free apps for teachers
to use in the classroom, from social media apps that help students form small networks, to apps designed to teach programming and coding Teachers were seeing this explosion of things they could do on smartphones," says Gartenberg. "They had this idea that if they had the devices, they could do the things they want to do but they didn't have a clear, functional strategy to do those things. The apps Gartenberg talked to all focused on personalization -- "the more you know, the more you understand, the more you can do" -- and the desire to create a seamless experience. One app created by TeachersFirst allows for teacher-student communication using text messaging, video chats, emails and other common tools. Teachers can chat about class materials and students can ask questions using the app, which helps them get homework done on time.Teacher First uses the Facebook platform, which allows teachers to use the social network's tools, in addition to text messaging, to interact with their students. Students can text teachers to ask questions or for homework help and teachers can set up groups to communicate in a format similar to Facebook chat. Teachers can also send students to a virtual whiteboard and video conference to collaborate. Other apps are designed specifically for the classroom.The app called "SmarterSchools" was created by the Education Computer Collaborative. The app allows for real-time interaction between teachers and students through tools like collaborative whiteboards, and allows teachers to send links and documents to students on their smartphones.Educational apps are a way to engage students, but they also allow teachers to be more flexible, and more in control.There's not one right way to learn," says T.J. Johnson, a seventh-grade English teacher at G.C. Murphy Middle School in West Hartford. "It's more of a discovery process and that doesn't work if teachers are always on top of things. We want students to be able to make mistakes and be able to learn from their mistakes and be self-directed."The apps are also a tool to promote digital citizenship. Students are trained to use certain apps correctly so their teachers aren't answering too many calls, and parents aren't bombarding their kids' teachers with questions.Students are also given their own accounts to prevent them from posting to other classmates' Facebook or Twitter accounts Teachers are given passwords that allow them to control what apps are installed on their student's phones and how those apps are used. When it comes to tablets and laptops, the teacher is the sole user of the device, but all apps are stored on the device. When kids are away from the device, their parent receives a password to their device.The devices aren't given to students because teachers fear they will lose control, but because the school is not required to issue new devices. Technology is
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