My Vision for the Future

                                                        Vision for the Future

                                                                                                                                    Kate Doolan

Over the last few months, I have learned a lot about what it means to be a librarian in the 21^st century. What I have gleaned from numerous research topics, is that technical literacy is becoming increasingly important in our society. Reading “Why School” by Will Richardson, he outlines the importance of what it means to be technologically literate, and the how imperative it is that students “develop proficiency with the tools of technology” (Richardson 177) in our changing world. As teacher librarians, it is important that we aid students on their quest to understanding and using technology in ethical and responsible ways, as well as how to effectively use technology to help them with the school-work and beyond. The author gives examples of young people accomplishing amazing things through the use of technology, and how being technologically literate has been paramount to their success. It is undeniable that understanding how to use technology will be essential for all people going forward, and that we as teacher-librarians are responsible for being their guide along the way. Richardson also discusses the importance of teachers “unlearning and relearning” (Richardson 365) their teaching practice on a constant basis to remain up to date with current research. It is due to this newfound knowledge that I decided my goal as an educator was to become more technologically literate myself, and discover how I could improve my teaching practice by means of technology.  

In Joyce Valenza’s Manifesto for 21^ST Century Teacher Librarians, she mentions that modern teacher librarians should be “information expert[s] in the building” (Valenza 2013) who “consider iPods and Ipads learning tools and storage and reference sources.” (Valenza 2013) She mentions that libraries need to contain so much more than books, and that librarians need to be at the forefront of the charge towards teaching others to utilise technology in the schools. This is what I wish to focus on for my vision for the future.

For myself as an educator, I have used technology to supplement my lessons and projects and have found it very useful in the past. However, I feel that it is the area of my teaching practice that requires the most improvement as I don’t use it to my benefit nearly enough. This is due to many factors, mainly the availability of Ipads in the school, as well as lack of knowledge about the ways to best use applications and other features.  In the past, I have opted to use computers and Ipads solely for research, and through the duration of this course, I’ve learned a lot about other options available. In all honesty, I had not taken the time or effort to better my teaching practice through technology; I simply used computers for their basic functions and nothing more.

Reflecting on this, I knew that there was much room for improvement on my part; I wanted to take this opportunity to better my teaching practice and help others. I’ve now also discovered that there are so many technologies that assist and improve lessons and student enjoyment. With the realization, I have decided to compile a list of apps in all subject areas, that are useful to teachers, students and parents. I chose to research this subject matter because of what I have learned over the duration of this course. I now understand the importance of collaboration and communication between teachers and teacher-librarians and also, the role of the librarian and an advocate and educator of technology in the school. I reflected on what I believed would be useful in the classroom and library alike. As librarians, having knowledge of helpful apps for all subject areas would be of huge benefit to teachers. When collaborating to build lessons and units, it is helpful to have technology to supplement and assist teachers. I will continue to update my list of applications and forward it to teachers at my school, to help them stay up to date with new programs.  This collaboration will be helpful to those around me at my school, and using the technology will help students to learn how to successfully navigate different tablets and resources. My list has been heavily researched to ensure the applications are user-friendly and safe to use in schools.

My future vision for myself is that I use these applications to supplement my lessons, as well as disseminate the list to other teachers in my school and elsewhere, in order to share the knowledge. I also wish to continue trying new technologies and applications along the way, ensuring that I stay up to date with new creations. As a future teacher-librarian, I hope to be able to teach students and teachers alike how to use apps for any subject matter, and having an extensive list of options will help me to cater to any need. When a teacher approaches me to assist in developing a unit or lesson, I aim to be prepared with an app that will be useful.

