Cora Moyer

EDU 5151
Dr. Alqahtani
16 January 2017
Assignment 7: Games and Applications
Classting
https://www.classting.com/
Classting is a content management system, similar to Google Classroom, available at no
cost to educators and classrooms. Classtings layout is similar to that of Facebook and because of
this is often referred to as a social networking platform for classrooms. The classroom page is
only accessible via invitation, to ensure privacy. The landing page features a profile picture
about page, and notification center controlled by the classrooms teacher. On the left hand side is
a navigation menu that leads to the about page, posts (which can be added by anyone in the
classroom group), notices for assignments added by the teacher, classroom albums, class
exchange (where students from different classrooms are given a platform to communicate and
collaborate), and counseling (where students and parents can communicate with the teacher via
private message by name or anonymously).
Classting can be used in any classroom, PreK through 12, however how it is used would
vary. For students in grades lower than fourth or fifth, Classting should be used purely as a
vehicle for parent-teacher communication. Classting recommends that students be invited to use
its services in fifth grade. Perhaps this is due to the perceived amount of responsibility a fifth
grader is prepared for, as they would be required to use the service responsibly and respectfully.
This aligns with the ISTE student standard that focuses on students growth as digital citizens
that act ethically and legally online (International Society for Technology in Education, 2016).
Use of this application in the classroom could strengthen classroom community. Students
and parents could post about holidays they celebrate, students would be given a chance to
communicate outside of the classroom (under adult supervision), and both students and parents
could more easily and comfortable voice concerns to the classroom teacher. With close
supervision the site should remain ethically appropriate. There are no advertisements and only
students, parents, and teachers would be providing outside links. Students with special needs
may have trouble using the platform as its content is text heavy. The management system allows
for three-way communication between students, parents, and teachers and posts are messages are
easily saved for record keeping.
Overall, I believe this management system could be extremely effective if used in upper
elementary classrooms. It will familiarize students with social networking and prepare them to be
responsible Internet users. The class exchange feature could assist in teaching students about
global citizenship if they were to connect with a class in another state or country. The counseling
feature could prove invaluable in ensuring a teachers classroom is a safe place for all students.
Parents should find the platform easy to use as it is so similar to Facebook and available on
computers, phones, and tablets. Finally, the system could be an essential tool in fostering a
healthy and strong classroom community by encouraging students to interact with each other and
share where their curiosities lead them.

Socrative
https://www.socrative.com/pricing.html
Socrative is an application available on computers, tablets, and phones that makes
formative assessments in the classroom easy. Using the application, teachers can ask quick
questions formatted as multiple choice, true or false, or short answer and see their students
answers and performance in real time. The application also allows for more formal exit tickets
and quizzes. Again, student results can be seen quickly and easily. Results can be viewed by
selecting individual performance, classroom performance, or question performance. Quiz
questions can be labeled with their specific learning standard to make teacher review of student
performance more efficient. The application also offers a game-like feature called space race,
in which students compete to get the most correct answers in a specified amount of time.
Socrative could easily be utilized in an upper elementary classroom, and with some
adaptation and a lot of front-loading used in first or second grade classrooms. For quizzes
completed independently, questions would have to be written at the reading and comprehension
levels of the students. When instructors use the quick question feature, the questions and possible
answers could be read out loud to support struggling students. If questions were always provided
in text, the application could be used with children who have hearing impairments. Pictures
could be added to quizzes for ELL students. For students who struggle with writing, the
application could be useful as they are asked to either hit a button or type. The application only
consists of teacher-developed questions, so there is no risk of bias or ethically questionable
circumstances.
This application, I believe, could be extremely valuable in a classroom. An alternative to
students putting their heads down and numerically rating their understanding with their fingers,
Socrative allows for students to prove they understand and provides the teacher with reports to
easily identify where students are struggling. Documents are quickly and easily saved to allow
for record keeping of formative and summative assessments. I personally would not use the
space race feature in an elementary classroom, especially in an inclusive environment, as
academic competition can cause emotional damage in young students. As I have heard that New
York State is considering using computer-based testing, it may be beneficial to use Socratives
quiz feature a few times with students to allow them to practice taking tests via computer.
Prodigy Math Game
https://www.prodigygame.com
Prodigy Math is an entertainment application available on computers and tablets. The
application is also available for download on Chromebooks so students can play offline. The
game combines quests, similar to those of the popular Pokemon games, where the player
battles different creatures. However, to battle the creatures, students must correctly answer math
problems. The types of problems presented to the students are determined by the classroom
teacher and are developed using Common Core Learning Standards. The classroom teacher has
access, for no cost, to an online dashboard that tracks individual students performance and
allows the teacher to schedule which math skills should be worked on at what time. The
application works to identify areas where the student is struggling by utilizing specifically
designed questions. Such diagnostics are provided to the teacher to be further investigated.
Parents can gain access to their childs account for an additional cost.
Prodigy Math caters to students functioning at first through eighth grade levels. Some of
the directions are read-aloud however there are a few instances, especially when problems are

