Augmented Reality: Now in Aisle Seven

As I hinted in Augmented Reality 101, our interactions with media, text, and mobile devices will soon include a new layer: Augmented Reality. Little did I realize that my 7 year old would be the first to bring it to the family's attention.

Mikey was trying to figure out how to connect a cereal box to our computer based on the instructions on the back of the Corn Pops cereal box. After visiting the It's Popnetic website, we produce the following tutorial:



And just in case you think it's just cereal boxes that are changing, consider what Alice for the iPad or Elements for the iPad has to say about the future of books:



Knowing that these changes are coming...
What do you think we should we do about it?

If you don't think it's your job to consider that question...
Whom do you expect to provide our answer?

Expanding the Boundaries of Google Earth

A number of intermediate students in Florence, Italy have the good fortune of being taught by a teacher who continues to learn new ways to engage the tools of Google SketchUp and Google Earth. I recently had the chance to interview Guzman Tierno, to learn more about how he's leading students to achieve expectations by designing objects that can experience gravity and can interact in 3D worlds.



Related Links:
Google Pro Instructor License, FREE for Education
Google Earth Lessons
SketchUp Vehicles Experience Gravity
Drive Your Car in Google Earth
Granacci SketchUp Creations 2009
Guzman Tierno's Class Blog
10 Ways to Harness the Power of Google SketchUp

Additionally, you may be interested in this short but powerful Project Spectrum video that highlights how Google SketchUp can be leveraged to meet the needs of autistic students.

So Much to EMBED, So Little Time...

Many creative elements on the read/write web can readily be embedded within blogs, wikis, homepages, and online courses. Here are just a few examples of what you can do with embed code:

Embed a Video: Create a video in minutes with Animoto, or grab a favourite video from the TED conference or from YouTube, TeacherTube or Blip.tv;

Stream a Live Event: Use video with UStream.tv or Live Blog with Cover-it-Live.

Invite a Response: Video, audio or text responses are possible. Consider using Seesmic, or VoiceThread. Each requires an account to harness it's two-way channel, but the potential is great.

Share Lessons: Digital lessons from slideshows on Slideshare or SlideRocket, to Jing screen capture demos on Screencast.com, and timelines at TimeToast.com are suitable to 'click-copy-embed'.

Gravitate to Google: Embed a Google Map or satellite image (just click the word 'link' above any map for the code); launch a survey with Google Docs (use the share tab); automate an RSS feed to appear on your site from Google Reader (from 'manage subscriptions', select the 'folders and tags' tab, and select 'add a clip to your site'). The expert user will automate content appearing on a site, by applying (and deleting) specific tags to subscribed posts, podcasts, photos...

If you'd like to learn more, you may be interested in "The Magic of Embed Code" on the Teacher 2.0 Podcast.

Photo Credit: liamngls

'Erase' the Chalkboard

Like David Warlick, let's go far beyond PowerPoint in making use of the data projector:

"I’m trying something different today in my Web 2.0 workshop. I’m going PowerPoint’less. No don’t get me wrong. This is not an indictment of PowerPoint. I do not believe that PowerPoint is evil. This is something that Stephen Heppell taught me the other day, and he used it so masterfully, that I thought I’d give it a try. I’ll explain in more detail — if it works ;-)"

This leap to using the data projector for something far more dynamic than the traditional PowerPoint presentation is a jump that is foreign to too many educators. I agree that PowerPoint can be a useful learning tool if it is used well... but it usually employs a very static "look at what I have to say" learning strategy.



We can approach the goal of 'erasing the chalkboard' once teachers learn to use the projector as a teaching tool for:

a] thinking interactively with applications like 'Smart Ideas' or 'Inspiration';
b] exploring the world with web applications like Google Earth;
c] viewing today's front page news via Newseum(see what issues are important around the world);
d] experiencing artwork on a large scale from the Louvre (or other museums and galleries);
e] evesdropping on animals or visiting remote locations via live web cameras around the world;
f] participating in live (or recorded) video-conferences (Skype, UStream, Adobe Connect...);
g] collaborating with others via the read/write web (writing/blogging/wiki development)
h] engaging social learning networks via Flickr, Twitter, YouTube
i] creating/critiquing media en masse (e.g., critically assessing/editing your class newsletter/website/podcast)
j] following global news live (the Olympics; science expeditions; tragedies...)

The coloured slide strategy may be better than chalk, but it fails to harness the potential of the technology. Use the data projector for richer purposes, and we will nurture authentic interactive relationships with people and ideas from around the globe!

Kudos to David for trying a new trick... Here's hoping that other workshop presenters will encourage teachers to do the same by modeling other uses of this transformative tool. Let's be 'smart' about our 'boards': You can still use your prepared PowerPoint presentation, but don't do so at the exclusion of the world beyond your classroom.