Notebooks and diaries are a thing of the past. Apps and websites are the future. They’re your new best friend.
 
When it comes to managing your time and schedule more efficiently, using applications specifically designed to do this allows you to stay up-to-date and organised without the hassle of carrying lots of paperwork, notes and books.
 
We have come up with our top 5 Apps for teachers. From engaging classroom quizzes to class planning and your own personal planner. Here’s an overview on each of them…
 
1.       Google Classroom
 
Teachers can make different folders for different classes, each having a unique access code. Your students can then be added to the class by them typing in this unique code.
 
They will be able to gain access to any documents you post in there. One of the main benefits about this application is that you’re able to communicate in the class profile and make posts (similar to a Facebook timeline). Teachers can add reminders for class work due dates and answer any questions students may have, outside of school hours.
 
This is available on mobile, tablet as well as computer, making it accessible to all.
 
2.       Kahoot
 
Kahoot is a great quiz App, (can also be accessed online via the website) to get students involved and excited about learning.
 
Although the music can get slightly repetitive and irritating, nothing will get the students adrenaline pumping more than some healthy competition. This application similarly has a gaming code, which students can type in, to join the game.
 
The teacher can select which quiz topic you would like to use and how many questions you would like to set.
 
On your interactive whiteboard a question will appear and a short amount of time will be provided for students to think about it. This will then appear with different answers assigned to a colour. These colours will appear on the players phone and they must choose the right answer.
 
The quicker the students are, the higher number of points they will earn and the higher on the scoreboard they will appear. This is a great app for practicing exam or specific topic questions.
 
3.       Classtree
 
Forget about the stress of those dreaded consent forms for trips and other school activities. This App takes away the effort of the student remembering to take the form home, get it signed and actually bring it back to you. You won’t need the middleman with Classtree.
This app eliminates paper waste and sends an e-form directly to the parents which they can sign on their phone.
 
Once completed, you will receive notification of who has signed leaving you free to follow up those you’re still waiting for. We think this would be especially useful to those teachers in early and younger years.
 
 
4.       Planboard
 
Throw your 2018 diary away, you’ll have no use for it now. This App allows you to implement all your classes and timings into one place with the ability to attach any reminders, notes and documents, which you may need for those subjects.
 
Alerts appear to tell you when your lessons are, giving you sufficient time to prepare.
Definitely a handy thing to have if you are always forgetting things.
 
5.       GoTeach
 
This is similar to Planboard but is a useful alternative to consider if that App isn’t working for you.
 
GoTeach stores lesson plans, notes and a to-do list as well as a personal planner, all in one place. If you find it easier having all of your important information together, without having to stress if you’ve missed something or left something at home then this could be very useful to you, in and outside of work.
 
 
So, these are our pick of the 5 most useful Apps for teachers, do you think we’ve missed any?
 
If you would like to speak to us about your next role in education and start putting these apps to good use, then please get in touch. You can email us at info@urbanlearning.co.uk or if you prefer log onto www.urbanlearning.co.uk .
 
We look forward to hearing from you!