FINDING AND EVALUATING APPS

Learning Outcome

Learn how to find and evaluate mobile apps.

Overview

One of the big advantages of mobile devices is their apps and app stores. Before the mobile revolution, computer programs were expensive and sometimes difficult to use. Mobile apps, however, are easier for developers to create and can thus be more affordable. But just because they are cheaper doesn’t mean they can’t be powerful tools for education!

Finding Good Apps

The easiest way to find apps is through the app store (iTunes for Apple, Google Play Store for Android). Instead of just typing in “educational apps”, it’s better to use a more specific search term, or to look for pre-curated collections of apps. Apple, in particular, does a great job creating collections of some of the best apps for many different subjects and grade levels. Try going to the App Store, then find “App Collections” in the right column and scroll down to “Tools for Teachers.” You can also look under the “Education” category for many more collections of educational apps. There is also an education category in the Google Play store.

There are other ways to find apps besides just the app store. There are many websites dedicated to providing reviews for educational mobile apps. Some are created for specific subjects, while others are more general. One of my favorite websites is from the American Association of School Librarians, who creates an annual list of the best apps. These websites are often created by teachers, and are a good source of ideas!

Evaluating Mobile Apps

In an earlier lesson (lesson 1.2) we exposed you to PICRAT, a framework to help you consider how to integrate technology into your teaching in meaningful ways. As you may recall, PICRAT is a simple matrix that shows the students’ relationship with the technology (PIC: Passive, Interactive, Creative) and the teacher’s use of technology to influence their teaching practices (RAT: Replace, Amplify, Transform). Through experience, we have seen that most teachers use technology in the bottom-left of the grid to merely replace traditional practices and make students passive participants in the learning experience. This framework encourages teachers to use technology to not only engage their students actively, but to do so in a way that reinvents and redefines their teaching (top-right corner of the grid).

There are thousands of educational apps available through various app stores that promise to engage students and influence learning. However, as you will soon learn, not all apps are created equal, and most apps fall in the lower left of the PIC/RAT framework. A framework like PIC/RAT is a useful tool to effectively evaluate apps and determine their value in accomplishing your real purposes.

Assignments

Complete the mobile apps assignment.
Share your review in your discussion groups.
Pick two apps from your peers that sound interesting and learn about them yourself.