“App Smashing is the process of using multiple apps to create projects or complete tasks. App Smashing can provide your students with creative and inspired ways to showcase their learning and allow you to assess their understanding and skills.” Says, K12Technology Website
We have some of the most advanced tools in the history of mankind, right in the palms of our hands. We can shoot video, capture audio, dictate text, on the fly. Curate weblinks and publish our creations for others, all from the confines of our classrooms. If we know how to use them….or better yet, if we know that it’s possible.
As a 21st century educator, it might be more important than personally knowing how to use a tool versus knowing what potential a tool can allow for learning. I don’t have to know exactly how to podcast, to allow my students to explore, learn, and create their own podcast. I just have to give them the freedom to choose that as a medium to demonstrate their learning and get out of their way.
Over the past couple days, I have spent time with high school seniors in the Belton School District, who have been tasked with creating a video representation to demonstrate their understanding of a transformation. Similar to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or The Metamorphosis, these students were asked to capture a transformation on screen.
I was grateful to work with several english teachers and their students on using iMovie to create these films. I also, helped in Jessica Cannon’s classes. She shares her experience:
Throughout the transformation unit, students read The Metamorphosis, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and selected informational texts before writing a script and utilizing various forms of technology to create a short video in iMovie demonstrating their own fictional transformation.
As a special education teacher, I am always searching for ways to motivate students while also providing higher-level thinking instruction. Improving student engagement and confidence is a never ending task for all teachers. While integrating technology to create a video allows for student creativity, many students were very hesitant to begin. The introduction to the possibilities provided within iMovie ignited their excitement, enabling the development of ideas to begin.
At first, a few of the ideas seemed hopeless for students who did not have the props, time or even resources to create the videos they had in mind. This is where app smashing was introduced, and what an AMAZING concept! Students were able to apply animation to their own pictures through Keynote and Photoshop. One student could not contain his excitement when he was able to cut the sword and armor from a cartoon character and have it crash down over his body to assimilate the transformation.
This video was a great experience and the students broadened their technology abilities while demonstrating their understanding of the content knowledge provided in the curriculum and instruction. They are very proud of their videos and many are now posted to Youtube for the world to view.
This is why we have these tools, and why it’s important to utilize the tools effectively. Let’s continue to smash apps in promoting learning, growing, building, creating and sharing.
#proud2bpirates #learnforever #appsmash
