Category: Apple

December 12, 2024

Create-A-Long Activities – Create a custom comic book

Communicate visually wit colourful graphics to tell a story, explain a concept, summarise a plot, or show how a pattern can be represented visually.

Comics can be a great way for learners to showcase their storytelling skills, explain concepts, and visually represent a concept. For learners with limited or no communication skills, this can be an excellent way to have them contribute to the wider conversation in class.

For this activity we have used a modified version of the Create a Comic Activity from the Everyone Can Create Apple Teacher Learning Centre section.

image of an iPad with a comic book literacy example

For this activity we used

an iPad, Apple Pencil, pages app, adobe express icons

We used an iPad, an Apple Pencil, Pages, and Adobe Express using our Glow Scotland credentials. Whilst these are very specific examples we appreciate that not every school has access to these resources. An alternative might be to use a web based tool such as Book Creator which has excellent comic book templates and Pixabay which has free to download graphics.

Step 1: Create-a-long: Download the Activity

Step 2: Create-a-long: Create Your Characters

Step 3: Create-a-long: Put your comic book together

Now that you have tried all of the steps and put the comic together, you have developed the skills in your learners to apply this knowledge in different situations. Using comic book style activities can be a great way to Visualise concepts, retell failure Argos from history with custom characters, or even explaining concepts like the water cycle in new and engaging ways.

Try it yourself and feel free to share your stories of success with us via social media:

Bluesky: @digilearnscot.bsky.social

September 26, 2024

iPadOS Top 5: Keynote

Keynote on the iPad allows learners the chance to create everything from simple to more complex animations directly out of the box on their device.

Top 5 is aims to take you through 5 of the main features and techniques that you can use on all core apps on the iPad.

Follow along with each of the lessons and download the sample files to get started with your pupils and be sure to share any results using @digilearnscot on X (Twitter) and Threads

Lesson 1: Magic Move

Download Sample File

Lesson 2: Motion Paths

Download Sample File

Lesson 3: Animating GIFs

Download Playground File

Download Dog Running

Lesson 4: Movie Making

Download Sample File

Lesson 5: Animated Timelines

Download Sample File

January 18, 2024

Resource – Space Exploration Workbook

Version 1.0

This project stems from an example we created to support staff in their professional development. During a 4 part CLPL course that we run, This is Digital, we spoke about a Planning, Learning, Teaching, and Assessment cycle, and one of the aspects to this was that a well planned resource can help not only with student learning and engagement but with assessment strategies and establishing success criteria. We created a Pages Workbook that essentially acts as a 1.0 to the resource being shared. This example workbook was populated with digital literacy examples using out of the box features and apps, and also created spaces for teacher feedback and evaluation.

iPad screenshot showing a video — Space for ‘flight director’ comment laying out student achievement

Staff attending these sessions were not necessarily all iPad users but it was enough to spark the ‘art of the possible’ in their practice and reception to the aspects laid out were very positive. Especially when the digital examples were shared, allowing pupils the ability to share their knowledge in a way that makes sense to them. This led to the new resource being made so that it might have an impact on teaching & learning and take it in a direction that our colleague George says, is more than simply using markup to draw a face on a bin, as it puts the digital literacy into context and has an ability to take all aspects of iPad use into account.

Example created in keynote, imported in Pages and teacher feedback added

Putting the new version together

In creating this document, it was important to show the various strings to the bow that the iWork suite has, including the recent update that allows USDZ and SVG files to be included natively. It allows various levels of interactivity in a single resource and means that pupils have all the resources they need.

iPad screenshot showing a Mars habitat — Incorporating USDZ files for hands on and icons to signify each page

Layout

Icons are a great learning tool as it gives pupils a visual guide to what type of activities they can do on each page/section. The workbook has a natural flow and progression of skills making use of apps such as Keynote, GarageBand, iMovie and the Everyone Can Create projects.

iPad screenshot showing a robot — Using icons to explain what each section/page incorporates

For each of the activities, we have laid out a context beforehand, giving pupils a scenario and then set a task that builds on it. The Everyone Can Create projects are an excellent way to leverage these activities and make this book more project based, topic focused rather than a one and done style of activity.

iPad screenshot showing iPad with a page for adding content — Example of an activity page. Pupils create their example and add it to this page.

