Popplet is an app designed for iPad, iPhone and Mac. The app is downloadable from http://www.popplet.com/ for free or $4.99.
With Popplet you can think and learn visually. It is a straight forward organizational tool to create relationships and connect ideas in mind maps. The more students engage with the learning material, the more they will retain it. Popplet offers finger touch technology to engage and inspire students from Foundation to year 12.
Reflecting this tool against the SAMR Model
Popplet serves as substitution of paper and pen. This is the lowest level of incorporating ICT in the classroom (Oxnevad, 2007). Popplet does not have editing features such as spellcheck. But depending on the assignment or task, Popplet can offer higher levels of digital technology skills applications.
Curriculum links:
- Digital Technology
- Knowledge and understanding -Digital systems – Representation of data
- Processes and production skills – Collecting, managing and analyzing data –
- Digital implementation
- Literacy
- Numeracy
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability
General capability
Critical and creative thinking
Use in the classroom
Popplet has very simple gestures and allows students to focus on the content rather that the interface. It is easy to operate and ideal for very young students (Graphite.org, 2016). Foundation year levels can use the program to investigate and experiment with letters and words. Older year groups will use Popplet to make sense of new knowledge through mind mapping. The finished product can be reflected on the IWB to share.
REFERENCES
Graphite.org, (2016). Popplet. [online] Available at: https://www.graphite.org/website/popplet#more [Accessed 11 Jan. 2016].
Oxnevad, S. (2007). The SAMR Ladder through the Lens of the 21st Century. [Blog] Getting Smart. Available at: http://gettingsmart.com/2013/07/the-samr-ladder-through-the-lens-of-21st-century-skills/ [Accessed 11 Jan. 2016].