Tag Archives: App

Check it Out:, Tech

AASL Top Digital Tools 2021: Britannica School

AASL released its list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning 2021! This year’s list took into special consideration how well these tools work for remote/distance students. The resources enhance learning and encourage the following qualities:

  • Innovation/Creativity
  • Active Participation
  • Collaboration
  • User-Friendly
  • Encourages Exploration
  • Information/Reference

We share these resources every year and you can explore our archive of past recommendations here.

This week we’re looking at Britannica School. This database “offers thousands of curated and curriculum-relevant articles, images, videos, audio clips, primary sources, maps, research tools, recommended websites, and three unique, but  connected, databases to meet every reading level. Students can use Britannica School to browse by subject, media type, or weekly rotating content. They can access the world’s knowledge with accurate, nonfiction, cross-curricular multimedia content that’s aligned to the next generation science, common core, and state curriculum standards.”

Grades: K-12

School Library Journal calls the resource “a highly recommended database” in this descriptive review. This review from Tech Learning examines Britannica School’s quality and effectiveness, ease of use, creative use of technology, and use in a school environment. And this overview from EdSurge includes feedback from teachers using Britannica School in the classroom.

This three minute video gives an overview of the program:

https://youtu.be/lewzppyt_rc
School Media Specialist, Tech

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:

School Media Specialist, Tech

AASL Recommended Apps: Content Creation: Toontastic 3D

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 Toontastic 3D lets your students create cartoons that are animated and narrated. Pick from their existing characters and settings or draw your own. Add some background music to your story, then export your creation as a video to a mobile device. For answers to common questions about the app, check out their Tips page.

Level: Elementary +
Platform: iOS | Android
Cost: FREE

This review of the app from Common Sense Education gives the app four out of five stars and includes some lesson and activity ideas. Tech Crunch has this article about the app which includes an interview with one of Toontastic 3D’s product managers.

Watch this quick video demo to see all the fun you can have with this app:

School Media Specialist, Tech

AASL Recommended App: Humanities and Arts: ChineseSkill

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 ChineseSkill makes this hard-to-learn language fun and less intimidating. The app is game-based, so users can complete lessons while playing against the computer or friends. Users are able to practice speaking Chinese into the app, which will offer feedback on pronunciation, and there are multiple tests throughout lessons to help cement words and concepts. The app is very comprehensive and covers speaking, reading, and writing.

Level: Kindergarten +
Platform: iOS | Android
Cost: FREE

Check out this review of the app from All Language Resources that includes links to additional resources for more advanced Chinese language study. This article from Startup Living China (scroll down to find the section on ChineseSkill) gives an overview of how to use the app as well as a list of pro/cons. You can check out other resources for learning about China on their page, too!

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

School Media Specialist, Tech

AASL Recommended Apps: STEM: Desmos Graphing Calculator

The app Desmos Graphing Calculator is made to help students understand advanced math concepts. The app does this by putting them onto a graph with an x-axis and y-axis, also called a coordinate plane. “The built-in examples cover subjects such as lines, parabolas, trigonometry, conic sections, parametric equations, transformations, statistics, lists, and calculus.” Students can change variables manually, graph several functions at once, and save/share their work.

Level: High School +
Platform: iOS | Android
Cost: FREE

Common Sense Media has this post about the ways the app can be used, as well as suggestions for ways to use the app with students. This quick post from App Ed Review features instructional ideas to incorporate the app into the classroom.

This video (under 5 min) shows a quick tutorial on how to use Desmos Graphic Calculator: