the WordNet dictionary is organized with an innovative and convenient approach. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are grouped into sets of cognitive synonyms, interlinked by means of conceptual-semantic and lexical relations. In addition to the straightforward definition, the dictionary shows how each word is linked to other words in terms of synonyms, opposites, and similar words, but also hyponyms and hyperlinks within the group.

Best for: High school students, teachers; Android 2.0 & up

Price: Free

Rated: 4.3 out of 5

Features: Straightforward and precise definitions of over 140,000 words, with more than 250,000 linkss; synonyms, antonyms, similar and related words to help you make your writing and speech more interesting; hypernyms (more generic words), hyponyms (subordinate words), and meronyms (part names); examples illustrate how words are used and show typical constructions and collocations; transcriptions facilitating pronunciation; hyperlinks between different related words; history to see the last 50 words you have looked up; support for memory cards; filters to help you locate the word you are searching for.

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobisystems.msdict.embedded.wireless.wordnet&hl=en

2. Name: AnyMemo Free

What is it? An advanced, spaced-repetition flash card learning software with rich functions

Best for: High school students; Android 1.6 & up

Price: Free

Rated: 4.6 out of 5 stars

Features: Improved adaptive algorithm from Mnemosyne, Supermemo, Anki; simple and power saving interface with rich functions; no hidden internet connection, no ads; text-to-speech, MP3/OGG/WAV audio; download millions of flash card db to study Arabic, English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, German, French, and also Computer, Religion, and more from anymemo.org, flashcardexchange, Quizlet, or StudyStack; download and upload from/to Dropbox; import from StudyStack; import flash cards from Mnemosyne, SuperMemo PPC XML files, CSV, Tab-separated TXT, QA Text files; export to Mnemosyne XML, TXT, QA Text; small size, support APP2SD.

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.liberty.android.fantastischmemo&hl=en

3. Name: HomeWork

What is it? Homework and time table app for students. Widgets for timetable and homework.

Best for: High school students; Android 1.6 & up

Price: Free

Rated: 4.6 out of 5 stars

Features: List with all homework assignments, sorted on date, with counters for the amount of homework not “done” yet; list with all exams, sorted on date; timetable for the current day; timetable for the current week; define your own subjects/lessons; define the start and end times of the lessons; define contact information for each subject.

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=klwinkel.huiswerk&feature=related_apps

4. Name: Kids ABC Phonics

What is it? Through different games, kids will learn the alphabet letter sounds and the basics of blending

Best for: Ages 2-7

Price: $3.99

Rated: 4.5 out of 5

Features: Kids hold and turn a picture-filled letter block and hear the ABC phonics being pronounced; children have fun building phonics recognition skills by making their own ABC blocks; while putting puzzles together, kids learn the basics of phonics blending. These skills will be further exercised and expanded in the Kids Reading game. Every section is designed so children enjoy success time after time and receive positive reinforcement from the likable teacher, so they want to keep learning.

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.intellijoy.android.phonics&hl=en

5. Name: Kids Numbers and Math

What is it? A fun way for kids to learn numbers and build basic math skills.

Best for: Preschoolers and math; phones and tablets

Price: Free version or $2.99

Rated: 4.4 out of 5 stars

Features: Numbers are spoken in kid-friendly English. The paid version enables the number ranges to be set, with numbers going up to 20. Games include learning number, choosing max/min number, addition, subtraction, find a match, and advanced exercises.

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=zok.android.numbers

6. Name: Splashtop Whiteboard

What is it? Allows teachers and students to turn their Android tablet into an interactive whiteboard. Once connected to their computer over Wi-Fi, they can watch Flash media with fully synchronized video and audio, control PC and Mac applications, then annotate lesson content from an Android tablet. Splashtop Whiteboard offers users of existing interactive whiteboards—such as Mimeo, Mobi, Promethean, Polyvision, or SMART Technologies—a way to extend their investment by accessing their tools from anywhere in the class without using wireless slates.

