Apps for High School Science Class
3D Brain
3D Brain is an app that lets students view the brain at a 3D level and goes over the structures, functions, what happens when it is injured and how it is involved in mental illness.
How can this be used in the classroom?
After a lecture, students can go over the content they just learned and interact with a 3D brain to go over the content more thoroughly. This is especially useful for visual learners so that they can see where certain structures are located and what they do. When they want to know more about a structure, the app provides the functions, along with a case study to help remember functions even more because there is now more information to tie the structure to. It is very thorough and students can learn and go through as much information of the brain at the pace they want to read, or look at. If they know a structure very well, they can skip over it and go on to the next.
Mitosis
What is it?
Mitosis is an app that goes over the process of mitosis. It does this by using photos and videos and also, at the end of learning the process, has a quiz to ensure that the knowledge of mitosis is known.How can this be used in the classroom?
This can be used in the classroom because students can learn more thoroughly, even on their own time about mitosis. The great thing is they have the choice to read it or to listen to the explanation of the process of mitosis. This app also includes a glossary of relevant terms, and in class, they can complete the quiz and see how well they understand the process of mitosis. They can go over the process of mitosis at their own pace as well, so they don't have the pressure of learning it at a fast or slow pace, when using this app, in comparison to lecture learning, and possible public speaking (asking questions during the lecture can be a challenge to many students). Also, this app allows students to either listen or read the process, this can accommodate many different learners - also because it includes videos and real photographs.
HudsonAlpha iCell
This app allows students to view a 3D model of 3 types of cells: animal, plant and bacteria. Students can tap on an area of the cell to learn more about the functions of the structures that compose the cell.
How can this be used in the classroom?
After learning about the different types of cells and what their organelles do, students can access this app and compare the cells and make sure they understand what structures are included in each cell and what the functions are for the cells. Students can zoom in and out of the cell to further explore it and visual learners can have a better understanding of the cells and where structures are located.
Math Ref
This app allows students browse over 1400 formulas, figures, terms, and examples to help them with math, physics, chemistry and other subjects. The apps includes a unit converter, quadratic solver, and more.
How can this be used in the classroom?
This app can be used in multiple classrooms of different subjects. There are terms in math that are explained thoroughly, as well as formulas they can look up to help them solve a problem when practicing their mathematics or physics questions in class. This can help assure them that they have the correct answer by inputting information, also they can make sure that they can calculated their conversions correctly very efficiently. There is a search bar so if they ever run into a term, formula or figure that they do not understand, they can search it up and learn more about it and what it means. There is also print support, so if they have a concept that they want to really focus on, they can print it and write more on it. There is also a feature of editable notes: they can write information to help them remember certain terms or formulas and help better understand these concepts.
Maptini
This app allows students to work collaboratively to create mind maps on the iPads or other mobile devices. This app allows data to be synced in real time and the maps can be shared worldwide.
How can this be used in a classroom?
After learning a new concept, for example, the brain, students can work in groups to create a mind map of everything they learned, including the structures and the functions of the brain. They can work collaboratively and tackle certain concepts and tasks that the teacher has provided. After they are finished creating the mind map, they can share it with the class by providing a link to the teacher. They can do this by emailing the teacher the link, and the teacher can post it on their LMS such as Edmodo and then the whole class can access the mind maps to help them study the concepts that they have learned.