Can Apple Save Education?

Peter sent me a link to this infographic which was created by the hype generated around Apple's re-entry into education last month with the introduction of their interactive text books.

Via: OnlineEducation.net

Great Art & Craft ideas for Teachers and Students

Scribbled.com.au is a highly creative site for those who want to learn about innovative art and craft ideas.   

Scribbled is packed with activities to suit all abilities but best of all everything is laid in in step-by-step directions with photographs to support them.  There are a number of themed ideas for all major events of the year with new crafts and activities being added each week.

Teachers will also love the video tutorials and printables to jazz up their classrooms.  There are also  activities and games particularly aimed at younger children.

Take a look at scribbled today and release some of your creative energy.

Free Printable Graphic Organizers

This collection of ready-to-use graphic organizers will help children classify ideas and communicate more effectively. All of our printable graphic organizers are designed to facilitate understanding of key concepts by allowing students to visually identify key points and ideas. By using graphic organizers across all subject areas, you will be empowering your students to master subject-matter faster and more efficiently. We have graphic organizers for reading, science, writing, math, and for general use. You'll also find blank printable templates like graph paper, dot arrays, and other useful tools. Access them here.

Amazing collection of Titanic information and Teaching Resources

Ultimate Titanic has appeared just in time for the 100^th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.  It is specifically designed for teachers and students to learn about the most famous maritime disaster of all time.

There are a number of amazing images, videos and text based content that will definitely appeal to teachers and students without overwhelming them with irrelevant information on Titanic.

Best of all Ultimate Titanic must surely have the biggest collection of Titanic lesson plans and teaching resources based around the 1912 disaster covering all key learning areas and ages.  The amount of content here would surely warrant an in depth unit on Titanic and all the hard work has been done for you.  There is something here for everyone.

The Titanic is one of the most amazing industrial feats of all time wrapped up in a story that Shakespeare himself could not have scripted and still appeals to students and learners of all ages.

Students are still fascinated by the story 100 years on.  Be sure to check out Ultimate Titanic Today.

Cnet: Why iPad's and iBooks are not a viable solution for schools.

I am big fan of the iPad and can see a lot of potential for it in education even if it is a little hard to define still after nearly three years on the market. 

In the past I have identified some of the short fallings in using iPad's as a mainstream educational computer but today Cnet published an intersting article about why Apple's latest innovation and reworking of the textbook may be just too much for schools to adopt in a financial and logistical sense. 

The article is here and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it as I know many schools have had mixed reviews of iPad's thus far.

Apple unveil their vision of Education

With the iPad out now for nearly three years now and already in the hands of millions of teachers and students around the globe their seemed to be a clear void in the purpose for bringing them into a classroom.  This was of course beyond a range of useful apps targeted at specific areas of the curriculum such as some of the ones we have identified in the past.

There was no real connection between the teacher, student and the iPad that was intended by apple to actually enhance teaching and learning. 

Today in New York, Apple went some way to addressing that and will surely start a frenzy of digital publishing to meet their vision as outlined below by introducing three new and / or improved products for the iPad. 

Here is the official and quite corny promo video for all of these products fro Apple with a breakdown of each below it.

iBooks 2

Beyond being that annoying icon on your iPad that you could never put into another folder and iBooks had never really been a great success for Apple who had dominated music and apps because most people who wanted to read an e-book would do so on a kindle which had a monstrous catalogue, much cheaper price point and genuine battery life.

Apple's solution to this was quite innovative as per usual and that is to reinvent the e-book for today's students.  An e-book will look a text book from the 1950's up against some of the example texts Apple have created which you can see below.

This was probably what every company in the world wanted to do with e-books already but didn't already have hundreds of millions of devices in users hands and billions in the bank to develop and refince e-books. 

iBooks 2 looks amazing is packed with multilayered, text images and data which is always up to date with the press of a button and offers students the ability to take notes, images and information and use it as they desire.

Take a look at it here.

iTunes U

iTunes U builds on iBooks but also incorporates Apples own learning management system where teachers, professors, publishers can not only publish great content but also set tasks, projects, lectures and link to any area of the web to develop a purpose for the iPad. 

iTunes U now offers a syllabus, teacher bio and a course description and overview. You can get assignments here, bringing you to specific parts of your textbook. you can also keep tabs on homework and course material, and highlight and take notes on texts.

iBooks Authoring Tool

This is the kicker from Apple that will really accelerate the growth of this platform and make paper and pulp publishers totally rethink what they are doing.  iBooks Author looks to be ( As I have not yet trialled it - I will access it shortly and let you know my thoughts ) a beautiful drop and drag, WYSIWYG publishing tool to turn that 5 kg door stop book on human anatomy into a 21st century text book kids will be excited to open again.  Once again it simplifies the publishing process in the same manner Garageband and iMovie did ten years ago with audio and video.  Take a look below.

Obviously there are many questions still to be answered in the real world about iPad's and education and their worthiness on a book list which we will explore in greater detail in future but there is now after three years a clear commitment, business plan and opportunity for Educational publishers to deliver curriculum like never before.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on Apple's latest keynote and quest for world domination.

Last minute gift ideas for teachers

Well for the first and last time for 2011 I am going to actually promote some last minute gifts for Teachers.  The great news is that because they are all digital resources you can download them and gift them in minutes without leaving your computer.

The New Teachers Kit:  Work Smart not Hard

Newly Qualified Teachers save Hours with this printable, editable kit for first time educators! Signs, displays, rosters, labels, charts, advice from a teacher who did it the hard way. Click here to check it out

eTeach:  A Teacher Resource

A Teacher Resource For Learning The Strategies Of Master Teachers.  Click here to see it.

Teacher Interview Tips

Teaching jobs can be extremely difficult to secure. Discover the Insider Secrets to Acing your Next Teacher Interview!  Click here to See it.

Helping Teachers Grow

A leading provider of online training for teachers, including classroom management, teaching diverse learners, and incorporating technology into the classroom.  Click here to see it.

Speeches for Teachers and Principals

31 inspiring speeches for students and staff . Fantastic time saver.  Click here to see it

Excellent Science Videos & Lesson Plans for Teachers

Alan Alda's Scientific American Frontiers Program has been on air for over 15 years now and over that time they have put together hundreds of amazing documentaries for students of all ages.  PBS have now compiled all that video into a teacher resource site that teachers and students can not only watch but there are now also attached lesson plans for primary and secondary students.  If you love science then this is definitely worth a look.  Take a look at it here.