Day 8: Radial App for Android
Yesterday I found myself sitting at the airport feeling a bit bored. Getting through security took no time at all (which was surprising). So, there I sat. Two hours early for my flight, looking for something to do. I read a little. (The Detective’s Assistant, a great middle-grade novel by Kate Hannigan.) But I found I just needed something mindless to pass the time. Then I remembered an app I downloaded on my phone a month or so ago and decided to play. I opened Radial and began to draw. It was mesmerizing.
Radial is a simple, free app that lets you create integrate mandalas and symmetrical radial drawings (hence the name). It’s intuitive controls have you creating beautiful designs in no time at all.
When you open the app, you are greeted with a friendly screen that tells you to draw. Without any further instruction or too much thinking, you can create an amazingly detailed design.
It really is quite addictive. I spent a good hour at the airport drawing new designs over and over again.
If you touch the color wheel icon at the top, you can change your brush and canvas settings. There are about eight different colors to choose from which is limiting but not too bad. Sometimes when I have too many choices, I spend too much time thinking about what color to choose and less time creating. So the fewer choices worked for me. You can also control the thickness of your brush, line smoothness, the number of times your line is replicated, and how your line is replicated.
Once you have completed your design, you can save it on your device, or share it out through your social media channels.
Here are a few more examples of my art. Each one of these took very little time to make. I had fun changing the settings and challenging myself to try new line styles.
So, I know what you are thinking. “That’s great and all. I’m glad you found a new art calling. But what does this have to do with classroom technology?” OK, maybe only a few of you are asking that. My Math and Art friends don’t have to ask. I bet their minds are already spinning with ideas. This simple app could be a great addition to the STEAM classroom (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). Mandalas are a beautiful way to demonstrate the connection between art and math.
Here are just a couple lesson ideas about using symmetrical designs such as Mandalas, to teach mathematical concepts.
- Making Mandalas: the Ultimate Art-Math-Meditation Combo from We Are Teachers.
- Mandalas, Polygons, and Symmetry from Arts Edge
- Mandala Music and Math Unit from Education Closet (A wonderful STEAM website focused on Arts integration!)
What seems like a simple, free app that helps you pass the time waiting for your plane, is actually a tool for unlocking the beauty of Mathematics through the intersection of the Arts. Download this one today and make something amazing!