MAD-news for September: Augmented Reality (AR) is now in student-made mobile apps!

Hi Guest,

If you know our team, you know how global and diverse we are as a unit. We have team members in NY, FL, PA, GA, TX, OH, DC, Ghana, India, and interns from all over the world. I am thrilled to share with you that we now have some phenomenal educational partners internationally as well. Our recent partnership with Mindbox in India has yielded unprecedented opportunities for students across the country in their first ever App Design category that was launched this year, powered by MAD-learn. We’ll be in Dubai soon as well with some amazing partners working towards exposing kids to the experiences that are critical, purposeful, and meaningful in our world today.

Stay tuned and enjoy this month’s edition of MAD-news and Augmented Reality!

Alefiya Master

Founder & CEO

Maybe We Should Call It “MAD-reality”?

The latest “wow factor” for students to explore when creating their apps is an augmented reality (AR) element! Students can now build screens in their mobile apps that allow the end-user to experience an augmented reality element as it pertains to their app. AR uses live, real-world environments that are augmented with superimposed computer-generated images over a user’s view of the real world.

Marker-based augmented reality (also called Image Recognition) uses a camera and some type of visual marker (like the Hiro marker, seen here), to produce a result when the marker is in view.

One of our outstanding summer interns, Anuraj Bhatnagar, who had been experimenting with augmented reality while in graduate school at the Georgia Institute of Technology pushed the idea forward. He worked with our Product Development team to help make the feature a reality for students…or should we say an augmented reality? In his words, “We are helping to democratize technology by providing resources for students to learn how to build and launch their own apps and ideas.”

We are excited to announce this brand new AR feature and can’t wait to hear what you think about it! Log in today, play with it, and tell us what you think! Based on early responses and user feedback, we know it’s going to be a big hit with the students, as well as a powerful tool for the future.

MAD-learn in the News!

We were thrilled and honored to have been featured in YouTube videos and newspapers across India as students created apps with MAD-learn during the Design Championship Program, an initiative by Mind Box. Our CEO’s treatise on building a successful “edupreneurial” company was also featured in last month’s Learning Biz newsletter!

MAD-teacher of the Month

This month’s recognition goes to not one, but 16 teachers who made our Director of Curriculum and Implementation’s professional development in Staten Island two of the best days ever. All of the United Activities Unlimited (UAU) teachers were not only quick and patient learners, they were a joy to be around. Each of the diverse teachers in the group brought strong skills to the training, as evidenced by some impressive apps created in just a short span of time.

Ably led by Guillermo Grau, the combination of learning and laughter brought a positive energy to the two full days of work. One participant said, “I am usually not great with technology, however, I felt confident with what I learned with the training.” Another echoed the common sentiment, saying, “Great session! Would love to do it again…it was easy to catch on.” Perhaps the best feedback received was the most straightforward, simply stated, “Pretty smooth.”

List of MAD-schools Continues to Grow

We want to thank all of the schools that have either renewed their partnerships with MAD-learn or are just joining our MAD-family. We are so happy to know we will be continuing our work to help students at:

Southampton Union Free School District (NY)
Amani Public Charter School (NY)
New Prairie united School Corporation (IN)
Colonial Middle School (PA)
Ron Clark Academy (GA)
Manor Plains (NY)

…considering co-presenting with MAD-learn at next year’s ISTE conference in Anaheim, CA! If you’re planning on attending ISTE next year, let us know TODAY so we can craft a proposal together. We speak or present at ISTE every year and would love to help you gain an exceptional experience that comes with presenting a session at the world’s foremost educational technology conference. Contact Alefiya for details – alefiya@mad-learn.com