Appsmashing!

APPSMASHING!

In Pinnacle I was introduced to appsmashing! It is awesome!

I've heard the saying "there's an app for that"... but I've never been able to find "good", user friendly apps that would help me create projects like I wanted or that were a quality fit for my students. I never thought about using more than one app to complete a project. (duh!)

Teresa Thomassen, along with others in the class, introduced multiple amazing apps.  We were given time to play around with these apps and challenged to create several different projects ourselves.

While discussing appsmashing, we talked about the different levels of SAMR.  We brainstormed ways to push our students to the higher levels of SAMR instead of remaining on the substitution level.  As teachers, we get caught up in lesson plans and the stresses/pressure of testing, so when it comes to technology, we never take students past the substitution level. As pinnacle leaders we need to constantly engage our students with the technology we have access to, in order to reach higher levels of SAMR. 

http://langwitches.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/SAMR.png 

Appsmashing is a great way for students to climb to those higher levels.  Start by teaching students one app at a time as a way of Substitution or Augmentation.  As students become more familiar with using one app at a time, you can begin having them "smash" and use multiple apps to complete their assignments.  

Although it is important to teach students how to use different apps, once that process is complete, be careful not to limit students.  Limiting students squishes creativity.  Appsmashing allows students to redefine their learning process.  You may be surprised at what your students create!