Tag Archives: app

by | April 15, 2022 · 11:48 am

Desmos Graphing Calculator

Most secondary math classes require the use of a Ti-84 graphing calculator.  However, nowadays there are other online options to produce elegant graphing and math simulations. One of the free,  yet still powerful, options is Desmos.

 

  • Desmos is a free online tool that can make the affordances of a graphing calculator more accessible. It is essential to give options to students whose families may not have the resources to pay for other more expensive tools.
  • Desmos is not only a graphing calculator but also a matrix calculator and a geometry tool. Thus, teachers can use it to develop other mathematic content and competencies, such as patterns in a table, proportion, and relationships, linear equations, inequality, etc.
  • Desmos allows you to insert images to be used in theirmath tools, which support teachers when integrating hands-on activities and complex math concepts. For example, the Burnaby School District has a wonderful example of integrating First Peoples Principles of Mathematical Teaching through weaving and Desmos tools.
  • Desmos also offers a section with suggestions for activities and lessons teachers can adapt for their class/teaching needs.

Getting Started with Desmos

  1. Go to the Desmos homepage
  2. You can choose to use Desmos as a teacher or a student
  3. As a teacher, you can browse the activities available or sign up to be able to assign activities to your students through a code.
  4. Desmos has a couple of videos demonstrating how to use their several tools in different math content and competencies. If you want to learn how to use Desmos on a specific topic you can go to these links:
    1. Derivatives
    2. Integrals
    3. Functions
    4. Graphics
    5. Tables
    6. Parametric equations
    7. Regressions
    8. Statistics
    9. Trigonometry
  5. Or you can start creating your first graphic and exploring the basic functions of Desmos Graphic Calculator in the video below:

 

Guest post by Peer Mentor Ariane Faria dos Santos (Ph.D. EDCP), April. 2022.

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by | April 6, 2022 · 12:19 pm

Mind Maps App

section header - what is it?

Mindmaps is a concept mapping app that is open-source, totally free and without advertisements. Moreover, the app allows you to build your concept map in your browser and save it in several formats. This is only one tool for creating mind maps or concept maps. To learn more about high tech, low tech and no tech approaches to mind-mapping, please visit the “Concept Maps for Teaching and Learning” blog post.

section header - why is it relevant

 

 

There are many ways to build concept maps, including apps. Unlike this app, however,  many of them require an account or download of the program, or have restrictions in the free version making them less useful to educators. Concept or Mind-mapping is a powerful teaching, learning and organizational strategy that provides a visual means of understanding or representing ideas.

  1. Go to mindmaps.app
  2. Click in Central idea in the red circle and include the main idea of your concept map
  3. Move the red dot that appeared inside your central idea to create sub-ideas.
  4. Add a sub-idea to the new box that appeared.
  5. Use the Navigator on the right side to visualize the whole design of your concept map.
  6. Change the color and style of your words and arrows using the Inspector on the right of the screen.
  7. Click on an object to move it or change its dimensions.
  8. Save or export your project choosing a format (top-right corner).

Video Demonstration

This video is a demonstration of how to build a conceptual map using the features of the Mind Mapping App:

Guest post by Peer Tutor Ariane Faria dos Santos (Ph.D. EDCP), March. 2022.

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by | July 31, 2020 · 12:33 pm

Zoom

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Zoom is a free web communication tool that has been widely used ever since the transition to virtual work and learning. Similar to other web communication tools featured in the Scarfe Sandbox resource bank, Zoom allows teachers and students to meet in real-time and actively participate online. This blog post will cover the tool in greater details and provide information on how to get started.

Some cool features of Zoom include:

  • Host meetings up to 100 participants
  • Unlimited one-on-one meetings with Zoom’s free plan
  • Join from anywhere (e.g., mobile device, desktop app, web browser, email invite)
  • Calendar integration with Google Calendar, Office 365, and Exchange
  • Build-in screen sharing that allows multiple presenters at the same time
  • Team chat and individual messaging
  • Ability to share slideshow presentations and videos
  • Co-annotation on shared screen
  • Polls that instantly show students’ results and data distribution
  • Breakout rooms for small group discussions
  • Virtual background that minimizes distractions (good for privacy as well)

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With many class sessions now taking place online, Zoom provides a much-needed space for teachers and students. Not only can many classroom activities (e.g., small group discussions in breakout rooms, practice questions, presentations) be carried out through Zoom, students can play an active role in their learning by sharing their camera, microphone, screen, and adding real-time annotations.

Please note that currently, users in the free basic plan are limited to 40 minutes per group meeting. Teacher candidates can take this into consideration when evaluating if Zoom is suitable for their specific teaching needs.

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  1. Download the Zoom app for desktop or mobile devices
  2. Sign up for a Zoom account with your email address
  3. To schedule a meeting, click on the calendar icon and edit details such as meeting time, meeting ID, and camera access
  4. Invite others by copying the invitation and sharing it through email/calendar

How a UCLA Professor Is Adapting Her Curriculum for Remote Learning & Teaching

Zoom 101 Sign up & Download Meeting Client

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by | July 9, 2020 · 10:27 am

Science Journal

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Science Journal is a free app developed by Google that allows mobile devices to record and document experiment results. A phone is no longer just a pocket-size device but also a compass, accelerometer, magnetometer, and so much more. With its easy-to-use features and extensive resources for educators, Science Journal is highly accessible and can be a great tool for classroom activities and lesson plans.

