Equipping Your Homeschool Classroom Interactive Learning Tools and Educational Apps
Gone are the days of dry lectures and long textbooks. With the latest advancements in technology, future-thinking educators can now make use of digital educational tools and apps to create truly engaging learning experiences for their students. From augmented reality to online collaboration, 2023 has some amazing educational apps available to help teachers create interactive lessons with no fuss or hassle!
In this article well go over 14 of the best educational apps you can start using today that will completely transform your classroom into an innovative learning center!
14 Best Educational Apps for the Classroom
**We have excluded some prominent apps like Google classroom and Zoom from our top 14 list.
OpenAI unveiledChatGPTin November of 2023 a groundbreaking AI chatbot system that demonstrates the incredible potential of advanced artificial intelligence. With this revolutionary tool, users can pose an abundance of inquiries and receive responses almost instantaneously.
The groundbreaking ChatGPT technology has unwaveringly shifted how our everyday lives and workplaces function. Educators are now being presented with the challenge of adapting to this AI-driven world in order to sufficiently prepare learners for their futures. With these circumstances, educators must proactively investigate ways they can establish a successful educational experience that reflects modern technological advancements.
Key Benefits:
Educators are leveraging the innovative ChatGPT platform to push boundaries and expand learning possibilities. Possibilities include creating immersive lesson plans with resources, stimulating quizzes adapted to individual students' needs, providing personalized feedback on their progress as well as swiftly grading assignments - the possibilities of this revolutionary platform seem limitless!
Did you know TeacherGoals Publishing is launching a book on artificial intelligence in education?
The AI Classroom is a must-read for all educators!
Pricing and Plans:
OpenAI's ChatGPT provides open and free access to anyone across the globe, yet response times may not be up to par. Reports suggest a sluggish performance when dealing with large amounts of inquiries, making it not always reliable for quick and efficient use.
Subscribers to ChatGPT Plus can enjoy a host of enhanced benefits for just $20 per month; including guaranteed access during peak hours, quicker response times and the ability to be among the first users to take advantage of exciting new features.
Check outTeacherGoals M.I.T. panel discussion on the ethics of A.I. in the classroom.
The Canva for Education app is an incredibly useful resource for teachers, providing them with the tools to create visually engaging learning materials that help bring their lessons to life.
With a wide range of templates, fonts, images, illustrations, diagrams and more available within the app, teachers can easily create beautiful posters, worksheets, presentations and other materials to use in their classroom either digitally or on paper.
Not only does this make it easier for teachers to prepare teaching materials quickly and effectively but also allows them to present information in new and creative ways that keep students engaged throughout their lessons.
Key Benefits:
Even if you're not into graphic designing, you can still create beautiful presentations with Canva for Education. This app comes preloaded with tons of templates that you can customize according to your classroom needs.
Plus, the drag and drop feature makes it super simple to move elements around within the app. You can also upload your own images or access millions of free stock photos and videos from within the app.
Check ourTeacherGoals Tech Talk Live EpisodefeaturingCanva with Tania Gonzalez to learn all the awesome tips and tricks for using Canva in your classroom.
Pricing and Plans:
The best part? Canva for Education is completely free! All teachers need to do is sign up for an account using their school email address. Once you have signed up, you will have access to all of the amazing features that the regular version of Canva Pro offers without any limits on usage.
QuiverVision merges creative coloring with impressive augmented reality technology to provide unparalleled educational experiences! With this innovative app, kids can develop their skills and knowledge easily, as they explore a range of subjects in a new and engaging way.
Using the colorful pages, users create unique pieces that come alive giving them a sense of pride at seeing their artwork brought from imagination into reality!
My bear I colored coming to life with QuiverVision.
To make learning fun and engaging, QuiverVision has an abundance of activities to captivate your students! From handwriting practice to bring monsters to life - there's something for everyone.
Immerse your students today in the magical world of learning provided by Quiver App: where student imagination pops off the page and gives students a sense of pride in their work.
Key Benefits:
QuiverVision brings individuality into the classroom by making students' unique work come alive!
By tapping into the power of Augmented Reality, this educational platform facilitates an engaging learning experience for students by heightening their visual understanding of various topics through vivid coloring technology.
Pricing and Plans:
QuiverVision has an educator plan geared towards schools, teachers, librarians, and anyone using the app on multiple devices.
The educator plan is priced based on seats starting at $5.00 a month per 10 seats. It gives access to over 200+ coloring pages, digital teaching aids, and activity plans.
Also, if you're looking for a way to give your storytime some extra pizzazz, look no further! Our latest children's book release features QuiverVision AR pages - they'll bring your own monster off the page and into your classroom. Purchase Monsters Have Manners on Amazon today and unlock super cool augmented reality coloring sheets that make reading come alive right before your eyes.
