Category:

Using "My Fitness Pal" APP In The Classroom

14/10/2012

Probably, like a number of readers, I have an ongoing battle with my weight. Unless I'm cycling at least 250km a week, I have to be ever vigilent about what passes the lips. I'm not a fast food or sweets junkie, just a woman who spends long periods of time belting away at a keyboard. Since I've been working from home part-time and sitting in front of the computer for long hours, the kilos have been creeping on, like a rash from poison ivy. So how does my weight battle have anything to do with working in a classroom?

The APP My Fitness Pal is my new best friend and I immediately saw ways that I, and other teachers, could utilise this FREE APP for numeracy and literacy tasks. Not only is it free, but you can download onto both Apple and Android devices. But wait, there's more! No you don't get a set of steak knives, you can also access it online from your humble computer or laptop. Ahhh! The simple things in life! When using the online version go into settings and nominate the nutrients you want to track. The APP version automatically displays: calories; carbohydrates; fat; protein; sugar; and, sodium. I needed to add sugar and sodium in the online version.

Online registration from PC or MAC

Classroom Application
There is only one issue that I have with this program, and it is a minor hiccup - calories. Australia completed the convertion to metric measurements in 1977, and the use of calories instead of kilojoules does put a spanner in the works. I suggest any teachers that are using metric measurements, convert the calories to kilojoules as a numeracy activity. Let's get started!

Numeracy

Graphically mapping and comparing the number of calories, carbohydrates, proteins, sodium, sugar or any other nutrient you choose to track.
Calculating the total number of calories consumed by the class per day and week.
Rank the various nutrients and find the mean, mode and medium.
Students print each day's food and exercise chart and calculate the increase and/or decrease in calories etc they would need to undertake if aiming to reach a goal weight.
Write the nutrients for a meal/snack as a fraction and percentage of the total number of nutrients for the day.
Display the nutrients for a given meal in a pie graph.
Research the suggested recommended daily intake of various nutrients and show daily totals as fractions.
Round off to the nearest 10, 100 or 1 000 calories/nutrients.
Nominate the fraction of serve using the tools online.
Measure the amounts and record in a table.
Total the grams or ounces of sodium/sugar intake for the class and display this mass using sand.
Each student calculates their Basal Metobolic Rate (BMR)using the online calculator. Record the data and calculate the BMR for a variety of ages, gender, weight and heights.
If living in a country that uses metric measurement, convert the calories to kilojoules.
Record and compare the calories used for different activities e.g. running, cycling, swimming for the same period of time and which exercise burns the most calories and why.
Develop a scale that is represented by one square on a grid e.g. 1 square : 100 calories. Each student colours in the number of squares that correspond to their caloric intake for the day.
Compare the caloric intake for other cultures with students diets.

Literacy

Discuss newspaper articles that cover the growing obesity of children and the influence of fast food on diets.
Reading the product names and description.
Write a report that covers the quanitities of sodium, sugar etc and mention the fluctuation, number of times under or over the recommended daily intake.
Develop a video or PowerPoint Presentation demonstrating nutritious meals and/or negative impact of overeating fast food or sweets.
Write a recipe for their favourite dish displaying the additives, preservatives etc.
Class debate.
Write a letter to a food manunfacturer about the level of fat, sugar or sodium in a product and ask them to explain why it needs to be at that level.
Raise money for charity by creating a campaign "CASH FOR CALORIES/KILOJOULES". Students obtain sponsors by either maintaining or decreasing their caloric intake over a week. This will need to be dealt with in a sensitive manner as I'm sure you can imagine some of the repercussions in a classroom. The group decides which charity will receive the money raised, prior to commencing the campaign. Write slogans and develop posters.
If possible, have a dietician speak to the class to outline a healthy diet.
Review daily diets for other cultures e.g. Asian as compared to Australian. Discuss the different types of food, styles of cooking and dishes eaten throughout the day.

EdTech Tools? What are they & where can you find them?

30/8/2012

I have to thank Elena Verlee from OnLineDegrees.org for bringing the following information to my attention. The blog, 50 Indispensable EdTech Tools for 2012, lists some great sites and resources that I've not seen before. In this blog I'm covering Grockit, LiveBinders and Animoto tech tools. Click the link above for the full list.