To begin the assignment, I researched reputable websites and blogs in order to come up with a massive list of potential options for each area of study. From there, I reviewed each one more closely, focusing on my own experiences with the app and the reviews of other educators and parents. I also took into account how user-friendly the apps were, as well as their features and curricular content. I had fun trying out many of the various apps on my own, and I can say first-hand that there are many amusing game-centred apps! After I narrowed down my options, I created a final list of those applications that I believe to be helpful for each subject and grade category. I tried to keep the lists relatively short so that there isn’t too much information to sift through. Although there are far too many applications in existence for me to have tried each one, I took the time to study my possible options to ensure they are well-suited for the classroom. I did my best to limit the list only free apps, but if there is a price involved, I will mention it. Many excellent applications require payment, and if the teachers deem that the price is worth it, the school may be inclined to buy the app. All of the applications are compatible with Apple products, unless otherwise mentioned.

                                                         

                                                             

 Language Learning Apps

I am a French Immersion and FSL teacher. I have experience teaching at the elementary and high school level, therefore, I have experience working with each of these apps.

Duolingo

This application is fantastic and should be your first option for language learning. The lessons range from introductory vocabulary to advanced grammar and allow students to learn vocabulary through pictures. You can even have oral conversations with the computer to develop your speaking and listening skills. The idea behind the oral component is “to associate the sound of the translation with the visuals of the text and pictures, and then have you manually translate the audio back into your native language to help reinforce the new words.” (thebalance) It adapts to your ability and will cater the questions depending on your understanding. You also have the ability to opt out of certain sections if you are finding it too simple. It is the top-rated language application, and it is ideal for classroom use because students can work at their own pace and do not all have to be on the same lesson. I have personally used this application in my own FSL classroom and have found it user-friendly and enjoyable to use. Duolingo is undeniably the most well-known and appreciated language app, as is known for being fun and having been the first “gamified” language app. Duolingo is free and compatible with Apple iOS, Android, Windows Phone and you can learn Spanish, French, German, English, Italian, Portuguese, Irish, Dutch, Danish and Swedish.

Memrise

This is another excellent app for language learning, but it is less user-friendly (in my experience) than Duolingo and focuses mainly on vocabulary attainment. Memrise “follows a learning method that relies on creating funny or bizarre associations with the studied words. Courses are often coupled with memes designed to playfully help remember the vocabulary.” (langualift) Therefore, young people connect to the lessons through the memes and find the silly word associations funny. Students are also able to skip lessons in order to work at their own level, and basic vocabulary is based on word association with images. However, I feel that it focuses more on memorization and less on communication. It has a staggering about of language options to choose from and is best for middle/high school students. The “lite” version is free, but you need to pay $4.90 US a month for the full version. It is compatible with Apple iOS, Android, Amazon and you can learn Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Kanji, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Finnish, Icelandic, Esperanto, and over 150 others!

Mindsnacks

This application is completely game-based and extremely fun to play. For elementary languages (especially primary), this application would be my first choice, as students connect to the bright colours and fun nature of the learning. The lessons are short and simple, and you take small tests to determine whether you’re ready for the next level, which is ideal for students who need to be reminded to complete lessons in order. The application runs on any tablet or smartphone and is ideal for FSL courses at the elementary/middle school level and is free!

Other useful applications: There are many other language learning apps (Busuu, Hellotalk, Triplingo) but these applications are more for adult learning and focus on travel-specific vocabulary, or having discussions with native speakers (which you would need parental permission for and would not be acceptable for elementary school). My top three choices above would be the best in a classroom setting, with grade level being a consideration for which choice is best for you. I have kept this list shorter than the other subjects, because I feel that these top choices are sufficient for any language learning situation that would take place in the classroom.

Mathematics

Elementary/ Middle

Prodigy

Prodigy is a game-based math program where the learning takes place in a virtual world. Students really enjoy practicing their essential math skills with the fun scenarios presented for them. The app includes a “diagnostic test to place students in the correct grade, embedded assessments, and automatic differentiation. Prodigy ensures that each one of your students succeed at their own pace.” (Prodigy 2017) There are advanced problem-solving questions and ways for teachers to review student progress and identify trouble areas in their learning. Prodigy is available for Apple iOS, PC and Android for free, however, there is a paid app that includes more content.

