Analyzing Visual Images and Stereotyping: The Smithsonian Channel App

The Smithsonian Channel App



















Smithsonian Channel App

The Smithsonian Channel App is an app designed to bring Smithsonian channel content to the mobile user. It has both full length episodes of its shows and documentaries, and snippets of some of the most popular shows on the channel. Users can also test their historical knowledge by taking a history quiz which provides photos accompanied by multiple choice questions. There is also channel information about upcoming shows and There is also a feature which allows you to enter your personal historical interests and then provides five clips from shows that might interest you.

The app is free and is available at the Apple apps store.

My subject is Social Studies, and while I enjoy learning about historical events, I understand that for some people, history can be dry and lack engagement. For younger kids, who are used to interactive games and tablets, this is especially true. The Smithsonian Channel App is interactive and visual. It gives the user the control to cater their viewing to reenactments and documentaries that they are studying. As a Social Studies teacher, it would be my job to teach my students how to analyze the visual historical images they see when studying a particular event. As an example, the images of the holocaust that many students are shown need context and explanation. By using this app, I could provide my students with instant access to short, pertinent content about WWII and how the concentration camps came to be. 

The only major problem I can foresee when using this app is that the interactive component may not be enough to keep the interest of older students. A more game-heavy application, designed to teach history, might be better. 

Sample graphics:

History of Technology in Social Studies

This short PowToon is about television's impact on teaching Social Studies. Specifically, how it gave teachers a way to actually show historical events, live, to their students, rather than having to use still photos or old film reels.

History of Technology in Social Studies PowToon

Compare and Contrast Ideas: The Opposites

The Opposites

The Opposites

The Opposites is a reading comprehension app which focuses on vocabulary through game play. The game is very simple and easy to follow and is based around a brother and sister "arguing" with words: they each say a word, which floats to the top of the screen, and as the words fill the room, the player must tap on a word and its opposite to make it disappear. The player must delete enough words to keep the room from filling up.

The Opposites costs $.99

Pros
The app supports teaching through comparing and contrasting by teaching how words relate to one another. I have a student with reading disabilities and one of his weaknesses is vocabulary, specifically how words interplay in the context of a passage. I have been looking for a way to help him learn new words in a fun way and this app is perfect. Whatever word he doesn't know during the game, he can look up in the dictionary function of the app (see below how this feature could be better).

Cons
This app is available on most popular devices and is engaging enough for most students. The only problem I see with the app is that the dictionary feature is not available during game play. If there is a word my student doesn't know, he has to exit out of the level to go to the dictionary to learn it.

Here is a screenshot of the game: