Student success: Apps and more
Student success depends on organization. That organization includes recording, planning and executing assignments. It requires attention and focus during school and after school. In the 21st century, education has moved beyond paper and pencil to technology in and out of the classroom. Apps are a great way to add organization to your student’s work.
Get social
When I was in school, we huddled around the television on snowy mornings, eager for a closing announcement. Today, many school districts share this information via the web and social media. Get yourself in the loop this school year and visit your district’s website to find the following information:
- Your school’s and/or district’s Twitter feed
- Any associated Facebook accounts
- Classroom-specific websites
- Classroom Blackboard accounts and mobile applications
- Teacher blogs
Check these weekly to be sure you are up to date.
Student apps
Getting your homework done is a matter of consolidating information. Students have to look on the board, check the teacher’s website and often look at other online spots. Using a homework app can help you capture it all in one spot.
- MyHomework syncs across devices so you can easily access your classes and assignments anytime and anywhere.
- Skoach has an integrated task-list and calendar for student’s to coordinate classes, tasks and extracurricular activities.
- Just taking a photo with your smart phone of the assignments listed on the board and then recapping these on your paper planner can work too!
Paperless in school
Schools are starting to use technology primarily for assignments. In a recent Time article, textbooks and worksheets are stored in the cloud. Your student should be familiar with these apps to use at home and school to consolidate where they store their work.
- In Dropbox, students have access to documents on their computers, phones, or tablets. They can edit docs, automatically add photos, and work with videos.
- Evernote: Take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders and makes notes searchable.
Study apps
Studying has taken on new options with apps. These apps are outstanding ways for students to use their learning styles. With not only visual, auditory and kinesthetic cues, apps make studying more focused, collaborative and interesting.
- StudyBlue is a collaborative tool for learning vocabulary and concepts.
- Quizlet helps students learn vocabulary.
- Essentials by AccelaStudy helps students learn a language.
- KhanAcademy has math and science tutorials.
Have an app that has worked well for your student?
More ideas for successful student strategies here.
Love this post, Ellen! We used lots of these apps and websites to help my daughter and son learn when they didn’t quite get it at school. I love that you mentioned some homework tracking apps. I was looking for apps just in case the planner book doesn’t work for them. I will bookmark and share this one with friends who are looking for it. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Sabrina! Apps keep the kids interested in their work .
My daughter has used by StudyBlue (which she basically used as flash cards, she didn’t do the sharing, but it was so much easier than all that paper), and KhanAcademy. KhanAcademy is great for when you feel like you didn’t quite “get it” in class and need a second, slower, teaching of the material. Kids have to understand technology now. Many papers are submitted via “TurnItInOnline.com”… even the teacher comments are made via this!
Wow, technology has brought about so many changes since my kids (and I) were in school. I can see that using apps would really increase the appeal for a lot of young people.
@Seana – So glad your daughter is taking advantage of apps. StudyBlue is an awesome app for flash cards. It is engaging and makes it easy to learn. Khan Academy gives another way to learn content when you did not learn it first off.
@Janet – new apps are coming out all the time. It’s all in what works best for you and your student.