Tag Archives: AASL Best Apps for Teaching & Learning

AASL Recommended Apps: PBS Kids Video

In June, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their Best Apps for Teaching and Learning 2018. The apps encourage qualities such as creativity and collaboration, and encourage discovery and curiosity

The app PBS Kids Video allows users to access PBS shows on the go! “The app supports emerging and pre-readers and offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and worlds through media. It provides a safe, child-friendly viewing experience with access to thousands of free videos, including full episodes and clips from top PBS KIDS series.”

Platform: iOS, Android
Ages: Preschool – 3rd grade
Cost: FREE

Common Sense Media has this review of the app, or get more details about the app in this post from the Educational App Store. Education World has this quick post that gives some ideas for how to incorporate the app into classroom lessons. This app is also a 2018 Webby Award Winner!

AASL Recommended Apps: Metaverse – AR Browser

In June, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their Best Apps for Teaching and Learning 2018. The apps encourage qualities such as creativity and collaboration, and encourage discovery and curiosity

The app Metaverse is an easy way for students to make their own Augmented Reality experiences. “Create mobile games and choose your own adventure interactive stories using the Metaverse Studio and watch them come to life in the Metaverse app browser. Learners can create all kinds of interactive experiences, including games, scavenger hunts, memes, and other educational experiences.” Explore Metaverse’s Medium site for projects and other inspiration. 

Platform: iOS and Android
Age: Middle and High School
Cost: FREE

This article from EdSurge has some great suggestions for how to use Metaverse and other AR tools to create classroom learning experiences. Listen to this podcast episode from TeacherCast that features the CEO of Metaverse as their Guest Host!

You can check out this video preview of the app but don’t get discouraged if it looks overwhelming. Their YouTube channel has plenty of tutorials to choose from.

AASL Recommended Apps: Complete Fairytale Play Theatre

In June, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their Best Apps for Teaching and Learning 2018. The apps encourage qualities such as creativity and collaboration, and encourage discovery and curiosity.

In the app Complete Fairytale Play Theatre, students can recreate versions of classic fairy tales using a variety of different tools. This is an app that looks like a lot of fun to use!
“In an inviting and intuitive interface, students select scenes, characters, musical soundtracks, props and narrate/act out their own versions of classic tales using the artwork from Nosy Crow’s popular fairytale apps series. Users can choose from among 60 characters and tell the classics or rethink/enhance the tales. Stories include: Goldilocks and Little Bear, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs, and Cinderella. Perfect for storytelling at home or at school.”

Platform: iOS 
Grades: Preschool – Elementary
Cost: $4.99

Horn Book has this detailed description of how to use the app which includes examples. Read a review of the app from Common Sense Media. The site Tech With Kids offers this analysis of the app which includes a list of similar apps to explore.

Watch this cute video to see how the app works:

AASL Recommended Apps: Goosechase

In June, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their Best Apps for Teaching and Learning 2018. The apps encourage qualities such as creativity and collaboration, and encourage discovery and curiosity.

The app GooseChase mixes scavenger hunts and mobile tech in order to create fun learning activities. “In minutes, GooseChase lets you create and facilitate a customized scavenger hunt. Create a game on the GooseChase website and add missions from the mission list or make your own missions. Students use the app to join your game and submit clues.” Plus, the Goose Chase website offers a free game library just for teachers. 

Platform: iOS, Android
Grades: Elementary+ Cost:
FREE: (recreational account)

Check out this review of the app from Common Sense Education.org which says the app is “highly engaging and encourages collaboration.” This post from Adventures in Ed Tech gives detailed instructions on using the app as well as some helpful tips. 

Watch this video to learn how GooseChase works!

AASL Recommended Apps: Google Translate

In June, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their Best Apps for Teaching and Learning 2018. The apps encourage qualities such as creativity and collaboration, and encourage discovery and curiosity.

The app Google Translate lets users “translate from one language to another by entering text or speaking into the device. Users may read or listen to translations. Translate conversations with the microphone feature. This app also allows users to save translations.” You can also take a picture of a sign in a foreign language and use the app to translate it.  Plus, it’s possible to use this app offline too, which is really handy for times when you don’t have cell service!

Platform: iOS, Android
Grades: All
Cost: FREE

Common Sense Education has this article which includes ideas for teaching using Google Translate, and features reviews from teachers.  Or read this article with ten tips for ways to get the most out of the app.

Check out the new Tap to Translate feature on the app: