Students Apps Archives

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Edsys

It is the era of globalisation and English is one language that binds the world together, in terms of communication.

Nowadays, students and professionals look for better opportunities and are always ready to migrate to any corner of the world that would give them the best of everything they need to achieve their goals. In the process, learning an extra language for communication is crucial.

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English is a global language and it works in majority of the countries around the globe. Learning English language involves learning all elements, which include vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and everything in between. To be honest, it takes a while to fully master it. Educational systems around the world have already understood it that most schools teach English language to students as part of their curriculum from an early age.

In the last few years, there has been an increase in need to learn English language. While traditional way of learning has their own benefits, English learning apps seem to be a feasible solution. You can either use them as a support to your classroom learning process or learn English from scratch at your own pace. This fully explains the continuous growth in number and popularity of English learning apps.

Best English Learning Apps

English learning apps provide a self-paced, personalised learning experience that helps you to learn the language anytime, anywhere.

Here is a list of some of the best English learning apps currently available in the market.

Also Read: (15 Best Language Learning Apps for Students in 2023)

1. Duolingo:-

Duolingo has been reigning as the most popular language learning app in the market for a while now. It is one of the most recommended apps for beginners to learn a new language, and has over 42 million active users. Therefore, unhesitatingly, Duolingo tops the list of best English learning apps.

The app provides you lessons in the form of different activities, mostly mini games, based on your learning style, age and experience level. In the process, you practice all important parts of learning English—speaking, listening and writing. The best part is you just have to spend 20 minutes in the app every day.

The gamification elements in Duolingo make learning fun, while the learners master words, grammar, spelling, phrases, and pronunciations in an efficient manner. You also get rewarded on completion of the lessons.

The app also keeps track of the progress of the learners. This gives you a better understanding of your knowledge level and the areas you need improvement in.

Duolingo is available as both web and mobile apps. The mobile app versions are available for download in the App Store as well as Google Play Store.

2. LingoDeer:-

LingoDeer is another popular language learning app that qualifies as one of the best English learning apps in the market. You can use the app to master English language from beginner to intermediate levels.

Like Duolingo, LingoDeer uses gamification in its lessons and review exercises that make language learning fun and interesting to learners. At the same time, the app follows a goal-oriented curriculum with organised daily lessons, and vocabulary and grammar reviews, making it different from its counterparts.

LingoDeer offers English lessons in different languages, including Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese. The lessons are arranged based on different themes and cover a variety of topics. Each of these five-minute long lessons comes with exercises that help learners to practice listening, reading and vocabulary.

The app also includes five-minute long quizzes that learners can attempt. It tracks your progress in vocabulary and grammar, helping learners understand their weaknesses and practice.

LingoDeer has both web app and mobile app versions. The mobile apps are available for download in the App Store as well as Google Play Store.

3. Babbel:-

If you are looking for an app that will help you acquire conversational skills in English language, Babbel is the one. The app mainly focuses on vocabulary and grammar.

Babbel app uses four different methods to help you learn English—image recognition, sound recognition, fill in the blanks and spelling. It also has a custom goal system that learners can use to set milestones and track your progress as you learn. Through these approaches, the app intents to let you have a better understanding of the languages than simply memorising new words.

Babbel provides 15-minute lessons on a daily basis that feature realistic conversations and optional live lessons. It also helps you with your pronunciation by listening to your voice. Another useful feature of Babbel app is that it reminds you to review the completed lessons so that you will not forget what you learned.

Babbel app also ensures personalised learning by allowing learners to choose lessons that interest you. The lessons feature an array of real-world topics that you can easily choose from.

The app has both web and mobile versions. The mobile app is available in App Store as well as Google Play Store.

Also Read: (Best Apps To Learn English Grammar)

4. Memrise:-

Memrise is a free English learning app that helps you learn English words in a fun manner. The app uses creative and humorous ways to help you remember the words.

Memrise app features lessons that help users to speak fluent English within a short span of time. It provides over thirteen different courses that are created by users. Thus, you get an idea of how other users learned a topic you are learning.

The courses for beginners consist of short lessons that make it easy for you to learn every day and also practice the lessons. The lessons in Memrise consist of practical vocabulary, grammar and useful phrases that helps users to get a grasp on conversational English that you can use in the real world.

You can also keep track of your learning progress in Memrise app. It helps you understand the areas you need further improvement in and learn more efficiently.

Memrise has both web and mobile app versions. The mobile app is available for download in App Store as well as Google Play Store.

5. Busuu:-

Busuu is a popular language learning app developed by linguists that is highly recommended for English learning at beginner levels. The app combines human interaction and AI to help users learn English quickly.

Busuu app comes with English lessons that majorly cover topics that help in improving reading, writing, speaking and listening skills of learners. You can also interact with native English speakers in the app to practice your speaking skills, and receive feedbacks from them as you attempt the exercises given in the app.

With Busuu app, you can observe your learning progress and make changes to your learning style or focus more on the areas you might need to spend additional time in. The app also sends you a weekly report listing your achievements in the previous week.

Busuu app has both web and mobile versions. The mobile app is available for download in App Store as well as Google Play Store.

6. Pimsleur:-

Language learning courses through Pimsleur date back to 1950s when English audio lessons were provided in the form of a series of cassettes. Keeping up with the modern times, now there is a Pimsleur app serving the same purpose.

Pimsleur app offers audio-based English lessons based on a curriculum, along with interactive exercises like flashcards, quizzes, and conversation activities that aid in your learning process. Each lesson lasts 30 minutes and the learners are expected to listen to at least one lesson per day.

The lessons include English dialogues where the narrator explains the new words and pronunciations. There are also instances where you should be repeating what the narrator in the audio says. The English courses in Pimsleur app are available in different languages, including Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Russian, French and Arabic.

The courses can be bought from the Pimsleur website or you can find the mobile app version in App Store and Google Play Store.

Also Read: (How to Make a Language Learning App)

7. Rosetta Stone:-

Rosetta Stone app is one of the most popular English learning apps out there that has a different approach compared to its counterparts. It helps users learn English language from scratch through different exercises.

What makes it different is that Rosetta Stone app does not give you options to learn English in your native language. Instead, you learn English with English.

The app features lessons and also exercises that help you to learn the basic words through images first, before moving to phrases or complex sentences. There are also options for additional tutoring sessions and live streaming. Like in Busuu app, you can interact with native speakers to practice speaking in English in Rosetta Stone app as well.

Rosetta Stone app has both web and mobile versions. The mobile app is available for download in App Store as well as Google Play Store.

8. FluentU:-

If your main aim in learning English language is to learn how to speak, FluentU is the app for you. The app helps you to learn and improve your English pronunciation and conversation skills within a short period of time.

FluentU app is another language learning app with a different approach. In the app, you learn English language through authentic online videos, which include movie scenes, interviews and news reports. This helps you to learn to speak like a native speaker, familiarising yourself with everyday expressions and common slangs.

The videos come with interactive subtitles. If you come across an unfamiliar word, you can just hover over the word in the subtitle to see the description about it. The app also provides video examples of each new word, which helps you to improve your vocabulary. You can also find translations of the subtitles in a different language in the app.

FluentU also provides flashcards to learn a new word. You can test your knowledge using personalised quizzes at the end of each video. The quizzes include comprehension tests where you have to listen to audio snippets and identify words and speaking tests where you have to talk loudly in English.

The app has both web and mobile versions. The mobile app is available for download in the App Store.

9. Mondly:-

Mondly app is a great choice if you are looking to improve your conversational skills in English or looking to learn basics of English language to be used in your daily life. The app teaches you conversational phrases that you can use in the real world.

Mondly app features a world map that you can scroll through to choose among the lessons based on different themes. If you are not able to choose one, you can go for the customized daily lessons in the app. The lessons include quizzes that help improve your language skills and practice tests by Oxford University Press.

In addition, Mondly also has an augmented reality function where you will be able to see a 3D teacher in your surroundings as you turn on the camera of your mobile device.