GROCKIT is a social learning media which gives all students the opportunity to undertake tutoring and practice sessions online. They can also join study groups to support their learning and learning style. From what I experienced when I accessed Grockit, there are more positives than negatives about using this site.
>    Join using Facebook - I found this a simple method and was able to access the lessons etc within a minute. The downside of this is Grockit auto posts results or an activity you've completed onto your Facebook Timeline. Don't think this is something everyone would like to see on their timeline.
>    Initially you receive a three day FREE trial.
>    Hmm? At $29.99 per month I wonder if parents or students would be able to afford this learning tool in the current economic climate.
>    They do offer study material and different admission test practices (US) that would assist many learners.
The best way to gauge if this site will help you, your students or your children is to access the three day free trial. I'm sure you'll know by the end of that time if you want to pay the monthly fee.

Grockit study plan - click to enlarge

LiveBinders

Considering the years I've spent trawling the internet for useful teaching resources, I have never come across this site. I Signed Up for FREE and am in the throes of creating my first binder. The video tutorials are straightforward and offer information on every aspect of using the tools. The videos give you an overview of the site and tools available - worth- while resources.

The binders you create can be for public or private viewing. You can ensure only people you invite or your students access the binder by using an access key. I'm currently developing a binder that covers aspects of numeration that my adult students require. Developing the binder is "a piece of cake" and I applaud the developers. At one point, when I wanted to include a specific web page, there did seem to be a glitch. However, the program informed me the creator of the webpage doesn't permit it being viewed on any other site. No problem! LiveBinder created a link in the nominated tab that takes you directly to the page.

ANIMOTO

I have just created my first photo video (click this link to view My Ride To Conquer Cancer) using this site.  I used the LITE version to develop the video, but I'll be upgrading to the PLUS version when I'm finsihed this blog. Why? From both a teaching and personal point of view, for $30 per year you can create an unlimited number of videos. You can also download the video to your computer and/or DVD.  These two factors alone are a big draw card for me. There are also the PRO and RESELLER versions available if you like what you see. These are $249 and $499 per year respectively.

FEATURES Lite Version
-    select from a number of templates for your background
-    background music from over 600 songs in the Animoto library
-    option to upload a video and embed in the Animoto video
-    add captions
-    edit caption slides
-    share on social media or email link
-    sequence scenes by clicking and dragging

Using this TechTool from a teaching point of view -
>    Students can create a graphical procedure using their own photos.
>    Record a visual account of science experiments.
>    Writing notes to develop script.
>    Completing script in consultation with teacher.
>    Working in a group or pairs to develop interpersonal and employability skills.
>    Students select appropriate music from Animoto's library to support video. They can also upload music for the 30sec video.
>    You can add text to the video, but characters are limited in the LITE version. I'll check the PLUS version to see if the number of characters are more generous.
>    Self evaluation
>    An historical walk record
>    Steps to completing an equation
>    Recount of an experience
>    Demonstrate an exercise e.g. crunches on a fitball
This is a limited list of activities, but I'm sure you will have many more to add to this list.

Screen shots of ANIMOTO web page (above)

A Fraction Of An APP

28/8/2012

When it comes to actively involving students of all ages in their learning, I am a great advocate for using APPs. The beauty about this type of software is the availability. You can dowload to any hand-held device and start using immediately. This style of software enables all learners to access the concepts that they may not have mastered in earlier grades or years. I particularly like the fact that using APPs for learning reduces or completly removes the stigma many learners have about undertaking "child concepts". This is particularly evident with adult learners who have returned to classes to improve their literacy and/or numeracy. Anyone can be using hand-held devices for playing games or accessing information.

One area of maths that is required in many jobs and causes learners grief is FRACTIONS. For years I have worked with adult learners to come to terms with these little suckers, and I only wish there had been an APP or two to help them along the way.

APP icon - available from iTune Store

I discovered the Braincamping APP - Fractions today and thought teachers and students could benefit from using this learning software. Learners can work their way through these activities -
>    Introduction to Fractions
>    Equivalent Fractions
>    Common Denominator
>    Comparing & Ordering Fractions
>    Adding & Subtracting Fractions
>    Multiplying & Dividing Fractions.
For each section above there is a lesson, manipulative, questions and challenge section to support the learning of the concepts. There is also a Lite version (FREE), but as you can imagine there are limited activities available for the learner.

Activity choices

LIKES
Overall I believe this APP will help learners with understanding and applying concepts related to fractions. The following aspects of this APP definitely hit the mark.
>    Interactive components
>    Clear demonstrations
>    Audio support
>    Practice tasks
>    Variety of examples given
>    Challenge activities
>    Number of concepts covered - common, equivalent and improper fractions; multiplying, dividing, adding and subtracting fractions; understanding multiples; and finding lowest common denominator.
>    Clearly displayed numerator & denominator
>    Presentation of results for quizzes in graphical format
>    Tracking format for each section covered

DISLIKES
There are only a couple of aspects that I think the developers need to reconsider.

>    The introduction using chalk is too involved for a learner who is experiencing difficulty with this concept and who may have had a woeful schooling experience.
>    The language/terms used at times is at a higher level than the information being delivered.
>    No audio to accompany questions and directions when completing the challenge or question activities.
>    The use of zero as a numerator e.g. 0/6 = 0/2 is meaningless in this environment.

Slideshow - Fraction APP screens

Coffee Mug Literacies

11/8/2012

I don't think there would be many amongst us who don't like to sit back with a mug or cup of freshly brewed coffee and talk about the weather, how our bunions hurt or any other topic on the horizon. However, have you ever thought how this humble container can be the centre of your maths and language lessons? No, I hear you say, well it's now time to take you on the Coffee Mug Literacies journey. Grab a cuppa Joe and become a Java Junkie as you sit back and discover how to engage your learners with these simple resources - coffee mug and coffee.

ACTIVITIES
1.    A quick survey of students (adults) should reveal how many cups of coffee they consume per day or younger students can survey their parents. Also include a question about other beverages that participants consume.
    > tally results
    > develop graphs - column, bar, line and/or pie
    > find the average number of cups consumed
    > write questions for the survey
    > write a summary of findings
    > develop a PowerPoint Presentation to display results
    > discuss findings in groups
    > compare results for coffee with other beverages.

2. Write instructions on how to make the perfect cup of coffee. I have used this activity extensively with youth and adult learners with great success. Having a portable espresso machine enhances this activity as the learners actually make different types of coffee. Learners photographed the different steps to use in their instructions. I suggest you video the process to be used as a visual presentation.

3. Audio-visual comprehensions are a great way for learners to become engaged in an activity.

4.    Reading tables and graphs to locate information regarding the production of coffee in the world. This is a great activity for developing the concept of pie graphs. If you haven't already, to introduce learners to the Chart options in Microsoft Word.

5.    Use the tables/graphs from #3 to develop a reading comprehension.

6.    Calculate the mass for each bag of coffee, by using the information in the table (right). Convert tonnes to tons if you use imperial measurement.

7.    Compare the different styles of coffees e.g. macchiato & latte, and calculate the amount of milk and coffee used to make x number of cups. Learners can approach local coffee shops to survey how many mugs / cups they sell each day and what is the most popular type of coffee they make. Using the average cup size of 240ml/9oz, they can then calculate the amount of milk used per day. Extrapolate that information to the amount of milk used per week and year. They can also look at the cost of milk used in the production of these coffees.

8.    Locate the top 10 coffee producing countries on a map of the world and record the production of coffee for each country.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee#World_production

Cup sizes at Starbucks

9.    Income for coffee producing countries. Create a table to display the incomes and compare.
10.  Volume - Measure the volume of different sized cups and mugs. Use the ratio from the 1/3 coffee, to 1/3 milk and 1/3 froth for a cappuccino to calculate the amount of espresso, milk and froth that will be in each cup/mug. Mark these amounts on a paper/cardboard cutout of the cup or mug.
11.  Use the information in #10 to calculate the volume of coffee, and milk that are used to make a cappuccino.

WEB PAGES
Global income from coffee http://tutor2u.net/economics/revision-notes/as-markets-coffee.html
Coffee and fair trade http://www.globalexchange.org/fairtrade/coffee/faq#1
Interruption to coffee trade http://www.quora.com/What-would-the-world-be-like-without-coffee
Coffee consumption trends http://www.thecoffeeguide.org/coffee-guide/world-coffee-trade/consumption-trends-in-importing-countries/
USA coffee stats http://www.e-importz.com/Support/specialty_coffee.htm
Coffee facts (USA) http://www.ncausa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=30

The Numeracy of Cycling

2/8/2012

I am a CYCLING TRAGIC and proud of it. A friend recently described the Tour de France (TDF) as having three continuous weeks of Christmas each year. Yes, another tragic who travels to France as often as possible to be a part of this sporting spectacle.

