App Reviews - Tori Gaddy

 

ISTE Standard for Students #6 Creative Communicator

Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.

a.      Students choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.

b.  Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.

c.      Students communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models, or simulations.

d.     Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.

 

1.     Book Creator

https://www.commonsense.org/education/website/book-creator

Book Creator is a tool for creating and publishing digital books. Along with words, students can add photos and videos to express their ideas. Closed-captioning, screen reader capability and other features make Book Creator accessible to learners of different abilities.  

Cost:  Free for one library with up to 40 books.  $10 per month allows for 1000 books divided across an unlimited number of libraries.  Each library is limited to 200 books or less.

            Grade Levels:  3-12

            Platforms:  iPad and website (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.)

Common Sense is a non-profit providing entertainment and technology review to families since 2003.  Common Sense Education focuses on the impact of technology in K-12 education and promotes digital citizenship.

 

2.     Pixton

https://edtechimpact.com/products/pixton-edu

 Pixton.com is a comic strip builder.  With various templates and characters, students can present their idea or story in a media form that appeals to them.  Various fonts, word bubbles, and backgrounds can be used to visually enhance the story.  Students’ work is viewable through the teacher’s account. 

Cost: Free with limited access. $9.99 monthly for basic access.  $24.99 monthly for full access

Grade levels:  2-12

Platforms: any device with a browser

EdTechImpact is an independent reviewer of educational technology.  Reviewers are made up of educators and parents from around the world who share their experiences with products they have used in the last 12 months.

 

3.      iMovie

https://www.commonsense.org/education/app/imovie

iMovie is a video editing and production application available to all Apple users.   Students have the opportunity to create a project using a timeline, filters, pre-determined themes, and music.  Video can be student-recorded or a remix of Creative Commons footage.  Students can publish or share their final project with the teacher or other students.

Cost:  Free

Grade levels:  5-12

Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, MacBook

Common Sense is a non-profit providing entertainment and technology reviews to families since 2003.  Common Sense Education focuses on the impact of technology in K-12 education and promotes digital citizenship.

 

Of the three tools, I feel that Book Creator best fits the goal of ISTE Standard 6 in that it allows students to combine text, photos, and video into one meaningful, creative expression of their ideas.  It is available to any student who has web access, and it can be used across many grade levels.  Book Creator also has features to make it usable to learners of different abilities, allowing it to be used in all types of classrooms.  The various reviews note the ease of use, allowing students to be independent and creative.