With around 350,000 apps claiming to be specifically for the education market, it is notoriously difficult for teachers to identify the tools and services that will save them time, improve communication with parents and students, or create real learner impact. What schools need is a way of filtering out the rubbish. To make a start on that process - and knowing that teachers love recommendations - TES has teamed up with the Edtech Podcast (@podcastedtech) to bring you 15 apps that come highly rated by edtech experts.
TIME-SAVING Name Kaizena Price FreeRecommended by Sam Patterson, puppet master and makerspace coordinator, Echo Horizon School, San Francisco (@SamPatue)Function Personalised voice feedback on student work. The app claims speaking - rather than writing - the feedback is 75 per cent quicker and is better at conveying what the teacher really meansMore information Podcast episode 31, kaizena.com
Name Show My Homework Price Free and paid versions Recommended by Mark Martin, education consultant and teacher (@urban_teacher)Function An online tool for viewing and setting homework More information Podcast episode 9, showmyhomework.co.uk
CONTENT Name TED Talks Price FreeRecommended by Joanna Bersin, head of education, Kano Computing @JoannaBersinFunction Inspirational content and thought-provoking educational leadershipMore information Podcast episode 34, www.ted.com
Name AirPano Travel Book Price £2.29 in the Apple app storeRecommended by Kirsty Tonks, principal designate at Shireland TechnologyFunction A collection of unique spherical photo panoramas of the most amazing places in the world. “Google Earth works incredibly well on AirPano. It just changes how you teach,” says TonksMore information Podcast episode 26, travelbook.airpano.com
CODING, CREATING AND MAKING Name Processing for iOSPrice FreeRecommended by Alex Flowers, team leader digital programmes, VictoriaFunction To teach fundamentals of computer programming within a visual contextMore information Podcast episode 4, bit.ly/ProcessingforiOS
Name PyonkeePrice FreeRecommended by Tolu Oyenola, primary school teacher, Hackney, LondonFunction A visual programming app for the iPad - “At key stage 2, the kids have really taken it up and been enthusiastic about it,” says OyenolaMore information Podcast episode 5, bit.ly/Pyonkee
Name Minecraft Price FreeRecommended by Michael Luetjen, computer science and edtech lead learner, Pine Crest School, Florida (@Criticalclick) Function Enables creativity, computational thinking and collaboration More information Podcast episodes 32 and 33, minecraft.net
Name Human Resource Machine Price £3.99 in the Apple app storeRecommended by Lauri Jarvilehto, chief executive, Lightneer (@laurijarvilehto)Function Teaching computer code. “Wraps computer logic inside a wonderful, whimsical puzzle game,” says JarvilehtoMore information Podcast episode 26, tomorrowcorporation.com/humanresourcemachine
Name LittleBits Invent Price FreeRecommended by Cory Roush, literacy specialist at Muskingum County Library System, Ohio (@coryroush)Function Prompts, instructions and a community for maker projectsMore information Podcast episode 33, littlebits.cc
ENGAGEMENT Name KahootPrice FreeRecommended by Angel edtech investor Deborah Quazzo, GSV Partners (@deborahquazzo) and Joanna Bersin, head of education, Kano ComputingFunction Fun, social learning games, for any subjectMore information Podcast episodes 13 and 34, getkahoot.com
Name Explain EverythingPrice Free-£5.99Recommended by Mark Anderson, ICT evangelist (@ICTEvangelist) Function Create interactive videos and classroom projects, record your work, screencast via whiteboards. “It’s like an interactive whiteboard on speed,” says AndersonMore information Podcast episode 13, explaineverything.com
Name New York Times VR Price FreeRecommended by Joe Fatheree, Varkey Global Teacher Prize nominee, IllinoisFunction Engage students with immersive, 360° storytelling. “‘Makes you feel like youMore information Podcast episode 14, www.nytimes.com/marketing/nytvr
COLLABORATION Name Nearpod Price Free, with in-app purchasesRecommended by Courtney Rowan and Clarissa Chay, iChamps digital literacy initiative, University of Southampton (www.diglit.soton.ac.uk ) Function Combining interactive presentations, collaboration and real-time assessment for use on iPads, iPods, iPhones or MacsMore information Podcast episodes 21 and 29, nearpod.com
Name Edmodo Price FreeRecommended by Varkey Global Teacher Prize nominee Kazuya Takahashi, Japan (@kz8_takahashi)Function Collaborative working, content sharing and student progress tracking. Integrates with Google Apps for Education and Microsoft OneNote and Office More information Podcast episode 38, www.edmodo.com
Name Google Apps for EducationPrice FreeRecommended by Jeremy Harris, E-Learning, Hackney Learning Trust, London (@JHarris_HLT)Function Collaborative, content sharing and project management (see feature, page 26)More information Podcast episode 3, www.google.com/edu/products/productivity-tools
