Aurasma

Recommended for Ages: K-12 (see below)

Scanning only: K-12 
Creating auras: 6th - 12th grades


Rating in iTunes: 4 out of 5
My Rating: 4 out of 5


Brief Description: Aurasma is a free augmented reality app that allows a user to scan an image and view one or more layers of content in the form of video, audio, and text that makes viewing the image a truly interactive experience. The layers of content over the image are called Auras.  

• For a cool demo, download the Aurasma app and scan the back of a dollar bill.

User-Friendliness: The learner can easily use the app for scanning a picture and getting the content. A first time user will need to search for and follow a target channel (like an educator's class channel) in order to unlock and view the content within it. 
Many features of creating an aura are not intuitive. There is a definite learning curve for Aurasma Studio (the software for creation), but the help tutorials are very useful. 

Critical-thinking: Creating an aura requires multiple high-level thinking skills: analyzing, evaluating, applying, synthesizing, creating. 

Differentiation: The overlays allow for a great deal of differentiation. Auras can project video, webpages, images, text to engage all types of learners. Creation of an aura lends itself to many levels of complexity, from a simple overlay to multiple overlays and advanced options.

Motivation: The app has the potential to be highly engaging, depending on the content/aura that is attached to the image scanned.  Creating an aura is an engaging challenge for middle and high school learners. 

Assessment/Reporting: The aura content can be assessed, but not within the app itself. The only feedback option within Aurasma is a "like" button, which applies to the whole channel. Users can share channels through Facebook, Twitter and email.

Account: Simply finding and scanning auras does not require an account. Creation requires an account, but it's free. There is a pro account option, which is fee-based, but the regular account is robust enough for most users. 

Classroom Use: For ELAR and in the library, Auras could be attached to book covers to show trailers, author bios, reviews. Learners could scan the book covers and see the content attached. Learners in upper grades could create their own book trailers and/or reviews, and attach those to books as well. 
If an educator doesn't want a channel to be public, a private sharing option is present. There is also an option for setting a time limit on the aura so that it only available between a limited time frame. 
The beauty of this app is that it's usefulness in any content is limited only by the creativity of the user. It is applicable for any content area and at any grade level. 

Reflection: Aurasma lends itself to many educational applications in all content areas. It is an engaging and creative platform that will challenge the creators and capture the interest of the users. Once the initial learning phase is accomplished, use is simple. Only drawback for educational use is that there is no commenting feature within the app. Still, it's a highly engaging app and will probably become more popular as time goes on. I see Auras replacing QR codes. 

Aurasma website: http://www.aurasma.com/#/whats-your-aura

Helpful videos:

Aurasma Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AurasmaLite Short Introduction: http://youtu.be/2ylRCVQtyWA
Creating and Publishing: http://youtu.be/ZkYZHCRKJbo
Teaching with Aurasma: http://youtu.be/uHIxYpBW7sc

Educreations

Recommended Age Range:  2nd to 12

Rating of App in iTunes:  4 stars

My Rating: 5 stars

User friendliness:  Can the learner launch and navigate the app independently?

Pretty easy to make a video, yet flexible. You can add pages, insert videos, and learn ears can launch and navigate easily. Also a website, so the learner can access what they created from home or a laptop.

Critical Thinking:  does it allow for critical thinking?

Great way for learners to show their thinking and apply skills and concepts to real world situations.

Differentiation:  Is flexibility available to meet learner's needs?

Can be utilized as a teacher or learner led lesson. A way for the teacher to gather feedback and check for understanding.  The learner can navigate at their own pace.

Motivation:  Will learners be motivated and engaged while using the app.

The learner can create through color, video, and pictures. It can be personalized to what the learners want to present.

Assessment/Reporting:  Does the app provide a product or outcome that can be assessed?

Definitely. The learners create a video that can be shared with the teacher and others. It clearly shows mastery of the concepts.

Account:  Does the App need an account?

Yes, the teacher has an account and she shares it with the learners. Each teacher can create   separate class accounts that the students can access using their class code.

Educational Application:

Learners demonstrate knowledge of new concepts, review previously taught concepts, or create lessons for peers. Learners can access for daily review, absences, and teach parents and classmates. 

Reflection:

The created videos can be used by learners, parents, and other classmates to demonstrate decoding, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension. It can be used across all curriculum and has the flexibility to be used in all types of learning environments.

Did you find another helpful video or resource to help explain this App?

There are several YouTube videos that are very good tutorials for Educreations.

Nearpod

The app I chose to research more about is nearpod. Nearpod is an app that allow teachers to create an interactive presentation with students.

User Friendliness:
The learner can launch and navigate the app independently. If you upgrade this app students can move freely at their own pace through the presentation. Students also can only access the information using an apple product like the ipad or ipod. If you want students to be able to access the information through a PC then you will need to purchase the next level account for $120 per year.

Critical Thinking:
This app does allow for critical thinking through the draw it features, Q and A, and quiz features.

Differentiation:
This app does allow for differentiation though pacing. Students can move throughout the presentation at their own pace. It does not however allow for different content to be given to students.

Motivation:
Learners will be engaged using this program becuase each slide can be something different. One can be a video and another could be a poll where students have to give feedback.

Assessment and Reporting:
There are assessments you can build into the presentation to get students feedback on their progress. Once students take these assessments the resports are easily accessable to the teacher. They are easy to read and have graphs that are colored coded for easy reading.

Account:
Yes you need an account as a teacher to build presentations using this app. Students will have to enter in your site id to get access to to the content that you have created.

Skitch with Evernote

 

Students can create, collaborate, and collect data using Evernote. This blog will hone in on creating documents via Skitch app that automatically shares in an organized manner with Evernote.

~The Skitch app is easy to launch and navigate independently.

~Learners will be using critical thinking skills by creating products which will involve interpretation of content, observation and reflection on how to share their creation.

~Differentiation to support all Learners is flexible with the choice to use voice note for auditory, written, and visual  modes for creation.

~Motivating for learner to express themselves while applying their knowledge.

~Evernote provides an organized manner for Learners to  share their documents. Make sure you have students be specific when titling their work  ,so Evernote can systematically organize per class or concept, whichever you prefer.

~Account is needed, yet you can have all  iPads logged into your account so all documents and creation are organized in your Evernote.

~Assessment/Reports - Evernote provides an organized method to view work to provide feedback to learners.