First & Then

Features
Price $2.99
Age Range All Ages
App Type Learning App
Version Reviewed 1.1
Android Available?
Lite Version Available?
Help Provided?

Bloom's Thinking Process
Creating
Evaluating
Analysing
Applying
Understanding
Remembering

Adaptability
Add own pictures
Add own voice
Includes text

Review Comments
First & Then provides a quick and simple way of setting up a visual First-Then board. Two empty boxes are shown. "First" is coloured blue and "Then" is green. The "First" and "Then" words are displayed at the top of the box in lower case. It is very simple to add photos to these boxes and set up a timer. Then press play to start. The child can watch the timer count down. When the timer is finished, the clock turns red and displays "STOP". There is also a finished box which is covered in the black and white check finished material. The child can drag the photo into the finished box to show they have finished. Photos: Photos can be taken with the camera or installed from your Photo Library. Any photos you take with the camera are automatically saved into the First & Then Library. Timer: The timer is optional for each step. The timer can be set for between 1 and 60 minutes. The timer looks like an alarm clock. It shows both a digital count down display as well as a pie chart which slowly increases in size. Colours change from green to orange to red when the timer is finished. Timer Sound: This is a brief electronic sound.

Review Comments

First & Then provides a quick and simple way of setting up a visual First-Then board.

Two empty boxes are shown. "First" is coloured blue and "Then" is green. The "First" and "Then" words are displayed at the top of the box in lower case.

It is very simple to add photos to these boxes and set up a timer. Then press play to start. The child can watch the timer count down. When the timer is finished, the clock turns red and displays "STOP".

There is also a finished box which is covered in the black and white check finished material. The child can drag the photo into the finished box to show they have finished.

Photos: Photos can be taken with the camera or installed from your Photo Library. Any photos you take with the camera are automatically saved into the First & Then Library.

Timer: The timer is optional for each step. The timer can be set for between 1 and 60 minutes. The timer looks like an alarm clock. It shows both a digital count down display as well as a pie chart which slowly increases in size. Colours change from green to orange to red when the timer is finished.

Timer Sound: This is a brief electronic sound.

Use	Rank (*)
First-then		Ranked 1st of 13

(*) This app has been ranked according to its' effectiveness to achieve the learning goals and strategies listed. Some apps may rank highly for achieving a specific use and lower for other uses. Some students will learn and engage with one app more than others, because of the individual nature of us all.

Learning App
Learning apps are designed for a specific purpose. The authors claim to teach a goal, skill or concept.

Bloom's Thinking Process
Bloom's Taxonomy is classification system used to explain the behaviours important in learning. Apps range from simple memory tasks such as flashcards apps through to creative apps which ask students to create an original story or video.

Bloom's Creating
The student creates new ideas, products or ways of viewing things. Activities include making, animating, designing, constructing, planning, producing and inventing.

Bloom's Evaluating
The student justifies a decision or course of action. Activities include counting to check, hypothesising, critiquing, experimenting and judging.

Bloom's Analysing
The student breaks the information into parts to explore understandings and relationships. Activities include explaining, ordering, inferring, comparing and organising.

Bloom's Applying
The student uses the information in a new situation. Activities include implementing, carrying out, using, illustrating, classifying and categorising.

Bloom's Understanding
The student comprehends the new information. Activities include describing, predicting showing understanding use a multiple choice.

Bloom's Remembering
The student recalls information they know. Activities include matching, 'fill in the blank', making a choice, answering using a multiple choice, naming a group.

Learning Connection
How well does the app teach the targeted skill or concept? This is the area where we refer to current research and pedagogy to evaluate the efficacy of the app.

Authenticity
Authenticity looks at the manner in which skills are learnt. Authentic apps use real life or genuine activities. Students learn in context rather than in a contrived or rote fashion (such as flashcards).

Feedback
Feedback needs to be specific and result in improved performance. Feedback should be supportive and encouraging rather than negative. Data should be available to support decision making.

Differentiation
Differentiation is the ability to customise the app to suit the student. The ability to record you voice, customise text, add pictures and alter settings enables individualisation of the app.

