App Evaluation Project

We often use the term app to refer to what we traditionally call apps, programs downloaded from the app store and installed on a mobile device, but the term "app" can also refer to a web application. For this assignment I would like you to consider look at both mobile apps and web apps. Many web applications are also mobile apps. For example, the tool Blabberize existed first as a Web 2.0 tool, and then a mobile app was developed in the past couple of years. 

For this project, you will identify three apps that can be used by a classroom teacher for a variety of purposes. You will need to identify one that applies to each of the following areas:   

• Classroom Management – This app should be one that a classroom teacher could use to monitor/aide in classroom management.  
• Presentation – This app should be one that classroom teachers could assign their students to use to create classroom presentations.
• Assessment App – This app should be one that allows a teacher to assess students individually, or as a group.  

For each app above you will need to access the content of the app. If the app is free, I encourage you to download it or use the web version in order to play with the app. If the app is not free, I do not want you to have to pay for it.  You can likely google the app to learn more, or watch videos related to the app. Often times, the app publisher will have their own videos to market the app.

Once you’ve identified your three apps you will need to evaluate them.  I’ve linked three rubrics for you to choose from when evaluating an app.  

Student App Review Rubric

Educational App Evaluation Rubric

Educational App Checklist

You will want to choose the best rubric for each purpose.   Just as an example, one of the rubrics is from a student perspective, but the student's perspective might not be the most important point of view to consider for a classroom management app. Or, depending on the app you choose, maybe it is important. You may pick one rubric and use it for each of the apps, or use all three rubrics if you want to experience a variety of evaluation tools.

**Note:  If a rubric does not apply to an app you’ve selected, pick a different rubric.  I should not see a large number of “not observed” from the app. If you find this to be the case, either pick a different rubric or a different app.

If you'd like to learn more about these app evaluation rubrics (and maybe even take a look at a few other rubrics) you can find more information at Tony Vincent's blog,  Learning in Hand opens in new window.

Part I: Web 2.0 and Mobile App Evaluation

1. Identify and learn about an app from one category above.
2. Evaluate the app using one of the attached rubrics.  You can download, print, and fill-out the rubric, or you may use a variety of tools to annotate the PDF.  You will turn it in as part of the completed assignment.
3. Compose a 1-2 sentence summary of your evaluation. This could be a strength and a weakness, how you think the app would be best used (or how it should NOT be used.) This doesn't have to be long--just a quick wrap-up of your impression of the app. This can be written on the rubric or typed below the image in your document.
4. Repeat this process until you have reviewed three apps (one from each category).

Part II: Review One App

For this part of the assignment you will select one of the three apps you reviewed above in Part I.  After you’ve selected one of the apps you will provide a review of the app.  Your review should include the following:

• Name of app
• Cost of app: Please include information about different versions (Some apps have basic features free and then require a fee for the full version. Information about the cost to remove adds or open all features should be included as it is available.)
• URL of app (preferred) , or, if the app is only available on mobile devices,  link to the app store
• Platform the app works on: If an app is available on any web-enabled device, you may state that.  If the app is only available on certain devices, please provide this information.

**These first four items can possibly be addressed in 1-2 word answers. The remaining items should be thoughtfully explained in 100-250 word paragraphs, using your own words and descriptions.***

• Description of app - What does the app do? How might it be used in an educational setting?
• Analysis of features - What options, settings, different functionality does the app have? How can user experiences be customized? To what extent does  the app allow for creativity, critical thinking, communication, or collaboration?
• Strengths of app (consider teacher’s perspective and student’s perspective)
• Weaknesses of app (consider teacher’s perspective and student’s perspective)

As you compose your responses, keep in mind issues like physical accessibility and differentiation for academically and linguistically diverse learners that we have discussed so far in this course. Think about what teachers might need to think about if they are considering using this app in their classroom.

Submitting Your Work

You will submit your assignment as one word processing file.  Please label each part of the assignment in your document.

For Part 1, you will include all three rubrics you used to evaluate the apps. To submit your three rubrics, I recommend scanning the three rubrics (if you printed and wrote on the paper rubric) and placing them in a word processing document.  All images should be readable.  If you do not have a scanner, the Notes app on an iPhone or the Google Drive app on an Android (or a variety of free scanner apps on either platform) should do the trick. If you used your computer to annotate the PDF files, you can screenshot the document or export as a JPEG and insert into your word processing document. If you run into problems in this process, please let me know. 

For Part 2, you can type your review into the same word processing file.