Last time I posted for "Tech Topics" I talked about Little Bird Stories, a website that I used and loved over the summer. Today I'm going to post about an app I found through a Twitter chat and have bookmarked for big plans in my future classroom. Unfortunately, I have not been in a district that uses iPads but I know that the days of iPad-less classrooms is slowly drawing to a close and I am seeking out some great resources. An app that generated a lot of buzz and is on my "Must Download" list is My Story.
The My Story App is a booking making app for iPads. It lets elementary students create a story through drawing, typing, voice recording, and photos. The easy-to-use interface allows students (and not-so-tech-savvy teachers) the ability to imagine, create, and publish their own story. The app allows you to both share with parents through e-mail and publish to the iPad's library so that students can share their self-published books with peers.
As I said, I have not had the chance to personally test this app as I do not have an iPad. I'm sharing it here because the idea behind this app excites me. As we move further and further into this digital age, teachers must find new ways to teach reading and writing alongside with how to manipulate digital tools. I feel like this app has the best of both worlds: it still requires students to be creative and participate in the creative process while allowing them to manipulate and experiment with a different and tech-savvy medium.
In my future classroom, I would use it to excite students about the writing process because what kid doesn't love the opportunity to swipe their finger around the iPad? It would be a fantastic tool to help struggling or reluctant learners. So many students get discouraged when they aren't able to communicate through regular writing. The app's ability for students to both voice record and type would help them get their ideas out first and worry about the writing later.
Has anybody used the My Story app in their classroom? I would love to hear about your experience!
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