making it 'appen - lw2013
DESCRIPTION
Resources to accompany presentation at Language World 2013TRANSCRIPT
Making it ‘Appen
An Idiot’s Guide to creating an MFL App
Language World 2013
• Jen Turner
•@msmfl / msmfl.wordpress.com
•Secondary French, German and (occasionally) Mandarin teacher in Suffolk
•Learning Spanish with the OU
•Big fan of ICT to teach and learn languages
What is an app?
What is an app?
There’s an app There’s an app for that!for that!
Guardian Campaign for Digital Literacy
•‘Computer science’ and programming becoming more prominent
•All GCSE and GCE ICT/Computing specifications have significant element of digital design and creative programming
•Collaborate on MFL/ICT controlled assessment project
ICT / Computing in schools
Start small
Quizzes and puzzles
Translators
Trivia games
Culture and
history
Drawing
DIY with semi-
commercial service
Use a one-stop
commercial service
DIY:Programmin
gDeveloping
CodingDistributingReviewingUpgrading
www.blippit.co.uk
developer.apple.com
Coding with XCode
?!@£$%*&^!!
Costapprox $100 per year to register
as Developer if you want to distribute
TimeVery time consuming to code
and update.
EaseComplex programming - best left
to experts
SupportExtensive - if you know what the
problem is in the first place.
Apple Developer
developer.android.com
Android App Inventor - uses Java - behaves like Scratch - no coding required - distribute through play.google.com - one-off registration fee of $25 - v simple publishing process
Sample blocks from App Inventor
Cost
$25 one-off fee to publish on play.google.com
free to download SDK / Java / App Inventor
TimeSDK - time-consuming - involves
codingApp Inventor - marginally quicker
EaseSDK - tricky coding
App Inventor - more visual - building blocks
SupportLots of online support and
manuals
Android Developer / App Inventor
Windows App Hubdev.windowsphone.com
Develop Windows and XBox
apps
www.microsoft.com/design/toolbox
Student zone
Earn credits and learn how to
code for Windows hardware
Silverlight
CostWD - $99 annual fee with credit
card .toolbox - free
TimeDepends on complexity!
.toolbox - modular courses
Ease.toolbox v student friendly.
Student zone
Support
Clear advice online for Windows Dev.Good in .toolbox area, especially if setting
up a school project for the first time. Accredited courses.
Windows Developer
developer.blackberry.com
CostNo registration or submission
fees.
TimeDependent on complexity but does rely on Java, HTML5, and
CC+
Ease See above
SupportExtensive online support and
analysis
Blackberry Developer
•e4education.com
•empra.co.uk
•interactiveschools.co.uk
•schoolappkit.com
•+ various others
School webdesign companies
CostVariable.
Might be included in a school website package.
TimeThey do it all for you. Quick
turnaround if using a standard design?
EaseVery easy - someone else is
doing it for you.
SupportThey look after it all for you.
Can you update with new content yourself?
School webdesign companies
•appmakr.com
•appfurnace.com
•appsmakerstore.com
•applite.co.uk
•snappii.com
•+ various others
Online app development services
CostFree to sign up.
Subscription fee to ‘host’ thereafter.Many take cut of your profits.
TimeRelatively quick, depending on
what you want to do.
EaseNo coding - blog feeds / cut and paste / insert app elements onto
a storyboard.
SupportExtensive - services created for
non-experts.
Online app development services
www.appmakr.com
Easy and clear to work
through
Simulator shows you how it will
look.
No coding required!
www.appmakr.com
Can make an app from one or more
RSS feeds.
Ideal for easy school or dept app if you already have
a blog.
www.appmakr.com
All blog sections and pages
Adverts
Comment on and share
blogposts
Includes fully functional web widgets from
your blog
CostFree to sign up and try out.
Need to be Apple Developer ($100 per year) to test and then distribute through AppStore. Other services and
platforms at lower but variable cost.
TimeQuick - use a blog/website feed.
Slow - process of tweaking for approval but helpful feedback at every stage.
EaseEasy if you already have a blog.
Will make Apple, Android and Windows versions for you.
Tweaking for approval might be trickier
SupportExtensive support and ideas for
development.
www.appmakr.com
Register for a free trial by 26th March and receive 10% off a full price school subscription at the end
of the free trial!
Quote code: MFL-LW
www.blippit.co.uk