Educational Apps for Kids

By Leslie Grant, Graduate Assistant, McLure Education Library

Emerging technologies provide many opportunities for new and different teaching methods. The use of applications, or apps, on devices such as smart phones and tablets are one way to introduce material while also teaching digital literacy skills and incorporating interactivity that makes it more interesting for the users.

There is an abundance of educational apps. These apps vary in age range, subject, and cost. Since it would be impossible to list all of them, we want to share a few examples illustrative of the tools available to teachers and parents.

Reading:

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Reading Rainbow: Read Along Children’s Books, Kids Videos & Educational Games

“Hosted by LeVar Burton, the reimagined Reading Rainbow app includes an unlimited library of children’s books and video field trips to ignite your child’s imagination.”

 

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Don’t Let the Pigeon Run This App!

“Three-time Caldecott Honoree Mo Willems brings the Pigeon to the digital screen with this original, feature-rich, animated app.”

(one of the many examples of apps based on books)

 

History and Museums:

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American Revolution Interactive Timeline

“This award-winning, graphically rich timeline, developed by The American Revolution Center, a non-profit educational institution working to build The Museum of the American Revolution, offers information and access to rare treasures from the Center’s collection that will be displayed in the new museum.”

 

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Smithsonian Mobile

“Smithsonian Mobile is your digital mobile guide to the Smithsonian, built collaboratively with our visitors. Find out what’s on where, discover highlights, search our collections, access tours, podcasts and other apps.”

 

 

Science:

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NASA App

“The NASA App showcases a huge collection of the latest NASA content, including images, videos on-demand, NASA Television, mission information, news & feature stories, latest tweets, ISS sighting opportunities, satellite tracking, Third Rock Radio and much more.”

 

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TinkerBox

“TinkerBox is a fun, free-to-play physics puzzle game. While it is full of interesting science facts and teaches basic engineering concepts, TinkerBox is more than just educational! Take the tools in your hands to explore your creativity and imagination with Invent mode. Build outrageous machines, share them with your friends, or download popular inventions from online.”

 

Creativity and Story Telling:

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Felt Board

“Design scenes, dress up characters and let your imagination soar as you invent your own stories with Felt Board. Especially designed for imaginative play, storytelling and learning, Felt Board is perfect for children, families, teachers and therapists.”

 

Hopefully this list has made you aware of some of the resources available in the world of apps and inspired you to search for others. There are many websites with app recommendations and reviews where you can find more information about apps to suit your particular needs, including Common Sense Media, APPitic, and CLCD’s monthly newsletter.

Let us know in the comments if you use any of these apps or have any other app recommendations!

 

Prepping for the Praxis

By Leslie Grant, Graduate Assistant, McLure Education Library

With spring approaching, it’s time for many education majors to start thinking about the Praxis. Praxis testing has begun already at The University of Alabama, and the testing window for April has been expanded to accommodate the high demand. McLure is here to help as you prepare for the exam.

The Praxis is a series of tests for teaching certification. The Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) covers reading, writing, and math. A passing score is generally required for entrance into a teacher education program and may also be necessary in some states in order to apply for a teaching license or certificate. The Praxis II assesses subject-specific knowledge and teaching skills. Necessary exams vary by discipline. Passing the Praxis II is usually a requirement for teacher certification. For more information about the Praxis, including test locations and dates, visit their official site at ETS – The Praxis Series.

For those taking the Praxis, McLure library has free study aids available. These resources are no longer kept as physical copies, but can be accessed online instead through Learning Express Library. A detailed guide on how to locate Praxis resources can be found on the library’s website. Look for “Praxis Practice Test” under the heading “Research Help” on the McLure library page or follow this link.

Good luck!