On Wed February 1, I ended my first big Digital Learning Day by joining in with Hall Davidson for a Siemens STEM Webinar :Making Mobile Media Meaningful in (and Beyond!) Your STEM Classroom.
Hall Packed the hour full of so many great ideas using mobile devices to reach higher levels of analysis in the classroom – many of which stretch beyond that of the STEM, building up the 21st C Learning and teaching toolbox! Here is a recap of the highlights regarding mobile integration!!
After introducing the ease of polleverywhere in the classroom, Hall took the idea of mobile response to a much higher level, demonstrating youtube mobile upload where students can be assigned to find a particular insect or plantlife, sending a mobile video upload for the teacher to view, assessing a student’s grasp of natural identification. Another cool app which could be integrated with students doing field work is Leaf snap which was developed by National Museum of Natural History. Hall also shared a $2.00 app “WikiOfffline” which allows access to wikipedia, even without internet, again allowing students to conduct research while in the field, having a reference to begin from, before posting their mobile video upload.
Some other STEM Specific apps he showcased included Solarsystem ( on sale $1.99) and Seisemograph ($0.99) which will measure real time seismic motion representing behavior around the iPad, ( my recommendation is to not drop or slam ipad to see what reaction you get… )
Hall took time to discuss the value of using QR codes, sharing apps and online QR web tools. My personal favorite QR code reader and maker is QRafter, but Hall went on to explain how QR codes can become more dynamic, changing their results when identified with an active wiki, where teachers can change questions for their students of answers can be posted -making QR more than a one-time experience. A QR code can identify a specific URL like a wiki, but the teacher can continue to change the questions or post answers!
Other Great STEM Apps shared included diagnostic type apps : Coach’sEye will tslow down video so kids can analyze reactions. I immediately thought this would be so great for kids in physics to see vector analysis in slow motion – or analyze other reactions – even chemical reactions in the chemistry labs! Hall shared the amazing little 45xMicroscope ($3.08) which can be purchased on amazon for under $2. tThe more expensive tool, Proscope is another impressive way to magnify and explore, using in tandem with our mobile device-(but there is a reason it is called proscope, you get what you pay for!)
All these apps and tools help students understand 21st C. STEM ideas, pushing our kids to analyze from multiple perspectives.
Hall went on to share apps that can help us all communicate on a global scale, sharing translations, shazam and wordLens. As we venture into the global neighborhood, these translation type apps will help open communication between our students and countries.
I am so glad I ended my Digital Learning Day with Hall! Check out The Siemen’s Archives to delve deeper into Hall’s STEMazing presentation! Thanks Hall!