Beware the app ...

Here are some things to consider when evaluating and or purchasing an app!

1. PRICE does not mean quality in the app store!  Do your homework on the app and the app company before you shell out money for the "screenshots".
2. Check to see if the links the app developer has provided for their iTunes listing are accurate.  There have been too MANY apps that have their support link and main link in the iTunes store set for inactive websites.  Feedback has been that this is an important indicator for apps that seem to work poorly or they just are not very effective!
3. There are some app companies that are pumping out apps that are really just copies of "paper" workbooks. Shouldn't you demand more from an app than that? 
4. Look to see what other types of apps that the company is developing.  If they seem to be an App Mill, you might want to reconsider.  You will know an App Mill when you go to their website and see how many they have produced!
5. Don't get caught up in the iTunes reviews, feedback and comments provided by users when considering educational value.  Don't forget, companies will often times post as users to control their own message.  Additionally, be aware that the reviews are probably not done by certified educators. 
6. Apps that are effective for parents do not necessarily translate to classroom use and vice versa. 
7. Don't hesitate to email the app designers with questions.  Give them your feedback.  The app designers who want to make an impact in education will care about your feedback. Don't forget that IEAR would like to know what you think about apps as well. Write an App review and cross post it on IEAR.org.
8. App developers might label their app for marketing purposes that do not match what they are selling. Buyer beware. 
9. The dime a dozen apps ... If you find that there are simply way too many to choose from for a particular genre, do your homework and don't necessarily buy the most downloaded app. Use Twitter and the hashtag #iear or #edapp and ask others in our field what they think! 
10. Know what type of device that are you going to put the app on and think about all of the different aspects of what that decision entails.  How are you going to get information out of it?  What are you using it for?  Does it need a camera or microphone, etc. 

Evaluation process - What makes a good app?

IEAR has struggled to identify what makes a good educational app.  We talk about this a lot.  We have created rubrics and we have categorized, well, we have not come up with a clean process that we all agree upon. The problem is that apps might be useless for some and very valuable for others.  The grading always goes back to the purpose and the need!

Our latest podcast #9 which will be published soon had this discussion in reference to "niche" apps.  Sometimes that niche app can really make a difference.  Other times, they become superfluouse because of the cost or the labor to get it synced and installed.  How can we determine the best apps available? 

Well ... Harry Walker from John Hopkins University is trying to do just that.  Here is a rubric that he has created that we are looking to get some feedback upon.  Please take a look at the rubric and leave your feedback with a comment.  I definitely think there is a lot of value to what Harry has going here!

Download a Copy Here