Tiffany

Tiffany Shields’ Reviews of Educational Applications:

1. Schoology: Schoology is a free app that has earned 5 stars. This app will allow educators to manage their classrooms, create and submit assignments, post assignments, videos, and resources for a variety of classes in one site, allow for interactive discussions between the students and teacher, create and perform assessments, encourage collaboration, and more. My district is currently providing training for our staff with the uses and benefits of Schoology. With teaching 3 grade levels, I envision using this site to enhance the conversation and collaboration in the target language with my students. I also see it as an organization tool when doing technology presentations with my students. Having one location for each class will simplify the exporting, viewing, and ability to respond to the individual presentations.

2. CloudOn: CloudOn is a free app that has earned 4 stars. There is a pro-version for $3.99 a month allowing for air printing. CloudOn was recommended by my instructional media specialist. This app allows you to create, review, and edit Microsoft Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations on an <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">IPad or IPhone. It allows one to access and manage files within your cloud storage <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">accounts such as Google Drive. Likewise, It allows for the sharing of a doc with <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">many colleagues to eliminate multiple versions of one doc. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I would use this app when creating handouts, practices, and presentations for my <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">classes. I would also use it with my team for the completion of our monthly <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">requirements such as the SOM that require collaboration from every team member.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">3. PicCollage: PicCollage is a free app that has earned 4 stars. It allows you to <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">create collages with your pictures or images from the web using a variety of <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">layouts, stickers, text with fun fonts and frames. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I would take the idea from the Pick Me A Word app and apply it to this app as <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">an opportunity for my students to teach and learn vocabulary from class. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I could als use it to introduce a thematic unit or a cultural event such as the <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Mexican holiday,“The Day of the Dead.” The pictures would benefit the visual <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">learners in the class. It would also be a fun way for students to personalize <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">their learning.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">4. MindSnacks: MindSnacks is a free app (for the initial lesson download)s that <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">has earned 4+ stars. MindSnacks assists users in learning to read and speak <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Spanish by playing 9 different games on the go. The app introduces the user <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">to 1,000+ Spanish vocabulary words with specific lessons aimed at learning <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">the concept of conjugation. This app is geared for adults, kids, students, or <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">anyone with a desire to learn or enhance their Spanish knowledge. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I am always looking for apps to share with my students to use outside of class. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I often use Quizlet as a resource within my classroom. I can see using this app <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">with my sixth graders as a fun way to learn thematic vocabulary.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">A Continuation of Tiffany Shields’ Reviews of Educational Applications:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">5. Duolingo: Duolingo is an app that has earned 5 stars. Duolingo is an app designed to teach introductory communication (speaking, reading, and writing) in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, and English. This app teaches the languages through mini-games that test your reading, writing, and speaking skills. You can challenge yourself to achieve new high scores or compete against friends to earn badges as a motivational tool. It tracks your progress as you work through the games/lessons. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">This app was recommended to me by a few parents as well as by students. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I have added this app to our schools’ IPad card as an additional practice resource with my sixth grade students and summer school classes. I also plan on having my daughter use this app as she prepares to come to the middle school next year.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">6. SonicPics: SonicPics is an app that has not yet been rated. It costs $1.99 to <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">downlowad. SonicPics turns your photographs into a custom narrated slideshow. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I have used other resources in the past such as Voice Thread for students to create <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">a digital story accompanied by oral or written Spanish. I would use this app for the <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">same purpose but the possibilities are endless. I could use it to teach vocabulary <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">using the pictures as visuals. Culture could be taught through the pics with oral <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">language accompanying the pictures.