Best for: Teachers or high school presentations; Android 3.1 & up

Price: $9.99

Rated: 4 out of 5 stars

Features: Have complete control over the applications, such as Keynote or PowerPoint on the classroom PC. Slowly reveal text or images to keep your audience focused using the Screen Shade tool, or use the Spotlight tool to keep the attention on just one part of the screen. Use gestures to draw, highlight, or write over any content. Take snapshots of the screen and save them to the gallery, then print or eMail the snapshots to students, parents, or colleagues. Use different colored and sized pens, stamps, highlighter, shapes, lines, and text tools over existing content or Flipchart backgrounds. Use the digital flipchart tool to create pages with different backgrounds. All video and audio are played in high definition on your Android tablet. Play Adobe Flash content, iTunes music, DVDs, CDs, etc.

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.splashtop.remote.WHITEBOARD&hl=en

7. Name: Star Chart

What is it? This virtual star chart allows users to point an Android device at the sky to determine exactly what they are looking at. Using state-of-the-art GPS technology, an accurate 3D universe, and all of the latest high-tech functionality, Star Chart calculates—in real time—the current location of every star and planet visible from Earth and shows you precisely where they are, even in broad daylight.

Best for: Astronomy, STEM classes

Price: $2.99

Rated: 4.4 out of 5 stars

Features: Just point and view; look around the sky using finger gestures; allows you to view the night sky whilst holding your Android device at any angle; accurately depicts all the visible stars of the northern and southern hemispheres; displays all the planets of the solar system, plus the sun and the moon; displays all 88 constellations, with constellation imagery based on the artwork by 15th century astronomer Johannes Hevelius; includes entire Messier catalogue of exotic deep sky objects; tap on anything in the sky and get the facts on what you are looking at, including distance and brightness; installable on an SD card.

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.escapistgames.starchart&hl=en

8. Name: Teacher Aide Pro

What is it? Take attendance and grades with easy eMail and text features. Winner for Best Android Teacher App for the 2011 Best App Ever Award.

Best for: K-12 teachers; Android 2.1 & up

Price: $5.99

Rated: 4.9 out of 5 stars

Features: Supports 90 students per class; import student names via CSV file; export data via CSV-generated file and send via eMail; one-click text to students and parents for tardy and absent students and for missing assignments; one-click Random student generator. Voice to text speaks student’s name; grading options use categories/weighting; bulk eMail and texting. Send messages to all students or parents with a few simple clicks; Student Photo gallery so you can learn their names quickly.

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glen.apps.TeacherAidePro

9. Name: United States History Free

What is it? Facts on U.S. history

Best for: Elementary to high school history classes; Android 1.5 & up

Price: Free

Rated: 4.6 out of 5

Features: Contains a large amount of historical information, including: Constitution (broken down by Article), Federalist Papers, Anti-Federalist Papers, Bill of Rights, Presidents, Important Documents, Flag Code, The Star Spangled Banner, The Pledge of Allegiance, Articles of Confederation, Random U.S. Facts, and The States.

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.matt.android.adds.freeHistory&hl=en

10. Name: WolframAlpha

What is it? Get answers and access expert knowledge. Remember the Star Trek computer? It’s finally happening. Across thousands of domains–with more continually added–Wolfram|Alpha uses its vast collection of algorithms and data to compute answers and generate reports for you. Parts of Wolfram|Alpha are used in the Apple Siri Assistant; this app gives you access to the full power of the Wolfram|Alpha computational knowledge engine.

Best for: High school students; Android 2.1 & up

Price: $2.99

Rated: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Features: Domains include mathematics, statistics & data, physics, chemistry, materials, engineering, astronomy, earth science, life science, computational science, units & measures, dates & times, places & geography, people & history, culture & media, music, words & linguistics, sports & games, money & finance, and much more.

Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wolfram.android.alpha&hl=en

E School News Top 10 Apps for Apple Devices

One app teaches young students about cyber bullying.

Last year we presented “10 of the best apps for education,” which highlighted some of the best apps for iPhones and iPods. However, with new upgrades in touch technology, HD and 3D features, and the debut of the iPad, we’ve come up with a new list of the best Apple-based education apps for 2012.

This year’s list includes some of the most highly rated apps, both by teachers and by Apple, and features a range that spans from simple math games to a revolutionary special-education app, and from 3D imaging of the elements included in the periodic table to secure file sharing for students and teachers.

For every app we’ve listed, we’ve included a brief description, device compatibility, suggested use, features, price, and a link to a more in-depth summary with an option to purchase on iTunes.

Don’t see an app you love on this list? Be sure to let us know—or leave a suggestion in the comment section.

Name: Edmodo

What is it? Edmodo makes it easy for teachers and students to stay connected and share information.

Best for: High school students; iPhone, iPod, iPad

Price: Free

Rated: 4+

Features: Send notes; submit assignments; post replies; check messages and upcoming events while away from the classroom; teachers can post last-minute alerts to their students, keep tabs on recent assignment submissions, and grade assignments; students can view and turn in assignments and check their latest grades.

Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/edmodo/id378352300?mt=8

Name: Frog Dissection

What is it? This app is a greener alternative for teaching dissection in the classroom. It’s suitable for middle school students who are learning about organs and organ systems as part of their life science curriculum.

Best for: Science; Biology; iPad

Price: $3.99

Rated: 4+

Features: 3D imaging; step by step instructions with voice over; accurate simulation of the wet lab dissection procedure; content validation by subject matter experts; anatomical comparison of humans with frogs; comprehensive information on frogs’ organs; classification, lifecycle, and organ functions of frogs; interactive quiz on frogs; information on types of frogs.

Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/frog-dissection/id377626675?mt=8

Name: Grammar Up HD

What is it? Improve grammar and vocabulary with this multiple-choice quiz system featuring more than 1,800 questions in 20 categories.

Best for: English/Language Arts; iPad

Price: $4.99

Rated: 4+

Features: More than 1,800 multiple-choice questions; choose number of questions you would like in each test; shows test results in HTML format; eMail yourself the test results and track your progress; “Progress Meter” keeps track of how you are performing in a particular topic; choose your own timer settings.

Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-up-hd/id406782226?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Name: History: Maps of the World

What is it? Browse high-resolution maps of the world from various periods throughout history.

Best for: History, Geography; iPhone, iPod, iPad

Price: Free

Rated: 4+

Features: Wide variety of historical displays; support for Category/Era view; keyword search; displays the source about each map; zoom in/out (zoom in/out with pinch, zoom in with double tab, and zoom out with two-fingers tap); free screen rotation; does not require a network connection.

Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/history-maps-of-world/id303282377?mt=8

Name: iStudiez Pro

What is it? Organize your class schedule, keep track of homework assignments, record your GPA, make to-do lists, and more with this app created for a busy student’s life.

Best for: High school students; iPhone, iPod, iPad

Price: $2.99

Rated: 4+

Features: Students are able to follow up with homework; summarizing schedules and assignments; tracking grades and GPA; push notifications; backup data options.

Link: http://itunes.apple.com/app/istudiez-pro/id310636441?ign-mpt=uo%3D4&mt=8

Name: Monster Anatomy

What is it? Explore 384 contiguous MR slices in the three anatomical planes with this interactive lower-limb radiology atlas.

Best for: Biology; iPhone, iPod, iPad

Price: $8.99

Rated: 4+

Features: Navigation with multiple shortcuts; display of images in the three anatomical planes; 3D image volume (VR) allows precise location of slice position; over 500 different labels in accordance with the “Terminologia Anatomica” and current literature references; more than 10,000 tags; the five different display modes available (bones, joints, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves) facilitate label visualization; high image quality with a zooming tool.

Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/monster-anatomy-lower-limb/id358915264?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Name: Motion Math

What is it? Motion Math HD follows a star that has fallen from space and must bound back up, up, up to its home in the stars. Moving fractions to their correct place on the number line is the only way to return. By playing Motion Math, learners improve their ability to perceive and estimate fractions in multiple forms.

Best for: Math; iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Price: $1.99

Rated: 4+

Features: Problem hints; intro level, practice of improper fractions and negative decimals; beginner, medium, and expert modes; bonus levels.

Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/motion-math/id392489333?mt=8

Name: Professor Garfield Cyberbullying

What is it? Teach kids anti-bullying messages and strategies for dealing with cyber bullies with the help of Garfield and friends.

Best for: Internet safety; elementary students; iPad

Price: Free

Rated: 4+

Features: Understand the meaning of cyber bully; learn to recognize different forms of cyber bullying; learn different strategies for dealing with a cyber bully; learn the importance of enlisting the help of a trusted adult when cyber bullied.

Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/professor-garfield-cyberbullying/id369171501?mt=8

Name: Proloquo2go

What is it? This easy-to-use alternative communication solution offers an extensive library of symbols for those who have difficulty speaking. It provides natural sounding text-to-speech voices, high-res up-to-date symbols, automatic conjugations, a default vocabulary of more than 7,000 items, advanced word prediction, full expandability; and extreme ease of use. For anyone who cannot afford spending thousands of dollars on an AAC device and yet wants a solution that is just as good if not better. SLPs, teachers, and parents recommend it for children and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, developmental disabilities, apraxia, ALS, stroke, or traumatic brain injury.

Best for: Special education; iPhone, iPod, iPad

Price: $189.99

Rated: 4+

Features: Listed above; educational institutions can get a 50-percent discount on Proloquo2Go if they purchase 20 or more licenses through Apple’s Volume Licensing Program for Education.

Link: http://itunes.apple.com/app/proloquo2go/id308368164?ign-mpt=uo%3D4&mt=8

Name: The Elements: A Visual Exploration

What is it? Learn about the periodic table in a hands-on way. Choose any element—copper, for example—and see various copper objects: a Persian weave chain, a brass ring, a Chinese bronze … and then rotate them with your finger to get a 3D view.

Best for: Science; Chemistry; iPad

Price: $13.99

Rated: 4+

Features: Sharp HD images that can rotate (available in 3D); columns of facts and figures with each element; Wolfram Alpha computational knowledge engine.

Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/elements-visual-exploration/id364147847?mt=8

BYOT Implementations are Literacy Projects

Are these your literacy standards?

From an educator’s perspective there are a few places that we can turn for a concrete look at the standards.  The best resources for modern literacy standards are the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Let’s start with NCTE.  The Definition of 21st Century Literacies listed below was adopted by NCTE in 2008. While you look at the list below,  think about how many educators in your community are comfortable in these areas.

• Develop proficiency with the tools of technology
• Build relationships with others to pose and solve problems collaboratively and cross-culturally
• Design and share information for global communities to meet a variety of purposes
• Manage, analyze and synthesize multiple streams of simultaneous information
• Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate multi-media texts
• Attend to the ethical responsibilities required by these complex environments

As educators, we need to be able to start to list concrete examples of how we meet each of these standards and then assist our students in doing the same.

What about the ISTE standards?

Like NCTE, ISTE also provides us clear standards to help schools better prepare students in the digital age. Unfortunately, the vast majority of educators look at the ISTE standards as technology standards when in reality they are learning standards. As the introduction to the standards states on the ISTE website, “Technology has forever changed not only what we need to learn, but the way we learn.”

Like the NCTE standards, ISTE’s contain six focal points:

• Creativity and Innovation
• Communication and Collaboration
• Research and Information Fluency
• Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
• Digital Citizenship
• Technology Operations and Concepts

As with the NCTE standards, I question how many of these our staff members are comfortable with at this point.

Is this even on our radar?

So as we look towards the new things on the agenda for schools throughout our country like common core implementation and new teacher evaluation methods, I am worried that the integration of technology is still looked upon as a detached task that will have to be kept on the back burner.  The reality of the situation, however, is that if we understand how to utilize the vast array of collaborative resources out there that we can accomplish our tasks more effectively. But we cannot even start down this road if we do not provide access.

There is a great quote about technology in Jim Collins’ book “Good to Great”: “Technology alone is not going to move an organization or an individual from Good to Great. However, technology that is thoughtfully deployed can help us move a bit faster. ”

In closing, I have to mention the seven survival skills that Tony  Wagner discusses in his book “The Global Achievement Gap,” skills that our students need whether they are going on to college or the workplace.

1. Critical thinking/problem solving
2. Collaboration/leading by influence
3. Agility and adaptability
4. Initiative and entrepreneurialism
5. Effective oral and written communication
6. Accessing and analyzing information
7. Curiosity and imagination

We cannot get where we need to go, if we as educators do not model these skills and we cannot model these skills if we do not provide learning environments where staff and students have access to digital resources that allow them to experiment and discover the power of being a connected learner. We are at a point where we have to consider whether or not those who are learning in “disconnected” environments can be called literate by today’s standards.

So as you are thinking about whether or not a BYOT or one-to-one initiative is right for your school, you need to ask yourself the following question: Is it important that students in our school are literate?

Google Forms: how to create a quiz or a test that automatically grades itself in Google Docs

21st Century Skills and Literacies for the iPad