AppTutor

Name of app: AppTutor
Skill Area: Math
Grades that would be appropriate: Elementary School students

A series of math apps for elementary school that encourages students to “learn-try-test”.

I would use AppTutor in my classroom to help promote fun math learning. The app includes games, free worksheets, and even math tutoring. The free worksheets are easy to access and print. The worksheets are sorted by Grade and Subject online. The worksheets would be great for extra practice. The math apps include interactive math practice that makes math fun while learning.  The math games include stories, games and songs. The apps can also be accessed with Android.

Online Apps

Media can help compliment and enhance teaching and learning in the classroom. It can be used to enhance learning, in both class and for out-of-class assignments. Research suggests that people learn more easily when they are presented in both visual and verbal form.
Media resources can be used within lectures to stimulate interest and develop knowledge of the material that is being taught. Existing media resources can also be used to engage students and facilitate active learning. This helps promote deeper learning.
Media can compliment instructor-led learning. This requires the instructor to step outside of the traditional lecture by encouraging students to learn through media. When teachers choose to incorporate students into creating the media, it encourages collaboration, accountability, creativity and a mastery of ideas and concepts.  It involves a high degree of engagement while promoting individual learning and social interaction. Examples of online applications are:

1. Google Apps allow students and instructors to share documents online, edit them in real time, and even project them on a screen. This allows for a collaborative platform to brainstorm ideas and document work.

2. Canvas is a great course management tool that is used to allow instructors to organize all the resources students’ need for a class. It is used to provide valuable grading tools, and create spaces for discussion, document sharing, and video and audio commentary.

3. Wordle is an online application that allows you to create a word cloud based on the frequency of words in a particular text. This is a great way to stimulate students’ thinking about the meaning, importance, and relationship of words as they analyze, create, and publish words. This a great way to develop a depth of vocabulary and build connections between words.

Dropbox

“One place for all your stuff, wherever you are”… Dropbox is home for all your photos, docs, videos and files. It works the way you do. You can even get your files from anywhere, on any device, and even share them with anyone. Sign-up is free. 

Everything you keep in Dropbox is synced automatically to all your devices. You even have the option to send videos quickly with a simple link-even if they don’t have a Dropbox account. 

Are you worried about keeping your photos safe? You can back up photos automatically from your phone or computer. You can relive them from any device. Dropbox is like a time machine, it allows you to undo your mistakes and undelete files that you might accidentally trash. 

Presentations can be edited with teammates without emailing files back and forth. When you make an edit, everyone will get the update automatically. 

Over 500 million people rely on Dropbox. Let it simplify your life.

Google Docs

        While using Google Docs you will have access to business email, video conferences, online storage, and other business tools. You even have the ability to work on a single document with teammates. You can create, edit, and share docs from your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
        Any changes you make to your document can be undone and even tracked. You can even decide who has access to your documents and folders. Your imported items can be instantly edited and turned around and exported. You can also convert your existing docs into Google Docs. The original file will remain intact.
        Everyone you share the document with will receive an email with a link to the document. If they are not able to collaborate in real time, you can leave feedback and questions on the side of the document for team members to view when they open the file.  Changes can be proposed directly in the document without editing the text.
        Google Docs works offline. You can choose to share your Google Docs files externally. You are able to choose whom to grant as editor, viewer, or commenter. Researching topics, defining words, and inserting citations can be done right in docs. You can add colors, styles, pictures, links, tables and more. You can even organize your texts into columns.

iMovie

National Science Teachers' Association

Jack & the Beanstalk by Nosy Crow

Name of App: Jack and the Beanstalk by Nosy Crow
Skill Area: Made for ages 6-8
Grades that would be appropriate: 1^st-3^rd grades

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/jack-beanstalk-by-nosy-crow/id796383629?mt=8

• Developer: Nosy Crow Limited
• © 2014 Nosy Crow Limited
• 
  

An app that not only focuses on reading, but also some interactive gaming. The voice narration is from children, not grown-ups.

This app would be a great addition to any classroom to encourage children to read while playing a game. The app features exciting reading and gaming experiences, while offering real consequences throughout the story.  What better way to grasp a child’s attention than through gaming. It will seem more like a game instead of a learning experience, but you will get the best of both worlds.