7. Educreations: Educreations is a free app that has earned 4 stars. Educreations allows you to turn your IPad into a recordable whiteboard to teach concepts from all areas of your curriculum. It seems to contain many of the same features as “Explain Everything” but is free :-) I could see using this app to create tutorials or introductory videos to teach grammar concepts that could be posted for students to view outside of class. Students could also use it to explain their understanding of a concept or to reinforce their own understanding.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">8. iTranslateVoice2: iTranslate Voice 2 is an app that has earned 4 stars. It costs $1.99 to download. This app allows you to speak 42 different languages. You are able to look up definitions and translations for common words and phrases using your voice. The idea is that you are able to talk into your phone in one language and immediately hear yourself in another language. I was thinking of having students use it to practice their Spanish. They would speak their Spanish statements but have it set for English. They could see their translations appear before their eyes.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">9. Socrative: Socrative is a free app that has earned 3 stars. The Socrative app turns devices into student response clickers providing an engaging way for students to participate and interact in the learning experience. Socrative provides teachers real-time feedback and allows assessment to be an integral and immediate part of the instruction. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">As we move to 1:1 with IPads with our sixth graders, I could see using this app for my formative assessments (my check-in and check-out responses). I could also see using it prior to written assessments with my seventh and eighth graders.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">A Continuation of Tiffany Shields’ Reviews of Educational Applications:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">10. Speech with Milo (Spanish Version): Speech with Milo is an app that has earned 3 stars. It costs $2.99 to download. There are several versions available focused on a variety of topics such as verbs, adjectives, prepositions, etc. The app was created by a licensed speech-language pathologist as a versatile and entertaining speech therapy tool. In my classroom, I would use it to reinforce pronunciations and those challenging sounds that are unique to Spanish. This app was recommended by a colleague who currently uses it in his Spanish classroom.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">11. Que Rica Vida Recetario: Que Rica Vida Recetario is a free app that has earned 3.5 stars. This app provides a variety of recipes in Spanish as well as articles related to the recipes. It could be fun to have students prepare a dish for class using the Spanish recipe. It could be used during the foods thematic unit or as an extension activity. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Cultural recipes could be prepared and discussed as well. Geography could be discussed as well in relation to the foods.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Tiffany Shields’ Personal Use Applications:

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">1. Pinterest: Pinterest is a free app that has earned 5 stars. The Pinterest app is a

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">tool that allows you to search any topic and create organized, visual bookmarks of

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">these topics ranging from foods, fashions, quotes, tattoos, jokes, etc. It also allows

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">you to share these “pins.”

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I have been hearing about Pinterest for a while but haven’t had the time to play

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">around on the IPad to learn about it. Thanks to this class, I’ve had to make time and

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">now LOVE this site. I have used it to get feedback on dresses for my upcoming trip.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I also found several ideas for my classroom. I see it a positive for my personal life

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">as well as for my professional life.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">2. Flipboard: Flipboard is a free app that has earned 5 stars. Flipboard is your

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">personal magazine allowing you to catch up on the news that interests you the

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">most. You can choose from general categories such as world news and travel, as

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">well as from popular publications such as Vanity Fair or the New York Times.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">It also allows you to look at all the social networks such as Facebook and Twitter in

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">a magazine style setting. You can add bookmarks to the Safari Reading list as

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">articles are browsed in Flipboard.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I often do not find the time to sit down and read through a magazine. I like the idea

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">of being able to find articles on a specific topic from various publications all in one

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">place. I like the idea of being able to save and organize the articles within categories

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">much like Pinterest.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">3. InstaFrame: InstaFrame is a free app that has earned 5 stars. InstaFrame helps you

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">to combine your photos creatively with text, templates, borders, effects to make

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">fun and/or professional looking photo collages and Ecards.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">It allows you to share your collages on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Tumblr.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">As a photo fanatic both in my classroom at with my family and friends, I can see

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">using this app for holiday cards, invites, class pics for my bulletin boards, etc.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I use One True Media for video collages set to music. This would provide another

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">option for sharing my pictures in a fun and creative format.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">4. Rookie - Photo Editor: Rookie is a free app that has earned 5 stars.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">It is a filter camera photo editor that allows you to go beyond the basic photo

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">editing. It provides a live filter camera with over a 100 filter effects loved by

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">professional photographers. It provides editing features and design tools such as a

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">text function, stickers to express moods, and over 200 unique frames.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I plan on sharing this with my mom as we both have a passion for taking and editing

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">pictures. My gifts often involve pictures. I am always looking for new ideas.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">5. Pic Me A Word: Pic Me A Word is a free app that has earned 4 stars.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Pic Me A Word is a puzzle game based on pictures. Similar to Hangman, the goal is

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">to guess a chosen word based on the blanks shown for each letter of the word and

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">accompanying pictures provided as hints for the word. The simple and ADDICTIVE

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">game offers several levels to keep the fun going :-)

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I find this game to be a fun escape that doesn’t require a lot of time. However, it’s

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">tough to quit. It’s been a fun way to connect with my daughter. We play at the same

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">time on our own IPads trying to beat each other.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">Initially, I thought I would be able to use this app to create my own puzzles with

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">cultural visuals and Spanish vocabulary for my classroom.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">I would love to learn about an App that would provide this option????

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">6. QuizUp: QuizUp is a free app that has earned 4+ stars. QuizUp allows you to

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">challenge your friends and connect with others around the world in the largest

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">real-time trivia game. You will face off your opponent with over 365 topics ranging

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">from sports, music, and logos to history and art. Initially, I thought I would be able

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">to use this app with a focus on Spanish with my students. Now, I find it a fun way to

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #383d48; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">connect with my daughter and family members around the country.