Mondly has both web and mobile app versions. The mobile app is available in App Store as well as Google Play Store.

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10. Xeropan:-

Xeropan is an interesting English learning app that uses gamification to help users learn English language. The app features a number of fun exercises that include interactive videos, chatbot conversations and weekly lessons.

The app is structured like a game where you go on a time-travel journey through which you will continue to learn the language in the form of lectures, videos simulating real-world scenarios, audio tracks and interactive activities.

Xeropan is suitable for users of any age group and knowledge level. It does not matter if you are someone who wants to learn the language from scratch or someone who is familiar with the basics and want to improve your proficiency.

The app has both web and mobile versions. The mobile app version is available for download in App Store as well as Google Play Store.

There are different ways to master English language. However, English learning apps seem like one of the best option because of the many benefits they offer—efficiency, self-paced learning, access to lectures and daily exercises at one place to name a few. Also, there are many apps that offer personalised learning, which give an opportunity to anyone from any corner of world, with any level of learning ability to learn English language.

All you have to do is find the app that suits your needs and go for it. Happy learning!

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Edsys

Coding is a part of digital transformation and therefore, is expected to be an essential skill that everyone should have in the future. Even today, many of the job requirements in the IT sector include basic coding skills.

Parents and schools have been encouraging students to start learning to code at school level. As a result, there has been a surge in the number of coding apps in the market.

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Many of these apps focus on teaching one specific coding language, while others focus on introducing coding in general to students.

Why Coding Apps?

First reason is convenience. You can easily access the apps through your mobile devices.

Another reason is that while traditional way of learning coding just teaches the concepts, apps involving puzzles, riddles, and games ensure that learners also learn soft skills, like patience, problem solving, etc. along with coding.

Learning coding is not just limited to high school and college students now. There are coding apps available for students as young as three years of age.

Best Coding Apps for Primary School Students

There are plenty of coding apps available for use based on age group and knowledge level. Here is a list of some of the best coding apps for primary school students.

1. Kodable

Kodable is a popular game-based coding app for children in KG to 5th grades (4 to 10 years). The app features fuzzFamily, a bunch of multi-coloured pompom ball-like characters with faces that end up on a planet full of mazes, named Smeeborg. Learners get to explore the mazes with the fuzzFamily using simple drag-and-drop commands. As they continue playing, they also learn all essential coding concepts.

Kodable teaches students the basics of coding to Javascript through different games and activities based on age. It helps them to learn coding through 5th grade, while building soft skills, such as problem solving, collaboration, communication and critical thinking.

2. Code Karts

Code Karts is a fun coding app featuring racing cars for children in preschool to KG (3 to 5 years). The app features a set of puzzles in the form of a racetrack with drag-and-drop code and colourful race cars. Learners can drag and drop the direction bricks to guide their cars to the finish line. The app also features a racing mode, where users can test their coding skills by racing other cars.

Code Karts feature over 70 levels of puzzles. The first 10 levels that involve puzzles with colour matching are available for free. Rest of the levels that come with more difficulty and require more coding knowledge can be purchased in app at $1.99.

Also Read: (18 Awesome Brain Training Apps for Students)

3. Scratch Jr.

Scratch Jr. is a coding app for students in KG to 2nd grades (5 to 7 years). The app is a bit different from its counterparts where users learn to code while playing games. In Scratch Jr, they get the opportunity to create their own interactive stories and games, using drag-and-drop code. Through the activities, Scratch Jr. allows users to explore their creativity by solving problems and designing projects.

Users can program semi-customizable characters in the app to make them move, jump, dance, and sing. They can also alter the characters in paint editor, add voices and sounds or insert photos, and animate them using programming blocks.

4. Osmo

Osmo coding app is suitable for students in KG to 5th grades (5 to 10 years). The app teaches users to learn to code using physical blocks. Osmo uses these physical blocks along with the device screen, making the coding accessible and tangible for all users. Osmo can be considered a package with coding apps and many additional games.

