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

www.blippit.co.uk

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