TinyTap 101: Making Learning Accessible By Creating Your Own Apps

This is a hands-on BYOD workshop that ask participants to bring an iOS or Android tablet in order to create their own interactive materials to use with their students, regardless of setting. As such, it is of primary interest to teachers and students, although many administrators and tech support personnel love these sessions to share with their staff. The creation process requires an iOS or Android tablet (no phones, as the screen is too small for creating), but once created, the activities can be accessed with any device that can access the internet because they can be played from the website www.tinytap.it. TinyTap is a tool, just as PowerPoint is a tool, and as such can be used for any age/grade or content area, including adult PD. It has multiple interactive features which can be used, and an intuitive creation process, making it easy enough for even young children to use. The TinyTap marketplace has over 100 thousand activities that have been created and shared by teachers, therapists, counselors, authors, and more from around the world in over 30 different languages, making it a truly global platform for exchanging ideas and materials.

Our session will begin with a little background information, including research and case histories supporting the idea of creating your own apps. I will review each of the interactive features of TinyTap, providing samples of how to use it, and giving the participants a chance to follow along on their own devices. The participants will then have time to select a project and create it on their devices. We will save time at the end to share projects and discuss ways they can apply it to their situations. Final instructions in packaging and uploading the activities will wrap up the session. I welcome questions at any time during the session. Handouts will include lots of resources, brief summaries of my case studies, and links to the research included.

Agenda:

15 min introductions, background, research/case histories

30 min demonstrate and experience interactive features of TinyTap

30 min participants create their projects

10 min share/discussion of possible applications

5 min wrap up with instructions for packaging/uploading activities

Purpose and objectives:

Participants will be able to

1. demonstrate knowledge of the interactive features of TinyTap by using them appropriately to create interactive pages.

2. identify via discussion at least three different ways they could use TinyTap to individualize instruction, create formative assessments, or provide appropriate interventions for struggling students.

3. identify via discussion at least three different ways students could use TinyTap to demonstrate knowledge and pursue their individual learning interests.

Research:

Gatti, G. (2017). Primary school children and vocabulary: an experiment using TinyTap to foster vocabulary acquisition and learner autonomy. (Master's Thesis) Retrieved from www.e-piGraphe.it (ISBN 978-88-97945-37-6)      

Sidock, J. (2012). Critical Review: Is the integration of mobile device apps’ into speech and language therapy effective clinical practice? Retrieved August 6, 2015, from https://www.uwo.ca/fhs/lwm/ebp/reviews/2011-12/Sidock.pdf

Singh, R. and Means, B. (n.d.) Effects of technology on classrooms and students. Technology and education reform: A research project sponsored by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved August 6, 2015, from https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html

Sippl, T. (n.d.). The benefits of new technology: speech-language therapy using the iTouch. Retrieved August 6, 2015 from http://www.asha.org/SLP/schools/apps-success-story/

Wainwright, A. (n.d.).  8 Studies show iPads in the classroom improve education. Retrieved August 6, 2015, from http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/8-Studies-Show-iPads-in-the-Classroom-Improve-Education