Voice QR

If you know me you know I love QR codes.  Recently I learned about Voice QR thanks to David Lee Edtech: http://www.davidleeedtech.org/.  I follow him on Instagram and love to see what is going on in his classroom.

QR Voice, http://qrvoice.net/,  allows you to type 100 characters and it will create a QR code that links to a voice speaking your text.

This tool is simple to use. Type your words in the box that says "say what?" and click the QR button at the end.  You can even choose a different language.

Once the QR code appears use the slider to select a size and click it.  A single click opens the QR code in stand alone window so it can be printed without any border or distractions.  Go back and create another one.

Try the QR Code below to hear, "If you Michel Rex's Fangbone books, try the Dragonbreath series by Ursula Vernon".  (Since Michael Rex came to our school last year and put on a spectacular author visit, the students adore his books and it is easy to use his books to make a connection with other books.  Check out Michael Rex: http://mikerexbooks.blogspot.com/2013/11/i-need-volunteer.html)

There are so many ways this can be used in the classroom.  It will be great for ELL and ESL learners. PreK, Kindergarten, and Special Education students will greatly benefit.

Classroom uses:

1.  Make up spelling test

2. Talking posters

3. Talking worksheet directions

4. Talking homework

5. Interactive museum

6. Book recommendations

7. Write the room

8. SO many more options...

Aurasma and Augmented Reality

(I started this post 3 weeks ago, just after the NJ Teacher's Convention and am finally finishing it. Sorry for the delay.)

Augmented Reality while not new is really starting to come into the classroom.  I could not be more excited.  Whenever I can I try and use QR codes or create them for the teachers in my school to use and  this is the next step.  Watch this great Common Craft video that describes what Augmented Reality is: http://youtu.be/D-A1l4Jn6EY

Thanks to the NJEA Teacher's Convention last week I was able to see some things I had been researching in action.

Aurasma, http://www.aurasma.com

Aurasma's saying is "every image, object and even place can have its own Aura".   After downloading the app made available in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, you hold your device up to something that is set to have an Aura and watch the screen.  The result may be simple, like an image, text, or link to a webpage comes up, BUT, it can be so much more.  You may see an 3D lifelike image, a video, or an interactive menu appear. Aurasma has created a video that shows a series of examples:

There are educators already using this in their classroom and I cannot wait to join them.

Uses for the classroom

1. A student created a poster and now they can add a layer in which they describe information in more detail.

2. Video tutorials of how to use apps

3. Video tutorials of practically anything.

4. Interactive classroom posters allow your students to see and hear word, word sounds, writing rules, proper grammar, and much more.

5. An interactive Word Wall is great for students to understand the meaning and spelling of words.  You can put the students in control create the videos that put the words in a sentence or provide the definition.

6. Animate a mathematical problem being solved. Post the trigger image to your website and students can review at home.

AR Flash Cards: http://arflashcards.com/

AR Flash Cards is a free app for the alphabet and $.99 for Space.  

The alphabet has 26 animals that come to life, 1 for each animal. (Included are also 6 dinosaurs.) Tap on each animal to hear the Letter and the name of the animal.

Students can interact with the animal to see it from different angles and take screenshots of what they are seeing.

First you print the flashcards in color, cut them out, and open the app.  Aim the camera at the cards and it looks the images below.  Students can move the card or iPad around to get different angles.

I brought this into you prek 3 and 4 year olds and Kindergarten as well.