In Osmo Coding Awbie (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-coding-awbie/id1067117430 ), learners use bricks marked with commands, arrows, numbers, and loops to create scripts for guiding Awbie, a cute monster, through different challenges and earning rewards, such as strawberries.

In Osmo Coding Duo (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/osmo-coding-duo/id1294444077 ), users work along with a friend to solve coding puzzles and rescue pets. This version of Osmo, which can be considered as the advanced game, makes use of logic problems with multiple steps to introduce students to coding concepts used in real world.

5. Daisy the Dinosaur

Daisy the Dinosaur app is a great coding app suitable for students in KG to 2nd grades (5 to 7 years). The app features Daisy, a cute dinosaur. Users can make Daisy move, jump and dance using drag-and-drop commands.

Daisy the Dinosaur teaches students the basics of coding through the different challenges. It also provides a free play mode. The app is easy to understand for children as young as for years, but they might need assistance while reading the instructions.

Also Read: (15 Best Apps for Students with Learning Difficulties in 2022)

6. Box Island

Box Island is an award-winning coding app for students in KG to 5th grades (5 to 10 years). The app features a box shaped character with a face and it takes users on an exciting coding journey where they get to learn coding fundamentals. Users have to apply the different coding basics, like loops and conditionals, to continue playing.

The app comes with 100 levels, out of which the first 10 levels are available for free. Users will have to purchase the rest of the levels in app. Through the different challenges, students learn skills, such as problem solving and also, basic coding concepts.

7. SpriteBox

SpriteBox is a puzzle-based coding app suitable for students in KG to 2nd grades (5 to 7 years). The app features a game with a character named Sprite, and is similar to the famous Super Mario game.
SpriteBox app teaches students to actually code through gameplay.

As they continue to play, the students switch from sequencing commands to syntax to solve problems, learning all necessary coding basics in the process. The app comes with a colourful interface and customisable avatar to make it interesting for users.

8. Tynker

Tynker is a holistic learning system that helps students in Grades 1 to 5 (6 to 10 years) to learn to code. The app comes with a variety of activities for students that help them to learn coding concepts.

Through Tynker app, students learn to code while solving puzzles, and also create interactive stories, games and animations. They get to experiment with visual blocks, and gradually advance to using coding languages, like JavaScript, Swift, and Python to create games and design projects. Some of the levels are available for free, while users will have to purchase the additional levels.

9. CodeSpark Academy

CodeSpark Academy is a popular coding app suitable for students in KG to 5th grades (5 to 10 years). The app features plenty of activities and games that introduce students to the basics of computer science and STEM.

CodeSpark Academy comes with challenges such as puzzles where students solve puzzles while learning coding basics and also developing their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. They also get to create interactive stories and games with animations that require advanced coding.

10. Coda Game

Coda Game app is a popular coding app suitable for students in Grades 4 and beyond (9+ years). Dubbed as kids’ own game engine, the app provides opportunity to users to create their own games with the help built-in drag and drop languages.

Coda Game app helps users to create games, like air hockey, flappy bird, and the sort, while learning all basic coding concepts. The app uses visual drag and drop features making it easy for young children to use.

Also Read: (25 Must-Have Educational Apps for Students in 2022)

11. Lego Boost

Lego Boost app is a Lego-based coding app suitable for students in 2nd grade and beyond (7+ years). The app allows users to build their own Lego models and program them through coding. Students can use drag and drop blocks to make their models to move and make sounds.

Users can create five models using the Lego Boost app— a robot, cat, machine, guitar, and a mouse on a car. They can then program the models as they desire. The app also comes with an array of activities and levels that use the models. There are also advanced coding blocks in the app that help students to develop their skills and further enhance the models they build.

12. Nancy Drew Codes and Clues

Nancy Drew Code and Clues is a story-based coding app for students in 1st to 5th grades (6 to 10 years). The app involves an interesting story line where users help three female friends solve a mystery by gathering evidences and dragging visual code blocks into place to move a robot.