Dragonbox

Dragonbox is the helpful algebra app that you have been searching for! It is designed for students aged 4-9 or 12+ (there are two different apps) and it introduces algebra concepts at differing levels of difficulty. Dragonbox is very user-friendly and allows students to work at different levels at their own pace. It has won numerous awards and is very highly reviewed by parents and educators alike. It is available using Apple products and is currently free.

Hopscotch

Hopscotch is an app used to teach coding in a creative and interesting way. Students learn concepts such as sequencing, abstraction, values, and conditionals. With this knowledge, they can create fun games using colourful animation. This app is highly regarded as the best way to introduce young learners to coding, as the fun animation is less intimidating than other formats. There is a free and paid version of Hopscotch, and it is available on all Apple products.

Sail Through Math

Created by McGraw-Hill School Education, this application is meant for elementary students to master their basic math skills, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and even two-step equations. It is a very fun pirate-themed game-based app that all students are bound to enjoy and learn at the same time. It is currently free and available on all Apple products.

Number Line

 I wish I knew about this app when I was teaching grade 7 math last year. This app helps students to envision number sequences for adding, subtracting and multiplying integers. It is very useful for helping students to understand positive and negative integers, as many have difficulty understanding this concept. It is a free app that is available for Ipad.

Quick Math

This is a fun application designed for students to practice their basic math facts. Racing against time, you must solve basic arithmetic questions (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division). Perfect for students who need to practice their basic math facts in a fun and exciting way. The price for Quick Math is $1.99 and it is available using Apple products.

High School

Math 42

 This is an application for high-school students that guides them through the procedures of solving many different types of math problems, such as
“computing with numbers, combining sums, products, simplifying powers, simplifying roots, computing with fractions, factoring, solving equations, computing derivations, and computing integrals.” (Kemper 2017) Essentially, when students attempt to answer the questions, Math 42 guides them step-by-step through the process and gives multiple options for solving the equations. There is a built-in assessment tool to aid in watching student’s progress. Math 42 is ideal for students struggling with math concepts who wish to have extra practice and receive step-by-step guidance through various types of problems. Math 42 is a free app that is available (on and offline) for Android and Apple products.

Get the Math

This application is wonderful for showing students real-world problems involving algebra. Students learn by watching video clips of professionals using math at work, and showcasing how it useful it is in the real world. My grade nine students last year would constantly ask me, “what is the point of algebra? How will it ever be useful to us?” This app would help to show them the real-world implications of algebra! Students can then attempt the challenges themselves and encourages them to think outside the box and critically about math, using algebra. Available for free and compatible with Apple Products.

Brilliant

Brilliant is a forum where students are able to review and solve math and physics questions that have been uploaded by other users. As it is an online forum, there are possible safety concerns that would need to be discussed with parents, but it seems to be a very safe place where motivated students challenge each other.  Students chose a topic, either “algebra, number theory, combinatorics, electricity & magnetism, computer science, mechanics, geometry, or calculus.” (Pohlonski 2014) They're then given a choice of five problems, each at a different level of difficulty. They'll solve the hardest one they can; this determines placement and the level of challenge from that point forward.” (Pohlonski 2014) This application is geared towards high-achievers who strive to challenged themselves in either math or physics. It could also be useful for students who wish to get extra practice with these concepts. Brilliant is available on Apple and Android products for free.

Khan Academy

Leaders in their fields of many disciplines have recorded video tutorials covering a wide range of mathematical (and other topics). There is no shortage of videos available to help students with math concepts, such as precalculus. It is a tool that students can use in order to teach themselves almost any math concept; all videos are free and available using the internet, so any tablet will be work. I have used Khan Academy videos on various occasions to help solidify the understanding of my grade 9 and 10 math classes and it was extremely useful. It is something they can watch at home to help them study for tests and review their knowledge. It is a free app available for Apple and Android.

                                                                        Literacy

I was disappointed that I could not find more apps for free in the literacy section of my list. Most of these have a price attached, however, many offer “lite” versions that you can try before committing to the cost.

