Apps in the Geography lesson and classroom

Apps in the Geography lesson
and classroom

Dr Jennie Bales
Adjunct Lecturer CSU
Freelance editor and presenter

© EDUWEBINAR PTY LTD | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Housekeeping
• Disclaimer
– The views and opinions are those of the presenter and are
provided as general information which will require further
research to identify the application of the specific
requirements to the participant.
• Restrictions
– Eduwebinar Pty Ltd does NOT give permission for any
capture, recording or reproduction of this webinar in any
format.


Jennie Bales
email: jenbales@iprimus.com.au
twitter: @JennieBales
Jennie has worked in education for over 35
years. Her experience has encompassed
primary and secondary teaching, teacher
librarianship, university lecturing and
departmental leadership in ICT integration.
Jennie is currently contracted with Charles
Sturt University as a subject coordinator and
is exploring options in writing and editing.


Agenda
1. Introduction
2. Build awareness of the how apps can be used to
support the teaching of Geography
3. Identify apps that support geographical inquiry
4. Harness mobile technologies to enrich
geographical field trips
5. Embed ICT tools in teaching and learning

1. Apps –
value add mobile technologies
“When new technologies come along it is the
responsibility of educators to see past the hype and
excitement of a new device or fad to determine whether
or not it has potential in the learning setting…With more
and more technologies competing for a place in learning
spaces, educators need to be willing to explore the
options, but to stay focused on student learning as the
driving force behind any use of technology.”
(Whitby, 2013, p. 124)

App downloads into to the future
Year

Free downloads

Paid downloads

2011

22,000,000

2,900,000

2013

92,800,000

9,190,000

2015 (predicted)

167,050,000

12,570,000

2017 (predicted

253.910,000

14,780,000

Source: Gartner, Statista 2014, http://www.statista.com/


Free vs Paid
‘Free apps may appear to be good, but are often
limited in functionality and often have a lot of
advertising or in-app purchasing required on them.
More and more apps are available every day so it is
impossible to keep up with what’s currently
available.’ (Barlow, cited in Caruana, 2014, p.15)


Handy sources
• App statistics – find out top free and purchased stats for:
– iOS http://www.iosappstats.com/stocks/apptops.php
– Android (A) http://www.edudemic.com/best-educationtechnology/the-best-education-apps-android/

• Apps Gone Free
• Email subscription services
– http://www.smartappsforandroid.com/
– http://www.funeducationalapps.com
– http://www.smartappsforkids.com
Apps Gone Free


2. Build awareness of the how apps
can be used to support the teaching
of Geography
Key:
A = Android
$ = Purchased
$+$ = Purchase
add ons


Prezi

Professional development
Evernote (A)
Teaching Geography
http://prezi.com/1xpvurokwb4z/teaching-geography/
Landforms and rivers
http://prezi.com/fbpjsfblesjz/landforms-and-rivers/
Teaching
Map Skills http://prezi.com/3ymaxj8x2rjy/map-skills/
Students demonstrating understandings
Geography Rocks!
http://prezi.com/jtmjvbvz1pc2/geography-rocks/

7 Prezi alternatives: http://www.techshout.com/alternatives/2012/01/prezi-alternatives/


Useful web resources to support
Geography teaching
• Teaching Appz http://www.teachingappz.co.uk/
• 48 ipad apps for teaching and learning geography / earth science
http://tinyurl.com/au8twn3 (7-12)
• 8 best apps for kids to learn geography and maps
http://kidworldcitizen.org/2013/02/28/best-apps-for-kids-to-learngeography/ (K-6)
• Geography
http://www.ipadineducation.ianwilson.biz/iPad_in_Education/Geography.h
tml (K-12)
• 10 Best iOS Mapping Applications for Your iPhone or
iPadhttp://tinyurl.com/kcx7d2m


3. Identify apps that support
geographical inquiry
• Global Positioning System (GPS) - space-based system
that provides time information in all weather conditions,
anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an
unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS) provide a
variety of capabilities designed to capture, store,
manipulate, analyse, manage, and present all types of
geographical data. GIS use geospatial analysis in a variety
of contexts, operations and applications.