Nancy Drew Codes and Clues app allows users to role play as a member of Nancy Drew’s team, where they can choose costumes, find clues, and program a robot puppy to find the project that went missing at the Techfair. The game involves six chapters and the coding challenges advance as the story progresses.

13. Move the Turtle

Move the Turtle app is suitable for students in grades KG and beyond (4+ years). The app introduces basic to advanced coding concepts to students in a slow and easy manner.

Move the Turtle features a friendly turtle character that introduces students to programming through a step by step process through different challenges. As they solve the challenges, students get to learn different concepts, such as procedures and variables to name a few. In the process, students learn to think and act as a programmer as they create algorithms to complete the challenges.

This helps them to learn to simplify complex problems to smaller steps and familiarise themselves with tools they need to execute the challenges.

14. Everything Machine

Everything Machine is a fun coding app suitable for students in grades KG and up (4+ years). The app introduces students to both programming and engineering. They learn to code and also learn about the devices they can create using different hardware.

Everything Machine app urges students to think beyond their limit by introducing them to coding and helping them build mini apps.

15. Mimo

The last app in the list, Mimo, is a great coding app for students in grades KG and beyond (4+ years). Mimo makes learning to code an easy affair through its different bite-sized lessons for the different coding languages and challenges.

Introducing children to coding at a young age is one way to keep them interested. As they use the coding apps, they are introduced to the fun and creative side of coding that they will not have any problems in pursuing coding or computer science in the future if they wish to.

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Apart from the 15 apps listed above, there are plenty of other coding apps available in the market that you can explore in the app stores. Though coding apps are a great way to learn the coding concepts, interacting with their peers will help the students to further strengthen their foundation in the subject.

Posted on April 21, 2022 by Edsys

Students, especially beginners, often have a hard time understanding and learning the different concepts, and improving different areas of their skills. When it comes to students with special needs, especially those with learning difficulties, it is even more difficult.

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According to the statistics under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2019-2020, 33% of the students who are pursuing special education have learning difficulties ( Source:https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/special-education-definition-statistics-and-trends/2019/12)

Many of these students attend normal schools. This can sometimes be quite challenging for them depending on the learning difficulty they are struggling with.

Common Learning Difficulties

Learning difficulties are the result of processing disorders of the brain. This affects all major learning-related skills, like reading, writing, speaking, listening and reasoning.

There are mainly 5 types of identified learning difficulties that students struggle with.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a language-based learning difficulty that affects the way their brain process of speaking/writing a language. Children with dyslexia often struggle with reading and writing. The common types of dyslexia are phonological dyslexia, visual dyslexia and Rapid naming dyslexia.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Children with ADHD often find it difficult to focus. Therefore, they find learning in a traditional classroom set up difficult. Some of the children with ADHD show signs of inattentiveness, while some are hyperactive or impulsive, or both.

Dyscalculia

Children with dyscalculia have issues in understanding basic mathematical concepts, such as organising numbers, understanding quantity, place, value and time. They also struggle with understanding and using steps to solve math problems.

Dysgraphia

Children with dysgraphia have a hard time while writing. They often have a cramped grip while holding a pencil and have illegible handwriting, poor spelling and inconsistent spacing. They also find it difficult to think and write at the same time.

Also Read: (Top 12 Language Learning Apps for 2023)

Dyspraxia

Children with dyspraxia have a hard time planning and coordinating physical movement because of delayed neurological development. They often struggle with fine motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination and holding a pencil, or gross motor skills, such as running and jumping.

Apps for Learning Difficulties

Having learning difficulties is not rare. There are many options for students to overcome their difficulties and learn. Many education providers are more inclusive these days. Another common and efficient option is learning with the help of technology.

There are many special education apps available that help students with different kinds of special needs to learn without hindrance. Some of the apps serve multiple kinds of special education needs, while some serve exclusively for a specific need. However, the best part about these apps is that students can learn at their own pace.