Elementary

ABC Pocket Phonics

Using this application, students can work on their abilities to sound out letters, simple words and writing the alphabet. It gives step-by-step instructions for how to complete the tasks and is fun and interactive. It is currently 6.99$, but there is a free “lite” version available for those wishing to try it out. This is an ideal app for students struggling with their reading and writing skills at the kindergarten level, or for the whole class to practice! It is available on Apple Products.

Homer

This is the top rated “learn-to-read” app for early elementary readers. The Homer Method “combines the best research and the newest innovation in game design to offer a learning system that builds reading confidence and academic success.” (Homer 2017) There are hundreds of hours worth of lessons, countless virtual field-trips and a massive digital library to choose from. Children enjoy the game based play of Homer and according to online reviews, they hardly want to put it down. Homer is very highly-reviewed by parents and teachers alike and has won dozens of awards. Currently, 7.95$ a month to join, but you can try the first month for free. While I don’t think that educators can afford to pay this for their classes, it is an excellent app to recommend for parents with struggling readers, aged 3-8. Available using Ipad.

Letter Lab

Letter Lab is highly reviewed by teachers and parents alike. It is helpful for students learning to recognize and write their ABC’s through tracing the letters (uppercase and lower case) with their fingers. It is very helpful in the early stages of writing and also teaches students vocabulary through matching letters with real objects. This could be a helpful suggestion to parents who have children struggling with their alphabet. Compatible with Apple products, currently 2.49$.

Lightsail

Lightsail is a reading comprehension application that allows students to work independently. Using the device, students can read texts directly from their schools’ digital libraries. The app generates comprehension questions about the content as the students progress through the book. Students can earn badges and prizes as they complete the assessments, so they enjoy working their hardest. This app is made for Kindergarten- grade 8 (based on the reading choices available) and is free and available for Ipads.

The Opposites

This app is wonderful for learning vocabulary and antonyms. Students need to match up pairs of opposing words at different difficulty levels, which teaches students the importance of context and opposites. There are 10 levels of difficulty with different vocabulary for each one. There is also a dictionary which gives definitions of the words used in the game. This is a fun game-based way to learn about antonyms. It is free and available on Apple products.

Sentence Builder

This App is the winner of the 2010 IEAR Language Arts App of the Year. What the application does, is use game-based play to teach students how to create proper simple, compound and complex sentences, using correct grammar. Students and teachers can monitor progress and learn from the motivating audio track. There is also a “teen” module for older students who are struggling, or ELL students. This application is very helpful for students who are having difficulty with their sentence structure. It is 8.49$ and available on Apple products.

Story Builder

Winner of the Huffington Post’s 2011 “Best Reading App” and created by the same company that made Sentence Builder, this app was designed to help students improve the quality of their story writing. Students get help with their “paragraph formation, integration of idea, inference, and abstract thinking and expression.” (The Tech Advocate 2017) For students who are struggling with their written output, there is a talk-to-text function, which allows them to see their thoughts “transformed into paragraphs” (The Tech Advocate 2017), which can be very helpful for students who have difficulty getting pen to paper. There is no feedback, so the teacher/parent would need to read the stories themselves to monitor progress. The app is $4.99 and available using Apple products.

Write About This

This game-based writing app gives prompts for all genres of writing at the elementary level and makes students excited about writing. It is highly rated by teachers and parents alike. Students enjoy the gaming style of the app, as it uses pictures and audio to prompt them to jot down ideas. This application is ideal for reluctant writers, but can be used to motivate the whole class with their story writing. The app is 5.49$ and is available using Apple Products.

High School

The Interactive Grammar of English

This app is designed for high school students to practice their grammar using real situations. It covers all concepts of grammar from basic to university level writing and is useful because it uses real-life situations and sentences that you would actually use. Also available from the creators is the website Englicious, which is jam-packed with resources for teachers (for all ages) wishing to teach grammar and writing. Available for 4.99$ on Apple products.

