Thursday, January 29, 2015

Reading Bear - primary reading help

A painless introduction to phonics principles

"How does it work? In each presentation—playable either as a video or as an interactive slide show—we introduce one or a few related "phonics rules." Presentations are available in seven different versions. In the fullest version, we sound out a word slowly and quickly, then blend it slowly, and finally (after an optional prompt) blend it quickly.... The result is a thorough yet painless introduction to phonics principles, while at the same time teaching vocabulary."

==========

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Newspaper Map - News around the world

Access to world newspapers and their associated webages

"Newspaper Map is a comprehensive catalogue of all the prominent local and national newspapers of the world arranged on a Google Map. You can zoom-in to find all of the newspapers that are published from a particular geographic region and read them online." (labnol)

==========

Easel.ly: a template-based infographics creator

Create and share visual ideas online
"Easel.ly is a website that features thousands of free infographic templates and design objects which users can customize to create and share their visual ideas online. Using the site is as easy as dragging and dropping design elements, and users can either choose a template from our extensive library, or they can upload their own background image and start from scratch. Over 300,000 users have already registered with Easel.ly, and thousands of infographics are produced using the site every month."

(Thanks for the tip, Nancy!)
===========

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Perfect Captions - Images With Subtitles

Jazz up images for presentations


Use pictures from your camera roll to create "slides" with captions, thought-bubbles, labels and more using Perfect Captions.

  • Take photos within the app (and automatically save a copy to the Camera Roll)
  • Import existing pictures from your Camera Roll
  • Add captions on the go, or save your photos to edit them later
  • Export to Camera Roll
  • Add text boxes and call-outs in various forms
  • Customize everything: colors, shapes, fonts, sizes...
===============

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

The Art of Video Games Exhibition

Explore the forty-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium
by Smithsonian American Art Museum

"The Art of Video Games" is one of the first exhibitions to explore the forty-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies. It features some of the most influential artists and designers during five eras of game technology, from early pioneers to contemporary designers. The exhibition focuses on the interplay of graphics, technology and storytelling through some of the best games for twenty gaming systems ranging from the Atari VCS to the PlayStation 3. These exhibition videos touch on the themes of Beginnings, Inspiration, Narrative, Experience, and The Future feature excerpts from interviews with 20 influential figures in the gaming world.

==========

Gaming to enhance and transform educational experience

Game And Learn: An Introduction to Educational Gaming - 14 part series
(This audio podcast series with slides is viewed in iTunes)

"Videogames can provide learners with rich worlds and complex narratives that both enhance and transform their educational experience. Harnessing this potential calls for understanding the principles underlying successful games, and how to apply them in the classroom. This 14-part podcast series, created by Dr. Ruben  Puentedura as part of a joint research project between MLTI and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, will provide educators the knowledge needed to successfully use educational gaming in their classroom."

Dr. Ruben Puentedura is the creator of the SAMR model for selecting, using, and evaluating technology in education, as well as a researcher in educational gaming and digital storytelling.

=================

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

10 Apps to Help Teach Your Kid a Foreign Language

"Il y a un appli pour ça!"
Included are apps for Mandarin, French, Spanish and German. (There is a cost associated with some of the titles.)

"Learning a new language isn't always easy, but with repeated practice and exposure through a variety of different methods — like these foreign language learning apps — parents can help foster bilingualism."

==================