School of the Future: AppSmashing
By: Mick Litherland
What is AppSmashing?
Definition: The art of imaginatively using multiple apps to create an enhanced project. Being able to use multiple apps to create a certain type of task or project.
AppSmashing has been around ever since the first smartphone was created. Without even knowing, people AppSmash everyday. Within the past two years, AppSmashing become one of the top uses for in class learning.
8th Grade English Language Arts Curriculum Standards
- ELACC8RI4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
- ELACC8RL2: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
Types of Apps:
For this AppSmashing activities, students will be using the following apps to use for their assignments:
- Camera App
- Reading Comprehension Practice Guide: 8th Grade Edition App
- Edmodo App
Tasks and Assignments for the Students:
Every student in the classrooms will get a chance to experience a new and unique way of learning. After getting them adjusted to the device and downloaded the required apps for the activities, student will will now start the assignment. Everyday, each student will take a picture of anything they want. Whether it is a picture of something in the classroom or something they thought looked really interesting at home, students will use the camera app to take the picture and save it onto their phone. The next step in the activity is going to the Reading Comprehension Practice Guide App to write why they took that picture. The response should be up to two to three paragraphs long. Once they have finished the assignment, they must submit the picture and the assignment and send it to Edmodo. The teacher will give the students a code to put in when signing up for Edmodo allowing the students to send it to the right class and the teachers will be able to receive all of the students assignments.
Suggestions?
With this new way of learning, it is going to take some time. Once the students are aware of what to do, we will be able to examine the progress of each student and see whether this new activity is working. Any faculty members that have any other ideas making this new program grow, please feel free as we are open for suggestions!