presented, that directions are only available in text form. For this reason, it may be difficult for
lower level students or ELL students to play the game. When math problems are presented the
application has many tools available to assist students in solving the problem, such as digital
colored pens, base blocks, counters, coins, and rods. The areas for students to answer are rather
small and may be difficult for students who are still developing motor skills to click. As the math
problems are aligned with common core standards, the content does seem to be appropriate.
However, the game does involve ideas of magic and battles, so teacher knowledge of students
and their families beliefs would be important. Students who have a hearing impairment could
play the game, as all communication is written, but students who are visually impaired would
struggle.
Students are allowed to design their own avatar. They are provided options for their
avatars gender, skin color, eye color, and hairstyle. In this way, the application avoids bias by
allowing the student to create a character they feel represents their identity. The game is designed
in a very pixelated, retro video-game style which could have positive or negative connotations.
Students who enjoy video games may relate math to the fun activity. Students who view video
games to be nerdy or uncool may associate these adjectives to math as well. The application
does not contain any advertisements and at no point is a student marketed the upgraded version.
Personally, I would utilize Prodigy as a review game for students who finish work early
or as an option on Fun Fridays. While the application is useful because it offers standard
specific content presented in a fun format, teachers are unable to see the students work and only
their answers. Additionally, the application contains a lot of fluff, or extras, that are not
necessarily related to academics and are just meant to make the game more enjoyable. In
addition, I would leave the application as an option and not a requirement as I do not feel it
would be of interest to all students. I may even just recommend it to students who need extra
review or to parents looking for ways to practice math at home with their child.
Memrise
http://www.memrise.com/
Memrise is a language learning application available on computer, tablet and phone.
While the paid version of the application offers thousands of words, the free version offers
review of hundreds. Such review is useful for students who are just being introduced to a new
language. The application could be used by upper elementary students and would prove very
beneficial for students who desire more challenges in the classroom. The teacher can create a
group, using their personal account, and assign coursework for the students. The teacher than
has access to the students review statistics and can see what vocabulary they are struggling with.
Other students who could benefit from the application are ELL students, as they could use the
application to privately review English words and phrases in their free time. In addition, the
application could positively add to a classroom community that features ELL students. They
could possibly help other students learn their native languages.
Users of the application must be able to read the text it supplies. This eliminates the
possibility of using the application in primary classrooms as well as with struggling readers.
Students who are hearing or visually impaired would also struggle to use the application, as it
requires its user to identify phrases when spoken and read text. The application is best left as an
extra for students or a review tool for ELL students.
The application uses a formula to promote memorization. It presents the words and
phrases in specific order to test whether what the student is learning is staying with them. This is

shown on the report provided to the instructor, or leader of the group. While the learning that
occurs during this applications use is not specifically outlined in Common Core Learning
Standards, it could prove to be useful in activating areas of a students mind that are not
necessarily engaged in regular coursework. As mentioned previously, it could also aid ELL
students in improving their English language skills.
I really enjoy this application but can understand why it may not be appropriate for all
classrooms or students. First and foremost, the application regularly advertises their upgraded
program, which is admittedly very tempting as it includes videos of native speakers. Students
would have to know what buttons to press to avoid this advertising. Additionally, languages
outside of English are commonly not interested at an elementary level and most classroom time
is devoted to math, ELA, science, and social studies. However, as I work on my thesis paper
regarding academically advanced students and their engagement in the classroom, I am
encouraged to use this application with the students I am studying when they finish they
classroom work early. I also very much believe that in an ELL inclusive classroom, the
application would act as a strong community builder. The ELL students would feel more
accepted if English speaking students were introduced to their native language and it would also
help the English speaking students understand how difficult it is to learn and speak and new
language.
Reference:
InternationalSocietyforTechnologyinEducation.(2016).Nationaleducationaltechnologystandardsforstudents.
Retrievedfromhttp://www.iste.org/standards/standards/forstudents2016