Explain Everything
Explain Everything is an educational application, that uses an interactive whiteboard tool and screencasting to teach students any concept. Within the app, the user is able "to annotate, animate, narrate, import, and export almost anything to and from anywhere", according to the app's description. The app also allows the user to create slides, add shapes and text, draw, and use a variety of laser pointers.
This app is perfect for explaining topics (especially confusing ones). A great way to use Explain Everything in the classroom would be to create videos on different topics/concepts, and then save and upload them to a classroom YouTube. This way, students would have access to lessons and could go back at any time for additional help. This app would also be perfect for the "flipped classroom": the teacher would create and record the entire lesson, upload it, and students would watch the lesson before class, so that class time would be used for practice and assessment. This could also be really helpful from an assessment point of view. In order to assess the student's understand of a topic, they could create their own Explain Everything, which would exhibit their knowledge on the subject.
This app is perfect for explaining topics (especially confusing ones). A great way to use Explain Everything in the classroom would be to create videos on different topics/concepts, and then save and upload them to a classroom YouTube. This way, students would have access to lessons and could go back at any time for additional help. This app would also be perfect for the "flipped classroom": the teacher would create and record the entire lesson, upload it, and students would watch the lesson before class, so that class time would be used for practice and assessment. This could also be really helpful from an assessment point of view. In order to assess the student's understand of a topic, they could create their own Explain Everything, which would exhibit their knowledge on the subject.
Quizlet
Quizlet is a free educational application that provides students with a variety of different learning tools, including flashcards, study and game modes. All of the content on Quizlet is created by users; currently there are over 35 user-generated flashcard sets. Quizlet is also helpful as it helps students with word pronunciation and provides targeted spelling feedback on student's answers.
A feature of Quizlet that is extremely helpful and beneficial to classroom use, is the fact that teachers can "create a class" within the app/website. From there, the teacher is able to add the students to the "class", and he/she can share different sets within the class. This application is ideal for students when it comes to studying vocabulary, important people, and significant dates. Quizlet does offer an additional feature for teachers, called Quizlet Teacher; however, this version does cost ($25/year). This version has more features for teachers, including: ad-free for students, ability to track class progress, image uploading, voice recording, and an unlimited number of classes. Note: there is also a "Plus" version that is available for $15/year, and includes the following features: image uploading, voice recording, and ad-free for the user.
A feature of Quizlet that is extremely helpful and beneficial to classroom use, is the fact that teachers can "create a class" within the app/website. From there, the teacher is able to add the students to the "class", and he/she can share different sets within the class. This application is ideal for students when it comes to studying vocabulary, important people, and significant dates. Quizlet does offer an additional feature for teachers, called Quizlet Teacher; however, this version does cost ($25/year). This version has more features for teachers, including: ad-free for students, ability to track class progress, image uploading, voice recording, and an unlimited number of classes. Note: there is also a "Plus" version that is available for $15/year, and includes the following features: image uploading, voice recording, and ad-free for the user.
Prezi
Prezi, which can be accessed through both their application and website, is a great tool to help assist students in creation. This app is very similar to the concept of Microsoft's PowerPoint, or Google Slides; it is used to create presentations which are stored "in the cloud", and can then be accessed on any device by simply logging in. However, unlike PowerPoint, Prezi tends to be much more visual, and functions more in the way of a mind map, taking viewers on an interactive journey. A great feature of the app version of Prezi, is that once all of your Prezis are synced, they can be accessed online or offline.
Prezi is great to use in the classroom because of its interactive and collaborative nature. Much like Google Docs, students are able to collaborate and work on a single Prezi in real-time; this can be done with up to ten different people. This is great, as it allows for a wider range of learning--students can collaborate with others from all over the world. Because Prezi functions more interactively, taking viewers along different pathways, there are many interesting uses for it in the classroom. Some of these include: creating mind maps, viewing/creating timelines, zooming in on important details or sections, and viewing a more interactive story. Note: Prezi offers free educational software for any teacher or student with a .edu e-mail address.
Prezi is great to use in the classroom because of its interactive and collaborative nature. Much like Google Docs, students are able to collaborate and work on a single Prezi in real-time; this can be done with up to ten different people. This is great, as it allows for a wider range of learning--students can collaborate with others from all over the world. Because Prezi functions more interactively, taking viewers along different pathways, there are many interesting uses for it in the classroom. Some of these include: creating mind maps, viewing/creating timelines, zooming in on important details or sections, and viewing a more interactive story. Note: Prezi offers free educational software for any teacher or student with a .edu e-mail address.