Mobile Apps for Education
mLearning in a High School English Class
Evernote
What does it do?
Evernote is a free note taking app. It can also be used to take pictures, make lists, record voice memos and stay organized. It can be downloaded onto all devices, which makes it easy to access notes wherever a student may be.
How can it be used?
In and English classroom, Evernote can be used by the students to take notes on whatever novel they are learning about. If students learn better audibly then they can ask their teacher if they can record the lesson. They can also make a list of their homework on the app. If a student forgets their laptop or iPad at school and still needs to access their notes to study, then they can do so from a computer or phone at home.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/evernote/id281796108?mt=8
Evernote is a free note taking app. It can also be used to take pictures, make lists, record voice memos and stay organized. It can be downloaded onto all devices, which makes it easy to access notes wherever a student may be.
How can it be used?
In and English classroom, Evernote can be used by the students to take notes on whatever novel they are learning about. If students learn better audibly then they can ask their teacher if they can record the lesson. They can also make a list of their homework on the app. If a student forgets their laptop or iPad at school and still needs to access their notes to study, then they can do so from a computer or phone at home.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/evernote/id281796108?mt=8
Shakespeare
What does it do?
Shakespeare is a free app. It contains the complete works of William Shakespeare, including all his plays, sonnets, and poems. It has a great search engine, so if a student needs to find a particular quote they need to use for an essay then they can do so easily without having to flip through the entire text.
How can it be used?
This app can be used by the student if they need to read one of Shakespeare's works for an English class. They can read it from this app, either in class if the teacher wants the students to read it together or at home if they have to read part of it for homework. This is a great app to save costs for students and schools because they can read the plays and sonnets here, instead of buying them or having to get them from the school library.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/shakespeare/id285035416?mt=8
Shakespeare is a free app. It contains the complete works of William Shakespeare, including all his plays, sonnets, and poems. It has a great search engine, so if a student needs to find a particular quote they need to use for an essay then they can do so easily without having to flip through the entire text.
How can it be used?
This app can be used by the student if they need to read one of Shakespeare's works for an English class. They can read it from this app, either in class if the teacher wants the students to read it together or at home if they have to read part of it for homework. This is a great app to save costs for students and schools because they can read the plays and sonnets here, instead of buying them or having to get them from the school library.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/shakespeare/id285035416?mt=8
Dictionary.com Dictionary and Thesaurus
What does it do?
Dictionary.com is another free app. It has a dictionary and thesaurus. It does not need internet access to be used.
How can it be used?
Dictionary.com is a great app for an English class. If a student is reading a text for class and they do not understand a certain word then they can easily look it up on this app. Or if they are writing an essay and want to find a different word than one they have already used a few times they can use the thesaurus to do so. The fact that it does not need internet to look up words is even better because not all students may have access to wifi all the time.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dictionary.com-dictionary/id308750436?mt=8
Dictionary.com is another free app. It has a dictionary and thesaurus. It does not need internet access to be used.
How can it be used?
Dictionary.com is a great app for an English class. If a student is reading a text for class and they do not understand a certain word then they can easily look it up on this app. Or if they are writing an essay and want to find a different word than one they have already used a few times they can use the thesaurus to do so. The fact that it does not need internet to look up words is even better because not all students may have access to wifi all the time.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dictionary.com-dictionary/id308750436?mt=8
Acceleread Speed Reading Trainer
What does it do?
This is a free app that teaches how to speed read. It is not just an app, it is a training course. It is customized and measures where you start and where you end after choosing goals and generating a personalized program.
How can it be used?
If a student has trouble reading texts at a fast pace and is struggling to keep up with reading homework in an English class then this could be a great app to recommend to them. It would help them improve in their speed reading skills so that they could finish their readings easier and not have as many problems to worry about with the class.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/acceleread-speed-reading-trainer/id528963250?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
This is a free app that teaches how to speed read. It is not just an app, it is a training course. It is customized and measures where you start and where you end after choosing goals and generating a personalized program.
How can it be used?
If a student has trouble reading texts at a fast pace and is struggling to keep up with reading homework in an English class then this could be a great app to recommend to them. It would help them improve in their speed reading skills so that they could finish their readings easier and not have as many problems to worry about with the class.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/acceleread-speed-reading-trainer/id528963250?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
PERRLA for MLA
What does it do?
