‘THREE FOR FREE’ Blog 15.10.16

by Dan Arnold and the hi-impact team

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

Cyber Cafe

Explore the Cyber Cafe to help Griff and his friends stay safe online!

​Works on: Through your internet browser on any device. Free to use and doesn’t need an

account to access most of the features.

Hi-impact says: We’ve been recommending this resource from ThinkuKnow for a while but it’s still a great tool that educators can turn to when teaching eSafety. The Cyber Cafe helps children learn about staying safe online whilst using technologies in a variety of contexts. Pupils can enter the various themed areas in the virtual Cyber Cafe and take part in activities including; making a personal online space; sending / receiving emails; messaging and web searching. eSafety can sometimes be a bit of a dry subject to approach with children but this puts it into a context that they understand and that is relevant to them. The interactivity of the site means that children are interested and engaged while still getting all the critical information that they need.
If the Cyber Cafe on it’s own isn’t enough for you, there’s also a wealth of additional resources in the Teacher and Trainers Area. You’ll need to sign up to download these, but it’s still totally free.

Time needed to learn how to use it and get going: 2 minutes

What ThinkuKnow says about Cyber Cafe: CEOP has been working with Becta, the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Internet Proficiency group and GridClub to create this cool Cyber Café. Visit it now to help Griff and his friends stay safe while using email, chat areas, mobiles and other new technologies!
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https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/cybercafe/

ChatterPix Kids

Bring your photos and pictures to life!

Works on: iPads and is totally free

Hi-impact says:

ChatterPix Kids is very simple, but effective little app from Duck Duck Moose. Essentially, it allows you to take a still image and make it speak. Users can record a 30-second voice message onto their image. The time limit is actually more of a help than a hindrance as it encourages pupils to be concise with their information rather than waffling on! Once you’ve recorded your message, users have the option to apply filters, stickers, frames and text to their animation. Images can either be added using the camera or they can be imported from the camera roll, which means you aren’t limited with the theme.
From investigating a famous historical character to reporting on a location as an explorer in Geography and from performing a Haiku poem to bringing one of their own drawings to life - Chatterpix really does let your imagination run wild.
It’s accessible enough to use with younger children but the ability to save to the iPad means that older children could potentially create a sequence of animations and edit them together to create a longer video clip. For example, they could animate all of the members of a food chain to create a video presentation!
There are no adverts so users can expect a ‘pop-up free’ experience. Try it out - you’ll love it!

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

What ChatterPix Kids says about ChatterPix Kids: Grab your camera! Let’s ChatterPix! Chatterpix Kids can make anything talk -- pets, friends, doodles, and more. Simply take any photo, draw a line to make a mouth, and record your voice. Then share your Pix with friends and family as silly greetings, playful messages, creative cards, or even fancy book reports.

http://www.duckduckmoose.com/educational-iphone-itouch-apps-for-kids/chatterpixkids/

TinyTap

​Easily create interactive digital presentations and games.

Hi-impact says: We love the versatility and inventiveness of TinyTap. The app has a range of built-in tools that allow the user to build interactive presentations, games and quizzes. The user can design each ‘page’ and then add an activity to it. Creations can be linked to any area 

of learning, from shape recognition to foreign-language vocabulary. It has an enormous amount of potential for imaginative teaching and learning and really encourages learners to be inventive and imaginative with their work.

Children love to create their own TinyTaps but so can teachers; many practitioners will want to create content for their class to use, particularly in EYFS, EAL and SEN. It can take a little while to get to grips with it the first time that you try it out but once you get your head around the layout it’s a breeze. This allows the children to focus on the content of their work rather than the technicalities of the app.
There is also a bank of pre-made TinyTap activities available to download - the majority of these are free, although some will ask you to pay for them. Users can share their work and become part of the TinyTap community, or choose to keep it private.

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

What TinyTap says about TinyTap: TinyTap empowers you to create your own interactive educational activity and share it on the TinyTap marketplace for others to play and learn from. Best for language and math learning, personalized education, assessments and projects. Share your Tiny Apps and reach millions worldwide! Discover and follow other TinyTap makers and play new Tiny Apps created daily by some of the smartest people in the world!

https://www.tinytap.it/

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.