The biggest challenge for any teacher is capturing each student’s attention, and conveying ideas effectively enough to create a lasting impression.

As a teacher, to tackle this challenge effectively, you should implement innovative ideas that make the classroom experience much more lovable for your students.

So here are 16 innovative ideas that will help you reinvent your teaching methods and make your classes more interesting.

1. Creative Teaching

Creative-Teaching

Take the help of tools to stimulate creativity. Include playful games or forms of visual exercises that will excite young minds and capture their interest.

This is a time-tested method to identify every young student’s creative abilities and encourage creative contributions.

Bring aspects of creativity into all your subjects, be it mathematics, science, or history. Think of ways to develop their creative ideas.

Encourage different ideas, give them the freedom to explore

2. Audio & Video Tools

Audio-Video-Tools classroom strategies

Incorporate audio-visual materials to supplement textbooks during your sessions. These can be models, filmstrips, movies, pictures, infographics or other mind mapping and brain mapping tools.

Such tools will help their imagination thrive and grow.

These methods will not only develop their ability to listen but will also help them understand the concepts better.

For example, you can get some oral history materials, conduct live online discussions or playback recordings of public lectures.

If you are tech-savvy, there are also a number of smart apps for preschoolers that you can utilize to create awesome slideshows or presentations

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3. “Real-World” Learning

Real World Learning- Classroom Strategies

Infusing real-world experiences into your instructions will make teaching moments fresh, and enrich classroom learning.

Relating and demonstrating through real-life situations will make the material easy to understand and easy to learn. It will spark their interest and get the children excited and involved.

4. Brainstorm

Brainstorming in Classroom - teaching strategies

Make time for brainstorming sessions in your classrooms. These sessions are a great way to get the creative juices flowing.

When you have multiple brains focusing on one single idea, you are sure to get numerous ideas and will also involve everyone into the discussion.

These sessions will be a great platform for students to voice their thoughts without having to worry about right or wrong.

Set some ground rules before you start. You can go for simple brainstorming or group brainstorming or paired brainstorming

5. Classes Outside the Classroom

Classes Outside the Classroom

Some lessons are best learnt, when they are taught outside of the classroom. Organize field trips that are relevant to the lessons or just simply take students for a walk outside of the classroom.

Field trips can help students make connections between classroom learning and real-world experiences. You can plan visits to museums, zoos, or historical sites related to the learning subjects. You can also arrange for students to visit local businesses or organizations related to what they learn to gain first-hand experience. Outdoor excursions, such as nature walks, hikes, or camping trips also help engage students in hands-on learning.

Students will find this fresh and exciting. Without taking much effort, they will learn and remember what you teach them.

6. Role Play

Role Play - Classroom Teaching Strategy

Teaching through role-playing is a great way to make children step out of their comfort zone and develop their interpersonal skills.

This method comes in handy, especially when you are teaching literature, history or current events.

Also Read: 15 Best Math Apps For Kids

The role playing approach will help a student understand how the academic material will be relevant to his everyday tasks

Role playing is most effective for students of almost any age group. You just need to customize depending on the age group.

You can even use this method for teaching preschoolers. Just make sure you keep it simple enough to capture their limited attention span.

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7. Storyboard Teaching

Storyboard-Best-Teaching Strategies in classroom

Rudyard Kipling rightly said, “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”

Storyboarding is a great way to teach any subject which requires  step-by-step memorization or visualization highly-conceptual ideas.

History teachers can use a storyboard to recreate a famous event. Such visually stimulating activity will ensure that even complex ideas are easily put across to students.

You can also encourage the use of storyboards as a form of communication and let the students tell a story in pictures using their imagination

8. Stimulating Classroom Environment

using Classroom environment for better teaching

A classroom environment that is well-decorated, fun, and engaging will help stimulate a student’s mind and will help think and learn better.

Such a creative and stimulating environment will help them explore and will encourage them to learn about the subject.

Children, especially young ones cannot be expected to sit all day and learn.  An environment that positively impacts the children is beneficial for you as well.

Schools associated with Early Years Foundation Stage(EYFS) will vouch for the fact that the learning environment has a prime role in learning and development.

9. Welcome New Ideas

Welcome-New-innovative-ideas-of teaching

An open-minded attitude can help you in innovating new teaching methods. Though you might claim to be open-minded, its human nature to resist change.

Evaluate yourself and ensure you try out new ideas in the classroom.

10. Think About A New Hobby

Think-About-A-New-Hobby-innovative-ideas

Sometimes, a hectic workload may affect your engagement in teaching.