Enchanted Dictionary

Developed by speech-language pathologists, this app focuses on helping students with educational vocabulary, and sorts the topics by academic subject. This app helps with reading fluency as well as vocabulary development across multiple areas. There is an app geared towards elementary students and another for middle and high- school. It costs 1.99$ and is available for Apple products.

Writing Challenge App

 This super-fun app is interactive and very helpful for students who have difficulty expressing their ideas for story-writing. How it works is, students are given writing prompts and they create characters, locations and actions to the plot, while every minute the app adds additional prompts to help them create the story. I found that many of my students have difficulty with story writing, this app would be so useful for students who have a hard time getting started, as it is really fast-paced and fun! It also encourages students to have fun with their writing and not take it too seriously, as well as enjoy the process and improve their writing. The app is 2.99$ and available for Apple products. There is a Children’s version and a high-school version, making this app useful for any grade.

Shakespeare App

This application contains the entire works of Shakespeare (all plays, all sonnets) and allows you to search phrases and characters throughout his works. This app would be very useful to students studying Shakespeare and by clicking on any word, the app will give you the definition of the word in context. There is also a glossary with over 21,000 words defined, to help students understand the language. There is a paid and free version and it is available for Ipad.

                                              Social Studies

Elementary

Kids Planet Discovery

This app is filled with colourful animation and is meant for younger elementary students. Using Kids Planet Discovery, students can voyage around the earth and go on virtual adventures, where they can learn about different geography, but also the people, animals and culture that make the geography come alive. This app is great for teaching students about the world around them. This app is free and available for Ipad.

Geowalk

GeoWalk is meant for older elementary students, as it is much more text heavy, and contains beautiful drawings. It is a world factbook where students can read articles in an amusing way to learn about over 500 people, geographical locations plants animals. It is currently 3.99$ and available using Ipad.

Barefoot World Atlas

With this interactive globe, students can fly around the world and discover any geographic area, or go beyond to learn about the people and their culture, the cities and buildings as well as the animals that reside in the area. This app is wonderful because students can explore on their own, without overly text-heavy information. This is ideal for projects where students wish to learn about different countries or compare cultures of countries across the globe. The animations and drawings are absolutely beautiful, and students can take quizzes and test their knowledge of what they’ve learned. This is my personal favorite of the Social Studies apps, and you can even learn about major cities around the world and which sports are popular in certain areas. Unfortunately, it is currently $6.99, so there is a heavier price attached to it. Available for Ipad.

News-O-Matic School Edition

This is a current events news application which provides articles from around the world at numerous reading levels. For me as a French Immersion teacher, the best part was that it is offers the articles in French, English and Spanish. Another wonderful thing about the app is that the articles can be read by a narrator (for students with reading or visual difficulties). Along with the articles, there are videos, illustrations and pictures and sometimes even maps containing further information about the subject. It gives students a reason to enjoy reading the news every day. Using the app, students can highlight areas of the articles and print directly from the app. This is a fantastic app for current events studies for students aged 9-11 and is currently free and available for Ipads.

Back in Time

Back in Time is an e-textbook app geared towards students 10 and up. It allows students to learn about human civilization, life, earth and the history of the universe. It is immersive and stunning to read, and packed with information which is given with images, an illustrated timeline and fun facts as you go along. Students will learn from beautiful animations and pictures. The app has won many awards and is highly rated by educators and parents. It is currently $3.99 and available for Ipad.

Stack the Countries

This app could be used for all ages, and is most highly-rated geography app that I found in my research. It aims to teach students about more than just geography, as students can learn about capital cities, flags and other important facts. Students can study flash cards with the information and take quizzes about various countries when they’re ready (there is no timer). There are different levels of difficulty and passing the quizzes unlocks further levels. You can save your progress and choose whichever part of the world you would like to focus on. Stack the Countries is $1.99 on the app store and is available for Ipad and Windows phone.

