The advances in educational technology have now made it possible for educators to use apps in the classroom even. There are apps that support both the teaching and learning process. The use of apps in today’s digitized classrooms can increase the engagement of the students towards their lessons and can also motivate them to learn more. These apps provide greater flexibility in interaction and communication and can help students improve their grades. There are several apps out there in the market, but here are five which educators can find very useful.
TED-ED:
More than 250,000 educators worldwide use the educations tools that are included in this app. TED-ED gives access to hundreds of animations and award-winning videos that can spark the interest of the students. There are video-based lessons organized according to the subjects taught in schools. With the help of this app, educators can customize lessons by adding interactive questions and topics for discussions. And with TED-ED, students can get together and present their own ideas in brief TED-style talks.
Edmodo:
EDMODO is a social learning platform that allows educators to create a network where students can connect, collaborate and learn. With EDMODO, teachers find it easier to remain connected with their students. There are features like Assignments, Quizzes and a Gradebook that help educators track the progress of their students. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. The students are able to communicate with the teacher and each other in a safe, private space. The app is a storehouse of free resources created by other teachers all of which can be used in the classrooms.
Moodle:
This is an acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment and it is the world’s most widely used learning platform. It is a Learning Management System that is very useful for distance education and other e-learning projects in schools. Educators can use MOODLE to create private websites and online courses. Along with the usual features like Assignments, Quizzes, Grading, Certification, this app also provides links to other web resources. MOODLE is easy to use and educators can access it from any device.
iMovie:
This is a very popular video editing app that teachers recommend for students who want to create their own videos. iMovie has presentations that are suitable for classroom teaching. The app can document and record relevant events outside the school and can later use them during the lessons. Students can edit these photos and clips by adding titles, music, themes and effects. iMovie allows the user to import video footage from the hard drive and vice versa. Teachers can use this app to record lessons or demonstrations and then share them on other platforms. Students can use this app for projects and create storyboards.
Evernote:
This is a note-taking app and can be invaluable for teachers. It allows teachers to share their notes with the students without the use of hand-outs. With EVERNOTE, teachers can quickly create notes and store them in the Notebook feature. The students can easily access these notes from wherever they are. The app also helps save trees and what could be better than that?
As technology makes its way into schools, it can not only enhance the learning experiences of the students but also create paperless classrooms. By integrating the use of apps with regular lessons in a creative manner, schools can become earth friendly and reduce their environmental footprint. The usage of apps will simultaneously reduce the usage of paper and in turn the waste that is produced. Schools which go paperless will go green, which in turn will directly benefit the environment.