If it happens to you, it’s natural.

You can take a break for a couple of hours and engage in some other activity that you’re interested in.

This will rejuvenate you and you can return to your work with more passion and interest.

11. Work Together As a Team

Teamwork in Classroom

As everyone knows, the end result of the collaborative effort is always immense.

Think about spending some quality time with your colleagues. Ask them to share their views on improving teaching methods, you can see many of them come up with interesting strategies.

So, collaborate and introduce innovative teaching methods.

Also Read: EDU-SUITE – The Best School Management Software in 2023

12. Puzzles and Games

Puzzles-and-Games-innovative-ideas

Learning is fun when puzzles and games are part of education. Children may not require taking conscious effort when their lessons are introduced through games.

Puzzles and games help children to think creatively and face challenges.

13. Start School Clubs or Groups

Start School Clubs or Groups - innovative ideas

What about starting an after-school club or group?

Being a teacher you may not get enough time to work on interesting topics that you are passionate about.

You can share your views and learn more from others when you have school clubs or groups.

14. Refer to Books On Creativity

Refer-Books-On-Creativity-innovative-ideas-

To be a creative teacher, you need to do some research on creative ideas and techniques.

There are a lot of books on creativity.

Choose some of the best works and start learning, it will be helpful for your professional development as well.

15. Love What You Do

Love-What-You-Do-innovative-ideas

You can give your best only if you truly love what you do.

When you are not stressed, you will be more creative and inspired.

Loving your work keeps you relaxed and gives you room to experiment with new ideas.

16. Introduce Lessons Like a Story

Introduce-Lessons-Like-a-Story-innovative-ideas

Just think, why do you watch movies with much interest?

You like to watch movies because there is always an interesting story to keep you engaged.

Like that,

Learning sessions become more interesting when you introduce it as a story. If you are creative, even math lessons can be related to interesting stories.

17. Music

Use music to create a more engaging learning environment. Music can be used to help students learn new concepts, improve memory retention, and enhance creativity.

It also creates a more relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere in the classroom and can help to keep students engaged and motivated.

18. Art Activities

Make use of art activities.

Art can help students develop creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. One way to incorporate art is to use visual aids, such as pictures or diagrams, to help explain complex concepts. Another way is to allow students to create art as a way to explore and express their understanding of a topic. This can be in the form of drawing, painting, sculpting, or even digital art. Lastly, encouraging students to collaborate on art projects can help them learn how to work together, communicate effectively, and build relationships with their peers.

All these can make lessons more engaging and can help to reinforce the material that is being taught.

19. Create Challenges

Creating challenges for students can help to keep them motivated and can help to ensure that they are actively engaged in the lesson. It helps enhance the problem-solving skills, critical thinking abilities, and creativity of students.

You can present students with real-world problems or challenges that require them to apply knowledge gained in class. Or you can collaborate with students to design challenges that allow, thus promoting teamwork and communication skills. Additionally, teachers can provide students with the opportunity to design their own challenges, fostering ownership and promoting self-directed learning.

This helps students to develop skills that will benefit them both inside and outside the classroom.

20. Technology-Based Learning Activities

Technology-based learning activities can be an innovative way to make classes more interactive and effective.

Technology can help students develop computer skills, improve critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, and provide opportunities for self-directed learning. You can use interactive software and apps to supplement learning materials, such as using virtual reality to explore historical sites or scientific concepts.

Another way is to use online platforms for collaborative projects, such as Google Docs or Padlet, allowing students to work together in real-time. Additionally, teachers can provide students with personalized learning opportunities through educational gaming or online courses.

All these help students to engage with daily lessons in a more dynamic and personalized way, enhancing their learning experience.

21. Online Discussion Boards

Teachers can use online discussion boards to assign discussion questions related to course material and encourage students to respond and engage with their classmates’ posts. They can also use it as a platform for peer review, where students can provide feedback on each other’s work.

The discussion boards can help students to learn from each other, develop their communication skills, and engage with course material in a more dynamic and collaborative way.

22. Debate

Debate activities can help to develop critical thinking skills in students and can help to make lessons more engaging.

You can conduct debate activities in the classroom debates by picking a topic related to lessons and allowing students to argue for and against specific positions. You can also let students research and present arguments on different sides of a topic, helping them develop their research and presentation skills.

Debate activities can help you to tech students to analyse information critically, present their arguments effectively, and consider different viewpoints.

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23. Virtual Labs

Virtual labs can be used to make lessons more engaging and can help to reinforce the material that is being taught. They help students develop scientific and technical skills, improve critical thinking abilities, and provide opportunities for self-directed learning.

There are a number of virtual lab software available; for example, virtual dissection software to study anatomy or physics simulations to explore physical concepts. You can make use of these use virtual labs to provide personalized learning opportunities and allow students to work at their own pace.

In conclusion, there are several innovative ideas that you can use to make your teaching methods more effective. By incorporating technology into your lessons and utilizing different teaching styles, you can help to create an engaging learning environment that is enjoyable for both teachers and students. Additionally, hands-on activities, creative writing activities, and multimedia tools into your lessons can help to make the learning process more engaging and can help to ensure that all students are actively involved in the lesson.

With even the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA ) emphasizing on schools to take measures for improving the quality of teaching and learning, these innovative ideas are sure to make teaching methods more effective.

Technology has emerged as an essential part of the lives of children. Smart Apps for Preschoolers are useful teaching means for children with special needs. They can be introduced both in the classroom and at home. Parents should kick-start their child’s education with educational apps. These apps are available for children of all ages. But make sure that the app you select for your kid is appropriate!

Smart apps have improved the lives of pre-schoolers with special needs. Most of the teachers, counsellors, and parents of children with special needs are using educational apps to help kids organize their days, improve overall communication and learn a variety of skills.

Give your kids a jump-start to a proper education with smart apps. Also, make sure to monitor the apps and go for the one which is apt for your kid’s classroom curriculum.

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Learning has become more interesting and easier with the evolution of smart apps. there are smart apps especially created for preschoolers with special needs. These Smart apps for preschoolers make it easier for teachers to manage preschoolers with special needs.

Must Read: 5 Smart Tips for Parents to Buy School Apps for Kids

Here are some examples of smart apps for preschoolers with special needs:

1.Autism Core Skills

Autism Core Skills are a loaded app full of things such as smooth graphics, custom settings, easy to access content and data collection. This app grants a free trial opportunity to know whether it fits the needs of parents, teachers, therapists, and above all the needs of students.

2.Chill Outz

Chill Outz is a collection of five animated stories that provide regulation and relaxation techniques for children. Kids are able to learn strategies like body regulation and focused breathing by watching animals getting through the different tensed situation. This app helps to calm down and make children focused without much difficulty.

3.Birdhouse for Special Needs

Birdhouse app is used for tracking a childs diet, health and behavioral data along with scheduling as well as therapy information. Apart from this, the app allows to interact with Birdhouse via e-mail, offer feedback and create an icon from within an app.

4.Table It!

Table It app contains 34 editable sample tables and with that users are able to make unlimited number of tables for organizing any type of information desired. In addition to this, user can make a table schedule, make a data set in math, organize information from history class and create a table for entering personal information or their special interests. This particular app helps to inculcate creative ability in users.

5.MagnusCards

One must create a user account for getting started with this MagnusCards app. Here the child may require help from adults. After that, child can help Magnus collect Magnus Points which look like gold coins. More points will be gained whenever they complete more daily tasks.

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You May also Like: Special Education Web Sites for Teachers and Parent

6.Autism Discovery Tool

Autism Discovery Tool ,this particular app helps to explore the senses and hence able to experience the ways by which people on all aspects of the autism might see the world. One can use this app as a tool for teaching acceptance, tolerance and understanding. It can also be a useful app for making discussions with kids regarding how differently they perceive the world.

7.ZyroMath City Count

ZyroMath City Count, this app makes counting easier for children aged between six to eight irrespective of their physical or cognitive inabilities. It is very much useful to parents and teachers as the app can switch custom settings for game play to accessory compatibility and can track progress for multiple users.

8. iDo Hygiene

iDo Hygiene app provides real-life images and videos of self care and hygiene routines aimed for pre-teen students with special needs. One of the specialties of this app is high customization and clear presentation of tasks.

9.Smart Steps Mobile

Smart Steps Mobile app helps teens as well as adults develop executive function skills and independent living in stressful situations. This app is especially made for child suffering from autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or Down syndrome.

10. Visual Supports

This app includes pictures, printed words, a combination of pictures and printed words, concrete items, etc. It helps children to develop abilities like proper understanding of spoken language, maintain attention and organize and sequence their environment.

Smart apps for preschoolers with special needs is a great aid to teachers as well as parents. It is a relatively difficult task to teach children with special needs. Here smart apps can become handy and it helps to develop a variety of skills in children.

Once smart phones were considered a luxury for adults. Now smart phone apps have gained wide popularity due to its usefulness. The advent of smart apps revolutionized the life of every people. People find it very convenient to fulfill their necessity with a single click.

Learning can be made fun for children with the introduction of Smart apps for preschoolers. People often wonder whether kids should be given smart phones.

The benefits of using smart phones for kids listed below answers this Question:

1. It is an Added Dimension of Learning

Smart apps can develop the learning capacity of kids. It is an additional way of learning apart from traditional methods of learning from books. Students are able to access a lot of learning resources from smart phones in the form of encyclopedia, dictionaries, educational app, flash cards etc. Parents can guide their child for using such smart apps. For new information, the application can be regularly updated. It is very handy and convenient to use.

Read Also: Smart Apps for Preschoolers to Learn Phonics and Letters

2. For Keeping in Touch and Locating them

By installing Global Positioning System in the device, one can easily locate the whereabouts of the child. Whenever the child uses smart phone apps, parents would be able to locate the child. If they go beyond the allowed distance, it will be notified to respective parents.

A child as young as young as one year can learn to swipe and press the screen. When the device produces funny sounds, animations, sights etc. it captures the attention of your child and they become curious. The child easily engages in activities and smart phone apps can hold their concentration longer.

Educational apps can help children develop skills from hand-eye co-ordination to learning ABC’s, maths and problem solving.

Here is a list of educational apps which is organized according to specific skills and learning that parents can teach your child:

1. Hand-eye Co-Ordination

When the child touches or swipes the screen of a smart device, something happens in the tablet or smart phone immediately. This entertains the child, which impels him or her to do more. Gradually he learns to touch and recognize different objects and what happens when he touches that particular object. This develops the hand-eye coordination of the child. This skill is very much necessary for the child in order to perform day to day activities ranging from simple to complex. It can be highly useful for sports.

a. Balloon Pops

 Children will have ample fun while popping balloons. They can be popped by touching them when they appear on the screen. There will be a funny sound when it is popped.

b. Slide and Spin

This app can develop children’s motor skills such as turning, sliding, spinning and pushing of a button. While doing these motions, children will be able to reveal multicolored objects. For each image, our voice can be recorded.

c. Toddler Fun

This app includes four mini games that entertain your little ones whenever he touches the smartphone or tablet. The child can make colorful stars burst and explode fireworks. When a child becomes expert, he would be able to draw freely and connect objects.

2. Learning Shapes

When a child learns shapes, he learns the basic observation skills to know what looks alike and different. Learning shape is the stepping stone to learn alphabets. Hence learning shape is very much vital in a child’s education.

a. Toddler Shapes

This app lets children to play with shapes by putting shapes in the corresponding hole. Basic shapes including square, triangle, circle and star are used for this. To put a head start for basic learning in older children, alphabets and numerical models can be introduced in the app.

b. Laugh and Learn Colors Music Show for Baby

Babies can learn about colors and shapes through fun animations, interactions, sounds, dancing of shapes etc through this app. There are two different levels for growing babies.

You may Also Like: 11 Smart Apps for Pre-schoolers You should Download Now!

3. Puzzles

Puzzles can learn and stimulate the brain of little ones. With these apps, problem-solving skills can be inculcated.

a. Puzzingo

Puzzingo is an android app which helps kids to learn puzzles. Vocabulary, memory and cognitive skills of children can be improved using this app.

b. Animal puzzle

It is more like jigsaw puzzles. The difficulty level can be increased when their expertise increases.

4. Nursery Rhymes

Teaching nursery rhyme is an excellent way to increase the vocabulary and language skills of children. Memory skills can also be developed using this app.

a. Learn Music

Playing music has so many benefits to the brain. Language discrimination,development and other mental benefits can be acquired using this app.

b. Kids Piano Lite

Children can play the piano and know the basics of music with the help of this app. For making new tunes there will be songs, games and exercises.

There are benefits as well as drawbacks for smart apps. Smart apps can provide entertainment, fun, growth and development for the child. But at the same time it has many defects. Children cannot get the comfort of using stuffed dolls from smart apps. If children are obsessed with smart devices, they will get distracted from physical environment and get detached from relationships.

Mobile apps offer an array of significant ways to engage students, teachers and parents. There are a lot of possibilities with mobile phones than gaming, shopping and video watching. Now it’s possible to be connected with your child’s school via your mobile. School apps can help you with this.

Being connected to your school via your mobile means you never miss out any important information.  School apps provide variety of themes, all beautifully presented and executed.

