Pottermore Website

Reading Alice in Wonderland, Prince of Persia, 'Jack and the Beanstalk', 'Aesop's Fables', or 'Tangled' is like to enter in another dimension. True, right?

But children's books are all about big, splashy pictures and wild colors elements perfectly suited to iPad screens. Needless to say, the iPad can do a lot more than just display static pages. It can read stories aloud, it can enrich a classic tale with touch-powered extras, and it can even render pages in 3D (not suitable for chidren under 6-7 years old).

When students are reading a book, they may to do marks, highlights and notes. The users of iBooks can also read and right PDF directly in the application. Reading children's literature, that's amazing. Yet even with all the extras, reading is so natural on iPad, the technology seems to disappear.

iPad 2/ Apple

Many of the limitations that make the device ill-suited for the classroom have already been addressed - through various iOS upgrades and by the explosion of educational apps and e-books. The iPad now has multi-tasking (sort of).

Students can print. They can learn the narrative text, learning foreign languages, playing video games - Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom, learning Biology, Geography and Music - Arcade Fire, funny and pedagogical, Art - The Google Art Project...

Literature, Science, Geography, Sport, Music, Art, the fundamental curricula on iPad! All in a device and such good apps!

And what about search in real time, news, magazines, Google maps, social networks ( Facebook, Twitter), work (Google docs). All these features offer teachers and students a delicious motivation push!

"iPad apps are expanding the learning experience both inside and outside the classroom. From interactive lessons to study aids to productivity tools, there’s something for everyone."
Apple in Education

The addition of the HDMI cable will mean that iPad content can be connected to a HDTV (which really isn't the projection device that most teachers have in their classrooms), but... it's a start!

iPad 2 (gallery)

'It's necessary to hold iPad with both hands. When we write on Ipad is a bit boring because finger touches stay on screen and the reflexs too', I wrote. Well... not anymore! Like Apple says: 'Less in your hands, more at your fingertips.'

"iPad 2 and iPad Smart Cover are made for each other. Literally. Built-in magnets draw the Smart Cover to iPad for a perfect fit that not only protects, but also wakes up, stands up, and brightens up your iPad. That’s not just smart. It’s genius."

Apple

Now students are managing to do more than simply "consume" via the iPad. And whether the iPad is just a shiny, engaging, but expensive novelty, if nothing else, trading in a backpack full of textbooks for a 1.3 lb tablet is a win for students' physical well-being. It's a good reason!

iPad 2 apps

http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Has Apple, already the beneficiary of a lot of good will from teachers, shown today that it's ready to take on the challenges of bringing iPads into the classroom?

The cost of the new iPad is beyond many educators and students reach - oh! God! What a pity! - There are no educational discounts in iTunes.

After this video, and reading, during the past year, some successful reports of schools piloted iPad programs, students are managing to do a lot via the iPad.

So, as an educator, I can say that iPad will "change the learning landscape"! iPad 2 will change completely the way educators an students will move in classroom!

A new and 'delicious' media world to use on Education! No more backpack full of texts books! Not completely... books are always need but in a less number.

With iPad 2 new features and apps, young people will love to have an iPad 2 on their table in classroom ! Exciting!

Me too! I would love to have iPad 2 on my work table!

G-Souto
03.03.2011
Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Credits: Apple, iPad 2

References:

ReadWriteWeb, Audrey Watters, 'Will the iPad 2 Make the Grade for Classroom Usage?'

http://www.readwriteweb.com

Souto, Gina, 'Ipad features and education'

Souto, Gina, 'And now, Alice for iPad'

Souto, Gina, 'Prince of Persia, an interesting narrative text'

Souto, Gina, Dr., 'EFQUEL Innovation Forum Lisboa 2010'

Back to the Future for PC in school

http://www.telltalegames.com/bttf

Tellta Tale Games has announced Back to the Future for PC and Mac. The game will be launched in December 2010. Ipad version will come later.

This game is based on "Back to the Future 3" and will have the participation of the actor Christopher Lloyd. Back to the Future will span five episodes, with one episode released each month. The first one will be for free if you register here

Michael J. Fox & Christopher Lloyd
Back to the Future
www.telltalegames.com

So, Universal Studio Home Entertainment released yesterday, the 26th Ocotober 2010, Back to the Future I II and III as a 25th Anniversary Trilogy. Can it really be 25 years since "Back to the Futur" flew into theaters and became a pop culture phenomen? Yes, indeed!

