10 Great Mobile Apps to Use in the Classroom

I am a huge advocate of using cell phones appropriately in the classroom. I just found this great article called “Get Smart” written by Tim Walker published in the NEA Today Magazine about incorporating cell phone technology into the classroom. Schools need to harness the power of cell phones and social media in the classroom. 

Banning cell phones is the “easy call to make, but as cell phones have become more sophisticated, powerful, and even more entrenched in students’ daily lives, a growing number of schools have decided to open the door to what are, essentially, mobile computers.”

Schools and teachers need to embrace cell phones in the classroom. “According to some estimates, smart phones, and to a lesser extent tablets like the iPad, will be in the hands of every student in the United States within five years. And as more schools embrace mobile learning, the number of education apps—mobile applications that run on your smart phone—are skyrocketing.” There are countless apps and cell phone technology that will improve teaching and make classroom instruction more engaging.

Great Video about “Cell Phones in the Classroom: Learning Tools for the 21st Century” 

10 Great Applications to Use in the Classroom

1. Edmodo –This microblogging site was created specifically for teachers and students. Edmodo can be used to share notes, files, assignments, grades, and events. For more information click here

2. My Big Campus– My Big Campus is a collaborative learning platform that provides access to resources and people that make learning engaging, fun, and real.

3. Socrative is a smart student response system that empowers teachers by engaging their classrooms with a series of educational exercises and games. Our apps are super simple and take seconds to login. Socrative runs on tablets, smartphones, and laptops. For more information here

4. Google Applications – This free web based suite of tools from Google gives classrooms the ability to collaborate and share assignments online. The suite includes a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation tool For more information click here

5. Quizlet – Quizlet is a free flashcard creation site that can be used to study, create, and share flashcards. Teachers can create their own flashcards for students or use pre-submitted cards. For more information click here and here

6. Wunderlist –makes it downright simple to organize your daily life. Just create a list and start filling it with things that need to be completed. Keep track of your more important tasks with reminders and notifications. It even syncs. For more information click here

7. Dropbox – is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again.For more information click here

8.  Hot Seat for Teachers–  Developed by a teacher for teachers, the app makes learning students’ names easier at the beginning of the school year by matching pictures with names. This app also encourages student participation by creating a random list of students to call on.

9. Mobile Mouse Pro– “turns your mobile device into a remote control for your interactive whiteboard and computer, so you can move freely about the classroom during lessons without the need for keyboard and mouse.” Great idea from Tim Walker.
10.  Evernote– allows you to create and organize notes, outlines, lesson plans, etc. in one place. Students can use this application to take and share notes.

Citations:

Article: “Get Smart” written by Tim Walker published in the NEA Today Magazine

Image: credit

Video: Cell Phones in the Classroom