The PS161 The Crown App

¨ For a more fluid experience please download the app. Search “PS161 The Crown” in both the Apple App Store for iphones and for Android phones in the Google Play Store. Sorry Blackberry and Windows Phones.

HOW CAN AN APP IMPROVE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT?

While producing an app will definitely improve your school’s image it can also be a great way to communicate information to your school community.

Why make an app?

•  Improve communication: Parents can view your school’s calendar, registration information, directory of contacts and much more.

•  Most people have smartphones. •  Downloading an app is easy and using

it is even easier. •  Improved reputation of your school. •  No need for updates to the app as

content is updated live. •  Build your app for free before

committing to it.

How to get started?

There are many sites available that will streamline the app building process for you with your content. The factors to this decision are: ¨  Cost/benefits

¤ This is important because the prices vary between websites and what services they provide. Inquire to be sure their services meet your needs.

¨  Layout ¤ Most websites are marketing their app building

services to small business and organizations. Your app may not need a “shopping cart” option because it may not be selling anything.

How to get started? (Continued)

¨  Ease of use ¤ Here is where you want to make sure the

interface of the website is easy to work with and has a flow that works for the person creating the app.

¨  Availability of Tech Support ¤ Check the website of the company and browse

the support forum if they have one. Most will, you’re looking for frequently answered questions and lots of activity.

Websites

¨  Como.com ¤ Has educational templates ¤ Lots of user engagement features

¨  Appypie.com ¤ apps for iOS, android, kindle, blackberry,

and windows ¨  Appmakr.com

¤ Very easy to use

iBuildapp.com (My Choice)

The Dashboard

The logo/banner

¨  Your logo should be incorporate a part of your school image. I highly visible physical feature of your school.

¨  If you have a website you can use an image from the home page.

¨  You will have to resize the image to work with the scale of the phone interface.

App Content

¨  You add content to your app through widgets. Widgets are functions and features of the app building site that you can add to the app. ¤ Google map widget can give directions to your school. ¤ Phone widget can call your school at the touch of a

button. ¤ Link Widget can provide an external link to a full

website link like the DOE home page or your school’s home page.

¤ There are many more widgets to use.

The Calendar

¨  Parents will always know what is going on at school. ¤ You can add content to your calendar part of the

app and it will update live. ¤ You can sync this a Google calendar or use an RSS

feed from your school’s website calendar. ¤ RSS feed are relatively easy to setup and provide a

lot of versatility for sync information across website and app. (No one likes doing double work)

Notifications By far the best feature of having an app is being able to sent notifications directly to parents.

Push Notifications: •  Send short messages to anyone that has the

app installed. •  Parents appreciate reminders that require no

work on their part. •  Works great for emergency situations. •  Using a app building website that provides

push notifications saves you money.

Expense

¨  Most websites charge anywhere from $30-$50 a month. Yearly subscriptions are cheaper. Wait for a sale and it’s even better.

¨  Most websites don’t work off of PO’s. Use principal’s P-card or pay for it then get a SIPP.

¨  You will need developer accounts to post app in App stores. Android = $25 Apple = $100.

¨  Most websites offer a service of publishing the app for you but it can be expensive. $300-$500.

My Recommendations

¨  Make sure you pick a website that meets your needs. Especially the important ones.

¨  Sales are great. I waited and saved %50. Total cost for my app was just over $300.

¨  I did it for free but inquire about per-session from your principal. It took me about two months to figure it all out. My next app will take half the time.

¨  If you have a website link the information. If you don’t have a website make one.

My Email

¨ cvaras@schools.nyc.gov