Tag Archives: AASL Best Apps for Teaching & Learning

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AASL Recommended Apps: Google Classroom

google_classroomIn June 2016, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their 25 Best Apps for Teaching and Learning. The apps encourage qualities such as innovation and active participation, and are user-friendly.

Web-based app Google Classroom combines the user’s Google Apps for Education account with all their Google Apps services (Gmail, Docs, Calendar, etc) and makes it easy for teachers to distribute assignments, communicate, and stay organized. Teachers can also see the status of assignments and post grades and feedback in real-time. A good form of communication in this app is the Announcements feature, which allows you to attach files, videos, and links to content to share with your class.

This article from eLearning Industry lists several pros and cons of using Google Classroom. And check out this post that gives 10 tips for using Google Classroom efficiently plus contains links to further resources about the using the app.

Cost: Free!
Level: Elementary, Middle and High School
Platforms: iOS and Android

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AASL Recommended App: Content Creation: Spark Page

Adobe-SparkIn June 2016, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their 25 Best Apps for Teaching and Learning. The apps encourage qualities such as innovation and active participation, and are user-friendly.

The app Spark Page is a web publishing tool that allows users to create digital magazines with motion. The app offers a variety of fonts and design templates, and allows users to use their own images from their camera or Dropbox, or choose from Creative Commons licensed images. Users can create newsletters, reports, projects, portfolios, invitations, and more. The app also includes active buttons, which make it a good choice for fundraisers or registration. Sharing is possible through social media, embedding, texting, or emailing. Take a look at their blog for more fun and practical ideas for ways to use the app.

The app has gotten lots of positive feedback online. This article from Free Tech for Teachers includes a video and several specific examples of ways teachers can incorporate the app in the classroom. Class Tech Tips features this article, which describes ways to use Adobe Spark to create “school stories” or share the events happening in classroom and across the school district.

Cost: Free!
Level: Middle and High School
Platforms: iOS

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AASL Recommended App: Books: Professor Astro Cat's Solar System

prof_astro_cat solar systemIn June 2016, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their 25 Best Apps for Teaching and Learning. The apps encourage qualities such as innovation and active participation, and are user-friendly.

Learn about stars, planets, and and outer space with Professor Astro Cat’s Solar System app. Users are able to earn medals and parts to build a rocket for completing tasks and correctly answering questions. There’s even a “jetpack challenge” quiz for students to play. The app is a good tool to reinforce concepts learned in science class.

Get more information about the app from this review, or this article from Fundamentally Children which features feedback from kids that have used the app, and also lists other related apps to try in the classroom!

Cost: $2.99
Level: Elementary
Platforms: iOS and Android

Watch the trailer here:

Check this out:, General, School Media Specialist

AASL Recommended Apps: Humanities & Arts: Spies of the Mississippi: The Appumentary

spies_mississippiIn June 2016, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their 25 Best Apps for Teaching and Learning. The apps encourage qualities such as innovation and active participation, and are user-friendly.

The app Spies of the Mississippi comes from a book by Rick Bowers, which was made into a PBS documentary. The app is filled with primary resources that tell the story of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, which was founded in 1956 to preserve segregation and spy on the civil rights movement. The app has videos, a timeline, interactive map, as well as lesson plans and discussion questions.

Cost: Free
Level: Middle and High School
Platforms: iOS

Watch this video to get an idea of how the app works:

Check this out:, General, School Media Specialist

AASL Recommended App: Content Creation: Office Sway

office_swayIn June 2016, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their 25 Best Apps for Teaching and Learning. The apps encourage qualities such as innovation and active participation, and are user-friendly.

Sway is an easy-to-use tool that creates interactive reports, presentations, newsletters, and more. Sway is able to suggest searches to easily find relevant images, videos, and other content that the user can then simply drag into their project. The app even features a design engine that formats the layout for you (with the possibility to customize, of course). The finished project is able to be shared through a URL that doesn’t require a login, and there are privacy controls available. Sway is a good tool for educators to use to create interactive newsletters to share with parents.

This article from Teacher’s Tuts.com explains how the app can be used, and includes videos and tutorials. You can also check out this article that gives great examples of projects that can be created using Sway.

Cost: Free!
Level: Middle and High School
Platforms: iOS