Download the Space Explorers Workbook here

Download the 1.0 version of the workbook here

December 18, 2023

Arctic Breakout App Prototype

For this Arctic Breakout app prototype, we have created a Keynote file and set it to links only. To remind yourself the steps involved have a look at this activity.

We then created tasks based on previous activity such as Pixel Art, Green Screen iMovie, and Podcasting. It is a good to have tasks like this that combine various digital literacy activities and contextualise them in such a way as to show their true ability to be used across a wide range of curricular areas.

Your task: Offer pupils the opportunity to create an app prototype like this that makes use of their various digital literacy skills.

We have the Keynote template file available for download. Use the button below to download it to your device. There is an alternative Scratch project for you to edit below.

Download Keynote Template

Download PowerPoint Template

Over to you

Try it for yourself and share your creations with us on social media

Alternative Build!

You can flex your coding skills by exploring our Arctic Escape Scratch Project. This project is a quiz that uses two lists to store the questions and answers.

A short demo is below, along with a link to the project for you.to edit. Let us know how you get on!

Things for you to try…

Explore the script of the bear sprite and try to add your own questions and answers
When one of the A B C or D sprites is clicked, can you get it to change costume so that the purple button changes colour for 1 second before returning to the original costume
Add a sound to each of the A B C and D button presses
Animate the GAME OVER and YOU WIN costumes – ensure they return to the same position at the start (clue… “When I receive Reset”)

Link to Scratch Project

 @digilearnscot  #12DaysofCreativity

December 14, 2023

Festive Pixel Art

Combine knowledge of maths & numeracy, computational thinking (if this then that), and creativity. To create the image below we are required to have an understanding of numeracy concepts and digital literacy. By answering the questions correctly, each cell changes colour based on a predetermined set of rules. We will explore these rules later in the tutorial video. These activities can be made in any spreadsheet application such as Excel or Numbers

Pixel Art screenshot

We have made the file available to download, tap the app icons below to download a Numbers or Excel version of the file.

To try this activity for yourself download the files linked above. Watch this activity video to get an idea of how you can share your knowledge and understanding of a multitude of curricular areas

Try to replicate the activity for yourself and share your finished creation with us on social media @digilearnscot using #12DaysofCreativity

A special thanks to Miriam Walsh for the updated numbers document and you can see the original forum post on the  Education Community

December 12, 2023

Enhanced Storytelling at Christmas

Animation to enhance storytelling

We will explore how to enhance your storytelling/literacy skills by building a scene and adding some animation to bring it to life. We will aim to make something like this:

In order to make this style of video, there are a few things we should consider.

What story or poem do we want our pupils to recite?
Where will they find/download content? There are websites such as Noun Project and Pixabay
What apps will be useful? For this example we used Voice Memos to record our reciting of the poem, and Keynote to build the scene and animation.
Once the animation/scene is created – what can pupils do to enhance it further? To add in more of a creative flair? Creativity never stops – it evolves.

For more ideas on ways in which you can introduce creativity into your learning and teaching practice, check out the Everyone Can Create guides from Apple Education.

Have a go yourself.

Follow the steps in the video below:

You can download the referenced in this post from OneDrive here

Try the activity for yourself and share your finished podcast with us on social media @digilearnscot

December 8, 2023

Create a Festive Podcast

Create a Podcast

Createa podcast on your iPad using GarageBand. This is a great activity to build pupil confidence, develop their literacy skills, expand their research and communication skills as well as developing a key skill for the world of life, learning and work – collaboration.

Sharing a Podcast can be easier than you think. You don’t need to publish it to Apple Podcasts or Spotify in order to let people listen – you can share the file for download from your school blog, share using QR Codes during parents evening or even have it sent out along with the school weekly newsletter.

