Category: Motivation

Apps, Art, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Education, K-12, Motivation, Videos

Using the Aurasma App, Continued

Terri Eichholz
Aurasma in action at Shaw Wood Primary School
Aurasma in action at Shaw Wood Primary School

Yesterday, I posted instructions on using the free Aurasma app on your iDevice.  Included in these instructions were how to use the plethora of “Overlays” provided within the app.  Once, you create an “Aura” these “Overlays” are short animations or videos that can will appear on top of a trigger image when you use Aurasma on your device to scan the trigger image.

But you are not limited to the “Overlays” provided by Aurasma, numerous and entertaining though they may be.  You can also add your own “Overlays” within the app.  For example, suppose you have a student who has created a work of art.  You would like to display the art on a bulletin board, but you really want people to see and hear the child describing her artwork as they are viewing it on the board.  You could do this with a QR code, of course, as I explained in this post, but you could also use Aurasma, which will make it appear as though the student is actually standing in front of the artwork as she explains it.  Another way you might use a “homemade” overlay would be with a textbook picture or a worksheet.  You could have a video that explains a certain concept or gives hints, and it will appear every time a user holds their device over the trigger image.  Here is how you could do this:

1.)  First, decide what your trigger image is going to be.  In the first example, it would be the child’s artwork.

2.)  Then, decide what you want to happen when the image is scanned.  In this case, we want a video of the child explaining her work to appear.

3.)  Using your iDevice that has the Aurasma app, videotape the above scene with your camera app, and save it to your Photos.

4.)  Open the Aurasma app.  Tap on the Aurasma logo.

5.)  Tap on the +.  Near the bottom of the “Create” window, tap on the “Device” tab.

6.)  Tap on the large +, and choose “Photo Album”.

7.)  Find the video you created and choose it.  Select “Use”.

8.)  After it process, give the Overlay a name, and tap on “Finish”.

9.)  You will be asked if you want to create an Aura with that Overlay.  Tap on “OK”.

10.)  Take a picture of the artwork.

11.)  Choose where you want the Overlay to appear on the artwork.

12.)  After it processes, add details (see my previous post for more info on this).

13.)  Once it is done, it will give you a message that the Aura has been added to your device.  After that, whenever you use the Aurasma app to scan that art, the video will appear over it.

Below, you can view a short video on ways Aurasma can be used in education.  Next week, I will give some more ideas on how this app can be used in the classroom.  (You can find it at http://youtu.be/5qRcIek4NY0 if the video does not show below.)

Apps, Education, K-12, Motivation, Teaching Tools

Augmented Reality Holiday Cards

Terri Eichholz

About a week and a half ago, I mentioned that I was going to post some holiday activities that could be used with the Aurasma app.  I encountered a couple of technical difficulties – not with the app, just with my desire to make a video without actually using my own voice.  I solved the problem by bringing two more apps on board – Talking Santa for iPad and Talking Penguin 3D (both free).

Here are the steps for using these creations:

1.)  Download this free PDF, and print it out in color – Holiday Cards

2.)  Download the free Aurasma app to your Android device, iTouch, iPhone, or iPad.

3.)  Within the Aurasma app, you will need to tap on the icon that looks like a fat “A” at the bottom of the screen.

4.)  Click on the magnifying glass icon to “Search”.  In the search window, type “Hidden Forest”.  (At some point, you will be asked to register.  Go ahead and register; it’s free.)  Subscribe to the channel for “Hidden Forest Elementary”, and then tap “Done”.

5.)  Now, tap on the icon that looks like photo corners.  You should have your camera on.  Hold your device over one of the pictures (make sure the volume is turned up), and position it slowly until you see the “Loading” signal that looks like a purple swirl.  Then hold your device still so you can see the video.  (Be sure your sound is turned up!)

6.)  Enjoy the short video!

Penguin AR Card

Each picture has a different video attached to it.  The penguin is a “Happy Holidays” video with a pass for lunch with the teacher, and the Santa one says, “Merry Christmas”, and offers a homework pass.

You could print these out, and make holiday cards out of these for your students.  Then, you could either allow them to view them in the classroom with a device, or send them home with the above instructions – depending on how many of them have access to iDevices.  Or, you can use them as class rewards.

UPDATE:  Here are some other augmented reality reward coupons you might want to use.  You also may want to check out some other fun Augmented Reality resources here.

