iBeacon Technology in Education

New technology providing a beacon for learning

In most schools the students need to find the resources, and access the learning. This is often a complex, frustrating and time consuming process. What would happen if the learning found the students? Welcome to Learning Zones and iBeacons in Education.

Watch Video HERE: 

http://youtu.be/S04viOYnSg4

iBeacon technology in Education

I love new technology and making connections with student learning. When I heard about iBeacon technology I jumped at the opportunity and started making plans. These included purchasing a set of Estimote Beacons and working with the creative Kurt from Vektor Digital in the States to create a prototype that would explore the capabilities of iBeacon technology in an educational context. Having extensively explored the benefits of Augmented Reality in Education for the past two years, I was excited about the possibilities that iBeacon technology would bring to the education sector and schools throughout the world. I wasn't disappointed with the results!

So I started exploring/planning the concept of "learning zones", geographical positions located around school where students could go to learn and explore online learning experiences. I discovered that the iBeacon technology actually found the students (as they walked throughout the campus) through instant notifications and digital prompts. This excited me as this was the first time that the learning found the students instead of the students having to navigate the complexities of elearning portals and confusing Intranets. 

The students receive a notification as they pass by a "learning zone", and the follow up activity on the EduBeacons App, similar to that of the beloved children's game "Hot and Cold", drawing on the students inquiry based natural instincts.

Our 3 Learning Zones include:

1. The Library Learning Zone where students are instantly given video book reviews.
2. The Technology Learning Zone where students run through a series of video tutorials to teach them the basics of coding.
3. The Art Learning Zone where students can create master pieces through video tutorials custom made by our Art Teacher.

There are other possibilities within a school context that will be explored.

Beacons that:

1. Welcome Parents when they enter the schools gates and prompt them to explore the school calendar and daily events.
2. Give warning to turn their phone to silent when they enter a performance centre.

This is just the beginning of this technology and I have no doubt others with improve on my work in the educational field quickly and effectively. For now I'm content in the knowledge that true edtech magic happens through a persons imagination, skill (thanks Kurt) and global collaboration! These are the 3 qualities we should be prioritizing in schools throughout the world!

Keep innovating.

Paul

3 iPad/iPod Christmas activities for kids

How do we want students using iPads during the Christmas holidays?

How about creating, collaborating and communicating with Project based activities that will both engage, foster and develop 21st century skills whilst having an awesome time!

1. Create on comic/iBook on their favourite holiday moments
Incorporating the camera and Apps like Comic Life and Book Creator, our kids become authors at the same time. It also encourages kids to work together and involve the whole family.
Tutorials Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znrlTHDzr6s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic5a2-qavFA

2. Time Lapse Photography iMovie
My girls are currently doing this as I write this Blog. The set up their iPod and use the App iMotion HD to take photos at 20 second intervals of the kids putting up the Christmas tree. They then drop into iMovie and add text and music to create an amazing time Lapse movie. Very cool.
Tutorials Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNU6JYW0tI0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGnIMp43fdU

3. Create a digital Video Game
Using iPad Apps like Hopscotch and GamePress students can immerse themselves into the world of video games. But there is a difference! The kids can create their own, test, evaluate, work together and learn how to code at the same time. A really worthwhile activity!
Tutorials Here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8-y0nIhmbY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SuFr_MUPUU

3 things students should be doing on iPads

My primary job is advising and coaching teachers to use technology in effective ways in classrooms. iPads as a technological tool in classrooms is a major part of this job. Researching effective Apps, encouraging teachers to look for connections between the curriculums and integration of these amazing devices are just 2 aspects of my job that are both challenging and incredible rewarding.

So, what are some things our students should be doing on iPads? Here are some thoughts.

1). Authoring and Publishing digital content.
Utilising Apps such as Book Creator, allows students to become authors and publishers. With a little research there is nothing stopping students publishing to the world! iBooks continues to be an under utilised App in schools.

2). Creating Multi-Modal Presentations.
Using an App like Explain Everything, students can now present and demonstrate knowledge in a variety of ways. Students who struggle with literacy can show teachers through videos and audio that there is a wealth of knowledge they have and want to share.