Relying on school apps is a choice you won’t regret. Wondering how, check out 6 ways school apps helps

  1. Always Updated

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” – Arthur C. Clarke

Apps can dispense news and events concerning schools. School apps reduce the trouble of announcing updates individually. School apps even have the capability of informing announcements regarding the course, class timings, school policies and schedule. The app provides information which helps the parents to remain updated.

  1. Just a Click Away

“Lost time is never found again.” Benjamin Franklin

Don’t be worried if you can’t spend time on the online website of the school. Here is the solution, School Apps. Mobile phones are handy so is School apps. On the go you can manage everything.  School apps can help students with no internet connection at home. Information is just a click away with the latest technology. Pick school apps for smarter management.

Read also: 8 Things you need to know about School App Today

  1. Communication

“Communication – the human connection – is the key to personal and career success.” – Paul J. Meyer

Normally guardians must visit their child’s school to track their improvement but mostly due to lack of time they cannot manage to make a visit.  Professional pressure and work stress restrict them to fully concentrate on their responsibilities.  But now that School apps are available, parents can constantly be in touch with the school of their children. With the school app, teachers can answer the queries of parents directly.

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  1. No More Sorry

“It’s impossible to protect your kids against disappointment in life.” –Nicholas Sparks

Parents find it difficult to locate the right location and the right time of their child’s school event. Parents might miss the schedule of parent-teacher interviews or summer camp. Connecting to school apps enables a reminder of what’s coming up.

  1. Save Money

“The art is not in making money, but in keeping it” -Proverb

Apps save time and money. They are inexpensive and easy to use. Schools can save a lot of money with apps. Timely information saves the time of parents as well. As a whole, the package is so much beneficial. School apps are handy hence comfortable.

Read also: Smart Apps for Preschoolers to Learn Phonics and Letters

  1. Absent Note

“Organising is a journey, not a destination” – Unknown

Don’t worry if you child forgets his/her absent note. School apps can rescue. Direct communication with the teacher provides you with all the facilities. No more worries and tension. Students can concentrate more on their studies.

Think Twice Before You Refuse

School Apps escorts education beyond the stereotype boundaries. It has the potential to list a number of things. From the school location in digital map to lunch menu, everything gets organised for better.  School apps are the perfect solution for busy parents and organized schools to increase student’s interest and involvement.

The concept of make-over is getting much attention these days. “Flipped classroom” is a buzz word related to classrooms and learning methods. It’s a classroom closely knitted to technology.

Integrating technology in classroom needs special care. You can’t just introduce schools apps to the children and say, “Now we have got technology”. How technology is used is the relevant question.

Smart apps for preschoolers and schools apps are creating revolution in education with its charm. All you need is a smart phone or tab to download the most breathtaking school apps.

Levels of technology integration

The usage of technology and tools are classified into different variations.

  1. Sparse: Technology rarely used by students
  2. Basic: Technology is available for students occasionally
  3. Comfortable: Students are comfortable with technology and is used often in classroom
  4. Seamless: Through various technologies, students employ technology in classroom

Recap: How can school apps promote creativity in students?

Tips to consider before introducing technology in classrooms:

  1. Better Plan

“Failing to plan is planning to fail”

– Alan Lakein

Alan Lakein said it right. You cannot ignore the importance of a proper plan in anything you do. Without a clear strategy, introducing anything to students won’t work. A good teacher never fails to plan better.

Be involved in the planning session. Before integrating technology into classrooms, be sure about the goals.

Find answers to three relevant questions:

  1. How can teaching be improved with technology?
  2. What technology will be used?
  3. How much time will be invested in technology?

These questions have relevance once you have decided to mix education and technology. You cannot blindly go without plan when it’s about the future of your students. A steady plan from the initial stage is important.

  1. Participate

“It is better to participate and fail than fail to participate.”

Debasish Mridha

Teachers should involve with the students when they are exploring devices. Don’t be a passive observer, be an active participator. Be organized. Never leave children with devices and allow them to manage alone. Creating a web page for the class is a good idea. You can exhibit the activities of your children in the page. Divide children into groups and allot a device per group. Students with limited knowledge on technology can mingle with students with better knowledge.

  1. Schedule

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities”.

Stephen Covey

Assign special schedule for the usage of devices. Students should not get addicted to technology; this can have adverse effects. Pre-plan the tasks and arrange them. Never give extra time for completing any task. Extra time is equal to extra distractions. The use of technology must be strictly limited.

  1. Nothing Personal

“You affect the world by what you browse.”

