Free Apps to Use in the Classroom
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Transcript of Free Apps to Use in the Classroom
FREE APPS TO USE IN THE CLASSROOM
TO MAKE LEARNING FUN AND INTERACTIVE
Sonia ThorntonBelhaven University
EDU 643
Google EarthThis app allows students’ to view the world as it is.
It’s like having the world in your hands.
Usage: I would use this app for virtual field trips to see places that is far out of our reach. Google
Earth will bring the world in the class and help students make real world connections to what
they are learning.
Advantages: • The ability for the user to view an image of an area and then quickly move to another
part of the earth for observation.• 3-D terrain view of world from a ground based perspective. Disadvantage:• The resolution of the image varies depending upon the location.• The imagery is also not available for extensive editing or analysis.
Stack the StatesThis educational game helps students learn state capitals, shapes, geographic locations, flags, and
more. It also teaches the comparative size differences of the states as students attempt to
stack them to reach the goal line.Usage: I would use this app to study facts and
artifacts about states in social studies and as an assessment.
It only cost 99¢.
Advantage:• High resolution pictures of famous US landmarks.• Hundreds of unique questions • Track your progress• Realistic physics engine • Sound effects and music
Disadvantage: • Laziness, lack of more research.
ClassDojoThis real-time classroom management tool helps improve behavior and student engagement in a flash. You can set it up for individual students in
your class or for the whole group to track expectations for group norms.
Usage: I will use this app to help with classroom management. I will take attendance and give positive or negative reinforcements based on
students actions. Advantage: • Quick, easy way for teachers to note behaviors as they happen.• Tighten the feedback loop between teacher, student, and parent through codes.• Gather data • Without interruption, teacher can take away points to alter a bad behavior and reinforce a good one.
Disadvantage: • Objective for giving points. Points more important than lesson or following rules and students
wanting to give points for off task.• Teacher tied to device in order to give out points.
ABCyaThis app offers an interactive game-based learning
environment for language.Usage: I will use this app to work on a particular skill students needs or give some extra work on.
Advantage: • Beautiful design and crisp graphics• User friendly for K-5.• Interactive topics to choose from.• Home usage• Nonviolent games
Disadvantage:• Games moves too quick• Ads
MathmateerCreate and save your own flashcards for any
subject area or use any of the sets that others have created.
Usage: I will use this app to allow students to create flashcards to help them study for upcoming
tests and quizzes.
Advantage: • Sharpen kids math skills.
Disadvantage:• Students think this is the only way to study for test and quizzes.
Vocabulary/Spelling cityThis app is a convenient way of practicing weekly word study words. Students can write their own
list or use one that is computer generated. Web-based.
Usage: I will use this app to allow students to generate and study spelling, vocabulary, and sight
words. I will connect these words to other classroom content.
Advantage: • Reports for schools, districts, teachers, and parents. • Correlation to educational standards including Common Core and state.• Availability on the web and as an app on iPads, iPhones, and Android devices.• Used worldwide .• Use any word list for learning activities, assessments, and games.
Disadvantage: • Students will not study spelling nor vocabulary words on paper.
StorykitStudents can edit and rewrite classic fairy tales on
this app.Usage: I will use this app to allow students to create, edit, and rewrite if a variety of stories
including story structure.
Advantage:• Written language• Literacy• Support tools• Games for language stimulations.
Disadvantage: • Initial cost• Connectivity• Students will not want to edit stories on paper.
ToonasticThis app is designed to walk students through the storytelling process of choosing a scene, climax, setting, conflict, and characters. Students even
choose music to match the characters’ emotions and create a digital storytelling video that is
shared on the online channel ToonTube.Usage: Will use this app for the purposes stated
above, which is to create a story.
Advantage: • Motivational• Progress monitoring• Improve communication• Adaptability
Disadvantage:• Students will not want to write a story with out using this app.
PixntellThis is a great storytelling app. Students can use their own photos or those from the web along
with their recorded voice to create a personalized video that’s ready to share.
Usage: I will use this app to allow students to retell a story in their voice along with illustrations.
Advantage: • Create a historical timeline or oral history projects. • Create and narrate stories• Reports, biographies, book trailers• Explaining scientific processes• Use it to showcase learning about a topic• Showing real life situations that use mathematic• User friendlyDisadvantage:• Limited photos
HomophonesHomophones: This app has two levels. The user is
offered a sentence with a blank in it and two words as options to fill in the blank. Pictures and an audio of the sentence are a part of level one
and disappear by level two.Usage: I will use this app to challenge students
knowledge of homophones and as an assessment.
Advantage:• User friendly.
Disadvantage: • Students will only want to use this app to practice homophones.
Integrate these educational apps into
your teaching to improve student learning,
engagement, and make your classroom come
alive.