Some cool features of Science Journal include:

  • Ability to accurately measure and record light, sound, movement, and many more using built-in device sensors
  • Personal customization of projects with photos and notes
  • Compatible with multiple platforms such as Android, iOS, and most Chromebooks
  • Over 70 free activities available for students and teachers, organized by levels of difficulty and specific features such as “outdoors friendly” and “do at home”
  • Ability to sync with Google Drive which encourages students to collaborate in groups and continue the learning outside the classroom

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Science Journal is a valuable resource for educators as it makes many science experiments possible without the need for specific measuring tools. All you need is a mobile device that can download the app and a curious mind! Especially at this current time when many students do not have access to a physical classroom, Science Journal fills the gap by allowing students to conduct experiments at home and share the results with teachers online. As well, Science Journal encourages outdoor learning since students can take their mobile devices outside and run a science experiment.

Furthermore, Science Journal has a specific “For Teachers” page that has over 70 experiments designed by experts including California Academy of Sciences and Playful Learning Lab. This can be of special interest for teacher candidates going on practicums. Whether you plan on choosing an experiment from this extensive list or decide to make your own, the possibilities are truly endless. You can even submit your own experiment and have it featured on the site!

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  1. Download the Science Journal App (also available in App Store)
  2. Sign in with Google account or continue without signing in
  3. Allow Camera and Photo Access
  4. Add a new experiment (look for the + symbol at the bottom right of your screen)
  5. Start collecting data

Below is a video demonstration of how to use Science Journal to create an exoplanet light curve. This activity is a part of the Phenomenal Physics and Astronomy At Home series developed by the UBC Physics and Astronomy outreach team.

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by | May 2, 2019 · 11:15 am

Stop Motion Studio

Stop motion animation can be created in many different ways. Today, there are some helpful apps to make the often time-consuming task more streamlined! You can, however, just set transition between clips in any slide show or movie app to 0 or .5 to create a stop motion effect (similar to a no-tech ‘flip book’ (link to Youtube example))

I have long enjoyed using Stop Motion Studio but recently came across some browser-based apps I’m interested in exploring further including Stop Motion Animator (for Chrome books).

Stop Motion Studio is an app that facilitates the process of creating stop motion animations with clay, cut-outs, LEGO, you name it! It’s a great way to explore storytelling and multimedia. There’s a free and a paid version, and this is what you can do with them:

Some of the features of the ‘free’ version:

  • Adjustable timer
  • Camera settings
  • Auto focus
  • Auto exposure
  • High definition exporting

Although any video editor can do what Stop Motion Studio does, this app narrows down the functionalities to what is relevant in creating stop motion animations and automates parts of the process for efficiency e.g. you can easily adjusts the number of frames for each still shot to suit stop motion better. The app also saves videos in high definition by default.

Creating a stop motion video might reinforce the creative thinking core competency, especially when used in a second language classroom such as French Immersion, Core French, etc. 

Alternatives: You might try using iMovie, QuickTime Pro or Camtasia (free to UBC students) to create stop motion!

It’s really simple to get started with Stop Motion Studio, you just have to download the app and start clicking away. There are a few tips that can make the process of creating an animation run smoother:
  • Use a stand or tripod, or even anything to stabilize the camera and fix the angle
  • Use the timer function, so you don’t have to push the camera buttons, and with that you’ll avoid pushing the camera out of place
  • Play a bit with the auto-focus and auto-exposure settings to see if they’re going to create dramatic differences between frames. You might want to turn it off if they do.
  • Get good lighting, videos love light and good contrast
  • Storyboard, or at least plan ahead what each scene is going to look like. That will save you editing time and make the story more coherent.

Here’s our Quick Start Guide you can share with other Teachers and Students

Stop Motion Studio Instructions One Page Handout

You may also wish to review a resource created by a UBC instructor showing how they incorporate stop motion to share lecture/class material (where they also share some tips and ‘basics’ to help you get started)

‘SlowMation’ is another term you might come across for stop motion. Slowmation.com has a series of PDF tutorials on getting started with various applications to create ‘slowmation movies’.

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by | March 13, 2019 · 11:21 am

Star Viewing Apps

These are apps that provide an immersive and augmented viewing of the stars, planets, and sometimes even space stations or satellites!

They allow students to recognize and experience the locations of various stars in relation to themselves. It’s a powerful tool that promotes questioning, deeper understanding, and engagement because students can rotate their devices to view constellations and more. These apps are a way to help students recognize that the stars and planets never “disappear” and that their locations move throughout out the day and year!

You will find that once students are “viewing the stars”, they will come up with their own questions which is a perfect and natural inquiry opportunity and way to personalize your teaching for students.

Some questions we often hear are, What is a pulsating star? How can I tell the difference between a planet and star without this [app]? Who named the constellations and why are they important?

