Tech Edge Reviews
This week, I explored a YouTube channel called Tech EDGE! This channel was created by Nebraska University. I was extremely impressed by the shear number of resources that they presented on their Tech EDGE - mobile learning in the classroom series. Their wide variety of topics covered was appealing as well. As a future teacher, this is a resource that I will definitely keep in mind. It will be useful in giving me ideas about how to integrate technology and certain apps in my classroom. In the videos I watched, the people seemed very well educated on the apps that they were discussing and explained how to use them quite well. I would most definitely recommend that all educators take a look at the videos on this channel and give some of the apps talked about a try. You never know, you may find one that clicks with you and that you can integrate into your classroom!
Type Shift
One of the apps that I first looked at is called Type shift,which was originally released on March 18, 2017 and is categorized as a puzzle game. I first downloaded the app because I had never heard of it, but was curious about it after watching one of Tech EDGE's podcasts. This app is designed to work one's critical thinking skills. There are multiple different levels, which is great for education because each student can play at the level that they are at. In order to complete levels, the player must find a series of core words. The player is given a grid of words (5 columns) and their task is to move the letters in the columns up and down until they find a combination of letters that creates word. Once they have done that, those letters will turn green and the goal is to get all of the letters in the grid to turn green as well. There are additional words that can be found, they are just not counted towards the level. This feature allows students who want to go above and beyond, to do just that. This type of game could be used in the classroom as a sort of "let's get ready for class" technique. It can engage students and get them ready for the day. The only negative I saw with this app is that there is no feature that would allow a teacher to input their own words, therefore it couldn't necessarily be used for a vocabulary test, unless the test was over the words that were already integrated into the app.
One of the apps that I first looked at is called Type shift,which was originally released on March 18, 2017 and is categorized as a puzzle game. I first downloaded the app because I had never heard of it, but was curious about it after watching one of Tech EDGE's podcasts. This app is designed to work one's critical thinking skills. There are multiple different levels, which is great for education because each student can play at the level that they are at. In order to complete levels, the player must find a series of core words. The player is given a grid of words (5 columns) and their task is to move the letters in the columns up and down until they find a combination of letters that creates word. Once they have done that, those letters will turn green and the goal is to get all of the letters in the grid to turn green as well. There are additional words that can be found, they are just not counted towards the level. This feature allows students who want to go above and beyond, to do just that. This type of game could be used in the classroom as a sort of "let's get ready for class" technique. It can engage students and get them ready for the day. The only negative I saw with this app is that there is no feature that would allow a teacher to input their own words, therefore it couldn't necessarily be used for a vocabulary test, unless the test was over the words that were already integrated into the app.
Khan Academy
The next app that I was interested in is called Khan Academy. This is an extremely educational app which gives the user thousands upon thousands of instructional video that they could choose from. When someone first opens the app they are shown a variety of topics ranging from math to test prep, all geared towards helping students grow in their educational paths. If you can't find exactly what you are looking for at the start screen, there is a search button which allows you to search any topic that you want. More often than not, Khan Academy has a video that can help you better understand the material. Personally, I have used Khan Academy quite a few times in college for calculus and math. I could highly recommend that everyone download this app and give it a try. As a future educator, this app is definitely a resource that I will recommend my students download and use frequently. This is just a form of supplemental instruction that a teacher can utilize in order to perhaps better explain the information or explain it in a different way. I will most likely use this app in my classroom and I think you should too!
Todo Math
The final app that I explored is called Todo Math. This app is geared towards elementary students. When the user first downloads the app, they can create a profile or continue using as a guest mode user. After this step, the parent is asked to choose which grade level their child is at. After doing so, the child is given the option to choose from either Challenge Lab, Free Choice, or Challenge Library. This feature is awesome because it encourages the child's choice idea. Children tend to learn more efficiently if they are getting a say in what they learn, therefore allowing them to choose a category is a great way in which to do that. If they were to choose the Challenge Lab, they are given a series of mini games in which they must complete in order to successfully conquer that category. If they chose Free Choice, they are given a multitude of categories to choose from in which they will complete tasks, geared towards math. The Challenge Library is an assessment type feature that could show how well they fully grasped the information. As a future educator, this app would be a great one to look into. It has a form of assessment already built into it so it could be handy in letting the teacher know what they still need to work on or what the students already have a good grasp on.