You’ve prepared your lesson well, details carefully thought out. While the iPad or iPod/Touches can be used as pickup-and-go device, having a workflow in mind gives a stronger experience. Imagine my “oops” after handing out 25 iPod/Touches, I forgot to set the website URL on the devices so my students could easily launch the site I wanted. You’re thinking – easy – just write the crazy long URL on the board and have them type it in. I can hear it now: “It didn’t work… I can’t see…Is that an O or a number?…”. I can feel the tension rise.
No Problem! I had just downloaded the app, Chirp to all the devices. This app uses sound waves (reaching above the pitch of classroom buzz) to send out information (links, images, notes) to all launched Chirp devices in the general vicinity. (Recently it was used in London’s Topshop to send out backstage Fashion experiences to other chirpers. I digress.) So I launched my Chirp app, quickly typed in the URL and sent it out (my fingers were crossed). I was absolutely amazed when I heard ping, ping, ping across the room as each device connected and automatically launched the website. Two devices didn’t work so I cranked up the volume on my iPod/Touch and sent it again. Success! Right away, my brain went to how this little app would save me precious time so that I move ahead with curricular activities.
Have you used Chirp? And what did you do with it? I’d love some real live examples of what happened.