PERRLA for MLA is a free app. It is a simple to use citation generator. It allows for the selection of the reference type and then once everything is filled in it generates the citation. This can then be emailed and used in an essay.
How can it be used?
This can be a great app for students struggling with learning citations in an English class because MLA is the citation format used for English. They can use this app to figure out exactly what they need for each type of reference and where the information gets placed. After they use the app a few times they should have a better sense of how to cite in this format and be able to do it on their own easier.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/perrla-for-mla/id582686820?mt=8
PERRLA for MLA is a free app. It is a simple to use citation generator. It allows for the selection of the reference type and then once everything is filled in it generates the citation. This can then be emailed and used in an essay.
How can it be used?
This can be a great app for students struggling with learning citations in an English class because MLA is the citation format used for English. They can use this app to figure out exactly what they need for each type of reference and where the information gets placed. After they use the app a few times they should have a better sense of how to cite in this format and be able to do it on their own easier.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/perrla-for-mla/id582686820?mt=8
Inspiration Maps Lite
What does it do?
Inspiration Maps Lite is a free app. It is an app used to create mind maps, organizers and diagrams. It is a brainstorming tool that helps build thinking skills, planning skills and organizational skills.
How can it be used?
This app can be used by students in an English class to make a mind map that organizes brainstormed ideas surrounding a novel. It can also be used for them to plan the outline of an essay or project. Or it can be used by them to create a diagram for a study guide.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/inspiration-maps-lite/id510031612?mt=8
Inspiration Maps Lite is a free app. It is an app used to create mind maps, organizers and diagrams. It is a brainstorming tool that helps build thinking skills, planning skills and organizational skills.
How can it be used?
This app can be used by students in an English class to make a mind map that organizes brainstormed ideas surrounding a novel. It can also be used for them to plan the outline of an essay or project. Or it can be used by them to create a diagram for a study guide.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/inspiration-maps-lite/id510031612?mt=8
Clean Slate: Hamlet HD
What does it do?
Clean Slate: Hamlet HD is a free app. It is an interactive app that allows students to explore the play Hamlet by Shakespeare. Students can study characters journeys throughout the play. They can look at scenes in depth. They can play games to see how well they understood the reading. As well, it integrates Twitter so they can talk to students in their classroom and students around the world about Hamlet.
How can it be used?
This app can be used by an English class that is studying Shakespeare's Hamlet. It would help the students more actively participate in the learning if they used this app to do readings instead of just reading the play. It gets the to interact more with the text so that they can better understand the concepts. This app almost integrates the concept of a flipped classroom. Students could do all the readings at home on this app and learn information on the characters and scenes by themselves with the app's guidance. Then, when they go to class with this knowledge, they would have more time to actually have their questions answered and concepts clarified by the teacher because they would not be using the time to learn what they already did at home. This would be great if the students were writing an essay on this play because it would give them more time to get help from the teacher in class.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/clean-slate-hamlet-hd/id550888805?mt=8
Clean Slate: Hamlet HD is a free app. It is an interactive app that allows students to explore the play Hamlet by Shakespeare. Students can study characters journeys throughout the play. They can look at scenes in depth. They can play games to see how well they understood the reading. As well, it integrates Twitter so they can talk to students in their classroom and students around the world about Hamlet.
How can it be used?
This app can be used by an English class that is studying Shakespeare's Hamlet. It would help the students more actively participate in the learning if they used this app to do readings instead of just reading the play. It gets the to interact more with the text so that they can better understand the concepts. This app almost integrates the concept of a flipped classroom. Students could do all the readings at home on this app and learn information on the characters and scenes by themselves with the app's guidance. Then, when they go to class with this knowledge, they would have more time to actually have their questions answered and concepts clarified by the teacher because they would not be using the time to learn what they already did at home. This would be great if the students were writing an essay on this play because it would give them more time to get help from the teacher in class.
Link to the app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/clean-slate-hamlet-hd/id550888805?mt=8
Dewald, G. (2012, December 26). [Mobile learning devices]. Retrieved from http://www.inman.com/2012/ 12/26/mobile-everything-not-a-marketing-strategy/