PopBoardz is a free iPad app for organizing collections of images, videos, links, and notes. If you went by just that description you would think that PopBoardz is another Pinterest clone, but it’s not. Unlike Pinterest, PopBoardz is designed for organizing resources for yourself rather than publishing collections to the web. When you do want to share a board you’ve created, you can do so by exporting your board as a document that can be shared via email, Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud.
The real appeal of PopBoardz is found in its layout and presentation options. Boards on PopBoardz are arranged with symmetrical tiles instead of the random sizing of tiles that appears on Pinterest boards. PopBoardz is also designed for presentation use. Tap on any tile in your board to project it in full size.
To learn more, check out these tutorial links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EjKOv4TVA8 - A quick overview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz1BJx3drXo - Quick Tutorial
https://youtu.be/g3PHOmzvA54?t=2m47s - More in-depth tutorial (it is set to start at 2:47 - where the tutorial actually starts!)
In your Classroom:
To Share:
Tap the PopBoardz logo and the All Boardz menu will slide open. First, go the settings menu and tap on the Google Drive button and sign in - this will link your Google Account. Tap the PopBoardz logo again. You can see all of the Boardz you have created on the first screen that pops up, the share button (cloud with an arrow in it) is under each board. Tap the Share button and you will get choices - choose the Google Drive option and either highlight a folder or just tap the "Select Folder" option (just tapping the select folder option without selecting a folder will put it in the main level of your drive.) Choose the first option "PopBoardz PBZ - not Read Only or Password protected. Go to your Drive and tap the "i" next to your board file. Tap get link and then paste that into your completion form!
The real appeal of PopBoardz is found in its layout and presentation options. Boards on PopBoardz are arranged with symmetrical tiles instead of the random sizing of tiles that appears on Pinterest boards. PopBoardz is also designed for presentation use. Tap on any tile in your board to project it in full size.
To learn more, check out these tutorial links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EjKOv4TVA8 - A quick overview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz1BJx3drXo - Quick Tutorial
https://youtu.be/g3PHOmzvA54?t=2m47s - More in-depth tutorial (it is set to start at 2:47 - where the tutorial actually starts!)
In your Classroom:
- While reading a longer text, such as a textbook chapter or novel, teachers can have students create a PopBoardz for it. To do so, teachers can require students to complete a tile for each section of the textbook chapter or each chapter in the novel. The tile can include notes, images, or links to websites with the purpose of helping students identify the significant information from the section or chapter. Additionally, by creating a PopBoardz in this way, students will have a study guide when they complete the text.
- In addition to or in replace of a traditional research paper, teachers can have students create a PopBoardz that captures 16 important facts, ideas, influences, legacies, or some other information related to the research topic. That way, if students are required to present their research topic, they can use their PopBoardz as a visual aid during their presentation.
- When conducting a scientific experiment with multiple steps, teachers can have students photograph each step of the experiment. After completing the experiment, teachers can then have students import the images to a PopBoardz and after each image an explanation of that step. For example, the first tile would be an image of the experiment and the second tile would be an explanation of it. That way, at the conclusion of the experiment, students will have to explain their results.
- While reading a text with multiple characters or significant individuals, teachers can have students create a PopBoardz to help them keep track of all the characters or individuals involved. To do so, teachers can require students to create two tiles for each character or person. The first tile can be an image of the character or person and the next tile can include information about the character or person. That way, students will have a graphic representation of the character or person accompanied with notes.
- As an introductory activity at the beginning of the year, teachers can have students create a PopBoardz that includes their likes and interests (e.g., favorite foods, activities, sports, celebrities, hobbies, video games, etc.). When all students have finished, teachers can place students in small groups and allow each student to share his/her PopBoardz with each other. While a student presents, the other students can jot down key ideas from that student’s presentation, using an app such as Simple Note, My Notes, or SwiftKey Note.
To Share:
Tap the PopBoardz logo and the All Boardz menu will slide open. First, go the settings menu and tap on the Google Drive button and sign in - this will link your Google Account. Tap the PopBoardz logo again. You can see all of the Boardz you have created on the first screen that pops up, the share button (cloud with an arrow in it) is under each board. Tap the Share button and you will get choices - choose the Google Drive option and either highlight a folder or just tap the "Select Folder" option (just tapping the select folder option without selecting a folder will put it in the main level of your drive.) Choose the first option "PopBoardz PBZ - not Read Only or Password protected. Go to your Drive and tap the "i" next to your board file. Tap get link and then paste that into your completion form!