Bev Humphrey​
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Aurasma

27/11/2013

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A friend asked me about Aurasma today and it reminded me that I keep meaning to play with it more ;-) . The Aurasma app I have on my iPad allows me to add hidden triggers to any images that I take so that when the device is held over the image (could be a place, a book or any object) the extra content I have added will play. There are many animations provided with the app or you can add your own videos and I think this is where it gets clever. These augmented reality triggers are included in the Morris Lessmore picture book and they trigger the content on the Imag-N-Tron
app. I've been experimenting with the Aurasma app today and it is fairly straightforward to use and I think it could be used in lots of exciting ways. Apparently my friend had heard talk of using it to have book trailers play when a certain book cover is hovered over and this sounds very cool indeed. Some ideas I had:
Book cover triggers to student book review videos - nothing better than the recommendation of peers! 
If possible links to authors reading aloud from the particular book - for example the video of the wonderful Michael Rosen reading We're Going on a Bear Hunt 
Posters in the library linking to videos of student librarians explaining the rules of the library
Display of teacher/librarians favourite books with videos of each of them talking about their reasons attached to 'their' book cover 
Trigger objects around the school used as a treasure hunt
Holding app on device over bunsen burner to get video experiments

On a personal note I'd love to buy my nephews & nieces books and then let their parents hover with their phones & discover a video of me reading the book to them - or talking about why I like the book.  I'd like to create Auras for all the special Christmas decorations on our family tree too .....but that's just because I love Christmas! Could be a good way to document family history though. Just a few quick ideas but I'm enjoying using Aurasma and think it has real potential.

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Android apps for Dyslexic students

30/1/2013

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After my recent post about IOS apps for Dyslexic students I was asked if there was an Android version of them and found that sadly no there isn't. After some digging I've found some android apps that are good however, although I do find it difficult finding non IOS apps - such an Apple fangirl, guilty as charged! 
Meet Heckerty is a delightful story app that's great for students with learning difficulties. I love the way that in the 'Read to me' option the words are highlighted as they are read aloud, the ability to tap a word at any time and have it read out to you and the very easy navigation. (There is an IOS app of this one too)
Neon Tiki Tribe book apps are great fun, probably best for students up to the age of 11, older kids would find them too young I think. They focus on issues such as bullying and use a dyslexia friendly font , the accompanying song soon loses its charm but maybe not for younger readers! (+ IOS)
Moon+ Reader is good for reading ebooks, the scrolling line under text (you can change the speed of this) is very useful and there are a number of other adjustment you can make in the app such as changing the background theme, brightness etc. 
Just a few but I will add more if I find them.

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    My blog is a collection of thoughts and I hope you will learn something about me from the ramblings as well as finding some useful links. I'm Bev Humphrey and I'm a Literacy, School Libraries and Technology Consultant. I am self employed so views expressed are solely my own.

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Literacy, School Libraries & Technology Consultant
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