{"id":66168,"date":"2022-09-27T00:40:53","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T09:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/?p=66168"},"modified":"2025-12-21T08:26:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T17:26:50","slug":"tech-tip-167-how-to-evaluate-apps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/tech-tip-167-how-to-evaluate-apps\/","title":{"rendered":"Tech Tip #167–How to Evaluate Apps"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"tech<\/a>In these\u00a0<\/em>169\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy\u2014the tech topics most important to your teaching\u2014as well as practical strategies to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these to learning, and where they provide the subtext to daily tech-infused education.<\/p>\n

Today’s tip: How to Evaluate Apps<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Category: Pedagogy<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Here are thirteen tips to evaluate the apps you\u2019ll find useful in your classroom:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. free or small fee<\/em><\/li>\n
  2. stand the test of time<\/em><\/li>\n
  3. positive parent reports<\/em><\/li>\n
  4. rated \u2018for everyone\u2019 or \u2018low maturity\u2019<\/em><\/li>\n
  5. no in-app purchases or billing<\/em><\/li>\n
  6. support the \u20184 C\u2019s\u2019\u2013creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration<\/em><\/li>\n
  7. offer compelling content (this is subjective: \u2018Compelling\u2019 varies teacher-to-teacher and student-to-student)<\/em><\/li>\n
  8. are not distracting or overwhelming in colors, music, or activity<\/em><\/li>\n
  9. offer levels that become increasingly more difficult, providing differentiation for student needs<\/em><\/li>\n
  10. few ads\u2013and those that are there do not take up a significant portion of the screen<\/em><\/li>\n
  11. intuitive to use with a shallow learning curve that encourages independence<\/em><\/li>\n
  12. easily applied to a variety of educational environments<\/em><\/li>\n
  13. doesn\u2019t collect personal information other than user credentials or data required to operate the app<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Sign up for a\u00a0new tip each week<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or buy the entire\u00a0169 Real-world Ways to Put Tech into Your Classroom.<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

    What’s your favorite tech tip in your classroom? Share it in the comments below.<\/p>\n

    Copyright \u00a92022 askatechteacher.com \u2013 All rights reserved.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    \n

    Jacqui Murray<\/a>\u00a0has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor\/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a\u00a0K-12 technology curriculum<\/a>,\u00a0K-8 keyboard curriculum,<\/a>\u00a0K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum<\/a>. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an\u00a0Amazon Vine Voice<\/a>, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers,\u00a0To Hunt a Sub<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Twenty-four Days<\/strong><\/a>. You can find her resources at\u00a0Structured Learning.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    \"tech<\/a>In these\u00a0<\/em>169\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy\u2014the tech topics most important to your teaching\u2014as well as practical strategies to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these to learning, and where they provide the subtext to daily tech-infused education.<\/p>\n

    Today’s tip: How to Evaluate Apps<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Category: Pedagogy<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

    Here are thirteen tips to evaluate the apps you\u2019ll find useful in your classroom:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. free or small fee<\/em><\/li>\n
    2. stand the test of time<\/em><\/li>\n
    3. positive parent reports<\/em><\/li>\n
    4. rated \u2018for everyone\u2019 or \u2018low maturity\u2019<\/em><\/li>\n
    5. no in-app purchases or billing<\/em><\/li>\n
    6. support the \u20184 C\u2019s\u2019\u2013creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration<\/em><\/li>\n
    7. offer compelling content (this is subjective: \u2018Compelling\u2019 varies teacher-to-teacher and student-to-student)<\/em><\/li>\n
    8. are not distracting or overwhelming in colors, music, or activity<\/em><\/li>\n
    9. offer levels that become increasingly more difficult, providing differentiation for student needs<\/em><\/li>\n
    10. few ads\u2013and those that are there do not take up a significant portion of the screen<\/em><\/li>\n
    11. intuitive to use with a shallow learning curve that encourages independence<\/em><\/li>\n
    12. easily applied to a variety of educational environments<\/em><\/li>\n
    13. doesn\u2019t collect personal information other than user credentials or data required to operate the app<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Sign up for a\u00a0new tip each week<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or buy the entire\u00a0169 Real-world Ways to Put Tech into Your Classroom.<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

      What’s your favorite tech tip in your classroom? Share it in the comments below.<\/p>\n

      Copyright \u00a92022 askatechteacher.com \u2013 All rights reserved.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":64490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_3093363770679689_136588513038010":"","twitter_134161434_134161434":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[13],"tags":[940,857,447],"class_list":["post-66168","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech-tips","tag-169-tech-tips","tag-app-reviews","tag-apps","wpcat-13-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/i0.wp.com\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/tech-tips-instagram.jpg?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/wp.me\/pZUgb-hde","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":57586,"url":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/169-tech-tip-114-embed-google-apps-files\/","url_meta":{"origin":66168,"position":0},"title":"169 Tech Tip #114: Embed a Google Apps File","author":"Jacqui","date":"October 12, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In these\u00a0169\u00a0tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy\u2014the tech topics most important to your teaching\u2014as well as practical strategies to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these to learning, and where they provide the subtext to daily tech-infused education. 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Today's tip: #59--Alt Keys Add Symbols Category:\u00a0Google Apps\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Google"","block_context":{"text":"Google","link":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/category\/google-earth\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"tech tips","src":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/i0.wp.com\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/169-Tech-Tips-banner.png?fit=600%2C200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/i0.wp.com\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/169-Tech-Tips-banner.png?fit=600%2C200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/i0.wp.com\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/169-Tech-Tips-banner.png?fit=600%2C200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":66165,"url":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/tech-tip-166-which-digital-device-should-i-use\/","url_meta":{"origin":66168,"position":3},"title":"Tech Tip 166 Which Digital Device Should I Use?","author":"Jacqui","date":"August 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"In these\u00a0169\u00a0tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy\u2014the tech topics most important to your teaching\u2014as well as practical strategies to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these to learning, and where they provide the subtext to daily tech-infused education. Today's tip: Which Digital Device Should I Use?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Tech tips"","block_context":{"text":"Tech tips","link":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/category\/tech-tips\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"digital device","src":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/i0.wp.com\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Compare-digital-devices_Page_1.jpg?fit=927%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/i0.wp.com\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Compare-digital-devices_Page_1.jpg?fit=927%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/i0.wp.com\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Compare-digital-devices_Page_1.jpg?fit=927%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/i0.wp.com\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Compare-digital-devices_Page_1.jpg?fit=927%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61264,"url":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/169-tech-tip-71-how-to-move-pics-around-in-docs\/","url_meta":{"origin":66168,"position":4},"title":"169 Tech Tip #71 How to Move Pics Around in Docs","author":"Jacqui","date":"April 29, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"In these\u00a0169\u00a0tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy\u2014the tech topics most important to your teaching\u2014as well as practical strategies to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these to learning, and where they provide the subtext to daily tech-infused education. 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Today's tip: Reset Default Font Category: MS Office,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Classroom management"","block_context":{"text":"Classroom management","link":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/category\/classroom-management\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/i0.wp.com\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/169-tech-tip-logo.png?fit=529%2C372&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/i0.wp.com\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/169-tech-tip-logo.png?fit=529%2C372&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/i0.wp.com\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/169-tech-tip-logo.png?fit=529%2C372&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66168"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66450,"href":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66168\/revisions\/66450"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/askatechteacher.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}