                                                              High School

World Atlas

It is essentially the World Atlas at your fingertips. Here, you can access any maps and it even extends to human geography, with information including demographics, weather and even information on travelling to the region. There is a quiz mode for students to test their knowledge, and a “street view” where you can get glimpses of what the area looks if you were actually there. This app is perfect for any geography class for middle school social studies. It is currently free, available for Android or Apple products, and is available in dozens of languages.

Geo Trainer HD

This is fast-paced game where students must answer questions about geography, but it’s so much more than that. Students can choose a region and must respond to questions about flags, heads of state and cities. This is a very fun app for students wishing to practice their world geography in an exciting way. It is currently free and available for Ipad.

Today in History

This is a wonderful app that gives facts about important global events from across the centuries. Each day you can peruse articles about what happened that very day in history. The articles include pictures and drawings, fun facts and are so much fun to read (for history lovers like myself). This is perfect for high school history students who wish to explore world history. It includes major headlines, births, deaths, major celebrations, and events in a user-friendly interface. It also includes quotes from famous leaders and articles from different view-points, thus showing students the importance of perspective. It is a free app available for Ipad.

                  

                                                              Science

Elementary

Video Science

Video science is a series of video-tutorials which guide students through important science concepts. There are over 80 lessons which provide lessons on subject matter in line with curriculum. Students will enjoy this app, and it would be useful for inspiring them to chose and implement their own experiments. Video Science is free and available on Apple products.

Clever Bird Early Science

This application has short lessons which cover a wide range of topics in line with our elementary curriculum such as: the water cycle, light and colour, reflection and refraction, weight, density, sinking and floating, the solar system, the revolution and rotation of planets, sound and speed (and lots more). After the lessons there are quizzes to test knowledge. This is a very useful for teachers and parents looking for quick lessons with lots of useful information for young learners. It is currently $1.99 and compatible with Apple products.

Kid Science: Physics Experiments

This app contains videos and experiments about such topics as friction, gravity, magnetism and more. The experiments are easy to follow, and the materials are usually easy to find around the house. There are quizzes for each topic that allows students to test their knowledge. Designed for elementary school, this app is free and available for iPad.

How to Smile

This is a free app for parents or teachers who are looking for science activities or experiments for kids. There are over 300 activities, each with a description the activity (how long it takes, what is the target age, cost and which materials are needed). Links for the activity are included to connect you to the website where you can find more information, so internet connectivity is a must. This app is available for Ipad.

Solar Walk

This free app, which is available only on Ipad and other Apple products, includes an amazing journey through the solar system. Students are able to click on any planet to view it from any angle and zoom in to get a closer look. It gives you the impression that you are flying through space! The app also allows you to choose any date in time, and you can view what the planet would have looked like (size and orientation) at any point in history. You can also find out the size, gravity and composition of each planet by clicking on them.

Chemist

Chemist is a portable chemistry lab that you can use on your iPad! Students are able to complete virtual experiments using the app without any of the danger or waste of doing it in person. They can mix chemicals and the conditions in which they use them (heated, cooled, etc.) and watch the results (with real-time computing). In so doing, students can create and test out different hypotheses without every having to worry about explosions or other harmful effects. Having taught science before at many different levels, I know that students (particularly boys) have a penchant for explosions. This application makes it possible for them to try out any experiment they like and watch the effects unfold. I personally think this app is wonderful for the chemistry classroom, as it takes away a lot of the planning and mess of real experiments (although I’m sure you’ll want to do some real ones too). Currently free and available for iPad.

NOVA Elements

This is a free periodic table app that introduces elements to elementary level students. It allows them to play games where they can build molecules that make up various objects and includes fun experiments. The content is delivered using multi-media, so it engages students and makes an otherwise dry topic very fun to learn. It is easy enough to follow, but includes the important information about the periodic table. NOVA Elements is currently free, and only works on iPad.

Monster Physics

Monster Physics is an app where students can create, build and operate machines or moving objects of their own design. They can use various tools to build, such as wheels, propellers, pulleys and ropes. Once they have built their machine, they can test to see whether their design is functional. Students will learn persistence as they tweak their creations to make them work; this app teaches patience as well as physics! It is currently $1.99 and is available using Ipad or Iphone.

