Software applications

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Twitter

Instant messaging to create networks of users who can communicate regularly with brief messages, or “tweets.”

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Track a #hashtag on a relevant research topic (in groups or individually) and see where it leads. Discuss the original source (e.g. retweets) and its credibility.


Skype

Free internet voice and video calling between subscribers.

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Practice a foreign language by calling sister classrooms or volunteers in other countries.


Zoom

Internet voice and video calling between subscribers which can be recorded.

Cost : Free and paid options

Example of use in education

Task students with roleplaying job interviews. The interview panel can be in one place with the candidates in another. Record the interviews, discuss who gets the job and reasons for the choice.


Youtube

Free Video-sharing website.

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Video record a dance choreography and share a private youtube link to the video for home practice / feedback exercises / to catch up absent learners.


Facebook

Free social network where users can post comments, share photos and post links to news or interesting content, chat live & watch videos.

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Start a competition based on class topic and post to Facebook. See which projects get most likes. Consider privacy, appearing high on people’s feeds, how regularly to post, finding groups interested in voting, reviewing results using Facebook analytics etc.


Whatsapp

Free app for voice/ video calls & sending texts, documents / images & other media over a secure network.

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Create a closed messaging group for the staff team to communicate, socialise and share ideas.


Moodle

Learning platform designed to provide a way of providing a personalised learning environments.

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Create a ‘gap fill’ exercise for students to complete on the moodle. Share with colleagues and label correctly the appropriate courses for which it could be used. Ask for colleagues’ feedback after use.


Microsoft Powerpoint

Software package to create electronic presentation.

Cost : Paid

Example of use in education

Task students with using powerpoint in groups to present a project to the rest of the class.


Google drive/ Dropbox/ onedrive / icloud

Cloud storage service

Cost : Free / paid options

Example of use in education

Create online portfolios of work that can be added to / edited by student(s) and teacher in real time.


Google docs and sheets

Free Web-based app in which documents and spreadsheets can be created, edited and stored online.

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Create and share an exercise asking for examples (e.g. write the names of different fruits in French) and task students to answer in a certain colour and not overwrite someone else’s answer. Conditionally format cells to their own colour.


Google forms

Free Web-based app in which forms can be created, edited and stored online.

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Create a self-marking test which gives pre-written feedback on answers given or directs students to one page or another depending on their answers.


Evernote

Free app that keeps your notes organized

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Set a research task e.g. Find out things about Iran and take notes in Evernote. After a set time, task the students with organising their notes using folders, sub folders and #tags. Projects may be simplified or expanded upon .Set a research task e.g. Find out things about Iran and take notes in Evernote. After a set time, task the students with organising their notes using folders, sub folders and #tags. Projects may be simplified or expanded upon.


Microsoft Publisher

Software to create electronic leaflets/Posters etc.

Cost : Paid

Example of use in education

Task students to take a word version of information about an upcoming event and turn it into a flier using publisher.


Prezi

Free online tool to create electronic presentation.

Cost : Free / paid options

Example of use in education

With a colleague, create a presentation as your lesson plans so that rather than moving forward in a linear way, students get a visual reminder of the overall relationship between lessons / topics / objectives /activities during the lessons as you zoom in and out.


IMovie

Free video editing app for apple devices

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Task students to add text to a movie showing your website, name of creator or copyright notice.


Movie maker

Software package to create and edit videos. (In Windows 10 it has been transformed and added as part of the picture editing software)

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Task students to make a video presenting their project rather than standing in front of the class. Also allows shy students to engage in a different way.


Kahoot

Free app to create quizzes

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Create a learning check quiz for the end of a class.


Powtoon

Software to create engaging, animated videos

Cost : Free / paid options

Example of use in education

Create a powtoon explaining a topic and share before class. Class time then becomes more tutorial and less lecture. Search “Flipped Classroom”. Share process, product & difficulties with colleagues.


Mentimeter

Online tool to create presentations with votes, polls, word clouds, multiple choice questions, quizzes. 

Cost : Free / paid options

Example of use in education

Start to discuss a sensitive topic with a series of interactive, anonymous polls. Philosophy, religion, bullying or sex education are examples.


Pinterest

Website where people can pin images and ideas in one place, ie a pinboard

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Task students to create a moodboard for a project e.g. costumes and sets for a play.


Audacity

Free software for multi-track audio editor and recording.

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Cut music to be a specific length appropriate to the class e.g. For dance, cut music to exactly 3 mins and teach 1 min of choreo per week for 3 weeks.


Canva

Free online tool to create electronic leaflets/Posters etc.

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Task students to work together creating a poster for a school open day.


Padlet

Free online bulletin board that you can use to display information for any topic.

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Task the entire class to begin an environmental project using padlet to take notes. Add parameters such as ‘each student must add 1-3 items’ or specific media types from each student.


Slideshare

Online sharing service for professional content including presentations, infographics, documents, and videos.

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Tutors can use this to find presentations on relevant topics rather than having to create new material from scratch. Frees time for editing and personalisation of the material.


Camtasia

Software to create video tutorials / presentations via screencast/ plugin

Cost : Paid

Example of use in education

Task students to create a video teaching lower level students how to complete a specific digital task. Use clear language and structure.


Instagram

Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service 

Cost : Free

Example of use in education

Imagine a historical or fictional character were alive in the modern day and task students to create an instagram account for them and collect relevant photos/followers.


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