Producing An App - DigiLittleAcorns

Producing a Web App

Aim:

The aim of the project was to produce a chemistry app for year 10/11 students to use, for revision purposes before their core chemistry exam.

It was hoped that some students who never actually get round to doing revision at home might be more engaged.

The app was created using a website called appshed

A series of support videos can be found on YouTube, to help

The students were then provided with a web address and QR code in order to download it on phones, laptops, or tablets.

It works with both android and apple devices.

C1 CHEMISTRY REVISION This app is to help you for the AQA C1 Chemistry exam

Scan the QR to load the app. If you can’t get the app using the QR code, type this link into your web browser:

http://apps.appshed.com/158403/ .

On Safari, you can produce an icon for the app by selecting ‘Add to Home

Screen’ in the browser menu.

On Android devices it’s a bit more complicated:

1. Bookmark the app in the browser it opens in.

2. Go to ‘Bookmarks’.

3. Long hold the ‘C1 revision’ icon.

4. Select ‘Add to Home screen’.

• The app was introduced to 4 groups of year 10/11 core scientists

• Around 75% said that they would be interested in using it as part of their revision, enthusiasm was high.

• Formal feedback has not yet been completed (exam followed by coursework), but numbers of students actually using it appear to be low.

Reasons

• The app was only completed 2 weeks before the exam when most students were engaged with “proper Revision”.

• It was not engaging enough for the dis-engaged, you can’t run flash files inside the app, meaning that you couldn’t uses games to engage the students.

Next steps

• The app itself is termed a “web app” which means that it runs within an internet browser (e.g. Chrome or Safari)

• The app linked to third party websites that host quizzes and videos, which means the content is only available when the user is online.

• If I wanted to produce a “stand alone” app I would need to learn Java Script and programme it properly!

Working with other schools

• As part of the BSF funding some of the schools in Leicester city received funding for ICT projects.

• My project is actually part of a bigger project run by Christine Turner at English Martyrs RC School.

• Part of their project was to cascade skills in writing apps down to other schools.

Working with other schools

• They received £10,000, part of which they have used to purchase iPads.

• There are now many apps which have very useful applications in the classroom

Wish we had some.