Evaluation Instrument

Background Information:
App/Tool Name: Anchor by Spotify
Cost:
Free _____ Free, but includes in-app purchases______ Cost: ______ Is there a school/district discount? Yes/No
App Type (Check all that apply):
____eBook ____Audio recording app _____ELA
____eVersion of traditional tool ____Gamification app _____Math
____Thinking map app ____Testing review app _____Science
____Video app ____Coding app _____Social Studies

1 2 3 4
Design Features/ App is not user friendly. App can be used by some Most students can use app Most students can independently
Functionality It is difficult for students students independently with independently with practice. launch/access app without
to independently use app practice/some support teacher support

Tech support is available, but

No tech support is
available
Connection to Skill(s) in app is not
Curriculum clearly connected to the
target skill/concept
Accessibility The app offers no
accessibility features for
diverse learners
Limited tech support is
available
Skill(s) in app is
prerequisite or foundation
skills to the targeted
skill/concept
The app offers limited
accessibility features to
assist diverse learners.
Examples may include one
of the following features:
closed captioning, read
aloud, voice to text, etc.
could be challenging for
students to use independently
Skill(s) are related to the
targeted skill/concept
The app offers multiple
accessibility features to
address diverse learners’
needs. At least one
accessibility feature and
academic need are addressed
within this app.
Tech support is easily accessible
for students
Skill(s) are strongly connected
to the targeted skill or concept
The app is designed to address
the needs of diverse learners’
capabilities and academic needs.
All accessibility features
including closed captioning,
read aloud, alternative text and
voice to text options. The tool
 also includes features that are
designed to address diverse
academic abilities such as
differentiated reading levels or
the ability to personalize
content.
Instructional The app does not allow The app allows two forms The app allows multimodal App allows text, audio, images,
Features multimodal content or for of content (text, audio, content in most/all forms. The and video content. Teacher is
the instructor to manage images, video) but is still teacher can manage student able to fully manage student
***Not student learning limited. Teacher’s ability to learning through app. It is learning through app. Teacher
Applicable for manage student learning challenging for teachers to can easily provide feedback to
this through app is limited. provide feedback to students. students.
Application***

Total: *15/16
Comments:
I gave this tool a *15 out of 16 because I did not think the instructional features category applied to this app. While Podcasts can be
used for instructional purposes, it is not their primary design. I found Anchor by Spotify incredibly user friendly and think it would be
easy to use its features both inside and outside of the classroom.

References
Burden, K., Kearney, M., & Hopkins, P. (n.d.). Evaluation rubric: Educational mobile apps (printed version). Mobile Learning
Toolkit . Retrieved August 21, 2022, from
http://www.mobilelearningtoolkit.com/uploads/5/6/0/9/56096707/appevaluationinstrumentfinalrubric.pdf
Educational app evaluation checklist - squarespace. Square Space . (n.d.). Retrieved August 21, 2022, from
https://static.squarespace.com/static/50eca855e4b0939ae8bb12d9/50ecb58ee4b0b16f176a9e7d/
50ecb593e4b0b16f176aa976/1330884481041/Vincent_App_Checklist.pdf
Walker, H. (n.d.). Evaluation rubric for iPad applications - California State University ... Retrieved August 21, 2022, from
https://www.csueastbay.edu/slhs/files/docs/resources/ipad-app-evaluation.pdf