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 Engaging Congress is a “fun, interactive game that uses primary source documents to explore the basic tenets of representative government and the challenges they face in contemporary society.”
Level: Middle and High School Platform: Android and iPhone Cost: FREE!
According to this article from the National Council for Social Studies, the goal of the app is to “inform students about the legislative process and to do so in a format that is consistent with how young people today receive information.”
This article from School Library Journal gives a more detailed explanation of the app and highlights the resources for educators available at the Engaging Congress site.
Last summer, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their Best Apps for Teaching and Learning 2017. The apps encourage qualities such as creativity and collaboration, and encourage discovery and curiosity.
The app Flipgrid is an extremely useful platform for video discussion, storytelling, or performance. “There’s virtually no learning curve and teachers control the visibility of the videos. Teachers post topics in grids and students respond in video of prescribed lengths under three minutes. Responses now include transcripts and individual responses have their own hyperlinks and may be embedded. Flipgrid is now free for teachers and allows them to create one grid with unlimited questions and unlimited responses.”
Level: All Platform: iOS | Android Cost: FREE
This review of Flipgrid from Common Sense Education has pros and cons as well as some lesson and activity ideas. This review of the app from Ed Tech Roundup goes through how the app works along with helpful commentary.
Take a look at this quick video overview to see how Flipgrid works in the classroom:
Last summer, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their Best Apps for Teaching and Learning 2017. The apps encourage qualities such as creativity and collaboration, and encourage discovery and curiosity.
The app Google Keep is a note-taking service with lots of capabilities. (Side note, I use this app and think it’s great!) Users can share notes with others, save and bookmark research, save photos, links, and notes. The app works across platforms and is part of G Suite. A quick tip: “Color code notes and use tags for the ultimate organization; set reminders for important lists.”
Level: All Platform: iOS and Android Cost: FREE
Common Sense Media has this detailed review of the app which includes input from parents and pictures that explain features of the app. This review from Computer World gives an overview of Google Keep and shares ways it can be used in everyday life.
Last summer, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their Best Apps for Teaching and Learning 2017. The apps encourage qualities such as creativity and collaboration, and encourage discovery and curiosity.
Level: Kindergarten + Platform: iOS and Android Cost: FREE
The app English Central helps students learn English through the thousands of videos it makes available. Videos range from casual to formal speaking situations. The app also includes courses specifically for those entering certain professions like hotel and service and offer levels from beginner to advanced. Students can focus on specific skills like grammar, pronunciation, and useful expressions and also take assessments to see how well they are learning material. Students can even have daily lessons delivered to their phones, if they choose. A tip to make English Central even more useful would be to suggest that ESL students take the app home with them to share with other family members who might also be learning English.
English Central has a Teacher Portal which offers webinars, video lessons, and other tools specifically for teachers. The app has been reviewed by the MidAmerica Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, and also by Busy Teachers.org who posted this detailed review.
Watch this quick video to see English Central in action:
Last summer, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their Best Apps for Teaching and Learning 2017. The apps encourage qualities such as creativity and collaboration, and encourage discovery and curiosity.
The app Lifeliqe is a digital science curriculum that helps to engage students with its interactive 3D models. The app is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core curriculum. Students can use augmented, virtual, and mixed reality to learn science concepts. Educators can make and share their own 3D lesson plans and presentations or customize the ones that come with the app. Check out the Lifeliqe blog for more more ways to incorporate the app into your classroom!
Level: All Platform: iOS Cost: Yearly plan $99, school discounts available
Common Sense Education has this review of Lifeliqe which includes lesson and activity ideas, and this article from Emerging Ed Tech has more information on the app, including some short demonstrations.
Watch this video to see how Lifeliqe works:
Partnering with libraries for visioning, advocating, and educating
The app 
