tech edge: mobile learning in the classroom podcasts
The UNL Technology EDGE Youtube page is full of videos that give tips on how to integrate technology into the classroom. There are videos in many different content areas, and different technologies that can be integrated into each lesson. What I loved most about the catalog was the length of the videos. They are all long enough to be informative, but short and sweet as well. There are hundreds of videos that you can refer back to, and there are new ones being uploaded all the time! I'm happy I've come upon this channel, it will certainly help me integrate technology into my classroom.
typEshift
Typeshift is a free word lock picking app that blew my mind from the first time I played it. Typeshift gives you a puzzle then has you slide the columns to make as many words as possible. The game is a mix of scrabble, crosswords, and anagrams. There are levels with clues, without clues, daily puzzles, and puzzles that differ in difficulty level. The only downside to this app is that there is no way to create your own leader boards or make the puzzles less difficult. This makes the app solely for high school students and above. Some of the puzzles are very difficult, which makes them fun, but not suitable for everyone. But overall, the app could be a great brain teaser for students. This app can be used on iPhone, iPad, and the iPod touch. It's very simple to use, and there's a tutorial when the app is first downloaded that helps clear up any confusion. Teachers could use it for brain warm ups in the classroom to get the student's mind ready for the day. In my classroom, I can see myself using this as a warm up or brain break for my students. This game really gets the wheels turning! I won't only use this app in my classroom, but I'll also use it in my personal life to work my brain muscles every now and then.
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wordie
Wordie is a free word guessing app that has great classroom and personal uses. Wordie gives you 4 pictures and has you type the words that the pictures hint towards. For instance, if the pictures are a cat, a dog, a bird, and a pig, the word could be animal. There are pre-made quiz modes that you can use, but you can also create your own quizzes my uploading your own photo clues. The only downside to this app is that students who struggle with visual learning won't benefit from this app. But overall, the app could be a fun way to engage students and get them to think about the topics in different ways. This app can be used on iPhone, iPad, and the iPod touch, and any grade level could use it. It's very simple to use, and there's a help button that will help you if you get stuck. Teachers could use it to create games for their students, and students could use it to make games for themselves or their friends. I can see myself making this a game in my classroom. By uploading pictures that represent a character or literary device, splitting up my class into groups, and then letting them complete a level in a race. This app will be a fun addition to my classroom!
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wokabulary
Wokabulary is a free vocabulary trainer app that has many potential classroom and personal uses. Wokabulary lets you make vocabulary lists and creates quizzes to help you study and memorize the words. It can not only help you learn more words in your own language, but can be used as a foreign language learning app as well. But this app doesn't just make you one set of flashcards, instead it learns with you. As you answer correctly and faster, the app graduates you to more difficult words. If you keep struggling with the same words over and over again, it will make sure you get more reps on it than other words. Old words and easy words are given to you less often, so you don't waste time on what you already know. There are multiple quiz modes to cater to your individual learning style. This app can be fully personalized for YOU. The only downside to this app is that you have to spend the time putting in all of the vocabulary words and definitions yourself. If you have a big enough list, this could take hours. But overall, the time spent on creating your vocabulary lists will be totally worth it when you have your own personalized vocabulary lists that learn as you do. This app is versatile in other ways as well. It could be used for any language, any grade level, and on iPhone, iPad, and the iPod touch. It's very simple to use, and the app comes with a great tutorial that you can access any time if you get stuck. Teachers could use it to create vocabulary lists for their students, and students could use it to make vocabulary lists for themselves. In my classroom, I can see myself uploading vocabulary lists for my students and letting them study with their devices as needed at home. I can see this app being great for learning in my classroom!
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