User Friendliness
User friendliness is a measure of how well a student can use the app independently. Some apps are simply intuitive to use. Others include audio or visual prompts which support the student.

Motivation
All apps are engaging the first time they are played. However, students with diverse learning needs may need to return to the app many times. Motivating apps offer rewards,games or incentives.

First-then
First-then schedules are based on the principle that students will do a less preferred activity (first activity) if followed be a preferred activity (then activity). The first-then card is usually divided into two halves. The word ‘first’ is written on top of the first card and the word ‘then’ is written on top of the second card.

Domain	Score	Details
Learning Connection	4	This app fills the need for a quick First-Then board. The option of a timer and finished box help children understand when a task has been completed.
Authenticity	1	The child observes the First-Then board and can drag the finished picture into the finished box.
Feedback	2	Feedback for finished is provided by the timer.
Differentiation	2	You can add your own photos and set the timer. There is an option to turn off the finished sound.
User Friendliness	4	The user friendliness for both the child and adult is one of the best features of this app.
Motivation	3	Children will enjoy seeing their own photos in the board. Some children may need an additional reward for finished.

From the App Store

Developer Alisha Forrest
App Store Rating (from 7 reviews)
Current Version Rating (from 7 reviews)
Current Version 2.1

Developer's Description
Designed by an Occupational Therapist. First & Then is a very simple app that uses a board with photos to show that one activity must happen before the next can occur. A fantastic tool for visual learners! The idea behind a First & Then board is to encourage a child to complete an activity that they don’t particularly enjoy. The board motivates the child to engage in a less preferred activity, knowing that a preferred activity (or a reward) will follow. For example, the ‘first’ activity may be something such as handwriting, homework, eating vegetables, using the toilet or visiting the dentist. The ‘then’ activity may be playing outside, computer time or a chocolate treat. The App is extremely simple to use, the board is set up from one page, with clear prompts to help along the way. The app allows the user to quickly and simply insert photos from the device’s camera or photo library, meaning that ‘First & Then’ boards can be made on-the-go and with little fuss. Photos taken are saved within the App to use again and again. The app includes a coloured visual timer, that the user can choose to use, to show the child how long they need to spend on an activity. As well as a digital display, the time is also represented by a coloured pie chart. When the pie is green, the child needs to keep going. When the pie turns amber, the child needs to get ready to finish. The pie turns red when it is time to stop the activity. The app also includes a ‘Finished box’. The child can drag the photo into this box when the activity is completed. The App is complete with the option to use exciting tones to reward the child for completing the activity.

Developer's Description

Designed by an Occupational Therapist.
First & Then is a very simple app that uses a board with photos to show that one activity must happen before the next can occur. A fantastic tool for visual learners!

The idea behind a First & Then board is to encourage a child to complete an activity that they don’t particularly enjoy. The board motivates the child to engage in a less preferred activity, knowing that a preferred activity (or a reward) will follow. For example, the ‘first’ activity may be something such as handwriting, homework, eating vegetables, using the toilet or visiting the dentist. The ‘then’ activity may be playing outside, computer time or a chocolate treat.

The App is extremely simple to use, the board is set up from one page, with clear prompts to help along the way.

The app allows the user to quickly and simply insert photos from the device’s camera or photo library, meaning that ‘First & Then’ boards can be made on-the-go and with little fuss. Photos taken are saved within the App to use again and again.

The app includes a coloured visual timer, that the user can choose to use, to show the child how long they need to spend on an activity. As well as a digital display, the time is also represented by a coloured pie chart. When the pie is green, the child needs to keep going. When the pie turns amber, the child needs to get ready to finish. The pie turns red when it is time to stop the activity.

The app also includes a ‘Finished box’. The child can drag the photo into this box when the activity is completed.

The App is complete with the option to use exciting tones to reward the child for completing the activity.

Disclaimer: The evaluations and rankings information provided here are based solely on the opinion of the author and are for informational purposes only. Families should seek professional advice before making decisions regarding interventions for their child.