So what constitues the numeracy of cycling? I could say pretty nearly every thing, from the kilometres/miles travelled, the time for each rider, the number of revolutions of the pedals, drink bottles used by each team down to the number of kilojoules/calories consumed by each rider. To complete the activities I have listed below, use this web site http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2012/us/overall-route.html

Cycling Activities

When teaching primary aged students (11-12) I would simulate Individual Time Trials (ITT) by using a grid and number facts. To complete this activity in the classroom all you need is a worksheet with a grid and lists of number facts.

To Play
1. You ask the number facts orally (mental arithmetic).
2. Students can either record the fact and/or answer.

Students record answers and shade or use arrows to show each answer on grid.

3. They mark the grid as shown (above).
4. Students record distance travelled e.g. 57km.

List of number facts for displayed sheet.

Mapping
You can easily create your own local tour with as many stages as you please. Students can use GOOGLE MAPS or mark the distance and route on a map (crazy I know). They record co-ordinates for a given site e.g. an intermediate sprint or King Of The Mountain points. Google maps gives you the option of displaying the route when you travel by bike.

Click the bike icon for directions & route.

Calculating Cadence
So what is a rider's cadence? Cadence is the number of revolutions a rider completes in a minute. Depending on the gear ratio and terrain this can vary dramatically. During the 1999 Tour de France (TDF), riders' cadence averaged between 60-80 when climbing. However, it was between 70-100 on flatter stages. The average cadence has since changed due to riders adopting a higher cadence (lower gear ratios) to reduce muscle fatigue. Check out Chris Anker Sorensons' race data for Stage 14 in the 2011 Tour de France.
ACTIVITY
Calculate the number of revolutions this rider completed by using the above data.
1.    Stage 14 TDF 2011
2.    Extrapolate for other stages use official website. http://www.letour.fr/2011/TDF/LIVE/us/le_parcours.html
3.    Calculate for entire race.
4.    Calculate distance travelled in one revolution.

Fuel For The Ride
On average a rider in the TDF will burn between 700-900 calories per hour. Except for the time trials, stages take between 3 - 6 hours to complete. The real issue for these athletes is they can only process approximately 400 calories per hour. This is one reason why they hit the wall or BONK.
Activity
1.    Compare calories/kilojoules burnt per hour by different athletes e.g. tennis players, surfers, football players.
2.    Calculate the number of calories/kilojoules Chris Anker Sorenson would have burnt for Stage 14, 2011.
3.    Calculate the average number of calories/kilojoules burnt by previous winners based on their time. http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/tdf/tdfindex.html
4.    Write a list of the quantities of food that equal the number of calories needed by each rider per day.

Food for TDF rider Andy Schleck for one day 2011

5. Learners compare with their own intake and calculate the number of calories they consume per hour and per day.

Elevation
If you follow the Tour de France you will already know there are a number of days when the race climbs through the Alps, Pyrenees or other mountain ranges. Use the following map from http://bit.ly/o99Pc1 to complete this task.
1.    Locate the three climbs from this stage in the 2011 Tour.
2.    Use the elevation at Pontechianale to calculate the elevation to the first climb at Col Angel.
3.    Repeat Step 2 for the Col d'Izoard by using Arvieu or the Chateau de Ville-Vieille as the base elevation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arvieu Use the elevation at Briancon for Col de Galibier.
4.    You can also print the map and mark the elevation for towns along the route. This will give learners a comprehensive idea of the elevation between one area and the next.
5.    Use the elevations to plot the profile of the stage. I've always used grid paper for this activity. You can set a scale or learners can develop their own scale.

Circumference
A great way to introduce finding the circumference of a circle is by using bike wheels and/or tyres. By marking a point on the tyre and rolling it along a line until the point touches the ground again, learners readliy see the circumference. I then use a piece of string or measuring tape to find the diameter. This is then placed along the line to find the relationship between the diameter and circumference.

INSPIRATION In The Classroom

18/6/2012

It doesn't matter how long you've been teaching, you are always looking for new ways to inspire your students and yourself. I know from my three and a half decades of searching for and developing resources, when you find a learning tool or strategy that works you hang onto it with both hands. You may tweak it as time passes and as you get feedback, but overall you don't mess with the good ones.

