Comics in the Classroom

Everyone loves comics, and thanks to the Make Beliefs Comix app, comics can easily be incorporated into any teacher’s classroom. Due to advertisement sponsorship, the app was free on the iTunes app store, and offers all the basic tools necessary to create your own comic strip. I chose the app because of its lack of cost, and also the simplicity of the app. While it offered only a basic set of generic characters and customization options, it did a good job of being straightforward about the creation of the comic. Using comics as a way to assess student learning through mid-unit projects was my first idea about curriculum enhancement with a comic creation app. Doing this would allow students to summarize their learning and also express their creativity. Perhaps the other comic creation apps would be far better for use in the creative classroom, but the Make Beliefs Comix app is great for any teacher looking for a simple way to involve basic creativity in their class.

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06/03/2015 App Reviews, Projects No Comments on Comics in the Classroom

Word Clouds in the Classroom

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While searching for an app to create a word cloud for a unit over the Renaissance, I settled on the Word Clouds app, which was made ABCya.com, and is temporarily free to download. After using the app, I feel like the app was a good bargain. The simplicity of the app is a big plus, but also a drawback considering the limited amount of tools available to customize your word cloud. The plain looking word cloud could be a bit more eye-catching, but the app takes care of all construction of the word cloud. All I had to do was compile a list of words, and the app put them into a multi-colored graphic. You can control the word-count of the word cloud with a handy tool at the top of the screen, allowing you to edit the size and density of your word cloud. The biggest drawback of the app was the fact that I couldn’t put spaces between vocabulary terms or names without them being separated in the word cloud. I found a great Word Cloud Tutorial online, which very easily explains the app and its features. In the classroom, this app would function as a great lesson summary, or introduction to a unit. You could be as specific or broad as you want, so the possible daily functions of the app are endless. In conclusion, I would recommend the app to educators over most other options due to the simplicity, free availability, and efficiency of the app.

 

 

06/01/2015 App Reviews, Projects No Comments on Word Clouds in the Classroom

Thinglink in Education: The Renaissance

You can get the incredible Thinglink app for free in the iTunes app store. The interface of the app makes it very user-friendly, and the combination of simplicity and presentability make this a great resource for teachers of any subject and any grade level. I found a great tutorial that showcases the extent to which this app can link all aspects of a lesson together in one media-friendly project. My experience with the app was exceptionally pleasant. Pros of the app include; accessibility, ease of use, versatility, and share-ability. The major con of the app is the limited features available in the app. The web version offers more detailing and customization.

In the classroom, I can see an endless amount of uses for the app. From introducing units, to going in-depth on individual projects, to a daily interactive lesson, the app can be useful for nearly any classroom situation. The implications in education that come with the implementation of this app run deep. Projects can now be managed in one location, assignments can be done anywhere with an internet connection, and information can be centralized and taken anywhere by students with mobile devices. The impact that Thinglink can have in a classroom cannot be overlooked, and should be leveraged by teachers to streamline their content and methods of learning.

05/29/2015 App Reviews, Projects No Comments on Thinglink in Education: The Renaissance