EDU 381 App Review

5.V.1 Use the language of visual arts to communicate effectively

Assembly Brushes

Assembly is a vector app for basic graphic design. Instead of drawing each individual shape,
this app gives students over 180 different shapes to build upon one another with to create their
own graphics, logos, and works of art in the classroom.

Pros: The predetermined shapes are great for teaching students the basic elements of art
and principles of design. Students will be able to experience graphic design without the
complications of vector drawing.
Cons: Students may be slightly limited by not being able to draw their own shapes.
Predetermined shapes could enable students to copy others work more easily and
potentially discourage their own creativity.

Brushes is a unique painting app designed for both elementary and advanced artists. Teachers
can use the record and playback options to model techniques for students. Students can play
around with the different brushes and color features to create their own paintings.

Pros: Students will be able to watch exactly how the teacher obtains desired outcomes
using the record and playback options. Students are free to create whatever they can
paint or draw using the brush tools.
Cons: Features could be somewhat confusing for some students. This app does include
advanced features that could be beyond the skill level of the student.

Standards fulfilled:

5.V.1.2 Create art that reflects personal voice and choice.

5.V.1.4 Understand the relationship between the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design.
5.V.1.5 Apply the Principles of Design in creating compositions.
5.V.2 Apply creative and critical thinking skills to artistic expression.

Faces IMake Art App - ClearPainting

Faces iMake is a creative app that allows students to use everyday objects to create faces.
Students will have fun trying to replicate different faces in buttons or just making silly faces with
fruits, marbles and other fun objects. After finishing their piece, students may share their work
via email or social media.

Pros: This app teaches students that everyday objects can be used in unconventional
ways. Students will have to use problem solving skills to create faces out of various
objects.
Cons: This app would be used more for recreational purposes rather than instructional
purposes in the classroom. While it is educational, its basis in portraiture is not entirely
applicable to the topics of instruction at the elementary school level.

Art App ClearPainting allows students to experiment with colors and images to create unique
paintings. Photographs can be imported as backgrounds and then added to or transformed to
create new, high-quality images. Students can draw and paint on top of them and experiment
with the opacity of the colors as they do so.

Pros: This app allows students to take a digital mixed-media approach as they can import
images and draw on top of them.
Cons: Though this app is simple and easy to navigate, students are fairly limited in what
they can accomplish with this app. Other drawing and painting apps may be more ideal
depending on the desired outcome.

Standards fulfilled:
5.V.2.1 Evaluate solutions to artistic problems, including their effectiveness
5.V.2.2 Use ideas and imagery from the global environment as sources for creating art.
5.V.2.3 Create realistic, imaginative, abstract, and non-objective art.
5.V.3 Create art using a variety of tools, media, and processes, safely and appropriately.

How to Draw Lets Create! Pottery

How to Draw helps students who are interested in becoming better artists and students who have
no idea where to start when it comes to drawing build their skills. The app features a step-by-step
approach to help students learn to draw common objects and cartoon characters. Students draw
directly in an app and the drawing screen features a grid to make the drawing process easier.

Pros: This app teaches useful, foundational skills for drawing. Students who create
recognizable images using this app may build their confidence and improve their artistic
skills.
Cons: Students are not creating their own work using this app. While it is great for
practice and instruction, it is not quite as great for creativity.

Lets Create! Pottery allows students to explore a different medium of art. Students can throw
clay on the pottery wheel and use their fingers to mold and shape it into virtual masterpieces. The
app also allows them to experience the process of firing and glazing the clay to create a finished
piece of pottery.

Pros: Students get to experience the process of throwing pottery without the mess. By
moving their fingers, students get to see how hand movements affect the shape of clay on
a moving wheel.
Cons: This app fails to teach students the exact steps that go into throwing pottery such as
centering they piece, wedging, or starting the mound. This app is also fairly limited in its
functions.

Standards fulfilled:
5.V.3.1 Evaluate how to manipulate tools safely and appropriately to reach desired outcomes.
5.V.3.2 Use appropriate media for the creation of original art.
5.V.3.3 Create art using the processes of drawing, painting, weaving, printing, stitchery, collage,
mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, and current technology.
5.CX.1 Understand the global, historical, societal, and cultural contexts of the visual arts.

Art around Us Eden World Builder

Art Around Us exposes students to all different kinds of artists and mediums. The app features
reading passages, definition cards and images related to all different types of art. The discussion
questions can be used to test students understanding of the different types of art or help them
explore a type of art further.

Pros: This app includes passages written at various reading levels so it can be of use to
students of all ages and abilities. This app provides a fun pathway for students to learn
about the more academic side of art.
Cons: This app is not free and does not include any actual art making.

Eden World Builder gives students a chance to explore art and express their creativity by
building a world. With this app, they use different types of blocks to build different land features
and create a digital world. They can paint their worlds, make them fall prey to fire and
destruction, and add fun creatures as well.

Pros: This app provides a more alternative art making experience that could appeal to a
broader range of students. Its content is applicable to real life which may encourage
students to think critically while creating.
Cons: This app is not free. Its block building format may be somewhat limited.

Standards fulfilled:
5.CX.1.1 Understand how the visual arts have affected, and are reflected in, the culture,
traditions, and history of the United States
5.CX.1.2 Recognize key contributions of North American artists in history.
5.CX.1.3 Classify North American artists in terms of styles, genre, and/or movements
5.CX.1.4 Explain how traditions and values influence ideas, issues, and themes found in art.
5.CX.1.5 Analyze the effect of the geographic location and physical environment on the media
and subject matter of North American art and artists.
5.CX.2 Understand the interdisciplinary connections and life applications of the visual arts.

PicCollage Laser Lights

Pic Collage takes a popular art activity, making collages, and turns it into a form of digital art.
With the app, students can combine digital pictures, text and stickers into fun digital collages.
The app even includes its own scissors to give the art the look and feel of a traditional collage
made of cut-outs.

Pros: This allows students to make collages without the mess and in less time. This app
could be useful in teaching students the concepts of composition. It also allows students
to create something digitally that theyve probably made by hand before.
Cons: This app gives specific layouts for multiple images that could be limiting to
students. Students are unable to draw on their image using this app so another app would
be required for that capability.

Laser Lights show students another way to explore and create art. The app allows students to
create digital laser light shows. They can create the shows to correspond to a certain song or
simply move their fingers in different ways around the screen to create unique effects.

Pros: This gives students the opportunity to work with moving forms of art. It could
appeal to a broader range since it includes the use of music. This is also a good pathway
to introduce non-objective and more abstract forms of art making to students. This app
could help students to see videographer and animation as modes of art making.
Cons: This app is not free. This app could be potentially limited in its effects. The app
itself also includes little direct art making.

Standards fulfilled:

5.CX.2.1 Analyze the relationship between arts and daily life in product design, print, and digital
media.
5.CX.2.2 Exemplify how information and skills learned in art can be applied in other disciplines.
5.CX.2.3 Understand the balance of individual roles and collaborative skills to create art.
5.CX.2.4 Interpret visual images from media sources and the immediate environment.
 References

10 Best Apps for Elementary Art Teachers. (2015, January 07). Retrieved March 23, 2017, from

http://www.avatargeneration.com/2012/10/10-best-apps-for-elementary-art-teachers/