  1. Choose which app would work best with your students!
    • Skyview or SkyGuide
      • Uses the camera and overlays it with the Milky Way galaxy. Includes descriptions of star types, constellations, planets, the International Space Station, and the Hubble space telescope. Great for using outdoors and in the evenings.
    • Starwalk
      • Uses an evening themes background with the stars, constellations, and more over top. Features Real-time celestial bodies tracking, the ability to travel in time with “Time machine,” and anastronomical calendar with various celestial events.
  2. Download and open the app.
  3. Decide how you will engage students with the app.
    • Free exploration
    • Scavenger Hunt
    • Question generator – have students write as many questions as they can.
    • Galactic Explorer – write from the perspective as a 22nd Century Galatic Explorer. This could be compared to Explorers from history. They could also plot a course based on a chosen destination.
    • Storytelling – How do constellations tell a story? Be inspired by this app and then read various stories about the constellations before having students create their own (oral stories or written). You could also compare historical narratives from different cultures to build multiple perspectives of the stars.

Below is a scavenger hunt we use with Teacher Candidates but you can also borrow and personalize it for your own students. We use it to encourage engagement and exploration of the tool but leave room for TCs to create and record their own questions as they explore.

 

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by | February 25, 2019 · 7:00 am

Programmation glisser-poser : Scratch

What is it

Scratch est un langage de programmation glisser-poser pour les enfants de tous âges pour apprendre les bases du codage. C’est gratuit et disponible comme application de web ou de bureau. ScratchJr pour les enfants de 5 à 7 ans est disponible sur les tablettes Android et iOS. Scratch vous permet de créer tout ce que vous voulez : des animations, des narrations et des jeux sur lesquels des matériaux informatiques (comme MakeyMakey) peuvent être branchés.

Fonctionnalités du dernier logiciel Scratch 2.0 2.0 Scratch version:

  • Comptes pour les profs et pour les élèves
  • Données dans le cloud
  • Blocs de codage glisser-poser
  • Télécharger des fichiers de votre propre ordinateur
  • Dessiner vos propres éléments
  • Blocs customisés
  • Programmes d’éditeur – Vector, Bitmap, Paint
  • Éditeur de son
  • Enregistrement des vidéos pour les projets
  • Partage de projets
Why is it relevant
Scratch est une façon simple et amusante pour aider les enfants à apprendre les bases de la programmation et du codage. On peut créer une suite d’événements en utilisant des blocs customisés qu’on peut glisser et poser – on code les actions qu’un certain élément réalisera. On peut ajouter des éléments du base de données de Scratch, télécharger des éléments de son propre ordinateur ou dessiner ses propres. ScratchJr permet aux enfants dès 5 ans d’apprendre à coder ! La programmation visuelle qu’emploie Scratch est pertinente par rapport au programme d’études de la C.-B. revisé – en particulier le programme de CCPT.

ScratchEd fournit aux profs un endroit en ligne où ils.elles peuvent voir des ressources pédagogiques pour Scratch, collaborer avec des autres éducateurs.trices et partager leurs propres histoires. Les profs peuvent y trouver des exemples de comment ils.elles peuvent employer Scratch pour engager un sujet avec leurs élèves, et de comment s’inspirer.

Regardez ce guide Co-Creative Activities for the 21st Century Kids (disponible en anglais seulement) pour explorer des idées de comment les activités de codage (avec et sans Scratch) peuvent s’intégrer dans un cours.

Regardez aussi le guide Creative Computing (disponible en anglais seulement), créé par un membre de l’équipe de recherche ScratchEd à Harvard.

 

How to get started

1. Allez au site Scratch, ou téléchargez le programme de bureau.

  • Si vous allez au site web, vous pouvez l’essayer (mais rien de ce que vous faites ne sera sauvegardé) ou vous pouvez vous inscrire sur le site et puis créer quelque chose (il sera possible donc de sauvegarder et partager vos projets).

Pour vous inscrire, cliquez sur le bouton « Rejoindre Scratch » (en haut de la page) et remplir les infos requises. Vous devrez aussi confirmer votre adresse e-mail.

Après vous êtes connecté.e, cliquez sur « Créer » (dans la barre d’outils en haut de la page) pour commencer un nouveau projet ou « Explorer » si vous voulez d’abord trouver de l’inspiration.

  • Si vous décidez de télécharger le logiciel sur votre ordinateur, cliquez ici et puis choisissez votre plateforme.

Ouvrez le fichier que vous venez de télécharger et installez-le.

 

2. Les interfaces de l’appli web et de celle de bureau sont pareilles.

  • Glissez des blocs de codage du menu « Code » (entouré en rouge) et posez-les sur l’espace à la droite. Faites se toucher les blocs pour définir une série d’actions.
  • Ajoutez un arrière-plan et des nouveaux personnages/objets (appelés « sprites », entourés en orange) du base donnée Scratch, téléchargez-en de votre propre ordinateur ou dessinez vos propres.
  • En créent des nouveaux sprites, cliquez-les pour programmer leurs actions.
  • Regardez votre projet sur l’écran d’affiche (entouré en bleu). Cliquez sur le drapeau vert pour activer votre projet et le signe rouge pour l’arrêter.

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