Michael J. Fox has been the special guest in the presentation of this High-Def. version. The actors Mary Steenburger, Lea Thompson and Christopher Lloyd has been invited too.

The newly restored High-Def. Blu-Ray Disc released contains over two hours of bonus material, including 16 deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage and "Tales from the Futur", a new six-part retrospective documentary.

Back to the Future high-def.
http://www.facebook.com

This is the first time that "Back to the Future" films are released in high-definition disc format. Full details here

http://www.telltale.com/btff

A $1 donation will be donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research. The site is also inviting users to register to receive the first episode for free

The studio design director Dave Grossman said:" You can expect Back to the Future to be the next step in the evolution that we have been doing for the adventure game, probably a little more accessible and directed. We've been moving things in that direction for a long time". Let's wait for the game fo PC

Let's wait for "Back to the Future", the game fo PC and there we will study the pedagogical use in the classroom. Meanwhile, why not display the high-def. Back to the Future 3 in a face-to-face course?!

Do you remember Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton in the classroom or Prince of Persia: an interesting narrative text.

Movies and games offer teachers and students a nice motivation push! A narration let us know something. It telle us what happened. It tell us a story. Our students love hear narrations.

It provides the necessary information to understand the educational benefits of digital resources and virtual worlds and to lear how to use them as educational and motivational resources.

Games in Schools

Don't miss all the information about the cerimony of 25th Anniversary on Bryan Reesman blog. Very interesting!

And let your students follow the news on Facebook or Twitter or even better join the conversation on the Telltale blog.

GSouto
26.10.10
Copyright © 2010G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

MEDEA Awards 2010

Recognising, encouraging and rewarding
excellence and creativity in media in education

The MEDEA Secretariat announced the 9 finalists for the annual MEDEA awards on 4th October.

The finalists are (in alphabetical order): BBC News School Report by BBC (UK), Bla Bla Bla edemocracy e minori by Civil Life Lab (Italy), Et si c'était toi by Lycée Technique du Centre (Luxembourg), Evolution of life by CNDP (France), Level 7 by Careersbox (UK), Monkey Labs by Die Keure/Larian Studios (Belgium), Pocket Anatomy by eMedia Interactive (Ireland), Theorem of Fire by Nafta Films (Estonia) and The Classroom by Cornerhouse (UK).

MEDEA 2010 finalists

Once again, I have been invited by Ms. Nikki Cortoos to being a judge at MEDEA Awards 2010, as I have been in 2009. I am honoured.

As Teacher Assessor specialized by the University of Evora and Catholic University of Portugal - UCP/Biotechnology, I commited myself thorough a careful work of analysis in all the areas of the projects evaluation.

Long hours, testing, verifying the several entries and checking all the items of the evaluation process.

It is an expertise work that we give unambiguous, with consistency, independence and extreme relief.

www.medea-awards.com/

This year the competition attracted 140 entries from 31 countries, a very high number of entries. For the first time, those entering could chose between submitting their entry as a production made by a professional company or semi-professional production unit or as one made by teachers, students, learners, parents, professors, individual or organisational representatives in primary education, secondary education, higher education, adult education, vocational education and/or training.

The 9 finalists of "MEDEA Awards 2010" had been announced by MEDEA Secretariat, on 4th October 2010. You can see the list in show case here

Entries this year included terrific examples of how students and their teachers are using media to enhance their own media literacy skills while creating learning resources that can have significant social impact. Animations and cartoons made by younger children demonstrated that children are never too young to begin creating their own media-based learning materials.

The finalists were chosen by a jury made up of 74 education and media experts from 26 countries who evaluated the MEDEA entries during August and September.

The overall winner will be announced during the "MEDEA Awards Ceremony" which takes place on Thursday 25 November during the Media & Learning Conference in Brussels.

This year, I could accept the invitation to participate in the cerimony! It will be a joy to share these moments and at the same time to attend the Media & Learning Conference.