Novel Effect is a voice-powered app that pairs with books to provide an interactive story experience. The app uses voice recognition technology to detect when certain words or phrases are read aloud from the book. When this happens, sound effects, music, and other audio clips play along with the story. It brings stories to life like never before!
Check out our TeacherGoals Tech Talk episode with Novel Effect!
Teachers love using Novel Effect because it adds a unique element of surprise and delight to their lessons. Children love hearing the sound effects that accompany their favorite storiesit helps them engage more deeply with each character's journey and stay connected with the narrative arc. Plus, it's a great way for teachers to get kids excited about reading!
Novel Effect is available on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and web browsers. It can be found in the App Store, Google Play Store, Microsoft Store and Amazon Appstore.
Key Benefits:
Novel Effect is perfect for encouraging kids to read. The sound effects and music help keep them engaged with the story, making it more enjoyable and exciting for them.
Pricing and Plans:
The educator plan is $3.33 a month (billed annually) and gets you access to unlimited read-alouds, exclusive content, and access to all available e-books. If you are looking for implement Novel Effect in your whole school they have school wide plans available starting at $499 a year.
Evernote is an excellent tool for organizing your thoughts and ideas. With Evernote, you can create digital notebooks and easily store and share your notes with others. You can also access your notes from any device, making it a convenient way to keep all your information organized in one place.
Evernote may be used to keep notes on your writer's workshop sessions and small group activities in the classroom. For the latter, it allows you to set aside separate folders for each student. These student-specific folders can then be utilized to jot down anything you'd want to express during a parent-teacher meeting.
Evernote will sync across all your devices so that you don't have to worry about losing any information. It is available on iOS, Android, Mac, PC, and the web.
Key Benefits:
Evernote provides a comprehensive and easy-to-use platform for storing, organizing, and sharing notes. It can improve communication with parents and students and create classes/ digital resources accessible anytime/anywhere.
Pricing and Plans:
The basic plan comes free with limited features like syncing up to 2 devices, 60 MB monthly uploads, 25 MB maximum note size, etc. The premium version comes at USD 7.99 per month for personal use and USD 8.99 per month for professional use. If you plan to use it for team collaboration, you must spend $14.99 per user per month. They also offer a 50% discount for students.
Prodigy Math Game is a great way to practice math concepts and skills in a fun and engaging way. With the Prodigy Math Game, students can progress at their own pace and receive immediate feedback on their performance. The game also adapts to each student's level, making it an effective tool for differentiated instruction.
Students may access Prodigy through a Google account or any generic username and password, and teachers make plans based on what the class is presently studying. The curriculum is adaptive; therefore, if a student has difficulties with one standard after another, new problems that they must practice will continue to appear as they advance through the program.
What's the best part? Prodigy is a game, so the kids enjoy all of the fun of playing while learning about math problems. This is also an activity that may be done at home and features classmates' avatars and battles.
Prodigy Math Game is a popular choice for elementary school teachers looking for an engaging and interactive way to teach math concepts. It is available on iOS, Android, and the web.
Key Benefits:
Prodigy Math Game provides a fun and interactive way for students to learn math concepts. It is adaptive and can be used with students of all levels.
Pricing and Plans:
Prodigy Math Game is free to play. However, a premium membership is available for USD 6.25 per month (billed annually), giving students access to additional features. To enjoy the top-tier benefits, you need to spend USD 8.33 per month (billed annually).
Seesaw is an online tool that teachers can use to provide meaningful feedback on student work. For example, teachers can create digital portfolios for their students and upload/create assignments, photos, videos, and other files directly to each child's portfolio. Teachers may also leave comments and recommendations on individual pieces of content within a student's portfolio.
Seesaw is a great way to keep students engaged in their learning, as they can see the progress that they have made over time. It is also a valuable tool for communication between teachers and students.
Students can choose pieces from different disciplines and combine them into unique presentations by allowing them to record audio or video to express their work and the goal, which is an excellent method for peer assessment and student self-assessment.
This simple app may also be a fantastic method to preserve high-quality work samples for the classes and a repository to access videos and photographs of completed projects for work presentations at the end of the year or even share with their instructors!
Key Benefits:
Seesaw allows teachers to create digital portfolios for their students and gives them the ability to provide meaningful feedback on student work. It is also a valuable tool for communication between teachers and families.
Pricing and Plans:
Seesaw is free for 100 activities with two teachers per class. For larger schools and districts, Seesaw offers a variety of pricing plans. You need to request a quote here!
8. Microsoft Flip
Microsoft Flip is a video discussion platform that empowers educators to build connected learning communities. Students can record and share short videos about topics they're passionate about and then respond to each other's videos in real-time.