Tim Berners-Lee

Use of devices must be public. Don’t permit personal usage of the device to students. The sole purpose of introducing technology in the classrooms is to award an overall learning experience. To use it personally is no less than misusing it. Fixing a password that can only be accessed by teacher helps to secure the device. No child must be allowed to use any device without the supervision of a teacher.

  1. Online Learning

“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change”

– Stephen Hawking

Traditional teaching methods have lost their charm.  To engage children in studies, it’s vital to introduce new and fresh ideas. Technology can help teachers achieve this goal. Fascinating facts excite children towards studies. Teachers can consider taking a short online course for better management of the software. Recording lectures is possible with technology. Students absent in the class can gain out of them.

Recap: Smart Apps for Preschoolers to Learn Phonics and Letters

6 Reasons to Embrace Technology in Classrooms:

“The whole intention of Digital Learning Day is to really celebrate teachers and good instructional learning practices,”

Says Sarah Hall

  1. Technology used correctly enables students for their future careers.
  2. Children mix up more with their classmates
  3. Prepares children for the real world
  4. Students become more excited to learn
  5. Teachers and students become more active and responsible
  6. Children take control over their learning

Change Is The Need:

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”

Albert Einstein

Never hesitate to adopt new techniques in classrooms. From smart apps for preschoolers to internet, everything serves a purpose. All you need to take care is to maintain technology properly.

 

Technology is taking over our lives for better. It’s astonishing to notice that it’s even affecting children. There are smart apps for preschoolers out there that can help your child to revolutionize their learning experience.

With your help, children can learn the basic concept of Phonics and Letters even before starting school. Not with strict timetables and lesson plans, but with the help of smart apps for preschoolers.

It you are a smart parent, you cannot ignore smart apps for preschoolers. Your children will love it. Making children understand Phonics and Letters is a tough task. But you cannot be oblivious to it. Here is where smart apps for preschoolers works.

Here are some effective smart apps for preschoolers

  1. Alpha Tots App

Alpha Tots App, an award winning prestigious app uses action verbs to teach children alphabet and phonics. It consists of puzzles, interactive mini-games, and a sing-a-long song built around the ABCs. Alpha Tots App is built with fascinating bright designs in order to attract children. This smart app for preschoolers doesn’t encourage the popping out of third-party ads. The app is available on iTunes and Google Play.

  1. Endless Alphabet App

Endless Alphabet App is one among the most adorable smart apps for preschoolers. This fabulous app helps children learn ABCs using grown-up words. Children will love to experience building vocabulary with admirable monsters in the app. over 50 words are available for your little ones to learn and to explore. The app is available on iTunes for $6.99 and is free to download from Google Play Store.

  1.  Reading Rainbow App

Within 36 hours of introducing this app to iTunes, it became the most downloaded educational app. It’s easy for kids to access over hundreds of quality books and to enjoy video field trips with a fascinating show host Lavar Burton. They can also head out to explore themed islands such as Animal Kingdom. Reading Rainbow app allows parents to track how much time their kids have been spending with the books and what they have been reading.

  1. Learn With Homer

With fascinating stories, sweet songs, engaging drawings and cute characters, Learn with Homer is one among the best smart apps for preschoolers. The app maintains Common Core literacy standards as it is created by literacy experts. The level of interactivity is awesome in the app.   Learn with Homer consists of traditional phonics lessons and exercises. With the app it’s possible for children to record their own voices. Tracking individual progress of children is really simple.

  1. Writing Wizard App

Children love animated stickers and games, that’s why they will love Writing Wizard App. Audio and video in the app helps children to trace while learning the phonemic sound of each letter. They will find it cool to trace the words of their choice, like their name. With the app it is possible for parents to adjust letter size; they can also choose the letter show-hide modes.

Smart apps for preschoolers have a lot of positive effects:

#Learning is no more tiring

#Enables hand-eye co-ordination

#Encourages healthy lifestyle

#Prepare kids better for future

Some parents believe that it’s better to keep children away from technology. But, there’s is no denying that children benefits from it. Make your child understand the basic concepts of Phonics and Letters in an engaging way with smart apps for preschoolers.

 

Technology in classrooms has become a necessity. They have simplified tasks involving classroom management and also, the lessons in the form of school apps inspire students to keep learning.

But, there are some barriers that schools or teachers have to face while introducing technology to classrooms. Some schools may find it a difficult task to integrate technology to the existing curriculum. But, to change the curriculum as a whole is much more difficult. Not to use technology cannot be a solution either. With criteria such as computer knowledge becoming a must for various jobs, not using technology in schools mean denying students of their right to compete in future for the best opportunities. Hence, integrating technology in education is a must and the best way for schools is to find suitable solutions to overcome the barriers.

