Educational technology in the classroom through apps!

1. There’s an App for That
Paige Hale
Jennifer Holladay

2. Top 10 Apps
1. Comic Life
2. Quizlet
3. StoryKit
4. ThingLink
5. Class Dojo
6. Evernote
7. Notability
8. RefME
9. Aurasma
10. iMovie

3. Comic Life
1Authenticity: Students use the app to create their own
product, so not applicable
Feedback: This app does not provide feedback
Differentiation: Students have the options to create a variety
of different types of comic strips.
User Friendliness: App is user friendly and easy to
understand. Help option is also available.
Higher Order Thinking; Create, Analyse
Rational: Comic Life lets students show mastery of a concept
by using creativity. Students analyze the picture and determine
if it fits their idea.
Instructions: Choose template and layout, use tool
bar to style your comic, The Script Editor is the built-in
word processor, the Element Well is to add captions,
inspect your comic, the keyword function chooses
pictures relevant to your comic, edit your images, save
and export.
Student Motivation: Comics provide authentic
language learning opportunities for all students and act
as a scaffold to student understanding

4. Quizlet
2Authenticity: Students use the app for self-assessment
and test preparation.
Feedback: Provides answers to study games and scores
within the pre-test feature. Scores can also be emailed to teacher
if login feature is used.
Differentiation: Students can create their own study sets
of what they need to study based on their individual needs.
User Friendliness: Extremely easy to operate, operation
cues can be enabled through settings.
Instructions: Login, choose study sets using search
tool and choose method of studying.
Higher Order Thinking: Evaluate
Student Motivation: the interactive experience of
studying encourages them that with small amounts of practice,
they can be successful
Rationale: Quizlet aides students with tools to promote
good study habits and prepare them for upcoming exams. They
can self evaluate for upcoming assessments, making them
responsible for their learning.

5. Story Kit
3Authenticity: Students use the app to create their
own content in a storybook format
Feedback: Feedback is not provided within the app
Differentiation: Students have the option to upload
their own photos, add their own text, add their own
audio, or “paint” their own illustrations within the app
User Friendliness: Inside the create a book option,
buttons are not labeled. Students may need assistance
determining which buttons perform which tasks.
Instructions: Instructions are not provided
Higher Order Thinking: Create, Analyze
Student Motivation: Students can use the app to create
stories assigned during class time or to create fun stories
during free time.
Rationale: Story Kit encourages students to not only create a story
with essential story elements, but it also encourages students to
illustrate the story in a way that supplements the story. Students use
analyzing skills to determine if the illustrations fit the store and add or
take away from the characters.

6. ThingLink
4Authenticity: Students use the app to create their
own idea board to collect video, audio, and pictures on a
given topic.
Feedback: Feedback is not provided within the app
Differentiation: Students have the option to upload
their own photos, add their own text, add their own
audio, or given illustrations/ music within the app
User Friendliness: There is a tutorial and if using the
templates provided, it is very easy to complete.
Instructions: Upload media content, arrange within the chosen
template, add links to websites, Choose background image and theme,
save and export file.
Higher Order Thinking: Create, Evaluate
Student Motivation: Students are motivated to use the
app to create a bank of information on one topic using an
organized format.
Rationale: Thinglink allows the student to be the master of the
lesson by providing their knowledge in a visual format.

7. Class Dojo
5Authenticity: Students are taught to learn authentically
by being actively engaged in their learning.
Feedback: Feedback is included within the app by
“rewarding” the students for good behavior, “caught you
being good” moments.
Differentiation: Teachers can communicate with
parents on the individual behavior of students.
User Friendliness: Easy to understand with kid
friendly graphics and instructions.
Instructions: App opens with a tour, students create
their avatar, change their moods, and communicate with
classmates and teacher. Teacher rewards students for being
engaged and for staying on task.
Higher Order Thinking: Evaluate
Student Motivation: Students are motivated to learn
authentically by being actively engaged in lesson.
Rationale: Class Dojo provides students with positive
reinforcement and lets parents feel more of an active participant in
their child’s daily school life.

8. Evernote
6Authenticity: Students take notes in an environment
encouraging listening and note skills
Feedback: Feedback is not included within the app
Differentiation: Students can create personal notes,
use photos, and set reminders
User Friendliness: Clear labels make the app user
friendly for students
Instructions: App opens with a tour, giving clear
instructions, walking students through the uses of the app
Higher Order Thinking: Understand, Remember
Student Motivation: Students are motivated to use
the app to create easy to access notes within their own,
personal Evernote account. Notes can be accessed on
desktops as well.
Rationale: Evernote provides students with an environment to
personalize their notes. Adding photos and reminders allows
students to take their note taking beyond simple written notes.
Evernote is also available on a desktop computer, allowing students
access to their notes even without a device that has the app.

9. Notability
7Authenticity: Used to create and annotate notes in an
environment that encourages learning
Feedback: Can be used to create audio feedback
within the app
Differentiation: Allows students to insert photos,
“handwrite” notes, change fonts, and create audio
User Friendliness: Clear labels make the app user
friendly for students
Higher Order Thinking: Understand, remember
Instructions: Opens with a tour of the app upon first
use, walks students through uses of the app
Student Motivation: Students are motivated to use
Notability for its ease of note taking features, including
access to Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud
Rationale: Notability provides students the opportunity to
create their own notes or annotate notes provided to them. Teachers
can also use the app to provide audio feedback to their students.
Notability works with Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud, allowing
students to access their content from multiple applications.

10. RefME
8Authenticity: Provides students with citations
for references needed in papers
Feedback: Feedback is not included in the app
Differentiation: Providing profile information
customizes the app for students
User Friendliness: Clear labels make the app
user friendly
Higher Order Thinking: Understand,
Remember, Evaluate
Instructions: Instructions are included throughout the
app, including arrows guiding students to buttons they
need
Student Motivation: Students are motivated to use
RefMe during research papers or other papers needing
citations
Rationale: RefMe aides students with citations while writing
reports and research papers. Proper citations encourage students to
give credit where credit is due while also discouraging plagiarism.

11. Aurasma
9Authenticity: Students
Feedback: Feedback is included within the app
Differentiation: Students can work at their own pace
revealing new information as they are ready. They can also subscribe
to different channels based on their learning needs.
User Friendliness: Takes some skill to create, does
have examples and tutorials available.
Instructions: App opens similar to a QR reader, you
point the app at an “aura” and the graphic transforms into
Higher Order Thinking: Create, Apply
Student Motivation: Students are motivated to
create an interactive learning model using modern
technology.
Rationale: Aurasma provides students with an augmented
reality learning experience. The students use this app to become
more a part of the lesson, a new experience for learning. This non-
traditional teaching method keeps learners interested and wanting
more. Looking for the auras makes a fun learning experience.

12. iMovie
10Authenticity: Students use the app to create their own
content in a book, movie trailer, or music video format.
Feedback: Feedback is not included within the app
Differentiation: Students can use their different levels
of knowledge to create a product.
User Friendliness: Tutorials and tips are given
throughout usage of the app.
Instructions: App opens with an optional tour, choose desired
format or theme, upload content, add audio, save and export.
Higher Order Thinking: Evaluate, Synthesize,
Create, Apply
Student Motivation: Students are motivated to
create a product to demonstrate their skills in technology
while using their learning from the classroom.
Rationale: iMovie provides students with a chance to use
technology to illustrate mastery on a topic. Also, to allow students
to present ideas and concepts to other students it that it allows student
who might afraid to present in public the chance to correct mistakes
and to self edit their presentation or material