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Choiceworks Calendar

Choiceworks Calendar
Features

Price

$19.99

Age Range

Early Childhood & Primary

App Type

Learning App

Version Reviewed

2.2

Android Available?

Is Android Available

Lite Version Available?

Is a Lite Version Available

Help Provided?

Is Help Provided
Sharing
EmailAirprintiTunes
Bloom's Thinking Process
CreatingBlooms Creating
EvaluatingBlooms Evaluating
AnalysingBlooms Analysing
ApplyingBlooms Applying
UnderstandingBlooms Understanding
RememberingBlooms Remembering
Adaptability
Add own pictures
Add own voice
Includes text
Add own text
Includes images
Review Comments
Choiceworks Calendar includes a daily schedule and weekly or monthly calendar. This unique feature of this app is the ability to add voice on to each image.
 
Format: There is a daily, weekly or monthly view. In the daily mode, the day presents as a vertical schedule. However, only 5 steps can be included in the schedule. Complete an activity an move it across to the "All done" column. In the weekly view, tap on the completed event and a green tick appears.
 
Images: The app comes with 275 images. You can add, edit or delete any image. Add  pictures from your photo library or camera. Record your voice on to each picture
 
Text:  A small amount of text can be added to each image.  
 
Voice: Record your voice on to any image.
 
Time: Luckily, time can be turned on or off.
 
Timer: Add a timer to each activity in your calendar.
 
Count Down: Tap on the count down feature to count the number of days until an event.
 
Locking for editing: You can lock the calendars by gong into the settings and disabling the editing function.
 
Sharing: Sharing via email or iTunes.
 
Multiple students: Make multiple calendars for multiple students.
 
Import Calendars: Import calendars added via iTunes.
Use Rank (*)
Schedules and Work Systems Ranked 3rd of 47
Picture Calendars 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.
Schedules and Work Systems
Picture schedules use pictures to show a list of activities in a time sequence. Works systems are minischedules which give a list of steps within an activity. These systems usually include a way for the student to check off when they have completed an activity (this is called task completion) and a way to show the student that the schedule or activity has finished.
Picture Calendars
Picture calendars turn the abstract concept of time into a concrete and visual form. They help students understand what is happening in their lives. They can prepare a student for a future event and reduce stress by showing them how long they need to wait for an event. Also see apps for Picture Schedules.

Domain Score Details
Learning Connection 4
Choiceworks Calendar is a terrific app for showing children their daily tasks. These app has many features compared to other apps in this category including the ability to record voice.
Authenticity 2
The child can show that they have completed a task or item on a schedule by moving it to the "All done" column (in daily view) or tapping on the image to show a green tick.
Feedback 1
Feedback is not usually provided in calendar or schedule apps.
Differentiation 4
The images, text, and voice can be edited. Turn off the calendar and counter audio.
User Friendliness 4
This is a simple app to set up and to use. Instructions are shown on the screen, however it is quite an intuitive app.
Motivation 4
The addition of a star chart is a bonus for this app. Most children would enjoy looking at their tasks and ticking them off when completed.
From the App Store
iTunes logo

Developer

Bee Visual LLC

App Store Rating

(from 7 reviews)

Current Version Rating

(from 7 reviews)

Current Version

6.0
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Developer's Description
The Choiceworks Calendar is a powerful picture-based learning tool that helps children learn what is happening day-to-day, week-to-week, and month-to-month throughout each year. Choiceworks Calendar teaches the abstract concept of time in a structured visual format which helps children organize their lives as well as understand sequence and time. Choiceworks Calendar is the first app of its kind to provide a full-featured calendar designed with both the child and caregiver in mind.

Key Features 

■ Easily create a visual calendar of upcoming events in a few minutes (examples: holidays, when visitors are coming, doctor appointments, vacations, sleepovers, parent returning from a trip or military duty)
■ Image Library preloaded with over 275 images and audio
■ Attach video to any image
■ Add your own images using your photo library, camera or use the preloaded image library to record your own audio, video and edit captions for limitless customizability 
■ Create multiple personalized calendars for use with multiple children or in a classroom setting
■ Count Days Until: animated counter for the number of days until an upcoming event (example: How many days until my birthday?)
■ Speaks the daily schedule with child or adult voice
■ Built-in visual timer
■ Automatically adds holidays
■ Easily add reoccurring events
■ Notifications and alarms with visual and audio alerts
■ Search and auto-save features
■ Share boards by Email, AirDrop, Files app or iTunes with other Choiceworks Calendar app users 
■ Ability to print month, week or day for offline viewing or save as PDF

Methodology

Visual supports are highly effective, proven tools for improving communication between children and caregivers.  Calendars are challenging for children to grasp initially due to the abstract concept of time, months, weeks and days.  They are also time consuming for caregivers to setup and maintain.  Choiceworks Calendar addresses all of these challenges.  For caregivers, it provides a streamlined interface for creating, customizing, sharing and maintaining a calendar of upcoming events.  For the child, it provides visual, audio and video supports that make using the calendar an enjoyable learning experience.

Children gain independence and personal responsibility by seeing helpful information such as which days are school days and which days are not.  They also benefit by being informed of upcoming events such as a doctor’s appointment or celebrating a birthday. This clear, simple support provided ahead of time can help a child predict what is going to happen, thereby reducing anxiety.  It helps children understand when there is a change in the routine so they can learn to adapt, become more flexible and better behaved. The information is always visible on the calendar and the child can refer to it as often as needed. 

Helpful Tips

Simple:  When first implementing Choiceworks Calendar, the calendar should be kept simple and be geared toward the child. By reviewing the calendar each day, the child will learn the days of the week, rote counting, number identification and components of the daily, weekly, and monthly schedule.
Visuals:  Put images or videos on the calendar that describe the most important activities of the day. Again, keep it simple. Only include what is important for the child on the calendar.  Start small and gradually increase the amount of information presented as the child begins to understand the passage of time.
Advance: As success with Choiceworks Calendar increases, visually plan out big projects and indicate deadlines for science projects, writing assignments, etc.  Chunk larger projects into smaller, manageable steps that the child can complete each day.  This will focus attention to the current task and lessen anxiety and distraction to other portions of project. 
Have your own tips or ideas?  Visit our Facebook page and share with the Choiceworks community: https://www.facebook.com/ChoiceworksAndChoiceworksCalendarApps/

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.