APPS FOR THE 4 SKILLS:

READING, WRITING,

SPEAKING, LISTENING

CATHERINE RITZ

ARLINGTON (MA) PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NECTFL, 2013

ABOUT ME & THE

APPS I LOVE

• We have 15 iPod Touches for students, many have their

own iPhones

• All the apps I use are free!

• All apps can be found by going to the AppStore on your

iPad/iPod/iPhone and searching by name

HOW I USE THE APPS

WITH MY STUDENTS

• Student-centered/paired activities

• Learning stations

• Alternative formats for homework or projects

• 10-minute activators

• Advice for getting started:

• Pick one app that you think will be effective to meet your

learning goal

• Enlist students to help you test it out (offer extra credit)

MEMATIC

• iPad/iPod

• Quick, silly way to get students to write a sentence!

• Students email you the meme to turn in

PERFECT CAPTIONS

• iPad/iPod

• Take pictures, add captions!

• Add effects to images

• Email to hand in

EVERNOTE

• iPad/iPod & web: www.evernote.com

• Students can write, take notes, and record audio

• Students can email you their “note” to turn in

SCRIBBLE PRESS

• iPad only

• Designed for children to create books using templates

• Can select blank book, add photos, images, text, captions,

etc.

• Email to share

GOOGLE DRIVE

• iPad/iPod & web

• With gmail accounts, students

can work collaboratively on Word,

Excel, PPT type files

• Files can be shared and you can

make edits in their work

GOOGLE VOICE

• iPad/iPod & web

• Establish a Google phone number linked to your phone

• Choose “Do Not Disturb” if you want students to leave you messages

• You can listen to the messages on your iPhone or online (linked to your regular Gmail account)

• You can respond with text message or can embed the recording on a website/blog

• To have students record phone calls:

• Student must have Google Voice phone number

• From online:

• Go to Settings

• Click on Calls

• Check the box next to Call Options (Enable Recording)

• Recorder must receive the call in order to record it

• There is an announcement that the call is being recorded!

• Press 4 at any time during the conversation to record – press 4 to stop, or hang up

• To share recording with you, student goes to account online, then shares via email

SOUND CLOUD

• iPad/iPod & web: www.soundcloud.com

• Students create account

• Record easily directly on iPad/iPod

• Share with teacher, teacher can leave written comments at

various points within recording

• Create “groups” on website

VOICE THREAD

• iPad/iPod & web: www.voicethread.com

• Students create account

• Take pictures in class, add voice recordings or text

• Share with teacher via email

• Can embed on website/blog

SPLICE (VIDEOS)

• iPad/iPod

• Use the video camera feature on the iPad/iPod

• Record multiple scenes and use this app to splice them

together

• Can add title, transitions

• Upload final video to YouTube, ,

email if small enough, or have

student transfer to their

computer

POCASTS

• iPad/iPod

• Search for audio lessons in your language

• You can prepare questions for students

• Takes time to find the right files (good summer PD

opportunity!)

• Example:

• SpanishPod101, FrenchPod101, ItalianPod 101,

ChineseClass 101, ArabicPod 101

RADIO/TV STATIONS

• iPad/iPod

• Find your favorite foreign radio/TV station as an app

• Create questions for various recordings, have students

complete in class or at home

• For advanced students, have them listen to a news story

and create questions for the class

QUIZLET

• iPad/iPod & web: www.quizlet.com

• Teacher creates account and makes flashcards groups

(can make your own or search for your textbook)

• Students can also create account and add your flashcard

groups

• Audio-enabled flashcards with very good accents!

IBOOKS

• iPad/iPod

• Books in “Public Domain” can often be found for free in

iBooks

• Reading in iBooks,

students can highlight,

make notes, email quotes

IBIBLIO

• iPad/iPod

• French books in Public Domain

• Includes overview,

author information,

full text, and

audio recording

MAGAZINES/NEWSPAPERS

• iPad/iPod

• Search the “Newstand” store for free

magazines/newspapers in your language

• You can also just use the web browser to search for

magazines & newspapers online that aren’t available for

free as apps!

FLIPBOARD

• iPad/iPod

• Follow various news sources

(from Twitter, FB, etc.) in any

language

WHAT APPS ARE YOU USING?

• ?

• catherineritz@gmail.com, www.catherineritz.org