These Android apps will augment teaching and learning for students and teachers

android-appsiPhones and iPads may have once been educators’ and students’ go-to devices, but Android-based tools are increasingly present in classrooms across the nation.

These eight apps, which cover language learning, communication, word games, and more, are only a sampling of available educational Android apps. What Android apps do you use for professional development, administrative purposes, or in your classroom? Do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments below.

[Editor’s note: Prices are current as of press time. Please note that app prices may fluctuate.]

1. Duolingo, Free
Students can use this app to learn Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, or English. They lose hearts for incorrect answers, move forward via bite-sized lessons, and earn progress achievements and recognition.

(Next page: Seven more Android apps)
2. TED Talks, Free
The official TED Android app offers TED Talks from education experts, tech innovators, and more. New talks are added each week.
3. Broken Calculator, Free
During this game, students help “Calci” the calculator solve math problems while dealing with broken keys. The goal is to solve a math problem using a limited set of numbers and operations in as few steps as possible. This approach can help students improve number sense and math skills in a fun environment.
4. Celly, Free
This group communication tool can be used for school staff, groups of teachers, parents, or students. The app uses different “cells” to exchange messages with all contacts or select groups. Users can set alerts and scheduled reminders and send polls for instant feedback. All messages are synced to the Celly website.
5. My Alphabook, $0.99
Younger students can learn letters and numbers with voice recordings or images customized by their parents or teachers. Children see a screen with letters or numbers, and upon tapping one letter or number, they see an image while a recording is played. For instance, the first letter of a child’s first name could display an image of the child, and the recording could say, “A is for Ann.”
6. Google Earth, Free
This much-loved app is now available on Android devices. Students can explore different areas of the planet and become familiar with landmarks. The Earth Gallery offers maps featuring planes in flight, city tours, and even real-time earthquakes. 3D imagery also is available.
7. Socrative Teacher and Socrative Student, Free
Clickers just got much more exciting. Teachers use games and exercises to engage students while receiving their answers in real-time. The tool runs off any web browser and students can use a variety of mobile devices. Students can submit speaker feedback to indicate how well they understand the material.
8. Jumbline 2, Free
While this app is more of a word game, students will have fun rearranging scrambled letters into words and underlining them to score points. They advance to the next level if they are able to find and underline the largest word in the group. Two additional games include Cloud Pop, in which students pop clouds by spelling words from the letters contained in each cloud, and Star Tower, in which they create and stack words out of line of jumbled letters in order to create the tallest tower they can before the tower sinks.

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Laura Ascione

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