Reading and Writing Apps

Writing Wizard for Kids

Writing Wizard app is for children who struggle with writing with their hand. The app makes the process fun and accessible for them. The app comes with plenty of features suitable for beginners. It includes 13 different fonts, worksheets, and interactive games to make it engaging. It also helps children to learn about shapes and numbers. You can also customize the app, with regard to the requirements of users. The free version of the app is available in Google Play Store and there is a paid version in the Apple App Store.

Reading Machine

Reading Machine app suits children with dyslexia or other difficulties in learning to read. They might struggle with unfamiliar sentence structures, complex words, and similar challenges. The app helps the readers understand what they are reading with the help of text-to-speech, phonics support, and dictionary features.

Reading Machine app has more than 125 books for beginners, and provides reading lists for children based on their age and skill levels. The app is available in the App Store.

Rainbow Sentences

Rainbow Sentences app helps children who struggle with forming sentence structures. The app comes with features, like color-coded words, text-to-speech and picture-based sentence lessons, that help children to construct English sentences in a way they understand.
Children can also record as they read and play the recording to improve their reading. Rainbow Sentences app is available in App Store.

Also Read: (16 Best Apps To Learn English Grammar)

Math Learning App

ModMath

ModMath app helps children with dyslexia and dysgraphia learn math. The app acts as a tool that helps children solve math problems without having to go the traditional way of learning. ModMath features an easy-to-use custom keypad and digital graph paper that lets children to create their equations, be it simple addition and subtraction or algebra. Children can also share their work with their teachers using the app.

The app is available for free in the App Store, but some in-app features require payments.

Todo Math

Many students struggle with learning math concepts and it is extra hard for children with learning difficulties to grasp. Todo Math app comes with various visual elements helping them to correlate objects with numbers.

The app introduces users to a number. One side of the screen shows the visualised version of the number that they can touch. They can trace the number on the other side of the screen. This will help them have an idea of how the number looks like and what the number value is.

Todo Math app is available for free in Google Play Store and App Store. But you have to subscribe yearly or bi-yearly plan to gain access to extra content.

Language Development

MyTalkTools Mobile

MyTalkTools app is an augmentative alternative communications (AAC) app that is suitable for children with communication difficulties. It helps children with Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, hearing or visual impairments, autism or other conditions that hinder communication ability.

MyTalkTools allows users to express themselves using a sequence of words, sounds and images, text, and text-to-speech. Users can customise the app to view only certain images and play certain sounds that are best suited for them. It helps them to child communicate better.

The app is available to download for free in both App Store and Google Play Store.

Avaz AAC

Avaz AAC is one of the best speech apps that feature a dictionary and plenty of voice clips to help students with speech difficulties. The app also comes with Symbolstix image library that can be customized and used by all age groups.

Avaz AAC app is equipped with an alert button that lets children to tell you in case they need your full attention. There is also a mistake button that lets them to tell you when they make a mistake. It also has a training module for new users so that they can get familiar with the app in an easy and fast manner.

Avaz AAC app is available for free to download in Google Play Store and App Store. Users can use the app for free for 14 days after which you will have to subscribe to continue using it.

Sounding Board Language

Many of the children with Autism, ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorders are nonverbal or might have a hard time communicating. Sounding Board Language app helps children to express their wants and needs.

The app comes with different pre-loaded communication boards. You can also create your own boards and upload pictures. For example, if your child wants to go somewhere, you can upload a picture of the place in your locality. This helps them to identify where they want to go when you show them the picture.

Sensory Processing Apps

Glow Draw!

Glow Draw! app is for children with sensory disorders and autism.

The app allows children to draw on a black screen using fluorescent lights. The fluorescent lights give children the sensory simulation. It also helps them to improve their fine motor skills required for writing.

Glow Draw! App is only available in the App Store.

Dropophone

Dropophone app is for children with sensory processing disorders, who require lots of sensory stimulation–to use any or all of their five senses—for calming down their bodies and minds.

The app features colourful raindrops with music that users can tap and listen to the sounds they make. There is also a ticking timer creating repetitive sounds that help to improve the sensory functionality of children. The colourful sound-making raindrops and the music help children with sensory difficulties to feel calmer. It also improves their focus and behaviour.