Students are broken down into groups and given access to different topics for discussion. The topic area is an interactive board where teachers may post questions, and students can submit video answers that appear in a tiled grid display.
Guests may also be invited to join via a link and a password. Student privacy is protected by configurable security settings. Various filters and tools are available for text, stickers, screen recording, and other features.
Microsoft Flip is a great way for students to express themselves and connect with each other. It's also a valuable tool for teachers to see how their students think and feel about what they're learning.
Key Benefits:
Microsoft Flip is an excellent tool for educators to build connected learning communities. Students can record and share short videos about topics they're passionate about and then respond to each other's videos in real-time. Flipgrid is also a valuable tool for teachers to see how their students think and feel about what they're learning. Students' video responses may be entertaining, as personalities and concepts shine through.
Pricing and Plans:
Microsoft Flip is free for educators and students.
Epson iProjection is an intuitive projection app for Windows and Mac computers and Android and iOS mobile devices. Epson iProjection makes it easy to project images and files wirelessly from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. This app supports wireless connections with Epsons latest projectors, so you can move freely around the room while presenting.
The days of carefully arranging student work and inadvertently brushing against the doc cam are long gone. You can now take photographs of student work with your phone and project them directly onto your projector using Epson iProjection!
This app may help highlight a student's work without writing it all over again on the whiteboard when teaching math. The student may keep their paper while the rest of the class can see it, thanks to Epson iProjection!
Epson iProjection also offers a variety of features that make it easy to use in the classroom. Teachers can control which students screen is projected and draw on the screen or highlight text with the Teacher Mode feature. The app also includes a timer function so teachers can keep track of class discussion time.
Key Benefits:
Epson iProjection is an excellent app for teachers that allows you to project images and files wirelessly from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. With Epson iProjection, you can present more freely in the classroom and connect with various individual devices. Other key features include Teacher Mode, which enables teachers to control student screens and draw on them, and a timer function to keep track of class time.
Pricing and Plans:
Epson iProjection is free to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. To use all its features, including connecting with Epson's latest projectors, you'll need access to an Epson projector and an iProjection account.
Kahoot! is an educational game-based platform that makes learning fun. With Kahoot!, you can create and play games in the classroom with students. Teachers can quickly generate quizzes and collaborative puzzles or choose from a library of existing games created by other teachers worldwide.
Students will love playing Kahoot! Because they get to compete against their classmates while learning new concepts and mastering skills. The game-based activities are also engaging, so students are more likely to pay attention and stay focused on future lessons.
You can even use Kahoot! to review material after it's been taught in class. Just create a quiz for your students, who will be able to answer questions using their own devices. This is a great way to reinforce concepts and help students prepare for assessments.
Key Benefits:
With Kahoot!, teachers can create and play games in their classrooms that make learning fun. Students love playing Kahoot! because they get the opportunity to compete against each other while learning new concepts and mastering skills.
Teachers can also use Kahoot! for review after class or as part of blended learning activities. The app offers advanced features like analytics on student progress and other games, which you can access with premium subscription plans.
Check out TeacherGoals, founder and author of the Washington Post best-selling book, Hacking School Discipline, use Kahoot during one of his trainings on restorative practices.
Administrators can add some fun and interactive energy to their staff meetings with Kahoot! Whether it's for a training or just an energizing break.
Brad Weinstein had a group of 200+ educators join him for his professional development session on logical discipline in schools - and he was able to engage them with Kahoot LIVE! Check out this video above and see how Brad used the platform to engage educators during his training.
Pricing and Plans:
Starting at USD 17 per month (billed annually), Kahoot! comes with different plans for individual, team, and enterprise solutions. You can also subscribe to Kahoot! on an event basis. As low as $7.20 per month (for 50 seats), Kahoot! EDU is an excellent option for schools and districts.
Readworks is an online reading platform that provides teachers with high-quality, standards-aligned passages and questions. With Digital Readworks, you can assign reading assignments to your students and track their progress.
Readworks is an easy-to-use tool for aiding students in comprehending literary works. It includes a leveled passage to read and multiple choice and short answer questions to answer. Because of the sample, open response answers are found immediately beneath the student's work; grading is simplified for instructors.
The app also provides resources to support reading instruction, including lesson plans, tips for teaching complex concepts, and professional development articles.
Readworks is ideal for blended learning environments because it allows students to work at their own pace and provides teachers with data on student progress. The app is also flexible and can be used to support different instructional goals.
A significant plus is that all students stay on the same page and simultaneously see multiple pupils' responses. The works may be filtered by grade level, Lexile, or genre, and they're easy for kids to browse on their own during an intervention session or as a supplementary homework resource.
