10 (mostly) free apps for creative language learning. Having shown us 10 free apps for teachers to use for planning and classroom management, Shaun Wilden returns with 10 more apps to aid language learning in creative ways. More and more teachers and schools are using mobile devices and tablets as a tool in and out of the classroom. While the use of mobile assisted language learning is not just about using apps, it would be remiss to ignore the wealth of resources that are available. Apps, if chosen wisely, can provide not only engagement and language practice but also create new ways of doing tasks. Utilising either the teacher or school’s tablet or employed as part of a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy, apps provide an excellent addition to a teacher’s toolbox.
With thousands to choose from, coming up with a list of ten is quite challenging. Aurasma Free. Augmented reality is tipped to be “the next big thing”. PhotoCard by Bill Atkinson Free. Bitsboard Free. Bitsboard is an example of a flashcard app. Camera apps Comic Life £2.99. Free. Teacher's Visual Library of 40+ iPad Apps. I love it when I come across such educators curated lists of apps because I know since these apps are reviewed by fellow teachers then there is a high possibility that they will work for other teachers in different settings too. For instance, the wonderful work embedded below and which has been created by the folks in St.Plunkett Oliver Primary School is a great library of apps that every teacher should have the chance to explore.
It contains a set of useful apps pertaining to different categories. Most, if not all of these apps, have been already reviewed here in Educational Technology and Mobile Learning before but it is much more practical to see them compiled and organized all in one page. I wish the titles of these apps were clickable so that it saves you time when trying to access them but given the way they are now, you will have to type in the name of the app and Google it to access it in iTunes app store.
All thanks go back to teachthought for the tip. mLearning - The One Ipad Classroom. I had the wonderful opportunity of going go to Dallas last March to attend the TESOL 2013 Convention. It was great, not only participating in workshops, plenaries, and a variety of presentations, but also meeting other English teachers and exchanging ideas and experiences with them. Before choosing the presentations I wanted to attend, I focused on the ones which involved technology in the classroom or the ones related to practical activities for EFL classes.
After attending so many presentations related to these topics, I came across the theme: The one iPad classroom . The concrete ideas I was introduced to made me feel enthusiastic to use more technology in class. Although we are in the 21 st century and technology is all around, teachers still face difficulties in having computers available for each student in all the classes of the course. Here is a list of apps that can be used in class and my suggestions for their uses. PingPong ScoreBoard Lite ( Lin Huangchun) Dice! Books. Integrate iPads Into Bloom's Digital Taxonomy With This 'Padagogy Wheel' You’re going to want to turn on your printer and fire up a PDF viewer. This is just that good. It’s called the Padagogy Wheel and it offers a fantastically useful perspecitve on how to figure out which iPad apps work with Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy. Created by Allan Carrington, this thing is a monster and deserves some focused attention.
So I’d make a personal plea to save the hi-res image (below) or print out the PDF (available here) and then spend your long weekend closely examining this thing. The Padagogy Wheel takes an expanded approach Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy and offers 62 iPad apps that fit into the organized chaos that is Bloom’s. See Also: 35 Digital Tools That Work With Bloom’s Taxonomy What do you think of some of the apps and where they’re placed on the wheel? The Padagogy Wheel by Allan Carrington is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. 36 Entertaining Apps That Are Actually Educational. There are lots of education apps out there.
Many are made specifically with one subject or topic in mind, and others can be useful in a broad range of subjects. We’ve looked at tons of different apps in a number of these categories in the past, but recently I stumbled across this list of ‘surprisingly educational apps’ and thought it was worth sharing. Some of these apps are aimed at being both fun and educational, others are geared specifically at teachers, and many just happen to have classroom applicability even though that wasn’t necessarily their design.
