Edtech ins and outs for the 2014 classroom

Some predictions, thoughts and ramblings. Might be wrong but these trends have been more evident during 2013 and can see them continuing throughout 2014.

1.
In:
Cordless technology that allows teachers and students more flexibility and mobility. Technology like Apple TV will enable teachers and students the opportunity to share, collaborate and get mobile. It will also allow other teachers and staff to walk into a room without needing specific cords, software and training to use.

Out:
IWBs rely too much on a teacher focus and can encourage teachers and students to use technology to bring about more "chalk and talk" "But it's so engaging"...has lost its power as the students are often engaged in the technology and not the learning. The push to get more mobile, cordless and create flexible learning spaces will see the continue decrease in IWBs in classrooms across the globe. The focus will be getting more technology in the hands of the students. Less students watching and more students actively creating!

2.
In
Students creating their own digital games through learning to code:
The #hourofcode was just the beginning and teachers and students have got a taste for it. Students creating and learning code will continue to flourish. Teachers have seen the benefits and watched their students learning to think. A whole new generation of coders will develop.

Out
Students playing games:
Still some benefits but the push to get students creating content in classrooms will see this decrease. This does not mean creative, world building games won't continue to gain momentum.

3.
In
Augmented Reality using real life images as triggers:
As the technology develops we will start to see an explosion of Apps like Layer and Aurasma in classrooms (if we haven't already). The rise of Augmented Reality in the past 12 months has been massive. Teachers and students will start to hone their skills, creating more effective AR experiences!

Out
QR codes
For those who are too lazy to do Augmented Reality well? Only kidding. Still many benefits but the effect of connecting real life trigger images with persuasive overlays has to be the next step.

About Paul:

2013 Finalist - International EdTech Digest Awards Recognition Program honoring tools, trendsetters and leaders in the education and technology sector. The distinguished awards program recognizes outstanding solutions―and the best and brightest minds―in education and technology.

2013 Nominee - EduBlogs Life Time achievement award.

Apple Distinguished Educator Class of 2013. Paul is a leader in the implementation of Augmented Reality in schools to improve learning outcomes, Professional Development of staff with integration of ICTs, and has expertise in the implementation of mobile devices into pedagogical frameworks.

Creator
The Tellagami Project (Presentation)
Teaching students to code on the iPad (iBook)
Augmented Reality in Education (iBook) 
10 Amazing lessons for the iPad Classroom (iBook)
Formative Feedback for Learning and Science AR (Apps)

"Paul, you are a real Leader" - Dr Heidi Hayes Jacobs, author and internationally recognized education leader known for her work in curriculum mapping, curriculum integration and developing 21st century approaches to teaching and learning.
"Paul we designed iBooks Author to be a tool that teachers could use to create content that they develop for the classroom and can share with the world. It is great Paul that you have been using it that way to great success." - Philip Schiller - Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing.

PUBLIC SPEAKING EXPERIENCE

Guest Speaker - Best Apps for Kids - State Library Queensland 2013
National Leading a Digital School Conference - 2013 (Melbourne)
Augmented Reality in Education
21st Century Skills v Technology

IWB Interactive Teaching and Learning Conference - Sydney 2012
The benefits of teaching game design and strategy.
Technology and Formative Assessment strategies.

Augmented Reality to introduce Maths Concept

In this Augmented Educational experiment I used 2 Apps. Aurasma and iMovie.

Content:
I wanted to introduce a Mathematics concept without actually telling the students what it was. This way they could analyse the iMovie trailer and collect evidence on what the concept might be. This way the students are already gaining knowledge on the topic even before they know what it is.

Then I created the worksheet to get the students to record their thinking as they were watching the Movie trailer.

Finally I put it all together in an Augmented Reality experience that made the viewing of the content seamless and engaging. The kids loved this concept, especially the searching for clues within the iMovie trailer! Here is the result:

Paul

Augmented Reality and Coding

In my latest Augmented Reality experiment I have combined two of my passions! Teaching kids to Code and Augmented Reality. I have been introducing my Year 5 students to the language of Code this term and I have been wanting to cater for all my learners. Especially those who need extra consolidation.

