App Ed Review
Review Overview
A. Instruction - 5.7
B. Design - 7.8
C. Engagement - 6.3
6.6
Smithsonian Mobile: An App for Art
Summary : Curious about Smithsonian Museums?
Smithsonian Mobile provides users with links to museums, exhibits, and events connected with the Smithsonian museum network. After launching the app and downloading the current information, users can swipe the banner picture to view different exhibits currently being featured in the Smithsonian museums, or they can scroll down to images to other specific museums in the network. Users can tap an image to access additional information about that museum, which includes hours and information, location, links, events, exhibitions, highlights, and more! Some links will take users to the museum’s website that is external to this app and other links store the information locally. Also from the main screen, users can tap the “Lined” button on the top left of the app and choose the “Search” option. This option allows users to enter key terms to find art, exhibitions, or artists related to their search. At all times, users can tap the “Home” button on the top right of the screen to return to the app’s main screen.
Instructional Ideas
- Teachers can have students select a museum and create a presentation about it. Students would have to research key information about the museum, reference exhibitions currently being featured, discuss different podcasts offered by the museum, and summarize its history. Students can present this information using the PPT or Prezi app.
- When studying an artist, students can search for him or her using this app and then view the artist’s work. Students can use the information they found as part of a research project or they could view the artwork and then try to replicate it using the appropriate Artwork Production app.
- Students can use this app to view the different museums in the Smithsonian network. Next, students could create their “Top 5 Must Visit” museum list. For each museum on their list, students will have to explain why they wish to visit each museum listed on their rankings.
- If students are going on a field trip to Washington DC, they can use this app to preview some of the exhibitions they will see.
When studying a specific time period, English and social studies teachers can have students use this app’s search feature to find artwork from that period. Students can then write a brief synopsis about how a piece of art relates to that time period or they can discuss key attributes or themes found across the pieces from that time period.
| A1. Rigor | |
| A2. 21st Century Skills | |
| A3. Conn. to Future Learning | |
| A4. Value of Errors | |
| A5. Feedback to Teacher | |
| A6. Level of Material | |
| A7. Cooperative Learning | |
| A8. Accom. of Individual Diff. |
| B1. Ability to Save Progress | |
| B2. Platform Integration | |
| B3. Screen Design | |
| B4. Ease of Use | |
| B5. Navigation | |
| B6. Goal Orientation | |
| B7. Information Presentation | |
| B8. Media Integration | |
| B9. Cultural Sensitivity |
| C1. Learner Control | |
| C2. Interactivity | |
| C3. Pace | |
| C4. Flexibility | |
| C5. Interest | |
| C6. Aesthetics | |
| C7. Utility |
