Tech Edge Mobile Learning In The Classroom
Teachers can sometimes feel as if they are on their own, having to handle students by themselves, create lesson plans by themselves, and must create their own ways to make their classroom more efficient. The TECH EDGE podcast creates technological solutions for teachers while also bringing fun into the classroom. The podcast had a lot of different stations for a lot of different solutions for teachers using apps that all students can have access too. TECH EDGE created different subjects that could apply to every teacher in almost all subjects (or just the subject of being a teacher!) The videos that stood out to me the most is the "Presentation Apps" videos. Too many times teachers are lecturing in the front of the classroom using a boring power point. This can kill fun and creativity within the classroom and discourage students from creating fun and engaging presentations. This is why finding cool, fun, and engaging presentation apps is essential and useful.
Pear Deck App
Pear Deck is a free app that i could see being used by all ages from upper elementary to college. Pear Deck is my favorite app that was suggested in the Tech Edge Podcast. This app creates excitement and a lot of interaction within a lesson, taking teaching as far away as lecturing as possible. Teacher's can create a lesson which connects through an access code straight to the students computer. This way the information is right in front of them, and their learning is focused on them. Another great point about this app is that the students get to interact within the questions, whether it be multiple choice, placing a dot, essay, or thumbs up and down. Pear deck allows teachers to show students answers on the board with anyniminty and can create a group discussion. With the real time aspect of Pear Deck, teachers can instantly know if the students are understanding the material or needing more time to grasp the concept. I love this app, i think it is amazing and so no cons within the use, I think it is great for both student and teacher learning, and i will DEFINITELY use it in my future classroom.
Emaze App
This free app was suggested by Tech Edge is useful if you are tired of power points dull features. Emaze provides teachers and students to present information in a new way by creating 3-d, fun, and creative templates to use. Some templates include a storybook, chalk board, art gallery, and many more! I will admit that Emaze was not as easy to use as Power point and changing font styles and editing minor details was a challenge. However, as a teacher, getting key information out there while also being creative is the key to engaging students rather than the font type or the minor details. So overall, Emaze is great if you are in need of putting together a fun presentation fast and eas (this would be appropriate for middle school to college students). If you want to create custom presentations that really speak to your interest or creativity, then this app is not for you.
Nearpod App
https://appsto.re/us/5EjnF.i
This free app is intended to be used by students k-12. It creates an interactive world between a teacher and from student to student. This app displays material to the classroom on their devices and can create an array of activities for the students to do. They can draw, take quizzes, write essays, and even complete homework on this app. It allows the teacher to assess the students learning in an efficient manner. The displays were fun and colorful and could get the students attention. However, there are some features that would be extremely useful to a teacher, however, is only available by becoming a "gold" member which would then cost $12 a month. I think this app could be useful more-so in creating activities for the students based on the lesson rather than for teaching the lesson itself. However, keeping a classroom engaged and busy while also being creative with technology is a huge win. I like this app and think it would be a great addition/tool./resource for any teacher in the classroom.