Virtual Learning Network

I can feel the grasp on handwriting lessons lessoning its grip but I still feel there is a cognitive need to be able to print quickly and legibly. Anything beyond that IMHO is more suited to the calligraphy/art lesson!

I presume you have found something by now but if you haven't this on line offering maybe useful

https://www.core-ed.org/professional-learning-solutions/workshops/extending-chromebooks-and-the-google-environment-in-your-classroom/

Or I can support with Face to Face but I live in Nelson- happy to commute!!

Thank you- it took me a while to visit this interview- it has been starred in my in box for a while now.

I have updated my iPad site with apps that involve Augmented Reality and Apps that work with Google Cardboard

https://sites.google.com/site/initialipadsetup/apps-links/augmented-reality

I wonder if people are using any other apps that I haven't heard about?

I have just finished updating my Initial iPad Setup website to the new Google Sites format. Hopefully it is all nice and up to date and gives people the support they might need to get up and going with their iPads. Please let me know if there is anything missing ​or you would like something added.

https://sites.google.com/site/initialipadsetup/

Does anyone have any experience of using bluetooth keyboards with iPads in a classroom setting.

Are there any issues with pairing devices and with multiple keyboards or do things get confusing??

Zippy is an iPad Augmented Reality app where you colour printed pages of the alphabet or objects like a whare. You then aim the iPad at the printed page and it will come alive and read aloud the sounds of the alphabet etc. It’s a bit hard to explain so I made this little video demo.

https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/zippys-3d-colouring-app/id1199196133?mt=8

I've also attached here the printed PDF of Augmented Reality prompts t go with it.

I was sad that the update to iOS11 has killed a number of my favourite book and Augmented Reality Book Apps like Morris Lessmore Imag.N.O.Tron and Two Left Feet so I have been out and about trying to see what else there is.

Ordinary Books that also  don't work in iOS11 are

• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the App
• Pirate Scribble
• Wally
• The Boy Giant
• Animalia

This Kiwi author uses AR for his picture books and chapter books for older children.

Here is a video that I recorded using Screen Recording in iOS11 made from one of the triggers in the picture book. Nice to hear the flavour of Aotearoa.

Have you come across some other cool book apps that I could explore- Augmented Reality or just interesting book apps?????

I am putting together some ideas for whānau around helping avoid the summer learning slide. I was wondering if anyone could help us out and be able to add any other ideas to add to this open to edit slide set.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1YCAS3DArobKkoYJfGaKjwAEMbPRgOjbWsAmwP4mdXao/edit#slide=id.g35f391192_00

Sam McNeil posted this to the eLearning Technologies Group about the app Seeing AI- which I downloaded tonight and it is pretty exciting. Sam talks about its capability for visually impaired users and I thought the reading text aloud feature could be really useful for those who find accessing text a challenge as well.

Here is Sam's post copied here with his permission.....

Evening Team,

A couple of weeks ago I had one of those "wow" moments when I saw the "Seeing AI" app demo'ed live for me in a presentation (to the MoE funnily enough). It really felt like a moment of science fiction for me.

It's taken me a few days to get back to it but I've downloaded and played with the Seeing AI app on my iPhone today and it's blown my mind.

I don't usually "promote" apps or anything like that (and the fact this is made by Microsoft Research is entirely coincidental), however I share this purely because I can imagine this could literally be a game changer for a visually impaired student or staff member you may work with:

https://samuelmcneill.com/2017/09/18/helping-the-blind-to-see-a-i-the-all-seeing-eye/

If you have students or staff in your schools that are blind please do consider letting them know of this app (currently, iOS only it would seem). I remember my high school days and there was a boy in my year who was legally blind but could see indistinct shapes. He literally had a mini telescope to help him see text (barely) - an app like this would have revolutionised his schooling I'm sure.

Cheers,

Sam