Thursday, May 15, 2014

Photography Apps

TouchRetouch HD

Available in the App Store (Currently $.99)
This app allows users to remove an unwanted section from a photograph right on a device.  It is truly like magic.  Of course, depending on the starting image, the results will differ.

BeFunky Photo Editor


Available in the App Store (Currently Free)

Be Funky is an easy-to-use, however powerful, photo editing tool.  There is currently no login required. Users can import photos from the camera roll or Facebook or take a photo using the camera app. Many effects can be applied to the photos, however it is simple to undo them if you change your mind.  Also included in the free version are many editing tools, such as rotate, crop, contrast, sharpen, etc. A nice variety of frames can enhance the final product.  Users can save their final photo to the camera roll and, in turn, access them in other apps.

Sphere - 360 Photography

Available in the App Store (Currently Free)
Create a panoramic photo or virtual tour with this amazing free app.  It is available for the iPhone and iPad.  The developers offer a few great tips here.  Once you get the hang of it, you can create interactive images.  In the example below, swipe the preferred direction on an iPad and navigate with the mouse on the computer.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Infographics


I attended a session on Infographics awhile back at the Fort Worth Technology Conference.  The presenter, Marcia Hensley, proved a very valid point - looking at a well-designed and easy-to-follow infographic may be easier for some (maybe most) students than reading large amounts of text.  After attempting my first infographic, I realized they MUST be well planned and made with a goal in mind.  Having students create an infographic to present data and content would involve most (if not all) of the 4 Cs - communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.

12 Tips to Overcome Public Speaking Jitters


Tornadoes

Ideas for Using Infographics
Kathy Schrock has published a great video on Infographics as a Creative Assessment.  She includes many other infographics resources on her Infographics as an Assessment site.  In addition, Professional Learning Board has listed ways to use infographics in the classroom.

Infographic Design
The anatomy of an infographic, explained here, consists of three parts - visual, content, and knowledge.  In addition, EdTech blogger, Richard Byrne, posted Seven Essentials on Good Infographic Design.

Tools to Create Infographics

  1. PiktoChart - PiktoChart offers limited themes, graphics, and upload capabilities.  The free version and Educator Discount upgrade (currently $39.99/year) is explained here.
  2. Easel.ly - Explained here - "ideal for educators, students, business owners, and executives who need to convey a thought, lesson plan, or concept in an easy-to-follow visual form"
  3. Infogr.am - This online tool allows users to create interactive charts and infographics 
  4. Creately - Creately allows users to create 5 public diagrams; Read more here
  5. Visme - Free account provides 3 projects; Read more
  6. Canva - Read my previous post here
  7. PowerPoint - Find directions here

Places to Find Infographics
In addition to some of the online tools mentioned above, example infographics can be found on the following sites:

http://elearninginfographics.com/
http://dailyinfographic.com/
http://www.infographicszone.com/
http://www.discoverinfographics.com/
http://www.infographicsmaze.com/