Book Publishing Application Review

WriteReader is a platform designed to help young students in elementary school create and write multimedia stories. Students can hear the words they are typing sounded out, record audio, and add images on any page of the book they are writing. Teachers can also use their own account on the website to view their students' work, make corrections to their writing, and make helpful suggestions. Download and print features are also available to teachers and students which makes it easy for families to view their child's work as well. This website is designed for use on laptops, desktop computers, or tablets and the tools on WriteReader are free for teachers and students to use at school or at home.

Students can use WriteReader to write books and add multimedia components. Teachers and students can view books on a virtual classroom "bookshelf."

I would use this website to help my students practice literacy and creative writing skills. I could also use this tool as a way for students to work collaboratively, encouraging peer review and group work. WriteReader even has a place on the website with lesson plans for teachers, listing ways to incorporate the application into activities including having students write an instruction book, write a diary, write about their school or family, or write a review of another book.

This technology allows teachers to utilize the modification and redefinition steps on the SAMR model ladder. Teachers can design tasks that allow students to write electronic books, adding audio and visual components and getting feedback from their peers and teacher. This allows students to participate in creation, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication which enhances the learning experiences planned by the teacher and promotes higher order thinking among students.

WriteReader is incredibly easy to use with simple navigation in both student and teacher mode. Because of this technology's user-friendly capabilities, a teacher utilizing the platform in her classroom can spend more energy and time focusing on her students and assessing their progress. Video tutorials are available to help users find their way around the website if needed.

 

Website users can view video tutorials to help them learn how to navigate WriteReader.

Application Review

Piktochart is an online tool for designing graphic visual projects including presentation slide shows, flyers, pamphlets, and posters. This website can be used in a variety of different private or professional contexts and settings. Personally, I would use this tool as an early childhood educator to create homework sheets, flyers, or newsletters for information about special events or educational resources to be posted on my classroom website. I could also see myself creating slide show presentations to help teach lessons in my classroom or in a more professional manner to deliver information to parents or other school faculty members. 

Piktochart is an online tool that can be manipulated to create a variety of different projects and can be utilized in many different contexts.

If used by students in an educational context, Piktochart could be used to teach in a way that aligns with the SAMR Model. If students were taught to use this technology, it would exemplify the Redefinition and Modification components of the model which initiates "transforming learning" and promotes higher order thinking skills. Piktochart could be used by students to target higher order thinking skills which keep students engaged, provide rich learning experiences, and allow them to design creative projects that challenge them.

Piktochart allows users to create visual projects, utilizing tools like maps, charts, and captivating, visually stimulating material.

Piktochart is a user-friendly website and has many different video tutorials that are easy to follow if users need some direction to get started. There are multiple levels of difficulty and users are able to follow templates or start from scratch, using all original creativity. This website is meant to be used on a laptop or desktop computer. There are tools on Piktochart that can be used for free, but pricing on more advanced design features ranges from $24.17 per month to $82.50 per month. Special discounted pricing is available to teachers, students, and nonprofit organizations.