High School

The elements: a visual exploration

Everywhere I searched online, this app came up over and over again. It seems that it is highly celebrated and reviewed. It is a visual exploration of the periodic table of elements, which are featured not as their name but as the actual 3D shape of the element itself. It is the ultimate interactive app for learning about the periodic table, where you can click on whichever element you like and learn in abundance about its history and details. Unfortunately, the app is 14$, but is the best app out there that teaches students about the periodic table in a stunning and interactive way. Available for Ipad.

3D Cell

This is an interactive application which allows students to view the structures of the cell. You can click on parts of the cell for information about its’ function through informative videos. It is a free app available for both Apple and Android products.

NASA

The NASA app provides information about planets and the solar system, with news articles, videos and general information, as well as satellite tracking and current mission information. It is a reliable source for up-to-date knowledge about space and is available for free on Apple and Android.

WWF Together

This application was created by the World Wildlife Fund and is all about conservation of all of Earth’s species. It is a “stunning audio-visual presentation on the many species that the WWF is trying to protect.” (Corpuz 2017) There are many photos and videos, as well as important information regarding the endangered species on our planet. The WWF discusses how human impacts and climate change are endangering many beautiful and important species through articles and videos. This is in line with curriculum across many grades in BC and would be very useful for in-class research or discussion. It is a free application, available for Apple and Android.

Earth Viewer

I wish I knew about this app when I was teaching a unit about geological time. Earthviewer is a free app (available for Apple IOs and Android) which details the Earth’s geological past (and the present and future as well). Students can “can explore interactive maps of the movements of the Earth's continents across millions of years, as well as temperature maps of the past century.” (Corpuz 2017) Students can also trace the positions of modern cities and places and view where they would have been anywhere along the process of continental drift. They can even view the possible future position of these cities and countries. You can click and learn about important events in the history of the earth. What a wonderful way to learn about geological time and ideal for classroom use on a tablet.

TED

TED talks are rapidly becoming a go-to resource for teachers and students alike, who use it to learn about important topics. Through the official TED app, you can download thousands of videos on practically any subject (science or otherwise) being discussed by those who are highly-educated on the subject matter. While this is not a science specific app, I felt that it belonged in this category because I have used it very frequently in my own science classroom to supplement lessons. As a teacher, it is a useful tool to learn about unfamiliar topics for ourselves as well. When faced with the challenge of teaching new subject matter, I myself turned to TED for help. Available for Android and Apple free of charge.

                                                                                The Arts

Tayasui Sketches

This application is used for creating all types of art without having to buy any of the materials. You can use pencil, acrylic or watercolour paint to create amazing artwork with your fingertips! Ideal for art class or just to have fun, students will enjoy the carefree way you can create art using this app. Tayasui sketches is available for Android and Apple and is free.

Draw and Tell

Meant for elementary school students, Draw and Tell is a story-telling app that incorporates animation created by the student. Children can choose backgrounds, colours and music from the application and then sketch their own characters using different drawing utensils. Then, they can record their story (and other sounds) and move their characters along with the plot line. This app is currently free and available on Apple products.

Scratch

Scratch is an app where students learn to use code to create video animations and games! Students get an introduction to computer programming, while exercising their creative side by making different types of interactive art. It could be used to supplement many different subjects and teaches coding in a way that students really enjoy. This app is highly regarded and reviewed and is well known in the educational community. Scratch is free and available for downloading on any device with Flashplayer.

Animoto

This app is ideal for creating simple videos. Students are able to select music, themes, videos and other media to create their videos. Using their own photos to make beautiful slide shows, they can also add text to make the story come alive. I believe this app would be perfect for class projects, such as an “All About Me” project or even to create a digital yearbook. Animoto is available for Apple and Android and is 13$ a month, but you can try a trial for free for two months.

