Top 5 Apps for School Teachers and College Professors

When mobile phones first made the scene, they were little more than a nuisance for teachers. They were one more distraction or method students could use to cheat or converse with each other covertly. Today, while smart phones can still become a distraction, digital devices are an integral part of our lives, and can also play a very beneficial role in education. Whether you’re an elementary school teacher or a college professor, this list is for you. Here are some of the top apps for education in 2017:

1. Duolingo

If you’re a language teacher, your job just got a lot easier. Duolingo gamifies the process of learning a language, motivating students to learn constantly with encouragement and rewards as they move up the ladder of more complex language concepts. Use this to supplement your own language teaching and watch students pick up their new language faster than ever.

2. Educreations

This is one of the best apps for higher education and elementary-level education. Use it to create simple video tutorial lessons that allow students to learn at their own pace and time, with a fully immersive experience that can spur learning and class discussion.

3. Edmodo

One of the biggest complaints among students, and truly one of the biggest problems, is the lack of one-on-one time with the teacher. Because there are so many students in a typical classroom and such a limited amount of time, students may not ask important questions, or the teacher may gloss over concepts that not all the students can pick up the first time. With Edmodo, students can stay in contact with their instructor at any time, as well as have a digital medium to share content, submit assignments and get grades. Students will appreciate the quick feedback and ability to instantly transmit assignments in real time.

4. Inkling

One of the best apps for college professors dealing with student complaints about textbooks that are too heavy and too expensive, Inkling is a free app that allows students to purchase textbooks digitally. They can even buy individual chapters if that is all they will need. The app has plenty of functionality, including interactive quizzes to test your knowledge of the material, the ability to share notes and a very effective search feature.

5. TED-Ed

TED talks have been one of the most famous viral developments of the modern age. Experts on every subject under the sun take to the stage to share their knowledge in scheduled talks that are recorded and placed on the internet for the world to benefit from. TED education tools are used by more than a quarter of a million teachers to inspire, educate and encourage students to create their own teaching experiences.

If you’re a modern-day teacher, books and handouts just won’t cut it anymore. Digital technology has made information and educational opportunities more plentiful than anyone could ever have imagined. Teachers should be encouraged to use these apps and the many other great digital applications available to turn their smartphones and tablets into the ultimate organization and education tools. For more information on how smartphones and digital technology are revolutionizing our lives, check out The Whiz Cells Blog now.