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J.

Chas Schultz
LITR 630/ Mary Morgan
Apps Assignment
7-6-2015
App 1: SAT & ACT Vocabulary Builder
This app is designed to support literacy development for students at the
advanced level. For students at the junior and senior level in high school this is a
wonderful app. For English learners (ELs), it can be used in developing Cognitive
Academic Language Proficiency (CALP). ELA College and Career Readiness Anchor
Standards (that address online literacy) included within CCRA, SL 2. These standards
ask students to make strategic use of digital media to express information and
enhance understanding Although I have not used this app before, I believe that it
would be useful for any student preparing to take the ACT or SAT. In addition, I believe
that it would be valuable for English Language Learner (ELL) students who are working
on developing CALP level language proficiency (perhaps even working on vocabulary to
assist in Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills or BICS).
App
ACT and SAT
Vocabulary Builder
Intuitive flashcard
like approach to
expand English
vocabulary in
technical and core
subjects.

IRA

ISTE

KTS6

2.2

3b/c

6.3

This app provides


opportunity for
using technology to
develop vocabulary
and language
comprehension.

This app allows


students to
synthesize
information and
select digital tools
appropriate to
specific tasks.

Provides varied and


authentic
opportunities for all
students to use
appropriate
technology to further
their learning.

App 2: Sentence Builder

This app is great way to work on vocabulary, sentence structure, and grammar
skills. It gives you the ability to store and track multiple users, and also track student
progress. It also allows students to create their own sentences. The ability to create
your own sentences is great for incorporating the app into a pre-made lesson plan.
Students can make sentences with their current vocabulary or spelling words. This app
is easy to use and is great for k thru12th grade. It is also a valuable app for English
Language learners (ELs) since it helps with sentence structure. Kentucky Core
Academic Standards (KCAS) addressed include KY.11-12.W.WC.SC.3 - Students will
apply correct grammar skills (e.g., complete sentences, various sentence structures,
subject/verb agreement, pronoun/antecedent agreement, phrases, clauses); [and]
mechanics.
I really appreciate this app because it allows students in all grade levels - who have
difficulty with forming proper sentences - to improve their skills.
App
Sentence Builder
A great way to work
on vocabulary,
sentence structure,
and grammar skills.

IRA

ITSE

KTS6

2.2

1a

6.3

This app provides


opportunity for
using technology to
develop grammar
skills and sentence
structure.

This app allows


students to
construct and apply
current or existing
knowledge to
generate new
processes and
understanding.

Provides an
authentic
opportunity for
students to use
appropriate
technology to
enhance their
learning.

App 3: The Opposites App

The purpose of this app is similar to that of the previous app. It helps students
learn word pairs. However, because the app is formatted as a game, as players level
up, they are challenged with more complex and abstract pairings, until they are dealing
with rare descriptive and technical words, from biology, political science, medicine, and
poetry. For English learners (ELs), this app can be extremely helpful in any grade. As
with the Sentence Builder App, Kentucky Core Academic Standards (KCAS) addressed
include KY.11-12.W.WC.SC.3 - Students will apply correct grammar skills (e.g.,
complete sentences, various sentence structures, subject/verb agreement,
pronoun/antecedent agreement, phrases, clauses); [and] mechanics.
I have not used this app but believe that it would be extremely helpful for students to
learn content specific, technical vocabulary in all science subjects, from Earth Science
to Human Anatomy.
App
The Opposites
Identify opposite
words and their
meanings (i.e.,
endothermic and
exothermic)

IRA

ITSE

KTS6

2.2

1a

6.3

This app provides


opportunity for
using technology to
develop language
skills and word skills
and meanings.

This app allows


students to
construct and apply
current or existing
knowledge to
generate new
processes and
understanding.

The iPad is used


appropriately to
provide varied
instruction in
phonics.

