Apps for Everything from Collaboration to Scheduling Homework
We've pulled together a list of the most popular educational apps on the market today. These apps perform a wide range of functions – from file storage to collaborating to providing image content for lessons. Apps for Android devices can be found at the Google Play store, which now has a special Education section. Apps for Apple devices can be downloaded from iTunes, and apps for Kindle devices can be downloaded from Amazon. All of these apps are designed to take your mobile devices to the next level.
Also listed in this post are a number of websites where you can find informative reviews of educational apps.
E-book Apps
Kindle – The Kindle app is available for every major smartphone, tablet, and computer. With the free Kindle reading app, you can buy a Kindle book once and read it on any device that has the Kindle app installed.
iBook – This free Apple e-book reader allows you to browse your library on a bookshelf, tap a book to open it, flip through pages with a swipe or a tap, and bookmark or add notes to your favorite passages.
Marvin – This paid e-pub reader is highly customizable to a reader’s preferences. It offers some great extras – e.g., artificial intelligence, which reads your books and helps you discover things about their authors, characters, places, and events.
Google Play Books – Google Play Books is a free cross-platform e-book app offered by Google. With over five million e-books, it’s the largest e-bookstore in the world. You can purchase and download e-books from Google Play and read them online or offline on your phone, tablet, or computer.
Collaboration Apps
Pinterest – This content-sharing service allows members to “pin” images, videos, and other objects to their pinboard. Also includes standard social networking features. For ideas on how to use this site and app for education, go to: pinterest.com/MBSDirect/reasons-to-use-pinterest-for-education/
MimioMobile – Allows classrooms using MimioStudio™ software to get the most from mobile devices by using them for collaborative learning and ongoing formative assessment. Every student with a mobile device can interact with the lesson displayed on the interactive whiteboard.
Skitch – This annotation app allows you to take a picture of something, mark it up with simple tools, and send it quickly and easily. Great tool for giving feedback and input visually.
ClassDojo – ClassDojo offers an easy classroom-management platform to help teachers encourage any behavior or skill in the classroom and keep parents in the loop through notes and images.
Capturing, Organizing, and Sharing Apps
Evernote – A suite of software programs and services designed to let you archive and share your notes, files, and images with friends, colleagues, and classmates. Makes it easy to collaborate and work together on projects.
Popplet – Lets you visualize ideas in a variety of ways. Useful as a collaborative brainstorming tool, as well as an effective presentation tool.
Diigo – This social bookmarking website and app allows you to bookmark and tag Web pages. Users can also highlight any part of a Web page and attach sticky notes to specific highlights or to a whole page.
ThingLink – Add interactivity to your images by adding video and text. You can share them privately or with your network on Facebook and Twitter.
My Study Life – A free online planner for students, teachers, and lecturers designed to make study life easier to manage. Helps you organize everything from homework to exam times and conflicts.
Content Apps
Splash Math – A collection of fun and interactive math problems aligned to Common Core Standards. The app reinforces math concepts with self-paced and adaptive practice.
Google Scholar / Scholar Droid – Scholar Droid is a free app that lets you conveniently browse through search results returned by Google Scholar, a search engine that indexes the full text of scholarly literature across an array of publishing formats and disciplines.
Google Earth – A virtual globe, map, and geographical information program.
Anki – A spaced repetition flash-card program that lets you create friendly, intelligent flash cards.
BrainPOP – Engage and teach students through animated movies, learning games, interactive quizzes, primary source activities, concept mapping, and more.
Content Creation Apps
Google Docs – Allows users to create and edit documents online, while collaborating live with other users.
Animoto – Turns photos into professional-quality videos, complete with music and text. Choose photos, video clips, music, and video style. Users can easily share their creations.
Green Screen by Do Ink – Create green screen videos and images right on your mobile device. Classroom-tested, this app emphasizes ease-of-use and simplicity while still enabling you to get fantastic results.
Storage Apps
Google Drive – Stores up to 15 GB of your data for free. Access your files from anywhere, and collaborate with others.
Dropbox – Bring your photos, docs, and videos to Dropbox and share them easily.
Box – Access and edit your files, share content, and stay connected with your students or colleagues from anywhere, on any device.
Alerts, Reminders, and Communication Apps
Remind101 – This free app give teachers a safe way to send text messages to students and stay in touch with parents.
KikuText – This app is a service that makes it easy for teachers to communicate with parents using text messaging.
Celly – This app allows classmates and teachers to use social building blocks called “cells” for everyday collaboration, knowledge sharing, and group communication on any device.
Learning Management System Apps
Moodle – Helps teachers create and deliver effective online learning environments. Browse the content of your courses, even when online. Note: Works only with Moodle-configured sites.
Canvas – See grades, download class materials, and connect with classmates on the educational app.
Edmodo – Provides a safe and easy way for teachers and students to engage and collaborate for free – anytime, anywhere.
Schoology – This social network for K-12 schools and higher education institutions is focused on collaboration, allowing users to create, manage, and share academic content.
Online Resources for App Reviews and Information
Common Sense Media – Lists age-appropriate apps that you and your kids will love.
Balefire Labs – Provides app reviews that are based on research and scientific criteria; apps are rated on effectiveness rather than opinion.
MindShift – Explores the future of learning in all its dimensions, covering cultural and technology trends, innovations in education, groundbreaking research, educational policy, and more. The site has a section dedicated to app reviews.
Did you find this list helpful? If you know of other helpful apps, please post them and share the wealth. You can find a complete list of educational apps in our free Guide to Mobile Devices in the Classroom. Download it now.>>