One such resource that I've used over the last thirteen years has been Inspiration, from the software company with the same name (Inspiration Software Inc). This software has enabled my students and myself to develop mind maps, flowcharts, diagrams, cause and effect charts and a host of other visual learning support tools. (Watch the video below to get an idea of how the APP works.) Now this program is portable and it can be accessed on an iPad by using the Inspiration Maps APP. I have downloaded, and am using the FREE or Lite version, and am finding it very user friendly. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the complete version ($14.99), but provides a range of tools that will enhance many learning activities. I'm always in favour of downloading the FREE or LITE version first to review the tools and options and decide whether it will benefit my classroom activities.

Getting Started
Usiing the Inspiration Map Lite APP is straightforward and it wouldn't take long for either you or your students to be up and running. This video is using the complete APP version, however, the movement of connection arrows and idea bubbles are the same.

1.    Download either the full or Lite version from iTunes. The FREE version is a good starting point for students, as there is no outlay and a limited number of tools to master.
2.    Click on the + in the top left hand corner of the screen and select from either the Diagram or Outline options. The Diagram option uses bubbles to display ideas or points in a visual format.  All notes etc are placed in an ordered format when you use the Outline option.
3.    If using the Diagram option, tap the bubbles for the keypad to be displayed and type in ideas / data.
4.    Tap the arrow button to the bottom right of any bubble and an arrow and bubble will be displayed. You can also touch the Rapid Fire icon on the title bar for another bubble. This is a great tool when doing a brainstorming activity, because you can tap the Next key on the keypad for an idea cloud to appear (see slideshow below). The cloud becomes a bubble once you press the ENTER key.
5.    To link a bubble to a different idea - a) Touch the arrow. b) Touch and drag either the circle at the head or end of the arrow to the new bubble. c) Ensure the arrow is inside the new bubble for it to stick.
6.    To add notes to an idea bubble you touch the notepad button to the top left of the selected bubble. (Button visible in the graphic to the right - Crossing natural barriers.) You can type in any information you like regarding that idea / point. The full version offers the option of graphics and hyperlinks.
7.    Tap the top line to begin recording information in the Outline format.
8.    To move points around in this format you touch the section and drag it to another area of the outline. This feature enables students to organise and sequence ideas.
9.    Double tap under the last entry to add another point in the Outline format,

Piece de Resistance
What is the one aspect, above all the tools on offer, that sells this APP to me? My piece de resistance is the seamless transition from Diagram format to Outline format. When you develop a mind map, brainstorm etc in the diagram option, you can immediately review it in the outline format. To view either option you just tap the icon in the top left hand corner of the screen. Either option can then be saved, printed or emailed for future reference. Inspirational Map APP gets ***** stars from me and I was so impressed I purchased the full version. With this version there are numerous templates to choose from and you can develop graphs from data you enter.

I previously stated that I have used the Inspiration program for over thirteen years, I can now imagine I'll be using the various versions of this APP for as long.

http://www.maziocreate.com.au

Overview of Inspiration Map Lite screen

An 'APPy ESL Classroom

29/5/2012

There is a mountain of information, lesson plans and activities on the internet available for ESL teachers and students. There are also a number of APPs available for handheld devices. Why go for an APP and not a web site? They are portable! APPs give learners the opportunity to access a learning activity, any time and any place. I'll be checking out free ESL APPs you and your learners can use from the privacy of your Smartphone / iPhone / iPad. The following APPs all have a full version that can be purchased, but access the FREE version first and see if it will benefit your students and support your teaching.

ESL Express - Words Frequently Confused
ESL students aren't the only ones who could use this APP. ESL Express looks at words that may cause confusion for both writers and readers. Sorry to say there are a few spelling errors in their sentence examples e.g. roasters instead of roosters. If you buy the full version there are over 2100 words, but there are enough options for learners in the FREE version to get started. Students tap on a letter of the alphabet to access lists and can then select a group of words e.g. Hate - Detest - Abhor. I believe there would be a number of applicaitons for this APP in your classroom. ***

Grammar Express - Parts of Speech
Using this App is very straightforward and even a non-techie will navigate it without any assistance. This is purely an APP where learners can practise their understanding of Parts of Speech. Once you select a topic, you have the choice to read definitions and examples. The level of language used in the definitions, examples and test statements / questions varies. Overall your students will need a sound grasp of English to complete the tasks. Good APP for Level 2 and higher students. ***

