Mindblowing

App Title: MindBlowing

Grade Level: Elementary to College Level, students need to be able to know how to record their voices, make a video, and upload photos on the iPhone. It is in the context of a mindmap surrounding any topic or theme.  

Purpose: A A multimedia mobile mindmap

Program Functionality: B+ Students type in an idea or concept and gather information and thoughts related to this concept through self-made videos, audio recordings, and images. These are organized as a concept map with branches of information surrounding a theme. Once the concept map is finished it can be emailed to the instructor or others. Students should be able to add text but this doesn't appear to work correctly.

Overall Educational Value: B+  Fun, engaging, and helps students to do research, take notes, or brainstorm in an interactive way.  

Cost: Free!

Recommendation: Would love for the text function to work and for this app to allow sharing on various platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and more. The option to embed the mindmap would also be amazing. This app would receive an A if there was an option to label the various images, videos, and audio uploads. Moreover, I would like to be able to upload previous recorded audio and videos like I can with the images. The app makes you create a new video or audio. Without the labeling the e-mail becomes a mess to figure out since you only receive a picture of the mindmap with attachments.

Classroom Use Examples / Ideas: One of the great advantages of this app is that students can use this without being connected to wifi. Younger students and language learners can go on scavenger hunts related to a theme and collect information related to the topic by taking pictures, recording short videos, and conducting interviews. Students could also record observations or take class notes with this app. Students could collect research for a blog post or brainstorm for a paper. Students can easily record thoughts versus writing them down. Students can email the mindmaps to each other and compare. Students could also collect information and send the mindmaps to another student to guess the theme, character, or topic. Teachers could use this app to take multimedia notes at a conference or workshop.

Developer Website: http://sites.google.com/site/mindblowingcuhk/

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/mindblowing/id369070873?mt=8

Reviewer Name: Shelly Terrell

Reviewer Blog: http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/

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iBrainstorm

Title: iBrainstorm (iBrainstorm Companion for iPod Touch) Does not run as a stand alone app on iPod.

Grade Level: 2-12, students need to be able to type because the iPod (companion app) allows only text, drawing, although younger students could draw on the iPad.

Purpose: B+ A multi-device collaboration tool

Program Functionality: B- Allows up to four people to collaborate (somewhat) on a brainstorming diagram or group thinking process. Once the diagram or brainstorming has been completed, the diagram can easily be emailed to all participants. Must have an iPad for the iPods to be used. (ie. Teacher on iPad, students on iPods) As students type on the iPods, they just flick their finger and their ideas will be flipped over to the iPad. See YouTube demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKFpEMG3BF4

Overall Educational Value: B Fun and engaging, but some teachers may prefer just using Sticky Notes, slates, or student response systems for similar effect in the younger grades. I think older students (5th and up) would prefer this method (more anonymity, perhaps). 

Price: Free!

Recommendation: Need to delete when typing a note on the iPhone, could be cumbersome. Would be great to add some features like choice among drawing tools: pen thickness, colors, the choice of note color, and the ability to have multiple pages. Also the ability to export to other programs would increase usability. 

Classroom Use Examples/Ideas: Need to be on the same local wifi, but can be used via Bluetooth if you turn off wifi on all devices. Students could collaborate on a diagram add text, note-taking. Could be used in small groups: teacher writes something and students add to it on iPod Touches and flip it over to the teacher. The need for an iPad is a bit of a drawback. YouTube demo of use with multiple devices: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KumchuR5R1A&feature=related

Developer Site: http://www.ibrainstormapp.com/

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibrainstorm/id382252825?mt=8

Whiteboard Pro: Collaborative Drawing App

App Title:  Whiteboard Pro: Collaborative Drawing

Grade Level: All ages

Purpose: A

This is a great way to create drawings or brainstorming collaboratively.

Program Functionality: A

Simple to set up. Works great when connected to another iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. You may need to wait 30 - 60 seconds to connect with the other device.

Overall Educational Value: A

Wonderful way to teach collaboration.

Cost: Pro version for iPhone and iPod Touch - $3.99

HD version for iPad - $3.99

Free version  - doesn't have all the colors or features.

Overview:  Whiteboard Pro: Collaborative Drawing offers real-time collaborative drawing. Connect iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and both people can draw on the same picture. Start with a new blank screen or open any image or drawing and collaboratively draw on it. An image opened on one device will be transferred wirelessly to the other device. Marker color and transparency can be changed. Pictures may be saved and also submitted to an online gallery.

Recommendation:  This app could be used both in the classroom or for students' personal use.  Students could learn collaboration and cooperation by working together to complete a drawing. They could brainstorm ideas, annotate a map, play Tic Tac Toe or Hangman, practice math facts or spelling words, or make a list. It could also be used by students or teachers to annotate screenshots or photos. 

Classroom Use Examples / Ideas:  

App Website: http://www.greengar.com/apps/whiteboard/

Developer Website: http://www.greengar.com/apps/whiteboard/

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/whiteboard-pro-collaborative/id321986541?mt=8

Reviewer Name: Gayle Berthiaume

Reviewer Blog: What Have I Learned?

Please leave a comment if you agree, disagree, or have other creative uses for this app in the classroom, etc.