Key Benefits:
Readworks is an online reading platform that provides teachers with high-quality, standards-aligned passages and questions. With Readworks, you can assign reading assignments to your students and track their progress. The app offers a variety of resources to support reading instruction, such as lesson plans, tips for teaching complex concepts, and professional development articles.
Pricing and Plans:
Readworks is free to use.
GoNoodle is a website that gets kids moving! With short videos and activities, GoNoodle engages and energizes students, helping them focus and stay on task.
These 1 to 5-minute videos cover various topics, from guided dancing to breathing and mindfulness exercises to movement-based learning activities! The videos and activities on GoNoodle are aligned with Common Core standards and can be used to support a variety of learning goals.
Younger kids seem to appreciate GoNoodle videos more, so give it a shot to ensure that children are physically moving between subjects (figuratively). The site includes a progress tracker to see how much your students use GoNoodle and which activities they enjoy the most.
Key Benefits:
GoNoodle is a website that gets kids moving! With short videos and activities, GoNoodle engages and energizes students, helping them focus and stay on task. These 1 to 5-minute videos cover various topics, from guided dancing to breathing and mindfulness exercises to movement-based learning activities!
Pricing and Plans:
For teachers of all levels, GoNoodle Educator is entirely free.
Quizizz is an online quiz game that allows students to play and learn in a fun and interactive way. With Quizizz, you can assign quizzes to your students and track their progress.
Teachers may give homework from these tests to boost student participation and engagement. To assist pupils in learning new things, you may create quizzes on various themes. You can also take surveys and attend live presentations to compete with your peers. Take part in several training sessions and compete against your other educators.
Quizizz is a great way to review for tests or quizzes. It can also be used as a formative assessment tool to gauge student understanding of content. The app includes a variety of question types, such as multiple-choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer. Quizizz also offers a variety of games and activities to keep students engaged.
Key Benefits:
Quizizz is an online quiz game that allows students to play and learn fun and interactive. With Quizizz, you can assign quizzes, assess students, and track their progress. The app includes a variety of question types, such as multiple-choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer.
Pricing and Plans:
Quizizz is free to use. However, the premium plans start at USD 19 per month and are free for schools and districts.
Epic! is a digital library for children ages 12 and under. It's packed with over 40,000 books, quizzes, videos, and educational resources to help kids succeed in school. It's a must-have program for all elementary school instructors since it eliminates the need to spend hundreds on books for their pupils. You can read a wide selection of publications on many themes.
The app includes a variety of features that make reading fun and engaging. You can find curated collections of articles based on science or history. Epic! also has a "friends feature," which allows children to learn from one another by sharing their favorite books and discoveries. Parents can use the records and analytics features to see how long their kids read each day and what they enjoy most.
The educator's version of the Epic App includes lesson plans, videos, and lectures, to assist you with organizing your classes. Furthermore, students may bookmark their favorite lesson series. It also features stories from a variety of well-known and contemporary writers.
Key Benefits:
Epic! is a digital library for children ages 12 and under. It's packed with over 40,000 books, quizzes, videos, and educational resources to help kids succeed in school. The app includes a variety of features that make reading fun and engaging.
Pricing and Plans:
Epic! is free to use with limited access to 1 book per day. However, the premium plans start at USD 6.67 per month (billed annually) for unlimited access to high-quality books and educational content.
Things to Consider When Selecting Classroom Apps
When selecting education apps for the classroom, consider the following:
Ease of Use for Younger Students
Does the app have an easy-to-navigate interface, and is it simple to use? Please remember that younger children (maybe high school students are okay with most apps), teachers, and family members will use the app.
Learning Goals
What do you hope students will learn from using the app, and does it align with your curriculum goals? If it is not aligned with your curriculum, it may not be the right app for your classroom.
Depth of Content
Does the app offer a wide range of content that can be customized to meet individual student needs? This is important for differentiation.
Engagement
Is the app engaging and motivating for students? Will it hold their attention and keep them coming back for more? This is important for student retention.
Compatibility
Does the app work on all devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers? Please check that the app is compatible with the devices in your classroom.
Pricing and Plans
Is the app affordable for teachers and students, or are there free options? Some apps offer a free trial period. If you choose an app with a subscription, please make sure it aligns with your school budget.
Other Factors
Are there any other factors like security, social features, assessment tools, or teacher resources that may be important when selecting favorite classroom apps? When choosing educational apps for your classroom, carefully evaluate each option based on these key criteria.
Final Words on the Best Classroom Apps
With an evolving digital landscape, the options for educational apps are seemingly endless. However, not all apps are created equal. Whether you're looking for a reading app to build literacy skills or a math game to support student learning, do your research and select the right app for your classroom.
We hope you found a few educational apps in this article that may provide features to meet your students' needs. Please let us know if you have any of your favorites that we didn't include and how it went when you attempted some of our ideas!
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