6-12, Creative Thinking, Education, Motivation, Teaching Tools, Videos

Paper Airplane Video

Terri Eichholz
image from: "Paper Airplane" by Michael McMillan
image from: “Paper Airplane” by Michael McMillan

I have posted before about “Pink Bat“, a book by Michael McMillan, as well as the accompanying video.  Recently, I came across another video by Mr. McMillan:  “Paper Airplane: A Lesson for Flying Outside the Box”.  This is a nostalgic look back to a time when innovation was embraced and putting a man on the moon was considered an achievement that could only be acquired by the utilizing the powerful combination of knowledge and creativity.  “Paper Airplane” shows how important it is to let go of our preconceived notions, and to allow our ideas to soar past imagined boundaries.

This is a great video for teachers and parents to watch.  Your students will also find it inspiring.  I do suggest that you preview it before showing it to kids, as there is one small part (a cartoon bare bottom) that some might consider objectionable, depending on your audience.

Here is the link, in case the embedded video below does not show:  http://youtu.be/QODh5s3XKJE

Apps, Education, Games, K-12, Motivation, QR Codes, Teaching Tools

Holiday QR Codes

Terri Eichholz

Last year, I posted a few sets of QR codes for the holidays, and I would like to offer them to you again.  For each of these, the user will need to have a device with a QR code reader app.  There are plenty out there that are offered for free.  For the purposes of testing these QR codes this year, I used the “Scan” app on my iPad.  If you are interested in making your own QR sets, Kaywa is one of the free sites I like to use.  QR Hacker allows you to “dress up” (though they use a different term!) your QR codes with colors and background images.

Here are some QR codes that you can use as a countdown calendar for Random Acts of Kindness.  These can be used any time of year, but might be nice around the holidays:

QR Codes Kindness Countdown

QR Codes Kindness Countdown Answers

Here are 6 QR codes that are good classroom coupons.  The first one is just black and white, and could be used any time of the year.  The holiday option is in color (red and green), and has Christmas icons.  These are fun to put in a class treasure box, or to give out to the kids in holiday cards:

QR Codes Classroom Coupons

QR Codes Classroom Coupons Answers

QR Codes Holiday Classroom Coupons (same answers as above)

If you are a parent, you might be interested in these QR codes for home:

QR Codes Home Coupons

QR Codes Home Coupons Answers

This is not holiday related, but you can also download this QR code tic-tac-toe reflection for the end of the year or unit here.  And, if you are really interested in QR codes, you might want to take a look at my post on an interactive bulletin board that I did last year.

Next week, I will be kicking it up a notch with some Aurasma holiday activities!

Education, K-12, Motivation, Music, Videos

You’re a Firework!

Terri Eichholz

It’s time for our weekly Fun Friday Post, and I have a video for you.  This might bring a tear or two to your eyes, however.  I know that doesn’t quite fit in with the Fun Friday theme, but time is of the essence.  This is one of the preview clips from Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Stars: America Comes Together for Autism Programs, hosted by Jon Stewart, which will air on 10/21/12 at 8 PM. In this particular video, Jodi DiPiazza, a girl who was diagnosed with autism at an early age, performs a duet with Katy Perry of her song,  “Firework”.  In interview clips of Jodi’s parents, they admit that they were afraid that their daughter would never be able to speak, much less perform a song onstage, accompanying herself with the piano.

You can find more clips from Sunday’s show here.  More information about the show can be found here.  I’m not absolutely sure how age-appropriate everything is, but I can promise you that the clip below is an inspiring video that you can show to any audience.

(If you are unable to view the embedded video, here is the link: http://youtu.be/QX-xToQI34I)

3-12, Education, Motivation, Teaching Tools

Malala Yousufzai

Terri Eichholz
image from 2011 CNN interview

In these times when we question the value of an American education, it would do us well to remember that, as imperfect as they may be, our public schools are open to all children in our country – and that it is improbable that any of our youth risk getting shot in the head for advocating for the right to attend school.

Malala Yousufzai, 14, has had no such assurances.  Unfortunately, in her country of Pakistan, there are still pockets of violence and the Taliban continue to seek to establish dominance.  And the extremists of the Swat Valley do not approve of teenage girls attending school, or who speak their minds about the attempts to ban them from participating.

A week ago, a van of schoolchildren was stopped, and Malala was singled out, then shot in the head and neck.  She did not die in the attack, but is fighting to survive.  This weekend, she was flown to Great Britain for better medical care.

You can learn more about Malala’s story here.

Malala is a hero.  Watching the video below will convince you of her bravery and commitment to her cause.

I recommend that you show this video to your students, so that they can see how important education is, as well as how vital it is to stand up against what you know to be wrong.  In these days of reality television, students don’t see many real-life examples of noble youth.

Share Malala’s story.  And maybe the terrible price she has paid will not be in vain.