2017 VSTE Annual Conference

Kids love hearing the term App Smashing! They wonder: will I really be smashing things together? How do apps fit into this scenario? Students today share a unique characteristic in that they have all been raised in a digital era. Students from all socioeconomic levels have been impacted by digital media in one way or another, and many yearn to be engaged through the use of instructional technology in the classroom. One such example of this is a digital multimedia project termed App Smashing. Kulowiec introduced the term App Smashing and defined it as incorporating or embedding multiple applications together in order to accomplish a major learning task or project (2013). App Smashing is the process of developing content on multiple digital applications and then integrating or "smashing" them together in order to create a richer, innovative digital product.

Why App Smashing you may wonder? Well, some technology projects assigned in the classroom cannot be completed using just one application; some applications require using another application to fill in the gaps to complete a project (Kulowiec, 2013). Young also states that App Smashing encourages student excitement and engagement about creating their own project, demonstrating their individual exceptionality, as well as combining products using familiar applications (2014).

This workshop will showcase an assignment utilized with university preservice teachers that requires the creation of an App Smashing assignment/project for their future students. This project provides an excellent opportunity for students to collaborate to complete a summative authentic assessment. Participants in this workshop will be introduced to several applications (e.g., Prezi, Glogster, Animoto, PowToon, EdPuzzle YouTube, Google Slides Aurasma and Wordle etc.) that are either free or inexpensive, web-based, and easy to navigate, as well as some of the possibilities of how to "smash" them together. Teachers have many different options in how they require students to assemble the apps.

Generally, each app meets a specific requirement of how it connects with the SOL-based content, then the apps are assembled in a meaningful fashion so that the order makes sense. For example, Prezi or Glogster provides a wonderful landscape to embed many of the other apps listed. Example projects will be shared and participants will leave with resources that will aid in allowing them to create their own App Smashing project for students in any secondary content area. This workshop would best be suited for educators at the intermediate, middle, and high school level.

Student reflections reveal that this learning process promotes higher order thinking skills by requiring synthesis, creativity, reflection and critical thinking with specific content; increases 21st century skills through student engagement, technology skills, communication, and collaboration; as well as developing college and career skills through research and writing, project-based learning and presentation skills. These skills meet many of the ISTE standards.

Kuloweic, G. (2013). App smashing: Part one. The History 2.0 Classroom. Viewed 4 May 2015, http://kulowiectech.blogspot.com/2013/02/app-smashing-part-i.html

Young, D. (2014). Creating innovative student projects with App Smashing. Educational Horizons, 93(1), 12-15.

Presentation URL: https://prezi.com/view/WCdr0IzyGfcgzSHnoDnl/