Are You Teaching Over Your Head?

Can’t find the app you want for your teaching? No problem, create your own. That’s what the Director of Technology for the Mogadore Local Schools (Ohio), Anthony Luscre, tells the teachers in his district and those he works with at conferences. He challenges teachers saying, “If you’re not teaching over your head, you’re not doing an effective job.” In his sessions, he shows teachers how to create what he terms “pseudo apps”, which are “sketches” of the information a teacher would need to build an app. Because not all teachers want to code their own apps, Luscre recommends coding tools from Websites like Apps Geyser.  For those who want to jump in and get started with app creation, he helps them to go from functional flowcharts (spreadsheets) to actual coding. Educators, including Luscre, realize that app coding isn’t simple and requires months to master. Those who take it on, say the work is worth it. Luscre doesn’t expect all teachers to code, but he believes they will benefit from the critical thinking it takes to understand how apps are created.