Archives For educator

Pub motioncomposer

Motion Composer for the Mac is a great application for your Mac that allows you to create engaging animations and interactive content for any platform in HTML 5 or Flash without writing any code.  The animations you create will work on desktops, phones or tablets. The animations you create have an ‘inner intelligence” that once created, detect if the device you are using has Flash. If it does, it uses it, and if it doesn’t it uses HTML5.  Pretty cool. 

What I like BEST about Motion Composer is that it allows to embed really cool animation in iBooks Author easily.  If you are working with iBooks Author I highly recommend this application. 

You can use objects, pictures, text, video, and sound with Motion Composer and it will wrap them all together. I really liked the ability to drop and drag content from iTunes. Once you content is dropped onto the initial slide you can move it around to the different state you want within the time frame. So, if I drop text onto the slide I have a starting position and then I move it to a secondary position. On playback Motion composer will show the progress from the first to second position. 

You can create a text box button for the user to click. You program this button to perform an animation or activate some action. 

You can test your animations out which is very handy.

Like advanced Keynote users, you can place elements off the viewing area of the slide and have them move into view on the animation.  There are lots of great features and some advanced functions.

Continue Reading…

GoNow Case for iPad: A Review

kcroy —  April 7, 2013 — 1 Comment

GoNOW both AC

Carry, Protect and Enhance the sound of your iPad with the GoNow Case by Attainment.

The GoNOW Case for the iPad makes a great case for elementary students because of the built-in handle makes it easier to carry, and an acoustic sound channel boosts the sound of the iPad without batteries, all while providing a layer of protection.

The GoNOW case is a well designed plastic shell with an inner foam cushion. The bottom of the case has four rubber non-skid pads to keep the iPad from sliding off a desk.  Nice touch. The case has many forms and cuts to allow access to all of the needed  iPad’s controls, and even allows the Apple logo on the back to be seen with a circular cutaway.
Continue Reading…

Screen Shot 2013 03 10 at 5 50 40 PM

Nicholas Provenzano, also known as ‘The Nerdy Teacher’, has created a wonderful resource for educators with his eBook, The Complete Guide to Evernote in Education

This book contains many great examples of innovative and practical uses for any classroom, for any teacher. 

(One lucky reader that leaves a comment below will receive a free copy.)

The Complete Guide to Evernote in Education is an excellent resource for all educators. Provenzano makes the case for “Why Evernote?” in his introduction and documents excellent uses for teachers in any grade level in any field. Furthermore, he backs up his reasons for using Evernote in education with excellent, real-world examples that we can employ immediately upon reading. 

Continue Reading…

Padcaster productshot1

The Padcaster is a unique product that allows you to mount your iPad to a tripod (and many other places) and attach external devices, such as microphones, while still allowing you to remove the device quickly without unhooking everything.

The Padcaster is a strong, lightweight aluminum frame that has a 1/4 and 3/3 threaded holes on each side, with an internal molded urethane insert to safely secure your iPad and allow a speedy removal. The threaded holes allow you to attach the framed iPad into any tripod or similar device.

Why would I want to put my iPad in a Padcaster? 

The reason is simple. Your iPad is an all-in-one solution to shoot, edit, and publish video without having to upload, render, and other time consuming misadventures when using digital cameras. People want to be able to do it all, well, from one device. Well, the Padcaster enhances that experience on the iPad by stabilizing the iPad, removing arm fatigue, and offering the opportunity to add and upgrade higher quality mice, lighting and more.  All with ought losing the ability to easily pop the iPad in and out of the Padcaster.  You can even attach amazing high-quality lenses.  (Check out the photos below.)

Padcaster Helping Physically Challenged:

I believe this is a new and undiscovered use of the Padcaster

Continue Reading…

Screen Shot 2012 12 09 at 11 23 48 PM

Every now and then my iPhone pushes a notification to me announcing that I have made a sale. There’s nothing I need to ship; the transaction is complete. Someone just  purchased a PowerPoint, worksheet, study packet, or some other educational creation I listed long ago on my Teachers Paying Teachers (TPT) account. They receive the product immediately. The funds are sent to my Pay Pal account. As a matter of fact, I have sold the exact same product many, many times. There is nothing to restock or do.

