Summary
In this lesson, students work collaboratively to create an “app” that presents concepts which teach and demonstrate how to learn Spanish vocabulary centered around la familia. The students include topics in the target language, and also create various “app” features that would benefit those practicing to learn the vocabulary. Ideally the concept would be translated into a live app that could be sold in iTunes or Google play. Students vote on the most useful app for learning the Spanish family vocabulary and interested students apply for the House Student App Challenge.
TIPC Ratings
This area was not a focus of this lesson.
Approaching
Students evaluated their strengths and weaknesses of working collaboratively using a Google doc, which served as a way to establish groups. Using a Google Presentation, group members worked together to establish norms and tasks, share ideas, and create the functions of the app.
Approaching
Students used a variety of digital tools to construct the pitch for the Spanish educational app. Before, during, after working, students used a variety of websites such as Today’s Meet and Clunic.com to ask questions, discuss common themes and trends, and get answers from classmates in regards to the construction of their app. In addition, groups reflected on how to make their presentation more persuasive and their app more desirable to their classmates in hopes to win the classroom competition.
Ideal
Students were given very little parameters about the app they were to create, thus resulting in new ideas and innovative risks. Using pre-existing knowledge of educational apps, students created new ideas and concepts based on their individual interests. The apps showed originality and gave students an opportunity to use their own background and apply it to a content they were learning in class. Their reflection included ideas on how to make their app more desirable to their classmates and those learning the Spanish vocabulary.
