Blog Post #8 New Technology

What is Aurasma?
Aurasma is an app supported on Android and Apple phones and tablets. Getting started is easy. It is so easy, in fact, that I was able to do it. After downloading the app onto your device, you begin transforming images aka "triggers" into digital experiences for those viewing your trigger photo. Imagine the typical book report. Students supply the author, illustrator, details from the plot and perhaps how they felt about the book. This is typed or written, presented to the class or simply passed into the teacher. The only people who benefit from this type of project is the teacher and maybe those students who stay awake during the reports delivery. Now imagine the same book report using the Aurasma app. The student uses their Android or Apple phone or table to record a video of them explaining the book. Next, they take a picture of the book jacket. Then, in the Aurasma app the picture of the book jacket is turned into a "trigger". Now each student, teacher, parent, friend or administrator with the Aurasma app can hold their device over a photo of the book jacket and have the student's recording play automatically.
This app can be found on the app store or at Aurasma.com. This app is FREE!


I wanted to add this after viewing the Langwitches Blog. This post was originally by Dr. Silvana Meneghini. Visit her at The Edge Blog to see other ideas, applications and directions.

To get a better picture of how the app is used take a peek at this video below.



One of the biggest questions is how can this technology be used in a classroom? The following video explains how high school students use Aurasma for presenting projects and even scheduling conferences with their guidance counselors.



I like this app because it can transform any project into a self guided tour. It can connect parents to the classroom through verbal communication. Students can display their printed, painted, sculpted work in the library and personally explain their idea even if the student is not physically present. This technology allows students to be the author of their explanations on any project or topic. This can be a tool for those children struggling to write. They can create images and explain the water cycle instead of having to write the steps on paper. Teachers can create a class page and have assignments uploaded to the page where others can critique and view class projects. This is an exciting, engaging and fun use of techology.

I promise this is the last video. The students in this video are actually acting out the water cycle. This app actually encourages collaborative projects. Think of the international possibilities and the professional development that could occur by focusing on a single "trigger" image.