From productivity to lesson plans to games, check out this list and maybe you’ll find a gem that was missing from your arsenal! Surprisingly Educational Apps. New: 10 of the best Apple and Android apps for education in 2013. Last year we presented “New: 10 of the best Apple apps for education in 2012,” which highlighted some of the best apps for iPhones and iPods. However, with new upgrades in touch technology, and the emphasis on Common Core State Standards and school reform in general, we’ve come up with a new list of the best Apple- and Android-based education apps for 2013.
This year’s list includes some of the most highly rated apps, both by educators and by parents, and features a range that spans from interactive iBooks to current images of the universe, and from free video software to award-winning STEM curricula. For every app we’ve listed, we’ve included a brief description, device compatibility, suggested use, features, price, and a link to a more in-depth summary with an option to purchase on iTunes or Google Play. Don’t see an app you love on this list? Be sure to let us know—or leave a suggestion in the comment section.
(Apps are listed in alphabetical order.) Name: Animoto What is it? Price: FREE. Educreations - Teach what you know. Learn what you don't. UPAD. ChjG_Qt7CrQ-QovG8f5f14XXXL4j3HpexhjNOf_P3YmryPKwJ94QGRtDb3Sbc6KY (421×317) iPads In The Classroom: The Right Questions You Should Ask. The pressure is on to make sure the education of U.S. students is on track with their global peers.
Unfortunately, according to a 2015 report by Pew Research Center, that’s not the case, particularly in the areas of science and math. It’s no wonder, then, that in the quest for educational advancement, teachers want their students to have access to the newest, theories, processes and technologies to help the students excel. One of the most popular technologies has been the introduction of tablets, particularly, iPads, in the classroom. Maybe you’ve been thinking about augmenting your program with iPads or another type of tablet. But before you and your school make a hefty investment of finances and time, consider these questions to ensure this technology is right for your purpose.
Photo from Flickr via Brad Flickinger The Necessity of Asking the Right Questions Before You Invest Why Do You Need an iPad? How will it benefit you? Would the iPad support your current or desired lesson plans? ForAllRubrics - Super Powered Rubrics. iPad App Evaluation for the Classroom. Evaluating Apps with Transformative Use of the iPad in Mind The app development market is exploding. More and more companies are creating “educational apps”. In some cases, they are simply digital versions of a book or a web based tool.
Some seem to have “no educational value” to it at all, but are still sold under the label of “education”. Although, I usually don’t resort to borderline cuss words, I really liked the expression of “crapware”, Sarah Perez over at TechCrunch used when she was reviewing a new app for the Pre-School/Kindergarten crowd. That being said, TinyTap is still a lot better than much of the kids’ apps crapware out there in the iTunes App Store. I have teachers ask me frequently about app recommendations for different subject areas. “What app could I use to teach subtraction?” I usually sigh to myself, when I receive questions like that. I want teachers to be able to, not only ask for and use an app, because someone else recommended it, but I want teachers equipped with the curiosity and the knowledge of: Further Resources:
Bloom-iPads-Apps.jpg (1024×768) Gardner's Multiple Intelligences for iPads. Story Wheel - Storytelling Prompts. Top 17 Free Digital Storytelling Apps for The iPad. 1-StoryKit This is an awesome iOS app that allows users to easily create an electronic storybook via illustrations by drawing on the screen, using pictures and text, and recording audio to attach to stories. 2- Talking Tom & Ben News This is fun app to use.
Kids can talk to them and they will repeat what you say in turs. They can also create and record funny conversations between them. 3- I Tell a Story This is a free app that allows users to narrate and record their stories with their own voice and language. 4- Scholastic Storia This is an app that is designed to help kids learn and love to read in a fun and interactive way. 5- Talking Tom Cat This is a cool app that lets you interact with Tom, your pet. 6- Toontastic This app allows kids to draw, animate and share their own cartoons through imaginative play. 7- Our Story This app lets young learners take part in fun games that can help them develop their reading skills. 8- Bunsella Bedtimes Story 9- Idea Sketch 10- Sock Puppets 11- Scribble Press. - 50 Ideas for iPads in the Classroom.