Free Grammar
Tap any of the choices in the menu and you will go to a page that explains that topic. Explanations are brief and there are no examples to assist learners. Your only option then is to select the test. There are a total of ten quesitons for each topic, and you use a slide bar to select the number you want to complete. The questions are multiple choice. Learners can access feedback for incorrect answers by clicking the circles that have a cross. My concern with this APP is the level of language used in the questions and answers. The APP is definitely NOT for beginner ESL students. ***

iScroll
Now we're talking FREE APPs! This APP works in conjunction with any book that is in your iPhone's library. Registering and downloading this APP is a great learning activity in itself. If you or your students don't have any titles in your library, don't worry one is provided free of charge (The Art of War by Sun Tzu). You can also search and download a number of books for free. The books I downloaded were related to science, and there are a number of great topics. The voice in all the books was human and very easy on the ear. However, the reader is American and for other English speaking countries e.g. England & Australia, this may cause an issue with pronunciation. I was very impressed with the Settings options. You can-
>    change font and background colour (great options for people who are visually impaired);
>    change font size
>    select a font of your choice
>    change the spacing between characters
>    have a continuous reader
>    change the audio rate. I tried this and set the scroll bar for this option at 1/4, and believe this rate would assist many ESL listeners.
This APP would provide a great option for learners to undertake listening activities outside the classroom.

www.maziocreate.com.au

Words With Friends - Classroom Spelling Challenge

10/2/2012

Angry Birds will assist your students with numeracy and literacy concepts and activities, but let's delve into the world of a mobile device game that you can use to assist learners with spelling.

I'm currently enjoying the challenge of the game Words With Friends. I have recently suffered humiliating defeats to my cousin, but what can you do when you have seven vowels and no consonants or seven consonants and no vowels (check current letters in photo at bottom of blog). You can swap the letters you have been dealt, but there is a score penalty. I'd rather get the lowly score of two than admit defeat with limiting letters. Who says I'm competitive?

This game is based on Scrabble and you are dealt seven tiles to begin each game. You receive double and/or triple points for both letters and words. Also, you have to begin the game by placing a letter over the central star. Currently I'm using the FREE version that's on offer. The major difference between this and the paid version is ADVERTISING. The cost for the no advertising version is $2.99 (US). Well worth it to be rid of the pesky ads. Even though I am slightly addicted to this game, I do have a couple of issues:
> it accepts words that are actually acronyms e.g. BO; and,
> the use of nonexistent words e.g. laked (which scored a triple word score for my cousin, not happy). All that aside, this game offers your learners a great tool for practising spelling.

CLASS CHALLENGES

To set up the class or a group to play, follow these few steps.
1.    They will all need to download the game onto a device e.g. mobile/cell phone or iPad.
2.    Once they have registered, their User Names will be available for class/group members and public to access.
3.    Students can establish a roster of playing partners. It would be good for all class or group members to play each other. They can also record their scores to be used in -
    >    graphing activities;
    >    finding the mean, mode and median of their scores;
    >    ranking all players top and lowest scores;
    >    finding the difference between highest and lowest scores; and,
    >    recording scores for each word and graphing top 5 scores.
4.    I strongly recommend that your students use a dictionary or they could use the Words With Friends Cheat web site to assist them. If a word is unacceptable a message appears to that affect and players get another opportunity to change spelling etc.

Maybe "STALK", "BLAST" or "BANKS".

Learning Extension Ideas

Once your students are up and running with the game you can introduce other learning activities to broaden their experience.

>    List strategies they use to determine where they place their letters. Discuss these with other players to develop and/or refine their strategies.
>    Write a review of the game (hard copy or online). Include suggestions that may improve the game.
>    Write an email to the developers that expresses learners' opinion/s of the game.
>    Class survey that considers-
            a.    players' understanding of the game;
            b.    players' level of enjoyment (use a Likert scale question); and,
            c.    players' use of options i.e. Shuffle and Swap.
>    Record the initial letters from the start of any game and see how many words they can make using these letters.
>    Record words that they and their playing partner use in a game. Tick the known words and find the meanings for unknown words.
>    Use words in sentences.
>    Tweet the word and meaning.
>    Word building using prefixes and suffixes.

One major advantage of this APP over the board game is the ease with which people can access the game while simultaneously improving their spelling skills. Now, it's all up to you and your learners to make the most of this FREE learning tool.

Don't turn those phones off. Use them to your advantage.