Three for free - An interactive extravaganza!

by Dan Arnold

Whether you are considering the strategic use of innovative technology across the curriculum, support with the new Computing Curriculum or amazing proactive technical support, hi-impact are leaders in award winning education consultancy for education professionals & also provide bespoke technical support for schools

Shadow Puppet Edu

Collate images and films and record voice-overs to quickly create short films

Works on: iPads and is free to download and use.
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Hi-impact says:
Shadow Puppet Edu is an easy way to engage children in all aspects of the curriculum.  We love it for its versatility and how it can be used effectively with different age groups.  Whether you’re exploring the history of transport, reporting on famous athletes, narrating a school trip or investigating another location, you will find this app motivates children and brings their learning to life. ​

Initially select the images (or short films) required from your camera roll: these can then be ordered - a useful task in itself - to set up the presentation.  There are then opportunities to add and format text to appear on top of the photos and enhance the children’s skills in word processing and presentation with the audience in mind.  Pupils can then narrate over the top of each image, pausing as necessary to collect their thoughts and they will love the “magic wand” 

where they highlight aspects of the picture and even add background music to provide a professional finish.

The beauty of the app is that really supports speaking and listening objectives, enhances the ability of children to showcase their knowledge, engages them in their learning, encourages collaborative learning and is inclusive for children of all abilities.

Time needed to learn how to use it and get going: 20 minutes

What Shadow Puppet Edu says about Shadow Puppet Edu:
STUDENTS CAN:
∙ Present a project or describe an experience
∙ Search Library of Congress, NASA, Met Museum, maps for images to explain an idea
∙ Develop digital storytelling skills

∙ Demonstrate understanding of a concept for assessment 
∙ Improve speaking skills or practice reading aloud

TEACHERS CAN:
∙ Create mini-lessons for blended learning or flipped classroom 
∙ Develop more engaging prompts for assignments or discussions
∙ Provide examples of final projects

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​Code Studio
Get the whole school coding with sequential challenges
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Works on: Through your internet browser on any device. Free to use and pupils can easily be set up with their own accounts to track progress.

During each stage pupils undertake effectively scaffolded challenges of increasing difficulty using block style commands to complete maze games or draw patterns and shapes. There are different focuses e.g. repetition, sequencing, debugging and variables. For teachers there is detailed tracking of progress available for assessment purposes as well as extensive lesson plans and short films to introduce sections by 

guest presenters ​e.g. Mark Zuckerberg.  Unplugged activities are well planned and explained to reinforce and embed the concepts.  ​​

Children love the layout of the games, overcoming challenges, learning tenacity and collaborative problem solving while learning at an accelerated rate - and playing!  There are even extra courses, with topics like Minecraft and Star Wars to really motivate pupils, that can be tried without even signing up.
We have witnessed how the skills in Code Studio are transferable into other coding platforms e.g. Scratch and how students grow in confidence and creativity and develop a love of programming.

Time needed to learn how to use it and get going: 10 minutes

What Code Studio says about Code Studio
Launched in 2013, Code.org® is a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science, and increasing participation by women and under-represented students of colour. Our vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science. We believe computer science should be part of core curriculum, alongside other courses such as biology, chemistry or algebra.
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https://studio.code.org/

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Top Trump It

Create your very own Top Trump Cards
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Works on: iPad and Android apps. (Free, but needs an account to be set up)

Hi-impact says:
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Great news!  We can make our own professionally styled Top Trump cards!  Whether this is Greek gods, mini-beasts, famous  Victorians or countries of the world, this app is for you.  
Simply use an image from your device or take a photograph, choose your categories and enter the relevant statistic.  This is great way to introduce databases and inspire sorting activities.  Furthermore it is incredibly engaging, motivates research and looks great in displays.

This is a simple and effective app with a wide range of uses to enrich many subjects.

Time needed to learn how to use it and get going: 3 minutes.

What Top Trump It says about Top Trump It:

Make your own Top Trumps cards! Take a photo, make up your cheeky stats, pick a card theme and share it! Turn your photos into custom Top Trumps e-cards instantly.
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hi-impact are educational consultants specialising in the strategic integration of innovative technologies across all areas of the curriculum for children of all ages and abilities. For more information visit the site www.hi-impact.co.uk or contact 0151 638 6283.