Best of all, research reveals that when students are engaged in their learning and almost constantly engaged with their phones when given a selection, they are less likely to succumb to distractions. The goal is to provide students with ways to use this beloved technology to learn, collaborate, share, and create meaningful ways to engage.
Nearly everyone uses technology in some form in our everyday lives. Apps have a multitude of uses, with many great ones concentrating on education. Educational apps enable students to have access to invaluable resources and learning materials on laptops and mobile devices. One benefit of these apps is that they can keep students connected to the classroom, even while they’re away from school.
Access an online dictionary and thesaurus
Once students learn how to handle dictionary apps and websites efficiently, the difference in their work is spectacular. It is beneficial for students to rapidly double-check whether a noun is masculine, neutral, or feminine. Are they tired of using the same word repeatedly? Find synonyms in many languages at ‘Thesaurus.’
Listen to podcasts and read the news
For the insatiable student who needs to continue learning outside of school, the struggling student who wants more exposure, and everyone in between, smartphones give instant access to various educational media sources, including journals, newspapers, online news sites, podcasts, and more. You can obtain this information on a desktop, but smartphones offer the bonus of filling your spare time with learning anytime. You were taught to summarize for homework and take notes using a notepad app. Need extra grammar practice? Listen to podcasts! Smartphones can be helpful for foreign language students since it is almost impossible to quickly learn a language without listening to native speakers and accessing culture directly through newspapers and magazines.
Scan QR codes
QR codes allow instant access to video, audio, websites contact info, or any brief text. Most phones now come with installed QR code readers, but if you students have a phone without one, there are many free QR code reader apps.
While anything with QR codes will take more effort to build, students love the twist on learning. QR codes can also make answer keys beside each query to allow students to self-check their task. The QR codes can also link to websites or educational YouTube clips that give more knowledge.
For example, teachers and students can use QR codes in the scavenger hunt: Students take the correct answer to solve a problem or answer a question. If they pick the right answer, the associated QR code will lead them to directions that tell them how to move the next question. Students are engaged by both the technology and by the game-like activity.
The best apps for teachers and educators
Zoom, Kahoot, Remind, Seesaw, Google Classroom, Class tree, ClassDojo are examples of apps for teachers. Zoom has unquestionably become the favorite app and communication with many more people currently working, studying, or simply stretching out at home. It has been the silver lining joining us to our parents, friends, family, students, and teachers. If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon, think about doing so now.
Teachers prefer to turn a boring lesson into a game to stimulate their students, but not everyone has the facilities to make a game from scratch. Thankfully, the Get Kahoot website makes it easy to turn your class into a gameshow. All you must do is insert your prepared questions and answers into the site to create an immediately playable game. Your learners can then download the Kahoot app as a buzzer to play in fun. Start with simple tasks on your home screen and view your critical stats in your Profile area.
In Google classroom, not only can you distribute and grade assignments through the app and organize all class materials on Google Drive, but you can also reach your students more easily — either to make decisions or to engage them in discussions. Teachers can now increase engagement with the Student Selector, which randomly selects students from the roster so that you can motivate full classroom participation.
ClassDojo isn’t your regular classroom-management platform. Whereas many concern themselves with gold stars and charts, this app lets teachers indicate positive feedback, enabling you to develop your students’ behavior with comments such as “working hard” or “participating.” You can even send parents public and private messages regarding their child’s progress, and if they desire, they can view their child’s feedback in real-time. In student portfolios, they can attach photos of their assignments and videos also. Then teachers can correct the assignments and save them in the portfolio for future reference.
Conclusion
Mobile phones have come a long way from once being perceived as disturbances in the classroom to now being viewed as tools that can teach students. There are many benefits to using cell phones as a teaching aid, including advanced learning outcomes, increased student engagement, and a more effortless ability to keep students updated about assignments. However, as with all tools, teachers need to plan to ensure these devices are used appropriately within the classroom.