Dropophone app is available only on App Store.

Model Me Going Places

Children with sensory disorders and autism are often overwhelmed and scared about going to public places, especially if they are going for the first time.

Going places app helps the children prepare for a new experience, explaining to them where they will be going and what they will do there. It will help them to get over the anxiety and lets them familiarise with the place before you go there.

Model Me Going Places app is available in App Store.

Organizing and Planning Apps

myHomework Student Planner

myHomework Student Planner app is suitable for older children with ADHD and other learning difficulties. It helps them to stay organized and keep track of their assignments.

Users can enter their subjects, assignments and keep track of the tasks they need to complete. Children with learning difficulties often find it hard to keep up with their daily learning tasks. You can enter their daily homework on to the app and help them to keep track of the assignments they have to complete.

myHomework Student Planner is available in both Google Play Store and App Store.

Autism Timer

Autism Timer app is a colourful planner app for children with autism and sensory processing disorders. The app helps to improve the children’s organization and planning skills.

Children with learning difficulties often find it difficult to stay focused in class or until their activity ends. It might be because they feel that the activity is too difficult for them to handle or that they would not be able to complete it. The timer in the app helps children to know how much time is left for them to complete the activity.

Autism Timer app is available in App Store.

Speech Delay Apps

Articulation Station

Articulation Station app helps children who struggle with speech delay issues to learn how to pronounce and practice sounds.

The app comes with high-quality images and fun-filled activities to help the children learn. They get to practice at word, phrase, sentence and story levels depending on their skills.

There are 22 sound programs in the app that helps children to understand how letters sound based on their position in words, sentences and stories.

Articulation Station app is available for download in the App Store.

Splingo

Splingo is a speech and language app that helps students to improve their listening and language skills through fun games featuring aliens and spaceships.

Users can customise the app based on the specific language skills they want to improve. They get rewarded as they complete the tasks. This motivates children to keep learning.

Splingo app is available for download in both Google Play Store and App Store.

How Do These Apps Benefit the Students?

The learning apps help students in the following ways.

Express Themselves

Children with speech delays find it hard to communicate with others and express what they feel, their needs and desires. The apps help them to achieve it.

Learn Life Skills

Children with special needs often have a difficult time trying to do their day-to-day tasks and staying organized. Many of these apps help them to stay in schedule and organized, manage time, and much more.

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Improve Social Skills

Many of the apps help children with social delays to improve their social skills, and emotional and physical regulation.

Lessen the Efforts of Caregivers

Caring for students with special needs requires more efforts. Caregivers mostly get no breaks as the children require constant attention. Since the apps help with the teaching part, caregivers can take a break in between without any worries.

Apart from the 15 apps listed above, there are plenty of other apps available for students with learning difficulties. Every app is different. So is the learning difficulty each student faces. Therefore, it is wise to analyse the struggles faced by your children and the kind of app that works for them before going for the one.

Some children might be facing multiple learning difficulties. In such cases, they would need more than one app to ensure that they get to improve in different areas, thus giving them a chance for holistic learning.

With these apps, nothing can stop the children from overcoming their struggles and soar high!

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Edsys

SQ3R is an amazing teaching and learning strategy designed to help students to improve the understanding and retention of what they have learned.

This is in fact a sequence that can be applied throughout the reading process to move from smaller to larger details and then back again.

Teachers use this strategy to get the better of teaching and learning by utilizing each stage of the reading course, say before, during and after.

SQ3R Definition

SQ3R is a step-by-step method to approach a text more efficiently for a better understanding.

This comprehensive method of teaching basically involves 5 steps –Survey, Question, Read, Recall and Review.

This helps students to be an effective reader as they learn to think about the topic or concept while they read. Let us have a look.

Survey

In this very first step, students are asked to simply skim or scan through the entire text book and look for pictures, headings, layouts, chapters, and sub headings.

Following which, they have to check out the summaries mentioned at the end of each chapter or book.