Cool.

Teachers Paying Teachers is an amazing site that allows teachers to sell products to other teachers or give them away. All you need is a Continue Reading…

01 Libraries small

This is the slideshow software you want. This is the slideshow software you need.

I am so impressed with Boinx’s FotoMagico 4! To be honest, my expectations for “slideshow software” weren’t very high. I have always enjoyed Boinx’s software in the past, but I thought, “What more could you really want from slideshow software?”

Boy was I wrong! FotoMagico 4 delivers and easy to use interface with an assortment of professional tools allowing you to create commercial quality slideshows with music and multiple effects in just a few clicks. Slideshows like you’ve never seen before! You know… the ‘wow’ effect!

This is the slideshow software I will be using for my classroom, school, and home. I didn’t know I needed it, and now I wouldn’t do a slideshow without it. I like the image quality, the flexibility of control with which I can create, and its fast performance.  I love finding new software gems like this.

Continue Reading…

The ATV Pro by Kanex is the ‘ultimate’ solution to connect your iOS device to your projector in your classroom. It is incredibly light. There is no power cord. It plugs directly into your Apple TV and the VGA cord plugs directly into it. There is even a ‘headphone out’ port to plug in some speakers. 

I love this device.  Watch the video to see all the cords it replaced and how useful it is!

If you are going to connect your Apple TV and iOS device to a VGA projector, this is a must-have device.

Wired Educator grade The ATV Pro by Kanex an ‘A+’.

BookBookAir center img

Today I carried my MacBook Air to school in an incredible case called the BookBook from TwelveSouth.

My colleagues and students were expressively impressed with the BookBook’s stunning look and design. Again and again students and fellow teachers questioned and complimented my new BookBook for the MacBook Air. (11 inch)

The BookBook is made of leather and looks like an antique book pulled from a library set in an Indiana Jones Movie. This gorgeous case is rugged and truly has the look and design of timeless beauty. Unlike every other case I have ever seen or used, the BookBook transcends the visual appearance and backs it up with functionality, protection, and ease of use.

There is no question that the BookBook is not only the most beautiful case I have ever seen it is without a doubt the safest. The leather exterior and the plush inner padding make this an incredibly protective case. A great added bonus is that all of this amazing protection comes at no cost of extra weight and bulk. This is a slim and light case with the best protection I have witnessed. It’s easy to open. In fact, this case appealed to almost all of my senses. It felt great, and I even loved the smell of the leather!

Continue Reading…

I interviewed Karen Bosch, Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) Class of 2007, for an upcoming iTunes University Project with some amazing ADEs around the globe. To see the entire interview you will have to wait until our project is published on iTunes. Our theme is “Creating a Culture of Innovation” and I believe one of the first steps toward that, is creating a website for your classroom, and WordPress is a great solution.

Whether you have a website already, or are thinking about creating one down the road, you will want to watch this interview with Karen. Her passion for educator is a treat for everyone.

I am so honored to have interviewed her. She has so much to share.

Please watch the following interview, and stay tuned for the launch of our iTunes University Course, “Creating a Culture of Innovation”

by Larry Reiff

I recently watched David Gelb’s 2011 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi (see the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbV6knbeUFE ).  The film focuses on Jiro Ono, owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo.  The restaurant is located in the basement of a subway station.  It only seats 10 people.  It has no bathroom.  Despite all of this, reservations are required a month in advance, and a meal  starts at about $300(US) a person.

The movie, like Jiro’s sushi, is absolutely beautiful in its simplicity.  Slow motion images of sushi preparation are accompanied by Jiro’s japanese voiceover explaining the philosophy that has earned him the reputation as the world’s greatest sushi chef.  As I watched the film and read the subtitles, I realized that his ideas are the same practices I see in some of the best educators in schools today.  His nuggets of wisdom espouse the ideals that every teacher should apply in the practice and development of their own art.

“Once you decide on your occupation… you must immerse yourself in your work.”

According to Jiro’s oldest son, Jiro is so immersed in his work that even dreams of sushi while he sleeps. Continue Reading…