Personal Technology Project 1-Mobile Apps

I decided to look for a couple of mobile apps (for the iPhone) that could help facilitate learning within my classroom.

#1-Flashcardlet*-(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flashcards/id403199818?mt=8)

A)What did I learn about this tool: This app allows users to create their own virtual flashcards, or download other flashcards that have been made by others. Sets of flashcards are saved on the phone, and can be easily removed from the users library if the don't need them anymore. The thing that I like best about this app, is that it is able connect the the Quizlet database, which has thousands of public flashcards that others have used. Unlike other apps that connect to Quizlet, this one allows pictures to be displayed on the flashcard as well as text. This could especially come in handy in my science classes which sometimes really rely on visuals (ie geological terms/concepts).

B) What state standards and instructional activities would you use the tool for: This app could help my students with ANY state standard. I probably predominantly use this as a review tool to help students before a big test. I could also use it to help students who are struggling with vocabulary. For example: If I was teaching about the different parts of a cell, I could make flashcards that had the main word and its picture on one side, and what it does on the other side of the virtual flashcard.

C) Describe in detail at least one instructional activity you could use with your students using the tool: I could have students create their own flashcards for a new section that we are learning. I also realize that not every student will have a smartphone that has the ability to use this app. What I can do to help with this problem is by putting people in groups during class with someone who has a smartphone, and that group can review together using that students phone.

#2-SkyView (free)-(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skyview-free-explore-

universe/id413936865?mt=8)

A)What did I learn about this tool: This app is really pretty basic/simple, but it provides so much information. The basic idea is that it uses the built in camera, gyro, and gps positioning to help the user locate a myriad of celestial bodies. The program will have you calibrate you gyro so that it will be more accurate when it shows you where constellations are. What is really neat, is that it will show a real-time view of what your camera sees as you hold up your phone to the sky so that you can match up what your phone says you should see, and what you are actually looking at. It's a kind of heads-up display. It will not only show you constellations and planets, but where the International Space Station is as well. One of the other unique features is that it allows the user to click on ANYTHING(no matter how "important" the star may be) on the screen to get more information about it.

B) What state standards and instructional activities would you use the tool for: One of the Utah state standards for Earth Science is that the student gain a better understanding of other planets/stars in our solar system and galaxy. I know that many times students don't realize that at certain times they can see planets in the night sky without the aid of a telescope. Many times they believe that what they are looking at is just another star, when it is actually Venus or Mercury.

C) Describe in detail at least one instructional activity you could use with your students using the tool: There are a few things that I could do with this mobile app. I would have them track the International Space Station as it crosses through the sky. I could also have them observe the sky and have them choose a few stars that they see while viewing the sky in the app. They could then give a brief description about those stars using the information on the app as a jumping off point.