Now, what are the barriers that schools or teachers face while implementing technology in education?

Unwilling to develop professionally

For most schools that have not yet integrated technology with learning, this may be the problem they are facing. Teachers refuse to lend support and they don’t care about professional development at all. They may not be prepared to handle the various gadgets or to integrate technology into classrooms. Meanwhile, their students may be well versed with using the same gadgets. The schools may not be providing training to familiarize the teachers with the apps or mobile devices that can help them simplify their jobs. If teachers are not technically updated about the technology, how can they impart the same knowledge to the students?

Shortage of innovative ideas

Those with a creative mind find it easy to deal with technological tools than the non-creative ones. Some people tend to learn the usage of technological tools on their own and they may even try to implement them into solving a problem. Technological tools keep on getting updated from time to time and therefore, you have to keep learning to integrate them to your challenges and also how to use them. It’s nothing that others can teach you but you have to find out on your own. Most of the technological tools support multitasking and therefore, to figure out how to work with them and integrate the, to your needs require new ideas.

Lack of facility

This is another challenge some schools tend to face. They may not have access to the technological tools such as projectors that make visual learning possible. Some schools don’t even have a proper computer lab with enough computers and Internet facilities.

The list of barriers does not end here. But, to find solutions to them requires lots of thought.

What can be done to overcome the barriers?

Overcome your fear of being introduced to unknown technological tools

You are not born with knowledge of each and everything on the planet. You have familiarized yourselves with them with time as part of a natural process. Teachers can form small communities where they can discuss the challenges they face while integrating technology with education and share their knowledge of the technological tools they are familiar with. Also, schools can hold training sessions for teachers to have a better understanding before they go on to introduce the technological tool or school app into their classrooms.

Be innovative with the tools you are familiar with

Take the risk. Even if it is a PC with Microsoft Office and Internet connection that you are familiar with, put it to good use by assigning projects or assignments to your students that they can complete using these tools. You can start with familiar tools and then go on to use newer ones. This can boost your confidence.

Look for free easy-to-use digital resources

There are many user-friendly digital resources like online applications available that you can use on your own. You may not need any one to guide you. After you learn to use them, introduce them to your students. Also, this is cost effective.

Learn with your students

Teachers can learn the working of technological tools along with their students. They can discuss about various ideas that they can implement to create projects and learn. This technique works better than one day workshops and training sessions.

The benefits that integration of technology in education offers are plenty like-easy access to any subject-related information, expansion of knowledge at a global level, visual learning through school apps such as smart apps for preschoolers etc. Therefore, schools must make sure that they integrate technology with learning.

 

 

‘Blended learning’, they say is the new mantra in education. But the concept is alien to most schools, even for the ones in the developed countries. The next positive step in education can be achieved only by embracing technology. Blended learning is the love child of education and technology. So it definitely is the future.

Some schools have already implemented blended learning in the form of smart apps for preschoolers. They have found success with this innovative type of education model that it provides. Even though the implementation of blended learning through school apps requires vast transformation of the existing educational model, the benefits that it gives are in plenty.

What is Blended Learning?

As the name suggests, blended learning is an innovative type of education model that integrates online learning with face to face interaction to create personalized learning opportunities. The rise of Internet within the past decade was something beyond the expectation of even its creators. Coupled with this, the simplicity of the devices such as mobile phones and laptops has made the Internet access ‘child’s play’, literally!!!

The fact that a substantial amount of Internet and mobile device users are school going kids has shown how much they are mesmerized by the technology. This has paved way to implement blended learning by developing smart apps for preschoolers in educational models. As we move away from an industrial era to an age of knowledge workers, we need a workforce that can adjust to the latest innovations in technology and blended learning is the way to do it.

Benefits of Blended Learning

  • Makes students self-directed learners

With blended learning, students can be assigned with learning core concepts through online school apps as homework and later learning how to apply them to solve problems can be done in the classrooms. This makes students self-directed learners, where they are free to use their imaginations on what they have learnt. Students also find it easy learning online since they can refer the resources again and again.

The vastness of the Internet would ensure that students will never experience a shortage of information. This may not be the same when a teacher is involved in the teaching process. He/ she may lack the knowledge to clear all the student’s doubts.

It was initially felt that the students being completely plugged into their devices and the teachers being mere passive monitors would have an adverse effect on the learning process, but the results say otherwise. What blended learning has done is it has improved the student-teacher relationship than what it was before.