3). Learning to Code.
Using Apps like Hopscotch and GamePress, students can create and publish digital games and learn the language of Code at the same time. With a little structure, students can collaborate with others so that lessons are not teacher centred, allowing students to spread their wings and learn at an appropriate rate.

Paul


About Paul Hamilton, Author of this Blog:

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.

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)
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.

The Tellagami Project Movie Release

The Global Collaborative "Tellagami Project" has been released. This small feature film presents Edtech leaders from across the Globe communicating their passion for technology in Education.

Edtech leaders from Australia, Indonesia, United Kingdom, United States and Canada join together to share powerful messages that will inspired and call teachers to action. Using the amazing, innovative App "Tellagami", these passionate Edtech advocates share their beliefs with the world.

The brainchild of Paul Hamilton, The Tellagami Project was released on the 1st September 2013.

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

10 amazing lessons for the iPad Classroom

10 amazing lessons for the iPad Classroom is now available on the iBook Store. Lessons and Apps include: CLICK HERE
Using the Topia App to explore Geography Concepts
Using the Trading Cards App to build knowledge
Using the Tellagami App to develop reading fluency
Using the Hopscotch App to develop thinking processes
Using Formative Feedback for Learning App to encourage feedback giving between students and teachers
Using Explain Everything to compare website data
Using Book Creator to Author and Publish content
Using Doodle Cast App to tell stories and develop communication skills
Using Comic Life App to reflect on past experiences and to teach a recount structure

Youtube channel for ipad classroom ideas

Thanks to all my YOUTUBE subscribers. Make sure you keep checking on my latest teacher ipad tutorials on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/user/appsbypaulhamilton/videos
IPads in classrooms are revolutionary learning devices - but don't forget it is the teachers who make connections with the curriculum and look for unique ways of using Apps in all learning areas. Think outside the square everyone. An example of this is the Topia App. Why not use this World Building App to explore the Geography Curriculum. Big concepts like sustainability and Over population can be explored with students like never before.

3 things that tell you your iPad program IS working

1. Your students are authoring and publishing content

Not playing educational games, not touching balloons that explode into number facts and not data processing huge amounts of content.
Instead - creating ebooks, multimedia presentations, podcasting, movie making and taking amazing photographs. Students are publishing for the local school community to view or publishing world wide.

2. Your students are integrating more than 1 App and suggesting App to the teachers

Students are jumping between the Camera App and Explain Everything to personalise projects and assignments. Students are embedding video and audio into Apps that results in rich media presentation.
Students are making connections between Apps they find and learning that is happening in the classroom.

3. Your teachers are talking Apps at lunchtime!

Teachers sharing WINS and great use of technology in the classroom. Teachers identifying and analysing Apps that are purposeful and hitting outcomes and the curriculum. Teachers are using a single App in a variety of different areas.

iPad Teacher Tutorial June Newsletter

What's the secret to an effective 1:1 program in schools? Devices? Infrastructure? User agreement? Whilst all of these areas play a role, the classroom TEACHER is the most important and significant ingredient in an effective 1:1 program. Let me be a little more specific. The teachers imagination and creativity, their ability to make connections with the device and applications, their knowledge of the curriculum and the 21st century students who sit in their class. See it is the teachers who see the hidden wonders/magic of an App like iMovie or a web2 tool like Todays Meet. This edition of the appsbypaulhamilton newsletter pays tribute to the creative and innovative teachers in our schools and the impact they are having on young minds across the globe.

Using iMovie in the classroom:

What better way to grab the attention of our students than with a movie trailer. Even better, get students creating narratives through iMovie. This tutorial looks at creating a Narrative using iMovie on an iPad.

Just recently I discovered the world of Podcasting and thought I would use it as a way of discovering great Apps that are out there. I plan to interview Teachers, App Developers and Parents but thought I would start by asking our target audience in this entire discussion: THE KIDS! As Dan Pink suggests we should talk with our students more about what they require/need at school. Here is the Talking Apps with Paul Hamilton first episode. In the first episode, I chat with my 8 year old daughter on her favourite Apps and how they could used at school. Email me if you would like to be on the next show.  

Teachers please take a listen HERE.