Using the Hopscotch App, my students have been creating their own digital games. I thought I would use Aurasma to help consolidate these lessons. Here is the result.

I continue to look for Augmented Reality opportunities in my class to consolidate, differentiate and enhance learning with my students.

AR Rocks!

Paul

Augmented Reality in Education experiment mixing App Topia and Aurasma

Augmented Reality in Education experiment mixing App Topia and Aurasma to create a conceptual learning experience for students. We look at fictitious worlds and creatures and relating that to real life worlds and species.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXlwbYlz6qQ
All free, information and downloadable worksheets can be found at:
http://www.appsbypaulhamilton.com/#!ar-experiments-aurasma/c23ku

Augmented Reality allows teacher to come home from school

Last night I was cooking dinner and watching my 7 year old struggle with her Mathematics homework.
It was related to weight and categorising objects from lightest to heaviest. It was the all too common problem for parents. When to step in? What have they covered in class? not to mention the bigger question of whether or not young students should have to do homework at all!!!

Anyway, back to the dilemma. It was then that I realised it would be so beneficial for the teacher to come home with my daughter so that both Isobel and I could ask questions.

In my role as Primary ICT Coordinator I am exposed to new technologies on a daily basis. My mind automatically looked at Augmented Reality as a solution to meet my daughters problem. So I started the process of putting together a worksheet that would allow a virtual teacher into my home, using Augmented Reality to put the process all together.

Whilst not perfect and still having to deal with the entire class personalisation, the result was amazing. My daughter was able to engage fully with the homework task, receiving instant feedback on each problem. The situation was also personalised, having already seen what my daughter was having problems with.

Watching her interact with the work sheet gave me an insight of where we can fully utilise Augmented Reality in Education. Our children learn differently than I did as a child and we need to explore such technologies and the potential they have for making a significant contribution to the way students learn.

Paul Hamilton
appsbypaulhamilton@gmail.com

Is this the future of Education?

Is this the future of Education? Year 2 students uses Augmented Reality blended with Virtual reality to complete her Mathematics homework.

The aspects that work here are:

Personalised learning
Instant feedback for student
Flipped Classroom
Engagement in learning process
Caters for all ability levels

It certainly ticks a few boxes. For those wondering how I did this? I used 3 educational apps for iPad. Explain everything to do the tutorials, tellagami to do the virtual avatar and Aurasma to put the Augmented Reality together.

To find out more about Augmented Reality in Education download my free iBook from the iBookstore at:
https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/augmented-reality-in-education/id641019829?ls=1

Paul

appsbypaulhamilton youtube channel

We are about to hit 40,000 views and 300 subscribers. Don't hesitate to pass on the website to other educators out there using iPads on the classroom. Thanks everyone. http://www.youtube.com/user/appsbypaulhamilton/videos

AR in education

“Whilst technologies such as QR Codes and Hyperlinks provide a valuable service with holding data and directing individuals to external sites, Augmented Reality connects real life objects, places and people around us to a variety of information and simulated experiences. The power of students self exploring the physical world around them and discovering for themselves should never be underestimated.
Learning should be connected to life and the experiences our students have already been through and will go through. This will enable more authentic learning experiences for our students. The results outlined later in this book look at a Mathematics Augmented experience. Linking an effective video tutorial to that of a real life object resonates with students. As one of my students stated:
“Next time I look at any triangle in the world, I will remember how to work out the area”.
This comment reinforces the inadequacies of linking tools such as QR Codes and traditional Hyperlinks. By linking a structured lesson to that of a real life objects, the student automatically makes connection with other real life objects resulting in a conceptual learning approach. ”

Excerpt From: Hamilton, Paul. “Augmented Reality In Education.” v1.2. Paul Hamilton, 2013. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Check out this book on the iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewBook?id=641019829

Augmented Reality in Education iBook release

Proud to say that my iBook Augmented Reality in Education has just been release in 51 countries. Totally free. Hope teachers find it informative.

https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/augmented-reality-in-education/id641019829?mt=11

Augmented Reality in Education

The Augmented Reality in Education iBook is due for release in the next 2 weeks. Stay tuned. I hope teachers will find it useful, with not only learning more about AR, but looking at how to create Augmented Reality experiences for their students.