AugThat's Ambassador Program....

AugThat's Ambassador Program....

I am really excited to announce that AugThat has launched an ambassador program and I get to help run it.  I love sharing and helping other educators learn and use Augmented Reality in the classroom.

Augthat Ambassadors program is a community of K-12 educators leading the industry in ed-tech. These educators are supporting, empowering, and inspiring teachers inside and outside of Augthat! They will be spreading the Augthat philosophy and immersion of augmented reality throughout their networks and partner with the Augthat team to help other educators become power users of ed-tech.

Some Expectations:
All Ambassadors are able and encouraged to:

• Be present in the Augthat community and large teacher groups to answer questions, provide tips to new users, and share ideas for using ed-tech and and Augthat. 
• Become a Certified Trainer and provide formal Augthat! Professional Development
• Get early access to new features and share feedback directly with the Augthat Team
• Flag any technical issues you come across so our engineers can investigate
• Drive the conversation about ed-tech and Augthat through social media

Participate in the Augthat Ambassador Professional Learning Community to share learning with fellow Ambassadors and stay up-to-date about the latest happenings in Augthat and ed-tech.  Does this sound like you?  If so please apply to become an AugThat Ambassador.  Click here to fill out the application.

For more information about the program please click here.

Exciting NEWS:

All Ambassadors will have their very own button within the app to access the Augmented Content they have created.  For example if teachers have any of my triggers once in the app all they have to do is click on my name and scan away.  The AugThat Ambassadors will be like featured Augmented Content Creators.  The AR Rock Stars!  What is even more exciting Ambassadors will have early access to new AugThat's content, lessons, activities, and curriculum.  I have to tell you that there is some amazing stuff being developed, that I can't wait to try out.  You thought the 360 ° environments were mind blowing just wait.

Eye Catching News = Augmented News Report

Eye Catching News = Augmented News Report

I am so excited to announce the release of Eye Catching News. This project takes current events and brings it to life. With a help of a talented friend at AugThat we developed 2 unique triggers, one for World News and one for National News. When you scan these triggers using the AugThat's STAR app (Supreme Tutoring Augmented Reality) you will receive an animated news report. What is the unique part is the stories will change about every two weeks or so. The triggers will stay the same but the news stories will automatically change.

Not only did we design these triggers but we also have developed lessons and or activities to go along with the news stories. Best of all the stories can be used at all grade levels. You can download a lesson and or activity that best fits your needs. There are some lessons/activities designed for younger students, older students, and along with question starters. Being a technology teacher and knowing how important it is to have tech integration I've also included Tech Integration ideas and tools. I broke down the tech integration into apps and web based tools since not everyone has iPad/tablets and or computers/netbooks/Chromebooks.

Ideas:

• Start an interactive notebook and attach the two triggers to the cover or inside the spiral notebook, 3 tab folder, or a 3 ring binder.
• Use the writing prompts to start a journal and or blog.
• Have students write/create digitally and submit their work via an LMS such as Edmodo.
• Post Question starters in an LMS such as Edmodo to create an online decision.
• Mix and match the pre-made lessons. (Don't use the same one for each story.)
• Can be used as a center - self guided.

Using the Triggers:

1. Download the STAR app from AugThat (Supreme Tutoring Augmented Reality)
2. Launch the App
3. Tap Start Lesson
4. Tap Current Events
5. Scan the Triggers

The Activities:

• Younger Students - World Events - Sheet 1
• Younger Students - World Events - Sheet 2
• Younger Students - National Events - Sheet 1
• Younger Students - National Events - Sheet 2
• Older Students - World Events - Sheet 1
• Older Students - World Events - Sheet 2
• Older Students - National Events - Sheet 1
• Older Students - National Events - Sheet 2

Other Activities & Triggers:

• Question Starters
• Tech Integration
• World Current Events Trigger
• National Current Events Trigger

I already of requests for a Science, Math, and a Person in History augmented lessons similar to the Current Events.  So keep your eyes peeled I am sure I can work something out.

#NotAtISTE15 Reflection ....

#NotAtISTE15 Reflection ....

I wasn't able to attend ISTE this year, which was a little disappointing.  I did get over it quickly after I joined the #NotAtISTE15 group.  I was able to follow lots of the conversations that were going on at ISTE from home.  I was even able to participate in not one #NotAtISTE15 Ignite session but three of them.  I really enjoy sharing so I was ecstatic when I was able to share.  I even was able to have my own badge that I just had to augment.  My edtech friends did let me know that they would be very disappointed in me if I had not put an augmented twist to my #NotAtISTE15 badge.  If you scan it with the Daqri app you will receive the augmented experience.

I really like the Personalize Your Chromebook Experience with Extensions, Tips and Tricks by Molly Schroeder.  The Voices from ISTE 2015 with Rory Newcomb on Gamification and Avatars was also very useful. Avatars can be a very powerful tool in the classroom in building self-esteem. Even if you can't be at ISTE you can always count on Jeff Bradbury to broadcast live from ISTE Blogger's Cafe.

If you are on social media you can review the hashtags #ISTE2015 and #NotAtISTE15 to find tons of resources.  Including the 3 #NotAtISTE15 Ignite sessions I recorded.

Resource posted by Kasey Bell - @ShakeUpLearning 

Not only do you find amazing resources from following the hastags but you will meet some amazing, passionate educators who love to share. Such as Matt Mill @DitchThatTxtbk, Craig Yen ‏@craigyen, Joy Kirr ‏@JoyKirr, and Todd Beard @TeacherBeard.  If you can't attend a conference find out what the hashtag is and follow along online.  You will receive mounds of resources, information, and meet some amazing people along the way.  Until the next conference, un-conference, or workshop let's Connect, Learn, and Share!

My Ignite Sessions:

• #NotAtISTE15 Ignite Augmented Reality Session - Monday
• #NotAtISTE15 Ignite Mobile Learning Session - Tuesday
• #NotAtISTE15 Ignite Augmented Reality Session - Wednesday 

  

Seeing the Universe via an Augmented Reality ....

Seeing the Universe via an Augmented Reality ....

On Tuesday June 30th, 2015 in the nights sky you might have noticed the double star.  Well it wasn't a double star it was Jupiter and Venus lining up.  To the naked eye it appeared that the two planets lined up perfectly to form a double star.  In reality the two planets were millions of miles apart and their close encounter is called a conjunction.  This conjunction will be one of the brightest stars in the constellation of the Lion, the star Regulus.  Using two different star watching apps I was able to capture this amazing dance in the sky.

I used the Star Walk app which game me information about the two planets. The SkyView app allowed me to overlay the augmented content and see the Lion.  I enjoyed seeing the planets alignment and the visual of the lion.

The view using SkyView app.

The view using the Star Walk app.

Augmented reality brings learning to a whole new level.  There are several different star watching augmented reality apps.  Some do cost such as the Star Walk one while others are free such as the SkyView app.  You can use them interchangeable.