Utilizing screen recording animations within an Augmented Reality environment:

Augmented Reality is starting to filter into classrooms across the globe. The Horizon Report is a yearly publication that highlights, analyzes and predicts the ways in which technological advances will change teaching, learning and creative inquiry. The 2013 report describes how and why augmented reality will play an important role in teaching and learning over the next two to three years. Luckily for educators Augmented Reality is available. Using 2 Apps (Aurasma and Explain Everything) you can create your own Augmented Reality experience for your students.

Interesting Observation:

I often get frustrated with those who continue to see the iPad as a solely consuming device. We want our students creating and the iPad delivers creativity and content creation in spades. Our students are using technology differently than we did (and more of it). Anyone who has kids will notice this on a regular basis. As Sir Ken Robinson observes:

“When my son, James, was doing homework for school, he would have five or six windows open on his computer, Instant Messenger was flashing continuously, his cell phone was constantly ringing, and he was downloading music and watching the TV over his shoulder. I don’t know if he was doing any homework, but he was running an empire as far as I could see, so I didn’t really care.” 

The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

Students viewing Movies and posing questions:

I have no doubt that students viewing videos adds worth to the educational experience. However, how do we optimise the students experience so that we go further once the video is finished. Traditional note taking is limited. In my experience it is the posing of questions that we want our students to do so that they build a deeper understanding of the concepts. Also, allowing students to find and add content to the lesson needs to be encouraged. Using Today's Meet allows for this. Can students watch media and pose questions at the same time? Absolutely.

Using Video to give Formative Feedback:

Giving effective feedback to students has one of the highest impacts on student learning. As Professor John Hattie states: “Feedback is one of the most powerful influences on learning and achievement” and “This evidence shows that although feedback is among the major influences, the type of feedback and the way it is given can be differentially effective.”

In my experiences video feedback is one of these highly effective methods. Using video as a form of feedback allows: student-student feedback, teacher-student feedback and self feedback.

Upcoming Professional Development for School Leaders:

Looking forward to presenting at the Leading a Digital School conference at Crown Casino in Melbourne next term. My 2 sessions will be on Augmented Reality in Education and 21st Century Skills V Technology. Those who have a leadership position in schools should definitely attend!
For registration details visit:
The IWBNet website HERE

Free teacher tutorials.

Don't forget to check out my free teacher tutorial channel on youtube. It is approaching 40000 views and has plenty of useful and practical tutorials for teachers.

About Paul:

Author of the iBook Augmented Reality in Education, creator of the Science AR App, the critically acclaimed educational app Formative Feedback for Learning and the revolutionary iBook series My Prep Year, Paul is changing the way digital content is being delivered in schools. 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.

Apps and iBooks by Paul Hamilton

    

appsbypaulhamilton@gmail.com
http://www.appsbypaulhamilton.com
twitter: @PaulHamilton8

May appsbypaulhamilton Newsletter out now

May appsbypaulhamilton Newsletter out now!

Augmented Reality in Education iBook

Paul Hamilton has just published a free multi touch iBook on the use of Augmented Reality in Education. Outlining statistics, influences on the mind and practical tutorials for creating an AR experiences for students, this book is proving to be a valuable edition to your iBook library. And the best thing it is a FREE iBook.

3 things that tell you your iPad program is not working

1.Your iPads are sitting in filing cabinets not being used

This is a direct results of schools funding iPads and not committing to professional development for their staff. Schools should work on a 60-40 model in regard to spending. 60% on Ipads, Apps and infrastructure and 40% on the professional develop of staff.

2. Your young students keep asking for free time on the iPads

Clearly a culture of learning using technology has not taken place. Maybe this is because of a lack of shared vision or staff simply not setting open, creative tasks and giving adequate feedback on content and creation.

3. Your students are "playing" educational games all of the time

The iPad is a wonderful tool for creation. 21st century skills and the push for innovative, creative and divergent thinkers is what we need to foster and develop. Forcing our students to become passive consumers instead of active creators is creating a generation of children unable to problem solve or think for themselves.

Educational Apps for Ipad

Created the following information sheet for a parent Ipad educational App session I ran at school. It looks at educational iPad Apps and makes suggestions for parents to help with instruction/focus and feedback. 

Eden App tutorial - building block and attributes

Paul Hamilton presents iPad tutorials for teachers. This tutorial is presented by Paul's daughter Emily as she explains the attributes of the blocks in Eden and how to use them effectively when creating a new world.

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.