Saturday, August 20, 2011

My pick ipad back to school apps

I just purchased my teen an ipad. Yes, I am cheap so I bought her a apple store certifies refurbish ipad 1st gen. from the apple store but I did go with a 3g network one. I finally decided that the ipad 1st gen. fit my budget $399 16GB 3G and had a lot of apps she could use while on the bus ride back to the house or staying afterschool  for events. She will be going to high school 45 minutes away, to a private school. So I wanted a portable device that she could use for homework.
After research between android and apple. I liked both but the price won out. I went with a certified  refurbished.  Due to another supposed refurbished item I bought through amazon.com from a non-certified dealer.  After I went to the apple store and they said the item had water damage and the refurbishment was sticking said device in a bag of rice. Luckily it was an amazon.com fulfillment seller and Amazon will accept returns for 30 day after purchase. SO now I go with the company certified refurbished it my cost a little extra $20 –$50  they usually come with a warranty.  The ipad 2 has a few newer features but costs for wifi 16GB $499 and 3G 16GB $629. Purchasing the older generation gave me a $230 savings. Well a savings I then put into for apps and data. Otherwise the ipad2 would have cost with educational and fun apps and the $180 for the year  data package ($15 a month) closer to $850. Where I spent a total of about $600 including the allotted $$$ for data. I have $30 to spend for the year sitting at  Panera drinking a nice refillable coffee, waiting for said teen to finish what ever afterschool activity, maybe even borrow the ipad to surf the web.

Apps  have found I like:
Mental case flashcards $4.99 or  Free classroom edition for teachers and students
Auditorium notes and text $4.99 can't use in the classroom but reading notes and text book out load  creates great notes. Though if daring could run on ipod or phone in pocket in class??
My teens lowest subject math I found mestudying : algebra 1 hope it helps the Florida virtual school uses this app:
Cramberry website and app $3.99
coursesmart free ??? not sure of yet but could be helpful
iworks at $30 a little  $$$ but worth it compatible with microsoft also. You can get a 30 day free trial to try it out. I think it should be on the pad to begin with as part of the software.
Well since I am an art teacher I had to go over a few new art apps that I found:My favorite and I am going to need to borrow my teens ipad a few times a year for class is brushes they do gave an iphone/pod version but it is best on ipad just because for kids the screen is larger.  I have 3 ipods and 2 iphones that I can use in class. SO have decided to add this to my art lessons this year. I am going to mention it to administration about allowing students to bring in their own ipod/phones but we do have a policy so I’m not sure if it would be ok’d or not.


NY artist

Monday, March 21, 2011

Harrisburg Bar Camp

 

I attended this last year learned all about google docs, how to use ipods in the classroom and all sorts of information. I really recommend attending in you want to learn more about technology. Now some talks are just way over my head, but others I loved.

Harrisburg BarCamp April 9th

http://www.barcamphbg.org/

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Mona Lisa



I use this with my 3rd grade when we study the Mona Lisa
http://www.louvre.fr/llv/dossiers/detail_oal.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673229908&CURRENT_LLV_OAL%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673229908&bmLocale=en
<i>Portrait de Lisa Gherardini, épouse de Francesco del Giocondo, dite Monna Lisa, la Gioconda ou la Joconde</i> <br />  <b>Léonard de Vinci</b><br />  Département des PeinturesGreat video about the wood panel behind the Mona Lisa. Also a great close up tool to get closer look at the brush strokes.
How did they photograph the Mona Lisa

Friday, March 11, 2011

Calligraphy

 

Great video I show to start the class: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/audioslideshow/2010/feb/18/work-and-careers

I have the students create quills from large duck feathers.

Students complete a practice page before starting:

photo

Next they create either initials, name or they may create a pen & ink drawing.

photo

Monday, March 7, 2011

Best apps for ipad and ipod touch

 

http://theteachingpalette.com/2010/12/13/the-10-best-iphone-and-ipad-apps-for-art-teachers-2010/

I read through this and I only used one of the apps they had listed and that was the Momo app. and I didn’t even use it with the class just when I went to the museum it was handy???

 

The apps I have used in class:

a favorite I have 2 ipod touches mine and my daughter (because she doesn’t need it during schoolSmile) 

I do a group of 4, 2 per ipod  for this. I set up center day for art history I try for 3 times a year for each class and the ipod is a favorite.

Art Museum (Match'Em Up History & Geography)Art Museum is great fun as you match paintings from famous artists while classical music plays in the background. You will get to learn the titles of the paintings, the painter and to recognize the actual paintings in this memory matching game that lets the imagination fly. Each game consists of 4 rounds. In round 1 you match the paintings and learn their titles and the artist names. In round 2 you match the painting to the names of the artists. In round 3 you match the paintings to the title. The final round is all words as you match the titles with the artists.
Screenshots

iPhone iPad iPod

iPhone Screenshot 1iPhone Screenshot 2iPhone Screenshot 3iPhone Screenshot 4

iPhone Screenshot 5iPad Screenshot 4iPad Screenshot 5

My  next favorite: I have the students take a picture of themselves and then do what they want and print (like a memory stick just plugged into the computer) they love using their photos in projects.

Sketch Me!

Sketch Me! is a simple, fun app that lets you convert your photos into sketches by applying up to six different image effects.
iPhone Screenshot 1iPhone Screenshot 2iPhone Screenshot 3

iPhone Screenshot 4iPhone Screenshot 5

My favorite video app:8mm Vintage Camera

8mm Vintage Camera

By Nexvio Inc

I just had to show a video to see why this is so cool! I am planning a project based off of this review by having groups of students create an old movie using action figures or using art sketches. Still working through the lesson, but what I have played and I think it will turn out. I am thinking about using it with an Andy Warhol lesson and his odd movies like “sleep” mentioned in the Getting to Know video about Warhol. I do a variety of printing as an extension from that video, but I decided after playing with this app. maybe add a little vintage video also.

The others I am playing with are ComicStrip-CS , imovie of course, and a personal one I like is Love Art National Gallery, London.

The other is Art Project which is from www.googleartproject.com in app form.

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Snow art

 

Great project if you have snow.

Jackson Pollock style snow painting. Place watered down paint or food coloring in squirt bottles. block of an area in the snow and students can spray (not mist) in the designated area.

think of a color theme. School colors, cool colors,  warm colors,  or any color combination.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Using books in the Art Room

I try to use book readings for my K-3 grade at least twice a year, and create an art lesson around literature.
This year I have been using http://www.strorylineonline.net/
So far I have used Sophie's Masterpiece, The Night I Followed My Dog,  Stellaluna, A Bad Case of Stripes and the Polar Express. and When Pigasso Met Mootisse.
A few examples of the art created from the book readings. I Also I do lessons with the older students with illustration, graphic art and comics and cover art.
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Barnes and Noble has wonderful videos interviewing authors: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/bn-studio/videos-podcasts/index.asp
one I used is from Jeff Kinney Diary of a Wimpy Kid