App 4: Prizmo
The purpose of this app is to assist certain struggling readers (regardless of age
and grade) by utilizing the technology of optical character recognition (OCR) to deal with

the problem of dyslexia. By utilizing this app - once Optical Character Recognition
(OCR) has been performed - text can then be read out loud. Prizmo includes a voice
reader with extensive controls: the speaking rate can be adjusted, and each word is
highlighted as it is pronounced. Prizmo voice reader offers a selection of 36 regular
voices, and 73 high-quality voices. Kentucky Core Academic Standards (KCAS)
addressed include: KY.11-12.W.WC.SC.1 Students will choose precise and descriptive
language for clarity, richness and/or its effect on the reader (words with multiple
meanings, [and] words that imply different shades of meaning. The good news about
this app is that special education teachers AND core content teachers - who work with
students who suffer from dyslexia - now have an excellent tool for helping these
children. If you imagine not being able to read printed words, what would your life be
like if books, newspapers, websites, email, and even signs were all virtually
incomprehensible to you? How would you get through the day? Prizmo may be one
answer in the classroom.
App

IRA

ITSE

KTS6

Prizmo

1.3

3c

6.2

Optical Character
Recognition(OCR)
technology
designed to help
dyslexic readers

Understanding the
role of prof.
judgment and
practical knowledge
for improving all
students reading
development and
achievement

This app allows for


evaluating and
selecting digital
tools based on the
appropriateness to
specific tasks

This app allows


differentiation in
instruction for
disadvantaged
readers

App 5: IaWriter
This app was designed as an innovative writing technology to assist writers of
any age and grade level. It would be extremely valuable for students in upper grades,
middle and high school, to be college and career ready in writing. As to the app, the

focus mode lets you concentrate on the current sentence you are writing. You can use
markdown to format your documents without taking your hands from the keyboard. In
addition, custom typeface, optimized for writing, provides a polished, clearly organized
format for your document. This meets ELA College and Career Readiness Anchor
Standards (that address online literacy) included within CCRA, SL 2. These standards
ask students to make strategic use of digital media to express information and
enhance understanding This also meets KCAS standards for writing, KY.1112.W.S.SC.3 Students will apply structures of a variety of academic and work-related
texts (e.g., argumentative essays, literary analyses, scholarship essays, personal
essays, editorials, short stories, resumes, cover letters for resumes, proposals) for
authentic and justifiable purposes, as well as KY.9-12.W.C.EU.2 Students will
understand that different forms of writing are appropriate for different purposes and
audiences across the content areas and have different features (e.g. journals, ondemand responses, editorials, literary critiques).
App

IRA

ITSE

KTS6

IaWriter

5.1

1a

6.1

Innovative writing
technology assists
beginner thru
advanced writers

Allows for
innovative use of an
effective tool (I-pad)
for assisting in
writing organization.

Apply existing
knowledge to
generate new ideas,
products, or
processes.

Uses appropriate
technology to
design and plan
instruction that
supports and
extends the learning
of all students.

TPACK and Research


These five Apps helped me realize the vast opportunities available to assist
students, even at very advanced levels (i.e., high school and beyond). To quote Leu,
the essence of both reading and writing instruction is change change defines our

work as both literacy educators and researchers by teaching a student to read, we


change the world (Leu & Kinzer, 2000).
With the emphasis upon helping our children become college and career ready,
this is critical. Our students, and therefore we who educate those students, must
become literate in the current as well as emerging ICTs (Information Communication
Technologies). To be truly college and career ready our students must be able to join
the information-age organizations of today. These organizations will seek to achieve
greater productivity thru horizontal rather than top down organization. Teams within
lower levels of the organization will be empowered to make important decisions related
to their functioning. Members of these teams must quickly identify important problems,
locate useful information related to the problems they identify, critically evaluate the
information they find, synthesize this information to solve the problems, and then quickly
communicate the solutions to others so that everyone within the organization is
informed. (Leu, Kinzer, Cairo, and Cammack, Toward a Theory of New Literacies, p.
1576).
Employing the I-pad and the App in the classroom enables the technical
knowledge (TK) in TPACK. Without it, it is possible to achieve pedagogical content
knowledge, but the sweet spot of education in todays classroom will be missing. This
is why it is so important for educators to embrace technology use in their classroom.
Bringing the power of the I-pad and the app together provides an easy and fun way
to make this happen.

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