IMovie

I have used iMovie many times in my classes. It is so easy to use that students are able to seamlessly record their videos, edit, add and add additional media. It is possible to make movie trailers, longer videos, commercials, or anything else your students can think of using iMovie. There are many theme options for students to choose from! It’s free and available for iPad.

                                                                      General Use Apps

Studyblue

This application is perfect for students who wish to study for exams. Study Blue contains over 250 million flashcards and notes, as well as a comprehensive study guide in various subjects. Students, teachers and parents can create their own flashcards, or select from the vast amount that are already on the application. While this app is not particularly fun, it is a great way to study and learn on the go. There is a free version of the app, or a paid Pro version for 7$ per month. Studyblue is available for Apple and Android.

Trello

This is a great resource for group projects. Students often complain about working with others and how it can be unreliable and difficult. Trello makes this easier, by being a space where students can upload their work, such as documents, photos and other media. All group members can login to update assignments and make submissions. Trello is free, and available on any device with an internet connection.

Evernote

This app makes taking notes in class extremely easy. You can type your notes, save the files and share them with others (along with images and drawings, voice recordings...etc.) Essentially, it’s a great app for keeping your notes organized, and while I prefer doing it the old-fashioned way (pen and paper), many people enjoy the simplicity of taking notes on the app. You can also sync your files so that they are available on all of your devices. Evernote is free and available for all Apple products.

CamScanner

This app is more on the list to help us teachers! It allows you to take a photo of any page, and it converts it into a file that you can edit (for Dropbox, Evernote, Googledrive or Onedrive). Basically, this app is a mobile scanner, where you can upload, edit and share your files or convert image files to word documents. Ideal for us teachers, this app has the potential to be extremely helpful for creating necessary hand-outs or notes. The basic account for Camscanner is free and available on all mobile devices.

Dropbox

I have been using Dropbox for years and it is one of my favorites! It allows you to upload your files and access them anywhere you have an internet connection. Another wonderful thing is that multiple people can login to the same account to add content, so it’s perfect for sharing resources with teaching partners (I have done this in the past and it makes everything so easy). I use Dropbox as a safe place to store my important files for teaching, so that if I ever lose a hard copy, I know that I have it saved and easily accessible. Dropbox is free if you use only 2GB, but if you require more space there is a fee. It is available on any device with internet connection.

GradeProof

GradeProof is a helpful app for students wishing to polish up their writing. It checks the grammar and gives suggestions on how to fix any problems, such as over-using certain words, spelling errors and other grammatical problems. It also reviews essays to ensure that there is no plagiarism, so students can ensure that they changed their words enough from the sources they used. While I personally feel that students should be able to do these things on their own, this app could be useful for struggling students who need extra support in editing their work. It is free and compatible with Apple products.

Conclusion

I hope that you have found my list of reviewed apps helpful! I will continue to add and adjust with time. I really enjoyed the process of researching the apps, and I can’t wait to try them out in the classroom. It was a growing experience for me to accept that I needed to improve my knowledge about technology in the classroom, and I feel that I have now taken steps in the right direction. Understanding the importance of technological literacy for young people, these apps should help teachers and students to feel more comfortable with mobile devices. Using apps to supplement lessons is a fun and interesting way to keep students interested in the subject matter. It is also helpful to be able to suggest this apps to students who are struggling, so they can have extra practice at home.

In conclusion, I am grateful that I have taken this course because it helped me to see a gap in my teaching methods that needed some attention. As a teacher-librarian, I will need to be the tech advocate in my school who helps teachers and students understand new devices and programs. I need to focus my own attention on developing these skills myself before I can help others. With my list of apps, I feel like I can communicate my ideas easily with fellow teachers by posting this list in the school and updating it every few months. I can also assist teacher’s one-on-one with specific lesson plans, and if they need help in an area I am not familiar with, I will do more research and test out new apps. The list will never be finished, as it will continue to grow and change with time. Some apps will be removed and others added to the list time passes.

                                                                    

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