Posts on “ iOS ”

It’s with pride and excitement that BrainPOP has released a new app for Windows 8 and its sidekick Windows RT for use on mobile devices such as the Microsoft Surface.  Our Windows app highlights the “tiled” beauty of the operating systems, incorporating an elegant look into the topic search and quiz features, while providing a gorgeous two toned blue sunburst background. It’s simply pretty to look at! The Windows app is available free of charge and provides access to the featured movie of the day. Featured movie topics tie in to current events, historical milestones and figures, holidays, and more! Additionally, current site subscribers can log in directly from the app to access all of BrainPOP’s award-winning content at no additional cost. This is a great benefit for school subscribers who want to provide access to BrainPOP content on Windows device that students may have at home! So, if you’re using Windows 8, download the app from the Windows 8 store and let us know what you think! After all, “the more you know, the more you know!” (and the more we want to know!)  

Wednesday, January 30th at 3:30 PM ET- Get It: iOS Accessibility We welcome Leslie Schecht, Director of Technology for Special Education District 75 in New York City, for a look at the iOS platform’s accessibility features. See how Leslie uses technology to provide educational, vocational, and behavior support for students who are on the autism spectrum; have significant cognitive delays; are severely emotionally challenged or sensory impaired; or are disabled in other ways. You can follow Leslie, an Apple Distinguished Educator, on Twitter: @techdiva. Her district’s innovative use of technology was recently profiled in Fast Company magazine!

Angela Nixon Kiser is a National Board Certified Teacher who works tirelessly to provide interactive and meaningful learning in a technology enriched classroom. She provides technology tips, fun, and advice through a collaborative blog called www.techieteachertales.blogspot.com  If you missed her post on BrainPOP Educators last week, be sure to check it out here! I have one iPad in my classroom. How do you use one iPad with 26 greedy little fingers dying to get their hands on the technology? I think that is one of the biggest mountains to climb in our world of learning. I have researched numerous websites and blogs looking for helpful tips just to keep the growl of “my turn” to a patient whisper. So I endeavored to explore what many sources suggest. Adding the iPad into your center (or stations if the students are older) rotation. Easy enough, right? I would have hoped so, but it had its kinks. I encountered a kink with the length of time each child, in the group of four, would spend with an app. The first few center rotations became problematic primarily due to the game I featured for the week. Not every student played and not every student even touched… Read the Rest»

If you’ve downloaded our BrainPOP Jr. iOS app, you may have noticed an update last week. We’re excited to announce that the new version includes in-app purchasing and updated accessibility features for iOS 6. You will now have the option to purchase the “Explorer” subscription (Movie of the Week plus three additional related movies and quizzes) for $1.99 per month, or Full Access (all topics) $5.99 per month. Of course, you’ll still be able to download the app to access the Movie of the Week plus all free BrainPOP Jr. content at no charge.  Enjoy the update.

Wednesday, October 24th at 3:00 PM ET- The App-solute Best Advice with Mike Amante Overwhelmed by lists describing “the best” educational apps for iOS? Need advice and guidance for what to use . . . tomorrow? Have no fear, BrainPOP is here! This week we are thrilled to welcome Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Certified teacher, and New York based technology integrationist mastermind Mike Amante for a inspiring hour exploring educational trends in mobility, the best apps for iOS, and useful advice about best pedagogical practice.

Bring learning to your fingertips with Annie and Moby!  We are excited to announce that we’ve recently released our BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week app.  You can now access BrainPOP Jr.’s movies and quizzes from an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, as well their accompanying Belly Up comics and Pop A Jokes.  The app itself is completely free to download from the iTunes App Store and we’re proud to say it’s currently the 2nd most popular free EDU app and is featured as “New & Noteworthy”. Current BrainPOP Jr. subscribers can log in from the Movie of the Week app and view all of BrainPOP Jr.’s content at no additional cost.  Non-subscribers can take advantage of our free content by accessing our featured movie of the week and it’s quiz, comic, and joke.  We’re just in time for summer, so whether it’s on vacation or in the car, be sure to take BrainPOP Jr. on the go!  

Wednesday, May 9 3:00PM ET: The App-solute Best Advice with Mike Amante Overwhelmed by lists describing “the best” educational apps for iOS? Need advice and guidance for what to use . . . tomorrow? Have no fear, BrainPOP is here! This week we are thrilled to welcome Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Certified teacher, and New York based technology integrationist mastermind Mike Amante for a inspiring hour exploring educational trends in mobility, the best apps for iOS, and useful advice about best pedagogical practice.

BrainPOP Mobile: Learning at Your Fingertips Wednesday, November 30th 4:30 PM EDT Duration: 1 Hour Discover how BrainPOP’s Featured Movie iOS app, newly updated to enable access to all of our movies and quizzes, brings learning to students’ fingertips! We’ll show you creative ways to use the app throughout the day; you’ll also see how it can be used as a modification tool. You’ll wonder how you ever taught without it!  

With all the excitement about our new iOS app, BrainPOP welcomes guest blogger, and mobile technology advocate Scott Newcomb.  Scott has taught for 10 years and works with 4th graders at St. Marys Intermediate School, Ohio. This is a public school in its 3rd year using mobile learning devices with their students. Scott helped organize and participated in the first Mobile Learning Technology Conference in Ohio in May of 2009. Scott has helped with professional development training for staff members using smartphone computers. He has presented about Mobile Learning at the E-Tech Ohio Conference, Mobile Learning Technology Conference in Ohio 2009-2010, OSBA Conference, and the ISTE Conference in Denver, Colorado, USA.  He has also conducted webinars on the topic of mobile learning for Classroom 2.0 Live, EdTech Talk and the Reform Symposium. Can’t Miss Mobile Learning Resources @SNewco 1)   Mobile Learning Integration via @kylepace If you are looking to integrate iPads and iPods into your classroom curriculum, this is the site for you! It has an entire section of apps that work well in the classroom.  It also has user guides, pod casts and a user agreement. Another great aspect of this site is that it highlights tips and tricks… Read the Rest»

Last week, we called on you, our dear BrainPOP Educators, to share your thoughts about Steve Jobs’ influence on your classroom. We received many responses via Facebook, Twitter and right here on the BrainPOP Educators blog. The diversity of answers was a testament to the impact of the man, the company and the products.  Many educators were excited about the advent of user friendly mobile technology. Jessica from Georgia remarked on the “motivation, creativity, teamwork and innovation” she observed when her students brought their own iOS for BYOT (bring your own technology) day at school.  She added “of course, we all had the BrainPOP app!”   Glad to hear it Jess! Renee from Illinois described the change in pedagogy that happened with the use of Apple devices, “my students are motivated to learn in ways THEY want to learn, not ways I want them to learn or the way I USED TO learn”  Marilyn, another teacher from the great state of Georgia, described the change in classroom life after receiving a grant for an iPod lab. “With the immediate feedback – students would ASK if they could redo (their work) – for a higher score!!!!” On the BrainPOP Educators blog,… Read the Rest»