4 Apple Distinguished Educators with successful individual projects have collaborated to bring us “Crunched Productions”.
The ADEs involved are David Baugh, Joe Moretti, Mark Pentleton and Oscar Stringer. These very popular ADEs can often be seen at shows like BETT and the Apple Teacher Institute events demonstrating software and leading workshops. With Crunched they are producing podcasts using Apple’s iLife and showing just how versatile the software suite can be. The projects are cross-curricular but provide example of Podcasting in MFL and encouraging singing by the use of MIDI files in GarageBand.
These podcasts will be of interest to all Mac-based teachers looking for some examples of best practice. More information can be found at www.crunchedproductions.com.
The idea of every student carrying a device that provides access to the Internet is nothing new. There have been many attempts at 1:1 laptop projects. The biggest obstacle has always been cost and then the sheer challenge of managing the devices. Many schools ban mobile devices such as phones, but now there are some schools that are thinking differently.
Many people see the iPod Touch as a music player and don’t realise that it is a small computer costing much less than a netbook. Unlike whole class sets of netbooks, a class set of iPod Touches can be easily managed by a teacher from one computer. This can be made easier with a Parasync device (pictured opposite.) This tray charges and syncs a class set of Touches. Each Touch is managed by iTunes. Teachers can set iTunes up to sync only the apps, videos, images, podcasts, etc that they need for the lesson or project in hand. If you can manage iTunes you can manage a class set of Touches.
Some Primary schools have been quick to seize on the cost effective aspect of apps. A single app purchase can be deployed across multiple devices. Many apps are free, 59p or at the most a couple of pounds. Primary schools are using the Touch to explore phonics, learn languages, numeracy and geography. Games such as Touch Physics enable young learners to explore concepts and yet have fun in a gaming context. Creative schools are buying microphones so that speaking and listening activities can be captured effectively.
It’s a rapidly expanding phenomenon. Contact us via events if you’d like to attend the event in July.
Gaming and entertainment tools harnessed for learning
Check out these links for more information
http://www.apple.com/education/apps/
http://www.apple.com/uk/education/itunes-u/
http://www.paratsolutions.com/apple.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/school_league_tables/article6906665.ece
