Travelear

Travelear provides users with a high definition audio recording of different experiences captured throughout North America. After launching the app, users can view the multiple listening options by tapping the “Map” or “List” buttons on the bottom of the screen. If they are viewing the options on the “Map” view, users will need to click the “i” button to access the recording. If they are viewing the options on the “List” view, the recording will load once it is tapped. While listening to the recording, the app provides a brief description of the sound, and users can pause and stop the recording with the buttons on the bottom of the screen. They can also advance and rewind the recording using the timer on the bottom. To return to the main menu from a recording, users will need to tap the stop button.

Please Note: This app’s functionality is improved when holding the device in portrait view.

Instructional Ideas

1. For a lesson in descriptive writing, teachers can have students listen to a recording from this app. While listening to it, teachers can have students compose a description of what they hear. To increase the rigor of this assignment, teachers can require a specific amount of adjectives, similes, and metaphors that students must use in their writing.
2. When reading a story that is set in a location included in this app, teachers can play that recording in the background. That way, the recording will add a certain ambiance to the reading.
3. After using this app, teachers can have students model it by recording an audio track that represents something from their life (e.g., a sports team’s practice, mowing the grass, riding on a school bus). Students can then pair that recording with an image and brief description and post it to a class website. (For safety, please make sure individuals who were captured on this recording give their consent and/or the consent of a parent/guardian).
4. When teaching about a topic students have not experienced previously, teachers can play a recording that relates to that topic from this app.

Screenshots of Travelear

Ratings for Travelear

Please Note: No stars indicate that the dimension is not applicable