Engaging for ELLs

I love using this app along with a self-portrait assignment. When kids add their own voices to self-portraits it really brings the images to life. This app works well with a wide variety of kids from children on the spectrum to the precocious overachiever. My only criticism is that when multiple kids are using a single iPad, account it can be hard to deal with the output in an organized way. Also the app is so focused that it can seem limited to kids who are used to more robust tools.

I believe this app is a great way for students to be creative and engaged in storytelling. They can record their own voices and make special effects. That is pretty cool to know they can play around with it. I like the fact students can use it to create, practice, knowledge gain, and for homework. It is a tool where they can play with their imagination and come up with endless stories. Kids will have a fun time customizing their work and being their own creators of storytelling in a unique way. It enhances their learning experiences and knowledge in their overall presentation skills. It can be used in a blended lesson as having it as a tech tool students can use based on a Language Arts lesson. Also, can apply to SAMR in a way it can help transform and enhance the students overall learning experiences.

Overall I have been very pleased with the Chatterpix app. It is easy to use for young students, allowing me as the only teacher in the room to be a facilitator for student learning instead of troubleshooting technology. The simplicity of the app makes it versatile for a multitude of uses in the classroom. The novelty of the app makes it engaging for students, resulting in high student interest. Due to the nature of the app only requiring a student to record their voice, this allows for all students of all levels to find success, regardless of their reading skill or writing ability. The only change I would suggest would be to lengthen the amount of time from 30 seconds to one minute. Some students, especially my ELL students, need a bit more time to think through their word choice, resulting in slower speech as they record their answers. Allowing for a longer recording would give these students an opportunity to share the same amount of information as their classmates.