Rating: 5/5
Subtext is an
Apple app that facilitates close readings of PDFs, e-books, and articles for
students. Readers can double tap a word or passage and highlight it; highlights
may be personalized through tags and different colors. Readers are provided
with definitions of words and can redirect themselves to Google for further
research. On the other hand, teachers can highlight a passage or word and
create an open-ended question, multiple choice, or poll for students to
complete as they read. Teachers can integrate videos, images, and web links
into the specific parts of the text. Subtext offers the option to create discussion
groups. Teachers can also get all the students on the same page of a text by
inviting members or groups to the desired page. Teachers can also upgrade to the
premium version of the app to obtain a detailed progress of students and Common
Core assignments.
Subtext can be used
in an English classroom to facilitate and promote close reading. I would use
Subtext in the classroom to model the reading process of an independent reader.
Students will see that the reading is an interactive and not passive process.
One limitation of Subtext is that it only available on Apple products. Students
might not have access to Apple products in school or at home. The premium packs
costs $2.99, comes with 10 seats, and expires at the end of each school
year. Teachers would have to buy multiple
packs if they have more than 10 students and renew the premium pack yearly.
I think that this app looks great for teaching close reading. I like that you said you would use it to model close reading, which can sometimes be a hard thing to explain. I think that since this is very visual, it's a great tool for teaching that kind of skill.
ReplyDeleteWhat I like most about this app is that Google and Wikipedia are a click away. Students can search up anything that they are unfamiliar with instantly.
DeleteHi Gustavo! This app looks great to incorporate into an English class. I can see how it would be helpful for the teacher to be able to revise and include specific materials, such as links and videos as you mentioned, into the reading assignments. It could also be a helpful way to assess the way students are reading - whether they're skimming the work or actually paying attention to the text. This can come in handy in any class that involves literacy.
ReplyDeleteShafika,
DeleteI also like the assessments that you can create for students to take as they are reading. You can add a multiple choice or open ended question to check if students are actually reading the question.