This gives them enough idea to foresee what the author is trying to convey and get an overview and structure. Notes can be taken based on the thoughts and have a look into the overall notes to get some idea.

Catch up the title, headings, visuals, preview, bolded words & summary
Think about background information or knowledge

They get an initial understanding of the concept through bolded texts, headings and charts which give a foundation for the active reading.

This step in fact gives a bigger picture of what is going to be learnt; and decide on what is necessary.

The present information can be connected or linked back to what is already known which help students to prepare for reading.

Question

In this second step, students are asked to convert the headings of paragraphs into meaningful questions. For example, if the heading is ‘importance of self discipline’, then, frame a question like ‘what is the importance of self discipline’ and then write it out.

Turn headings into queries
Try asking who, what, why and how
Students can now stay focussed while reading

They learn to preview the content to generate questions out of it. Queries such as “What is this text about?” “What do I already know about the topic?” “What else I am missing?” etc can make reading time more productive. Having a purpose for reading in fact invokes interest and quizzing oneself on the subject is a great practice in learning.

Read

In the very next step, students have to read out the questions attentively and try to answer them.

They can actually answer the questions in their own words in notes. It is recommended to read the content areas that are complex or difficult, multiple times.

Look out for solutions to the queries
Highlight or underline key concepts
Break up the comprehension into chunks

While reading, they will actually search for answers of the questions they had generated before during the preview.

This is a good practice to get relevant information from the textbook.

There is no better way to prepare for discussions and lectures. This even helps to become a master for test preparation.

Recall

Now students can close the text books and keep the notebooks away, and then try to recall what they have read in the book.

In fact they should try to mentally visualize the contents of the material, and try to recall the important highlights.

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It is advised that more time needs to be spent for recalling rather than reading. It can either be done by explaining the content to someone else or by imagining the same.

Say your answers aloud
Note down summary of section or paragraph
Identify main ideas of the topic
Write note cards of relevant data
Create a graphic organizer or mind map of how they relate

This is the phase when they rehearse the answers for their questions and prepare notes for later reference.

These are the best methods to retain or recall information after reading a topic and there is no better way to evaluate the level of understanding.

This even help students to stay awake and interact with reading.

Review

In the final phase of the strategy, students can take back the book and go through the notes, questions and answers to understand how well they have recalled.

Conclude the final phase by having a mental picture of the whole process.

Quiz yourself on what has been learned
Develop connections between notes and readings from class
Revisit the topic at least once a week and give a test on old and new topics

They can review the text to reply to the queries previously answered. This is a great way to retain what has been learned on a weekly basis. Students can prepare for exams and assignments in a systematic way.

Teachers often mention about students who read a textbook fully and still have no idea about what exactly was covered.

This SQ3R strategy is a great solution for such students to improve their learning.

This method demands them to activate their thoughts throughout the reading process and review their understanding.

Moreover, the notes created during the reading can be later used as a study guide during exams

How Teachers Can Use The Strategy?

Applying this strategy in the most efficient way is important to experience the best results.

First of all, make students understand the importance of surveying, questioning, reading, reciting and reviewing to be an efficient reader.

The best way to implement this way of teaching is to model the five SQ3R steps.

Choose a content area and model the strategy
During each step of the SQ3R, don’t forget to explain the actual purpose like what and why they are doing so
Following the session, ask students to independently perform the task while they read and practice SQ3R
It can either be provided as a take home assignment or as a class session
Following the session, let the students reassess their notes and reflect on the procedure.

This amazing reading method was first cited in the year 1946, in the book Effective Study”by Francis P. Robinson who was an American education psychologist.

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All students need not find this method effective or feel an impact on the very first trial.

So it is highly important for the teachers to give them some time to get along with the method. Most importantly, teach them on how and when to apply the strategy.

The most important benefit of this strategy is to make optimum use of the reading time while discovering, understanding, and retaining the significant facts and ideas covered in the text.

Reviewing of information while they read the text can make a really good impact in remembering the essence of the text.

Once students feel an interest in the strategy, they will find reading and learning really simple and they will be surprised to score high in exams.