How to Make an Augmented Reality Word Wall with Aurasma

If you have at least one iPad in your classroom, you can make an augmented reality word wall.

The picture by the lockers is actually a video that pops up of students acting out the word, exaggerate.

Here's how:  

1.  Assign one word per student and have them create their own image that represents the vocabulary word for your wall.  My students used Pic Collage on their iPads.  

2.  Print and laminate the the images that the students have created.

3.  Students should work with a partner to assist in the creation of a short video that shows what the word means.

4.  Follow the steps of how to create an Aura using the Aurasma app to make your image come to life.  

When all is said and done, you'll have a wall full of words and pictures.  Any time students use Aurasma, they can scan these pictures.  If it's done right, the video that represents the word will appear.

This is my best attempt at a panoramic picture of our word wall.

Once you are finished, what kind of activities would you do with students to put this creation to use?

Calling All 5th Grade Blogging Classrooms: It's Time to Share our Students' Blogs!

My students love the blogging process, but they'd especially love a way to read blog posts of other students in their age group.  There's nothing better than telling students they have a global audience of readers!

To do this, I've created the website Blog into 5th.  This website will be a great way to connect other Fifth Grade classrooms that blog.

I will also share writing and editing rights for Blog into 5th with teachers that are interested in contributing.

Details:

1.  Students will be able to find the other student blogs on the right side of the site.  Each link will take students to the page that has a list of student links.  For example, here's where my class link goes.  As you can see, this works well with KidBlog.

2.  Student blog posts can be of any topic or format.  My students are currently writing about whichever topic they choose.  They absolutely love it!

3.  Teachers can use this page to write about and highlight certain blogs or blog posts that they are proud of.  This can be a great way to motivate some students.  This is optional.

4.  Teachers will be able to add their "blogging tips" onto our Blog into 5th page.  This is optional.

Fill out the form below to connect your class with the other classes that sign up for this endeavor.  Thank you!

Teaching Globally with My Sister's Class in Florida

Today, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to teach my sister's 1st graders in Florida, while I was in chilly Chicago!

My first step?  I decided to create a fun vocabulary video (using her current words).  My wife also joined in the fun as we quickly made the video that you can view below.



After I shot all of the videos on my iPad, I put them in the right order using iMovie for iPad, uploaded to YouTube, and sent the link to my sister.  This really did not take long at all.

She showed the video to her class and afterwards, connected her class with me using Skype.  Our 25 minute conversation included the following:

• A demonstration of what snow looks like (most of her students had never seen it)
• A brief Q and A about what I thought about the snow
• What to wear in the cold
• Information about my two dogs

My favorite part was calling on the eager students as I saw them through my computer.   What a fun experience!

How to Create Augmented Reality with the Aurasma App

There are so many ways to use the app, Aurasma in your classroom.  However, do you actually know how to make an "aura" within this great app?

Watch the following video to become a pro at creating auras.



I've used Aurasma for giving voice to my students' explorer projects, as well as attaching video to words in my class word wall.

How do you / would you use augmented reality in your classroom?