Free Mobile Learning Apps

This week's blog focus is mobile learning in the art classroom.  In the near future, all cell phones will be smartphones and nearly everyone will have one.  The 2011 Horizon Report suggests that because of recent growth in capabilities and ownership, mobile devices will soon be used in the classroom.  Below is a list and links to some helpful apps for the art classroom.  And the best part is...THEY ARE FREE!

Art Puzzle HD Lite
This app will help your art history instruction.  The program will force students to look critically and piece together famous paintings like the Mona Lisa and Starry Night.  This is only for the iPad.

Glow Draw!
Teach color theory with this app.  The black background in Glow Draw! shows students that colors like yellow, which do not show up well on white paper, really contrast with a black background.  This is only for the ipad.

Doodle Kids HD
Help your students learn about geometric shapes with this fun app.  This app allows you to draw complicated things using geometric shapes like circles, ovals and squares.  This is for the iPad.

Adobe Photoshop Express
Teach composition and introduce your students to the world of photoshop.  This app allows you to edit your photos by cropping and putting them into frames.  This application is supported by all devices.

Finger Sketch Paint
Students can create quick gesture drawings or very clean fine art pieces with this app.  This program allows students to create using different colors and brushes.  Below are some examples of artwork created with this app.  This is for the iPad.

PhotoPad
This app is similar to Photoshop Express.  It allows users to crop, re size, zoom-in and draw on photos.  It can be used to critique photos or teach composition.  This app is supported by all devices.

 JabberPad
Students can collaborate on drawing and other projects using this app.  This program allows users  to create with different colors on an interactive whiteboard.  This is for the iPad.

Colors! Lite
Teach how to plan out pieces of art using this app.  Users can choose different brushes and brush angles along with every color of the rainbow to create.  This application is supported by all devices.

Draw Free
Use this fun app to create 2-D works of art.  Different sizes and colors can be used to make a work of art.  Check out the artwork below that was created with Draw Free.  This is for the iPad.

Software for Art Educators

This week, I will be exploring computer software for the iGeneration art student.  Below is a presentation (made with Prezi) that highlights a few programs that should be an essential part of every art classroom.

Software for the Visual Arts Classroom on Prezi

I have used most of these 19 web-based and traditional pieces of software.  They were selected because art students can use them to create, manipulate and/or promote their artwork.  These technologies fall into three different categories: photography, video and web software.  Although I believe that art will always be a subject that allows students to use their hands, more and more artists are using technology in one way or another to create.  I have compiled a few categories for these programs.  Below are the categories and a brief description of each program

• Photo Editing Software
• Adobe Photoshop
• The premier software for photo manipulation.  There is no limit to what you can do with this program.  The only downfall is that it is extremely expensive.
• Adobe Illustrator
• The best of the best when it comes to creating anything with words and pictures.  Also extremely expensive, but you get what you pay for.
• Instagram
• Web-based software that allows you to "filter" your photos.  Very popular with social media.  Not nearly as useful as photoshop or illustrator, but it is free.
• Gimp
• Download-able software that is very similar to photoshop only not as user-friendly.  The best thing about gimp is that it is free.

• Photo Sharing Software
• Picasa
• Download-able software that allows users to organize, edit and share photos.  Picasa also allows users to comment and critique other's photos.
• Flickr
• Web site that allows users to share and comment on photos.  Flickr users can join communities and connect with other who are interested in similar style and subject matter.

• Video Editing Software 
• Adobe After Effects
• Very sophisticated software that allows users to edit their videos.  After Effects is the industry leader in video editing.  It is also the industry leader in price and, like all adobe programs, it is very expensive.
• iMovie
• User friendly way to compile, edit and upload videos.  iMovie is not as comprehensive as After Effects, and it comes with iLife.

• Video Sharing Software
• YouTube


• Extremely popular site that allows everyone to share their stories though video.  One hour of video is uploaded to YouTube every second.  YouTube also allows users to comment and do a small amount of editing to their videos.  YouTube is free to use.


• Vimeo
• Website that is very similar, but not as popular, as YouTube.  Free and allows users to watch and comment on others videos.

• Video Creation Software
• Voki
• Free software that allows users to create videos by constructing, manipulating and giving voice to avatars.  The bare-bones version of Voki is free.
• Xtranormal
• Storytelling website that allows users to control avatars motions and voice.  Upgrades cost, but he basic program is free.

• Photo Based Storytelling Software
• Prezi
• Free presentation software that allows users to apply videos and photos to tell an interactive story.  (see above) 
• Blabberize
• Fun, free website that lets users create a story by having photos talk.
• Animoto
• Website that lets users tell stories with photos and video clips.  Animoto is free and user friendly.
• Storybird
• Free site that lets users create online books to read and share.

• Website Creation Software
• Adobe Flash
• Very complex and expensive program that lets users create interactive videos for websites.
• Adobe DreamWeaver
• The best web design software there is, once again, you get what you pay for with Adobe.
• iWeb
• User friendly program that allows users to drag and drop images and create websites. iWeb comes with iLife.

More and more, technology is becoming an essential part of the classroom.  The visual arts classroom is no different.  The programs mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg.  There are many other programs available that aid artists, and there will be more to come.  Technology is the way of the future.  Therefore, it is important for art students to become familiar with these programs early in their schooling.