Did I Say That YOU Can Make Your Own APP?

This website came to my attention this week by Deb Rodd, a coworker of mine in the Bedford School District.  With this website, you are able to create a FREE web app that can be downloaded to any smart phone.  Thus, you will not find the apps that I created on the Apps store or the Android Market.  (That is not to say that I could not take it to the next level and pay money to make it an app.)  The best part?...A person does not need to have the iPhone or the Droid.  This app will work on any smart phone, iPod touch, iPad, or browser.  No one is left out!

HOW IT WORKS:

• You create a FREE account through mobile conduit.
• You determine the look and components of the app to share the necessary information you want to provide.
• You publish the App and provide the website for people to access the App.
• People determine how they want to view the App.
• They can Scan the QR code
• They can provide an email to download the App.
• They can add the App as a browser app.

Two apps have been created thus far.  We have the official BHS App as well as the BHS Tech Integration App.  To view and download these apps, click on the links below.

BHS App

This app provides users access to:

• Hagen's Blog
• Twitter Feeds (Bedford High School as well as BHSUnleashed)
• Bedford High School Facebook Page
• Daily Announcements
• School Information (as well as link to website)
• School Calendar
• BHS YouTube Channel

BHS Tech Integration App

This app provides BHS teachers access to:

• Sheil's twitter feed (public twitter feed used for instructional purposes)
• Tech Happenings Blog
• BHS Tech Website
• (And more to come)

This possibilities are endless with this COOL tool.  You can link Twitter and Facebook accounts, YouTube channel, Calendars, RSS feeds, as well as create custom pages.  Anyone who has the app can view the Twitter or Facebook feeds regardless if they have accounts on either platform.

This application can be used for multiple purposes.  Teachers could create their own app to provide students a quick way of finding necessary information for their class.  If a teacher were to take this approach, he/she would have to keep in mind the importance of not linking personal accounts to the App.

To get started, visit the website.  Beware however, as it will take an entire evening of your time!

If you have any questions regarding this cool tool, you know where to find me.  A possible training will be in the near future for anyone interested.

Comic Making...

We all love comic strips and apparently students at BHS do as well.  Over the past couple of weeks students have been creating their own comic strips in their classes with the help of a program called Comic Life.  With this program, students are able to create a comic feel by easily adding color, text bubbles, pictures, and more.  The great thing about this program is that you can make as many pages as you want for the comic.


In Ms. Ciras's class, students were asked to write a story in Spanish.  Rather than having them just type the story and turn in the essay, she had the students use their creativity to turn that story into an engaging comic strip.  Some students actually drew their own pics and used Photo Booth to take a picture of their picture.  These images where then added to the comic strip.  While I might not be an expect in speaking and understanding spanish, this project was a great way of seeing students express their creativity.  Below is a screen shot of on groups comic strip.

In Mrs. Cooney's Psychology class, students used comic life to create a poster on a particular disorder. In this case, not all students were necessarily using the program to create a comic stripc.  Some used the program as a means of making a digital poster.  This was an alternative to using Glogster.  I am not saying that Comic Life is better than Glogster, it is just a different alternative.

Lastly, I have been using Comic Life for creating instructions on using particular software.  At times, documented instructions can look and appear boring.  This program would be a great alternative and more engaging for people in following instructions.  And if you are worried that not everyone has this program, you could always during your Comic Life product into a PDF so that everyone is able to open your masterpiece.

If you have never used the program before, I encourage you to at least try it.  You will be surprised at how easy it is to use the program.  For those of you who are iPad owners, you can also buy their app for $4.99.  I think I just might do it.

Again, if you would like help using the program or getting ideas, you know where you find me.