Evelyn Maupin

3/13/16
Name: __________________________________________________
Date:____________

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A CONTENT-BASED IPAD/IPOD APP

2011-2015 Kathleen Schrock (kathy@kathyschrock.net)
iPads for Teaching site: http://ipads4teaching.net

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53.0 MB
$5/free
Book Creator for i-Pad
What is the title of the app? _______________________________Cost:
______ Size of app (MB)_____

Red Jumper Limited

Creator of the app ________________________________
iTunes URL: _________________________
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/book-creator-for-ipad/id442378070

Create and publish e-books

K-12
Content area(s): _________________________________________________
Grade level(s): ________
NO N/A

YES

CONTENT AND COMPONENTS OF THE APP

Curriculum connection: Are the skills reinforced connected to targeted skill/concept?

Authenticity: Are skills practiced in an authentic format/problem-based environment?

Feedback: Is feedback specific and result in improved student performance?

Differentiation: Does the app offers flexibility to alter settings to meet student needs?

User friendliness: Can students launch and navigate within the app independently?

Student motivation: Are students motivated to use the app and select it to use often?

Reporting: Is assessment/summary data available electronically to the student/teacher?

Sound: Does the music/sound in the app add to the educational aspects of the content?

Instructions: Are the instructions included helpful and the correct reading level for the student?
Support page: Does the apps supporting Web page provide additional useful information?

Navigation: Does the app use the touchscreen effectively throughout its use?

Modalities: Are multiple versions of instructions such as text video, and audio, included?

Level(s) of Blooms Taxonomy addressed with this app (check all that apply)

Remembering

Understanding

Applying

Analyzing

Evaluating

Creating

What CCSS or state/local standard(s) can this app address?

Within the reading and writing areas of CCSS this application can help with areas speaking and listening with regards to presentation of knowledge and ideas. This component
applies to all grade levels in some form. Students can create their own or refer to existing literature to create portfolio assignments to reflect their comprehension in a very
creative manner. Use of pictures, drawings, recordings, internet images, comic book formatting, video embedding and use of audio allow for a student to create a unique
production. The application is user friendly for most students. Students in special education will need assistance but can also achieve CCSS and IEP goals using this
application.

Summary of the app

Using the data you have collected above, explain why you would or would not recommend this
application for use in the classroom. Include any specific ideas you have for its use.
This app comes in a free version and a $4.99 version which I paid for because I can see myself using this app frequently with students in moderate to sever special
education. Use of photos, drawings, text, audio, and comic strip format can help students to increase their vocabulary, tell stories showing their comprehension skills, create
social stories which will help to model for students appropriate behaviors when they are challenged by inappropriate behaviors. In 30 minutes I created a story of "My Favorite
Things" depicting photos of my daughter (who has DS) doing her favorite things and a vocabulary story entitled "My Word Book For Things That Move". Students can take
pictures on their i-pads for an assigned topic, such as community signs, and then write their own story using those pictures and explaining what the signs mean. This will take
help from the staff, but students will be much more invested in reading this material since they created it and took the pictures used. For regular education, the sky is the limit
as far as creating stories, poetry with visual support, and personalizing textbook materials for more applicable meaning. Students are basically creating curriculum tools that
other students in the class can use. Additionally, for students in SPED, creating these books benefits students in the areas of remembering (writing, recall, memorize),
understanding (grasping, describing, generalizing), applying (classifying, relating, summarizing), analyzing (categorizing, explaining, and identifying), evaluating (,
I would recommend this application for use in the classroom. When looking at reading and writing goals in the CCSS as well as Technology goals, this application is a great
tool.

iTunes Application Ratings

(click on ratings while in the App Store to learn more)

4+

9+

12+

17+

2011-15. Kathy Schrock. All rights reserved. Permission to reproduce for classroom use granted.