Today's tech tip is all about highlighting a fabulous app that requires students to tap into their creative side while using their problem-solving skills to create a masterpiece. The app is called ScratchJr. and it was created this summer as an alternative to Scratch, which can be downloaded on computers. ScratchJr. was created as an "easier" alternative to Scratch as a coding tool for young children BUT the beauty of this app is that it is appropriate for anyone from the age of 4 to adult.
Here's how it works: students create sprites (or characters) by either selecting and editing the sprites already built into the program or creating their own from scratch (no pun intended). See here for an example. The cat is the sprite that was already in existence and the blue girl is one that I created from my own wild imagination:
As you see above, the blue girl is highlighted in orange on the left side. This means that I am ready to program that sprite to start moving. In order to do that, I would click on the blue icons at the bottom and move them to the bottom of my screen. The blue girl sprite will start to move in whatever direction I program her to do so. I can also create an original background or use one of the awesome backgrounds built into the app:
It is probably more exciting for the students to draw or take a picture of their own background but you get the idea.
Anyway, why would you use ScratchJr. in your classroom? Well, the reasons are endless but here's a few to think about: 1) Digital Storytelling. Students can create many different scenes and they will play together back to back to tell one long story and Scratchjr. has a microphone built into it so that they can record their voice. 2) Teach a concept: Students can create a story in ScratchJr. to teach something that they learned, such as how to solve a math problem or the characteristics of different landforms. 3) Vocabulary: Students can use their vocab words in a script that is told through ScratchJr. and share the definitions of those words through their script. Not to mention, the students are practicing programming skills, flexing their creativity muscles, and sharing a story of their invention. It's an app to meet many needs but regardless of how or why you use it, one thing is for sure...students love it!
This app has been downloaded onto each of the iPad carts and can be downloaded onto your iPad 2's within your classroom for free. Enjoy!
The gamification of learning is nothing new. However, it doesn't seem to get old. It simply makes learning fun. While at EdCamp Atlanta this past weekend, one of my favorite tech tools was Kahoots. Kahoots allows teachers to very quickly and easily create games for their students. You throw in the questions and it provides you with a pin for your students to input and start playing and competing against each other. The goal is not only to get the answer correct but to get it correct fast. What better way to review for a test and discover which content areas are still foggy? Students will be begging you for test review.
Although not very competitive myself, I couldn't help get swept away in the fun of it all. This led me to want to share it with you. I put together a quick four question trivia game all about your home away from home, The Davis Academy. Click here to try it out. It's a little awkward using it if you are not in a classroom setting as the teacher would project the quiz on their smartboard and the students would just see the answer choices on their own device. However, we are happy to show you how it works when you come for your tech check-in meetings this week and next.
If you try this out in your classroom, send me the link to your quiz and you will receive a prize! (It is so fun that I'm not beneath bribery...your students will thank me.) To set up your own Kahoots game, go to getkahoot.com. It is free up until you decide you can't live without the added features. Enjoy!
