"Why the iPad Matters" - Wonderful Article

In this article are some great scenarios for educators and students. Chris Dawson's comments on digital portfolios are exactly what we try to accomplish at BrainiApps. The collaboration methods mentioned make me think of the endless amounts of interactions both students and teachers can have. I agree that if implemented correctly, this tool "MATTERS" big time in the world of education. I realize the article is a few months old but still a MUST read.
http://www.ipadforums.net/ipad-reviews/1787-education-why-ipad-absolutely-matters.html

Patrick McNeece
Creator/Instructor - BrainiApps, LLC.
patrick@brainiapps.com

Example Project :)

Here is an example project created during a BrainiApps iPad learning session.

Top Educational Apps for iPads

We use several well developed educational apps during BrainiApps iPad learning sessions. Of course we have our favorites though! Included are some reasons why these particular apps are more useful than others on the market. They are in no particular order, just our 5 favorites!


1. Story Buddy - A great way for children to create their very own digital story books. Books are limited to 15 pages. However the features are pretty cool and really easy to use.
2. Life Cards - This is a favorite because there are so many useful templates to choose from. Our favorite is the newspaper article template. During sessions with BrainiApps children research current events or created informational short stories. We then put the information into the template and create digital news articles. SUPER FUN :)
3. Encyclopedia Britannica's Dinosaur App - Encyclopedia Britannica has produced apps on several topics other than just dinosaurs and they are all wonderful. This app has tons of great features. The children's favorite feature seems to be the Dinosaur Dig where they get to dig up dinosaur bones and determine which dinosaur they found.
4. Pages - We use this app a lot to tie in what the children have learned and create a culminating project. The poster layout is great for children to create posters about certain topics our lessons will cover. With new technology comes new ways to create research papers and presentations on. Pages is a great app that will assist children in producing creative word documents.
5. Rocket Math - This a wonderful app that keeps children engaged for hours practicing their math facts. Any app that gives the appearance of being a game while staying truly educational is great. This app allows children to build creative rockets and motivates them to practice those addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication facts.

The Sweet Sixteen - 16 Funs Things for Parents and Children

   The following is a list of sixteen short creative activities to help form stronger bonds between parents and their children. Parenting isn’t always easy, but it should be fun. We all get caught up in our professional lives and day to day tasks. However, finding time to have fun as a parent and having fun as a child are far more important than any task that needs to be done in a given day. Here is a challenge for every parent and child to consider. Do ALL of the fun activities together that are mentioned on this list. Getting started on your first activity is often the biggest challenge. Make the time today and let the fun begin! It is truly amazing how just a few minutes each day can make you feel great as a parent and make a world of difference to your child. As the saying goes, “It’s the little things in life that matter most”. This is especially true in the eyes of a child.

   You can decide who picks the first activity and then rotate each time you move onto the next. It should also be noted that these can be done with children and adults of ALL ages. There are roughly four weeks in each month so complete at least two activities per week for a total of eight activities per month. Listed are sixteen activities so spread them out as you wish. We are never too young to have fun! Good luck and feel free to share your stories on your favorite activities.

THE SWEET SIXTEEN

A List of Fun Activities for Parents and Children

1.       Choose a song everyone knows and sing it from start to finish. This is great to do in the car or in the kitchen. P.S. - Props will take this activity from a good time, to the time of your life!

2.       Stop in the middle of your homework and take 30 minutes to do you absolute most favorite thing in the whole wide world. Maybe it’s a sport or a video game? Oh and make sure mom or dad do it with you! But of course no matter what it’s over in exactly 30 minutes and then it’s back to finish your homework.

3.       Get out some construction paper, colored pencils, stamps, stickers, or anything artsy. Write a thank you card to one another and share them at dinner that night. Even if you are going out for dinner or grabbing on the go at a drive through, DO NOT forget to exchange thank you cards.

4.       Make a small piece of jewelry for each other using yarn, pipe cleaners, paper, beads, colored string, or materials of your choice. Make sure to wear it for a whole week NO MATTER WHAT!

5.       Laundry basketball!!! Split the laundry into two equal piles. Mom or dad gets one pile and the kid(s) get the other pile. Standing about 5-8 feet away from the washing machine begin to shoot the laundry into the washer. Add up each person’s score and see who won “Laundry Basketball”.

If it’s a tie, wait until the wash is done and do an overtime round using the wet clothes. Shot the wet clothes into the dryer and determine the “Laundry Basketball” champion.

6.        Kids activity - Get two rolls of toilet paper and turn your mom/dad into a mummy.

 Parents activity – Get two pillow cases and make your child a ghost.

Now see if the ghost can un-wrap the mummy without taking off the sheet.

7.       Together you will write a letter to a family member who doesn’t live with you. Include a small present/gift that you created together. Here’s the twist! Leave it halfway unfinished and challenge the family member to finish it then mail it back to you.

8.       Buy a pack of plain white stickers. Take a whole sheet each and write one word on each sticker about the other person. (Example – mom, caring, beautiful, fun, energetic, hard working, smile, etc.) After you are done exchange stickers and stick them on your shirts for the rest of the day or evening. 

9.       Make smoothies together! What’s more fun than that and delicious?!

10.   Take out two pieces of paper. Each of you will write a “secret message” to one another. After your finished writing, fold it up and put it in the refrigerator. Make sure in the morning you put each note in the correct lunches and do not read them until you eat your lunch. It makes it even more fun if you use a decoding system so that each person has to solve their “secret message”.

11.   Pick your favorite sport and do a “pick ‘em” challenge night! Look up the schedule of games for that particular sport and find the games being played that day and night. Have each person create a list of the teams they think will win. Check to see who got the most correct the next day and find out who won.

12.   Go out for ice cream! Except this time kids it’s your turn to say thanks. You must use that hard earned chore money to buy for yourself and mom or dad. P.S. – All moms and dads are limited to small sizes and one topping J

13.   Turn off all the lights and play a good old fashioned game of Hide n’ Seek In The Dark!

14.   Using only paper clips each of you must create a small sculpture for one another. After the amazing sculptures are complete, bring them into school or the office and display them on your desk for at least a week.

15.   Take a picture together of your goofiest faces EVER! Print and post the picture on the fridge or front door in your house for at least a week. If you don’t have digital cameras or printers just draw an amazing picture of two goofy faces that can be displayed.

16.   Get at least 4 index cards each! Write one word of an object on each card. Get some tape or string so that the card can be stuck to or tied to your head. The mom/dad will tape or stick their cards (one at time) to the child’s head. Do this one at a time. The child then has to ask questions until they guess what object is taped to their head. Then the tables are turned and the child tapes his/hers to mom/dads head and the same game is repeated. AMAZINGLY FUN and ENTERTAINING!!!