“Opps for Apps” How to Guide:
Shakespeare’s Sonnets App
Two weeks before the Seminar:
Start exploring the app to ascertain possible avenues
for integration into the seminar. It is important to
fully investigate all the features of the app at this
stage, and to verify its scholarly sources and
material, before planning on using it with students.
The Shakespeare’s Sonnets app is an award-winning app that
incorporates a range of scholarly material, including material
taken from The Arden Shakespeare series. The seminar itself was
designed to be an introductory session on the sonnet, using select examples by Shakespeare
to illustrate some of the formal elements and thematic concerns of the sonnet. In this way
the app’s use met specific intended learning outcomes already in place for the module.
A few days before the seminar:
Prepare the equipment so that it is all ready to use during
the seminar. It is important with Ipads that they are fully
charged and that any necessary cables are available.
If you wish to connect a staff Ipad up to the projection
system then a Ipad lightning to VGA adaptor is needed
(pictured)
Be careful! older versions of the Ipad will require a different Ipad dock
connector to VGA Cable Adaptor. (pictured)
It may also be useful if you familiarise yourself with the appropriate
departmental IT aid before the seminar. This can come in very useful if
something goes wrong!
The Seminar
Meghann Hillier-Broadley
“We used the Shakespeare
Sonnets app in the seminar in lieu
of a paper copy. The students
were free to explore the app and
enjoy famous names read the
sonnets, view a copy of the original
folio and learn further information
regarding sonnets and their form.
The use of the app created a fun
atmosphere and engaged the
students as it offered more than
only the sonnet.”
As this was an introductory session for a level 4 cohort, the lecturer decided to take a fairly
open approach to the integration of the app into the seminar. Pairs of students were
provided with an Ipad with the app pre-installed. They were then given ****** to explore
the app and its contents.
One student suggested “”
After the Seminar
After the seminar session has taken place it is important to critically
reflect on what worked and what didn’t. In this specific case, feedback
was broadly positive. All students spoke favourably about the app,
finding it easy to use and well designed. Students also stated that they
felt that getting to look at the folio edition, read the academic material on
the app, and watch the performances enhanced their understanding and
enjoyment of the seminar and the central text/s.