Classroom Apps: 5 to Watch

Share these apps with your teachers to enhance classroom experience.

Communicator
July 2017, Volume 40, Issue 11

There is no avoiding the impact of digital technology on schools and student learning. Students growing up in this digital age expect technology interactions, at home and at school. Technology has a tremendous effect on the way educators communicate and how students learn and educators must stay ahead of the trends and continue to integrate technology into classrooms. Help teachers incorporate technology in the classroom by sharing these easy-to-use apps.

  1. Epic! has been referred to as the “Netflix” of books and videos for students in Pre-K through sixth grade. This app provides an unlimited selection of eBooks that can be instantly discovered, read, and shared with friends. This app is personalized for each individual reader’s access thousands of high quality, curated children books without the need to purchase or download them one by one. Designed for mobile, Epic! features fun, game-like elements and provides kids with a personal library they can take anywhere.
  2. Stack the States makes learning about the 50 states fun. Students can watch the states actually come to life in this colorful and dynamic game. As students learn state capitals, shapes, geographic locations, flags, and more, they can actually touch, move, and drop the animated states anywhere on the screen. Students can earn a random state badge for every successfully completed level. All of the completed state badges appear on a personalized map of the United States.
  3. Kahoot! allows teachers to create quizzes that are more fun and interactive than what can be done in Google Forms. The app has a new take on introducing a subject and formative assessment through quizzing, collaboration, and presentation of content. Kahoot! initiates peer-led discussions as games are displayed on a shared screen, for example a smart TV, a laptop, or an interactive whiteboard. Teachers can also use screen-sharing tools like Skype or Google Hangouts to include players from other classes or other parts of the world.
  4. Plickers lets you poll your class for free, without the need for student devices. Just give each student a card, or a “paper clicker,” and use your iPhone to scan and do instant checks-for-understanding, exit tickets, and impromptu polls. Best of all, data is automatically saved, student-by-student.
  5. ClassDojo makes it easier and fun to keep track of student behavior. The app allows teachers to take attendance quickly while giving positive or negative real-time feedback depending on the student’s day-to-day behavior. Teachers are able to print or email, custom behavior reports to easily engage parents and staff.

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