  • Improves student-teacher relationship

As said before blended learning has greatly improved student-teacher relationship. But how has this been possible when everyone thought that combining education with technology was a bad idea.

Blended learning has freed teachers from their administrative and instructional roles. Now it is possible for teachers to give basic instructions to online tools or resources which will take care of what the kids need to learn. This gives them more time to develop the critical skills of students and also contribute to their character development.

Teachers can spend less time on lecturing and more time for creating high-value learning experience through monitoring and coaching. Moreover they can now address each student’s unique learning needs by customizing instructions.

  • Better learning space

As the student-teacher relation improves, the schools will become a better learning space. No more rushing to complete the syllabus. Students will no more learn just to score high marks in exams, but to fit better into the 21st century working environment.

With less workload on the teachers they find more time to spend with the students, allowing them to understand the students at a more personal level. Also with extra time on hand, teachers can focus on each student individually, giving equal opportunity to all children. Blended learning also helps teachers to learn from students, on what mode of teaching to adopt or how to make teaching more effective.

Challenges of Implementing

  • The task of implementing blended learning is not that simple as it requires tons of research, planning, collaboration and perfect execution.
  • Just purchasing high quality devices and licensing the best online learning software won’t work. Students and teachers have to be educated about it and should be made to feel comfortable.
  • Blended learning might require a complete change in the classroom management strategy, physical layout of the environment, teaching methodologies, current educational models and the role of teachers and their responsibility.
  • Even now, an apt model by which we can implement this technology is being researched and since it mandates a lot of changes, it will take some time before we can completely reap its benefits.

Gone are the days when students used to carry heavy backpacks. During those days, teachers used to give lectures in classrooms while students sat quietly listening. Education field is undergoing an evolution where mobile devices are replacing books and lessons with apps such as smart apps for preschoolers. The mobile devices, which include smart phones, tablets, laptops etc., were once confined to our homes or offices. But now, they have found their way to class rooms. The idea is to replace the traditional learning techniques with digital learning to create a more interactive and engaging class room atmosphere that the mobile devices can offer. In fact, 52% of teachers around the world firmly believe that mobile devices can motivate students to perform better by improving their creativity, thinking and problem solving skills.

Apart from learning purposes, software have also occupied their own space in overall school management saving schools of unwanted expenses and efforts. For example, manual timetable management is quite a laborious task where errors make it tougher. There is Time table management software that makes the job easier by automatically generating timetables.

Though students were once restricted from carrying mobile devices to schools, now most schools agree that the use of such devices can bring out the potential of students to the fullest. Even parents who once were against the use of mobile devices by children are supporting the idea of integrating mobile devices in learning.

Why?

Because mobile devices can:

Prepare students for a better future

Digital literacy is the need of the hour. As an adult, you may be using technology in your everyday lives. Also, technology plays a vital role in defining career paths. Nowadays every job criterion ends with a demand of expertise in computers and latest software. In the future, the demand will get even tougher. Also, in the connected world today, mobile devices form an important part. Therefore, use of mobile devices in classrooms enable students to prepare themselves as they transition from being students to being a part of a workforce.

Keep students updated

As students, you used to refer the encyclopaedia to get more information about a topic. But, the encyclopaedia might not have been the latest version and there was no guarantee that the information you just read was out dated. Times have changed. Now, students can use mobile devices to learn more about a certain topic while knowing more about the latest updates on the topic.

Save students from carrying around stacks of textbooks

Every textbook does not carry reliable information. Also, they cannot provide students with instant and updated information like mobile devices can. Also, to carry around lots of textbooks can be a burden to the tiny shoulders. Digital textbooks can be a solution to all the problems. They give easy access to information for the students in an organized manner. Also, most digital textbooks are constantly updated, creative and less expensive than the printed textbooks.

Expand learning beyond classrooms

Traditional learning is confined to textbooks and the walls of classrooms which made students deprived of expanded knowledge on a topic. However, use of mobile devices enables students to be a part of the connected world and to expand their learning to a global level.  Students can use mobile devices for doing any group work or project work or may be, they can connect with people around the world to learn more about a particular topic.

Students nowadays love technology. Therefore, introducing mobile devices in learning motivates them to learn more even after reaching home. Also, apps such as smartapps for preschoolers, digital textbooks etc. can make learning more interesting while adding to every student’s knowledge. Also, most students are always curious to know more about different topics and the mobile devices serve as the perfect platforms where they can explore and deepen their knowledge.  An engaging classroom can instil interest in students, inspiring them to learn and therefore, integrating mobile devices can really transform education for a better tomorrow.