If you do decide to start a class podcast, then there is an excellent option available. The app Spotify for Podcasters is available for free on all platforms including the web. There are some things to consider.

It requires an account, so it is advised to have teachers create an account and publish. If you wish to explore this topic more, then this ePub is a good resource to use.

For this activity, we used the following apps:

Pages can be used to plan the script for the podcast. Think about a topic, plan the research, write an introduction, and structure the flow of the episode. Who will say what. Other apps such as word, docs, or notes can also be used but for this activity we used Pages as it has a built in teleprompter.

Garageband is the main app used for this activity. A powerful recording studio that comes built in on every iPad deployed in schools. It can be used as a voice recording app, music maker, beat smasher and more. Voice effects add a touch of creativity and for this task we recorded our voice using the chipmunk effect to give us an Elf sounding recording. Mixed with free music effects downloaded from Pixabay build a comprehensive podcast experience.

Keynote continues to play a pivotal part in iPad Creativity with its versatile approach to activities. Content is key and when learners use an app like keynote to design podcast artwork, they can blend colour, design, text, drawing, shapes and more to create an eye catching colour popping podcast show artwork. You might consider the Daydream Believers activity Branding before this task to give pupils as much of a headstart as possible.

Now, it’s your turn.

The YouTube video below is broken into several chapters which can each be used as a separate lesson.

Write your script
Record your content
Add some music
Create your artwork.

You can download the referenced in this post from OneDrive here

Try the activity for yourself and share your finished podcast with us on social media @digilearnscot

December 6, 2023

Green Screen Scanner

One of the most powerful features of having a device in your class, is the ability to use the camera to capture content. On iPad this can open a world of possibilities when you combine it with an app like iMovie. This is a free app that comes on most deployments in Local Authorities. There are options such as WeVideo and others on Chromebook/Windows laptops and we advise you to speak to your LA digital lead about options.

The tutorial video below is broken into 3 parts. Recording, editing and a Keynote option for additional Creativity.

We have the Keynote template file available for download. Use the button below to download it to your device.

Download Keynote Template

Download PowerPoint Template

Over to you

Follow the tutorial above to try it for yourself and share your creations with us on social media

 @digilearnscot

December 4, 2023

Memoji Storytelling

Create and stage festive characters with expressive Memoji heads to tell a story using AR.

For this activity it is advisable that you have an iPad, Keynote, and ARMakr

Before you try the main activity you may wish to watch this tutorial on creating a custom Memoji character:

Download this Keynote project to help you get started.

You can customise your character in a number of ways. Either draw the character’s body
using Apple Pencil, stylus, or your finger. Alternatively you can find pictures for free from sites such as pixabay.com. If you are using other apps such as PowerPoint or Slides it is important to ensure that your background is set as transparent. Export as images and save to your photos app.

In AR Makr, tap New Scene, tap Start, then follow the on-screen instructions to place the scene. To Make a new AR object. Tap New, tap the folder icon and then select the image of your character/objects. Tap the tick to approve the image, and add the object to your AR library.
To add the object to the scene, tap it on the left side of the screen. Pinch and drag to resize as needed. Move iPad to where you want the object, then tap Place.

Follow the tutorial below to try it for yourself and share your creations with us on social media @digilearnscot

April 24, 2023

10 May 16:00, This is iPad: Accessibility Features

Accessibility

Having an accessibility need can be a daunting prospect for learners. Having an Additional Support Need that isn’t visible c`an impact pupil confidence and ability to take part in classroom activities. Accessiblity features on iPadOS can benefit all learners. Especially those with SEN/ASN.

What are some of the built in features that can support learner needs?
What are some of the ways these features can be used to enhance learning & teaching?
How can these be used?

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/ipad/ipad9a2465f9/ipados

Find more information about Apple Regional Training Centres here: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/digilearn/professional-learning/platforms/apple-rtc/