Presentation Apps (Expression)

When I try to describe this app to teachers, I often think of the popular ad campaign from the 80s launched by MasterCard - for writing, there are lots of writing apps; for everything else, there's Explain Everything. In having worked with students who struggle with writing over my teaching career, I have come to embrace that writing is just one of many forms of demonstrating what we know. I'm not discounting the importance of writing here but I'm also recognizing that there are so many other modes of exhibiting learning other than writing. When you consider the Universal Design of Learning model which promotes the three tenets of teaching: multiple means of expression, multiple means of representation and multiple means of engagement, one comes to understand that merely asking student to represent their learning through words is only allowing them to access one part of their brain.

That is where Explain Everything comes in. Sure, student can still demonstrate their learning through writing using this app but they can also do so much more. This app falls under the category of an interactive whiteboard which is simply a canvas for drawing, creating, interacting, recording, and presenting knowledge through a wide array of tools. Students and teachers alike will appreciate the app for its versatility (the canvas is literally endless), its flexibility (there are few restrictions in how to engage with it) as well as its transferability (the final product can be exported in a number of ways). Finally, the app is a great medium for sharing information. Once a project is completed, it can be stored on the device, shared with others within a class or released to the world so that others can benefit from a student's interpretation of a concept (or share teaching lessons with other teachers). Moreover, students can benefit reciprocally by viewing other public presentations as well. This is an invaluable tool for educators to present a particularly abstract concept. Imagine the power of creating a dynamic high school science presentation on molecular bonding. Rather than relying on a series of diagrams in a textbook, the app transforms a flat motionless image into a video of sorts that can be annotated with words or voice.

Explain Everything comes in two flavours - the Classic app which is a one time purchase that focuses primarily on the core functions of creating a presentation. Alternatively, there is a newer version of the app that is available for free but in order to use it, a subscription to the service is required. This version has numerous enhancements to it as well as a greater collaborative focus to it where multiple users can work on the same canvas in multiple locations. The addition of a VoiceChat feature allows users to communicate verbally while working on the project. The service is available on a 30 day trial basis. For a complete breakdown of the differences of the two options, refer to their comparison chart. Either way, this is a classroom staple and one that is suitable for all ages!

Stop Motion Studio Pro is one of a few apps that I can think of that appeals to and is equally effective at demonstrating learning to both Kindergarten as well as Grade 12 students. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of stop motion, think of the old Disney cartoons such as Steamboat Willie (later known as Mickey Mouse). These cartoons or moving comics were created by drawing multiple images with slight differences and animated by quickly alternating from one image to the next.

Stop Motion Studio Pro takes that concept and applies it to modern technology. Using an iPad, students simply take multiple pictures of objects and by playing the frames back quickly are then able to create a movie using what would normally be inanimate objects. I have had tremendous success using this simple but effective app with students as young as Kindergarten. Working in partners, students created a video of how to spell a sight word using plasticine. One partner would take pictures while the other would add and move letters until the word was spelt. Older students will love the creativity that this app instills and through the use of lego, drawings, and other props, everyone can become a film producer.

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