Mapping– interrogating, annotating
and building maps
ArcGIS (A, W8)
Tap map or use current location. Multiple views. Query the
map, search and find information, measure distances and
areas, share maps. Sign up and find community hosted maps.
Authoring tool. Advanced features through subscription.

Spotzi-Atlas (A) Goes beyond street and aerial maps to include, e.g.
hurricanes, earthquake hazards, government debts, twitter users 500 maps available.


The power of GIS


Earth Observer ($)

Mapping - GPS

CityMaps2Go
(A$)
Download maps to access offline
international, includes Wikipedia
notes and city features

Free version has 5 free downloads

Space & Place (global)

Globe for iPad
Show countries on a 3D
globe, manipulate size and rotate.
Wiki information available with a tap.


Place and Space (local)

Triposo Australia
.


Place & Space (global)

Triposo (A)
Free world travel guide.
Download city or country guides
to view offline. Travel, tourist
information and maps.

CIA World Fact Book
(A, $)
Data is downloaded
so no Internet
connection required


Atlas of the World
News feed and images
and information on
famous sites around
the world.

Space & Place (global)

Barefoot World Atlas ($$+$)
Demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=Z55L2xdcOyA


Using Data
Australian government – free apps
– http://australia.gov.au/news-and-media/apps
ABS: Australian statistics with access
to key economic indicators, location
aware Census data and population
clock.

My Enviro lists
environmental assets and
heritage sites in your
suburb or surrounds

Soil Mapp identifies likely soil types
with maps, photos, satellite
images, tables and graphs about
nearby soils and uncover your soil’s
physical and chemical
characteristics.

Water Storage: Find how
much water is available in
Australia, your state, capital
city and for individual
storages.


Rocks HD ($)
Explores key topics in Earth
Sciences –
rocks, minerals, soils and
fossils

Zanibooks (A, $) Interactive stories starring Lulu and
her cat. Currently titles are set in
Australian, Polynesia and the Amazon. Through story
follow the map, interpret symbols, meet native
animals and inhabitants and accept challenges that
connect to the culture and environment,

Run that town (A) Strategy game where you take control of any
Australian neighbourhood. Use real Census data to make
decisions that will sway popular opinion in your favour.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rif1698fH2E


4. Harness mobile technologies to
enrich geographical field trips
Field Trip (A)
Read a review: http://allthingsd.com/20131203/oh-the-places-yourphone-will-find/
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyRJG2rrw0E
InstaCapture ($)
Go-to record-pause-record
video maker with effects,
customizable sounds and
frames!

Camera Plus ($)
Photographs,
video, sound
recording, filters,
add text.


Pinbox
Access maps, drop pins –
label, address, URLs, latitude
and longitude, add notes

Field trips – annotating maps


Capture and report findings

LoiLoNote ($)
Collaboration, presentati
on and classroom
learning app.


Evernote
Tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=XO9wQ3yP95w

Skitch
Tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmTunEYTFWk
Snap, mark up and send.

Little Story Maker
Tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH7FqXdm8B0
Add images, text and voice recording to create e-book.


References
• Caruana, A. (2014). Heading back to school. Macworld
Australia, 2014,Feb, pp. 14-19.
• Statista [2014]. Retrieved from
http://www.statista.com/
• Whitby, G, 2013. Educating Gen Wi-Fi: How to make
schools relevant to 21st-century learners.
Sydney, Harper Collins.


In Closing
PowerPoint presentation
http://www.slideshare.net/kbonanno/
Future events
http://eduwebinar.com.au/webinars
Twitter @eduwebinar
http://www.facebook.com/eduwebinar
Membership
http://eduwebinar.com.au/membership


Boosting your professional competence


28

Apps in the Geography lesson and classroom

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Similar to Apps in the Geography lesson and classroom

More from Eduwebinar

Recently uploaded

Apps in the Geography lesson and classroom