Day Four: Wild for Webinars

Today I watched my first AND second webinars. I viewed one entitled, "Apps in Action for Reluctant Readers", and another entitled, "Apps in Action for Multiple Disabilities". The thing I appreciated most about these Elluminate lessons was that I could see the apps in action, before making the decision to purchase. Previously, I had been relying heavily on the consumer ratings, but have found those to be unreliable. There are many new apps I will now explore, but since the iTunes store is not allowing me to download apps right now (I'm not sure if this is a common glitch or something specific to my computer), I'm going to describe five additional apps I downloaded previously and have been exploring.

6. Comic +: I like this app because it gives the user free access to a wide array of comic books. Users should note however that there is an adult advisory warning, as I image some of the graphic novels could be geared towards a more mature audience. However, I downloaded "Alice in Wonderland" for free, and have been reading through that. I was never into comic books as a child, but have since found a niche that is not just superheroes and villains, which I quite enjoy. This app would be great for reluctant readers who are intimidated by large amounts of text, and who benefit from visual supports. I can see this app engaging students with ADD who have trouble focusing on the task at hand.

7. Word Domino: I find this app exciting, and a bit addicting myself! There are three different levels, and my mind starts to race when I select the highest level. However, for our reluctant readers, level one would be the most appropriate. In this setting, there are different parts of words in eight separate boxes: four beginnings and four endings. You must begin by selecting a box, and then chose the appropriate ending that matches. There is also a timer, which adds to my own competitive spirit. This app would assist with word recognition and improve spelling, and would be of benefit for students looking to work on their phonological awareness.

8. HeartLand Word of the Day: This is a different kind of app, and it reminds me of the "word a day" calendars I used to buy. Each day, there is a new word to learn, and you always have the option of returning to the previous day's word. The app gives the theme and meaning of the word, as well as an example. This app is for anyone looking to build their vocabulary and help improve their literal comprehension when reading.

9. Quick Reader: I have always wanted to be able to read faster, and have often marveled at how quickly some of my peers can fly through novels. I completed the first test using Aesop's fables and discovered that I read 372 words per minutes. However, I'll admit that I was perhaps "breezing through" more quickly than I might other more challenging texts, but I now have a benchmark from which I can go forth. When I actually tried the speed reader function, in which the text was highlighted in chunks, I found this very disjointed, and it was difficult to stay within the coloured boxes. I did not really retain anything I had read, but perhaps this will come with more practice. I believe this app will be beneficial for those wishing to improve their speed in order to become more productive readers. For those reluctant readers who don't want to even start a text because they know it will "take forever", gaining the confidence and know how to read efficiently could be a real asset.

10. Pocket White Board: This is a paid app, but I believe it could have very powerful applications for the classroom. Essentially, the screen is a white board, and there is a selection of coloured markers (as well as an eraser) at the bottom of the screen. The user writes/draws on the board using their finger, and you can see an example at the top of this post. Many reluctant readers are hesitant to participate in the classroom setting, but this would enable them to engage with what it taking place on the board at their desks. For example, if the class was creating a brainstorm on a topic, the user could do so from their own seat. This is beneficial if the student has trouble holding and manipulating a marker, or even if they are nervous of making a spelling error in front of the class. This could then be emailed to the teacher. I will note that this app would likely be much more easily manipulated from an iPad instead of an iTouch.

11. The Lettermen Books: I can't help but smile when I open these books! A story is read aloud (in a friendly, exciting voice) and the pictures are wonderful - in each case, it shows animated/character letters spelling out a key word and acting out the word! For example, if the key word on the page is "dig", it shows D, I, and G characters (in order) with shovels moving dirt! This is a perfect app for engaging reluctant readers who have difficult attending to a task. It helps build ones mental lexicon by visually showing the graphemes and reinforcing the alphabetic principle. Still smiling :)

12. Translate!: This app would be valuable tool for ESL students. It allows the user to type a word in one of over fifty different languages, and then translate it directly below (again, in one of the languages indicated). It is very easy to use - simply scroll through the flag/country name to your language of choice, and type using the keyboard. This app would also be very useful if one was traveling because even if you could not pronounce the words, you could show the screen to the person you were attempting to communicate with!

Until next time... happy "apping" (yes, I did just change a noun into a verb!)