Apps

1. Writing Assignment: Week 4
Kristen Mullins
Belhaven University
Fall 2016

2. 1. Newsela
Advantages Disadvantages
Leveled Articles
Up to date articles
Nonfiction
Free
Pro-version is better than
the free version
Not as user friendly as
the website
Newsela is a collection of
articles that range from
science and technology, to
history and politics, to sports
and the arts.
Use for classroom:
Newsela builds reading
comprehension with up to
date news and nonfiction
articles. Students can read
and take quizzes on articles to
test comprehension. Teachers
can adjust the reading level to
help students and challenge
their reading.

3. 2. Doceri
Advantages Disadvantages
Free
Easy to use
Ability to work on iPad or
computer
Better for classroom
management
Needs to be updated to
fix some of the bugs
Needs a better interface
Doceri is a screencasting,
desktop control, and an
interactive whiteboard
program.
Use for classroom:
Doceri can be used as a tool
for taking notes, creating
lessons or presentations, or
annotating PowerPoint
presentations.

4. 3. Booksource
Advantages Disadvantages
Free
Organizes library
Gives you a list of books
Easy to scan books and
checkout
Time consuming at the
beginning to load all of
your library into the app
Booksource works with
Booksource’s Classroom
Organizer web application.
This app allows you to
organize and track books in
your classroom library.
Use for classroom:
Booksource allows teachers to
organize their classroom
library. Teachers can use this
to check in and out books to
students and keep a record of
where their books are
located.

5. 4. Cursive
Writing
Advantages Disadvantages
Guided arrows to show
where to begin writing
Upper and Lower case
letters
Free
If used on phone you
must use your finger
instead of pencil or
stylus.
Cursive Writing is an
interactive way to practice
cursive writing.
Use for classroom:
Cursive Writing can be used in
the place of a cursive writing
worksheet. The app offers
guided tutorials of how to
form letters and has the
option of upper and lower
case letters to practice.
Students can use a stylus to
practice.

6. 5. Cursive
Words
Advantages Disadvantages
Guided arrows to show
where to begin writing
Upper and Lower case
words
Free
If used on phone you
must use your finger
instead of pencil or
stylus.
Cursive Words is an
interactive way to practice
general words in cursive
writing.
Use for classroom:
Cursive Words can be used in
the place of a cursive words
worksheet. The app offers
guided tutorials of how to
form letters and has the
option of upper and lower
case words to practice.
Students can use a stylus to
practice.

7. 6. Nearpod
Advantages Disadvantages
Self paced lessons
Use as Homework
Challenges students
Free-SILVER Edition
Gold edition is much
nicer-Can be expensive if
not purchased by school
district.
Nearpod is an interactive
presentation, collaboration,
and real-time assessment tool
that is done in one
presentation.
Use for classroom:
Nearpod can be used to
engage learners using content
from different topics.
Teachers can use
presentations and videos in
Nearpod and assess students
using polls and quizzes.

8. 7. Kahoot!
Advantages Disadvantages
Free
Students love it
Feedback and Results are
given
Hard to use with multiple
classes if you want to
save results.
Kahoot! is an interactive
game where students can play
together or individually. It
offers feedback and results.
Use for classroom:
Kahoot! Is a great tool for
reviewing concepts and
students have the option of
playing in teams or one to
one. Teachers can review
material quickly and in a fun
game style.

9. 8. QR Reader
Advantages Disadvantages
Easy to Use
Allows students to click
instead of having to type
a full website out.
Free
Low resolution
QR Reader is a scanner for QR
codes, barcodes, puzzles, and
documents.
Use for classroom:
Using the QR Reader, a
teacher could use this to have
students go to appropriate
sites.

10. 9. Quizlet
Advantages Disadvantages
Games using Words
Review Flashcards
Spelling
Free
On learn mode, there are
a few bugs
Quizlet is a site where you can
create your own flashcards or
choose from sets already
created. You can also choose
different modes for students
to complete as a review.
Use for classroom:
Quizlet can be used as a great
review for testing, vocabulary,
or for homework help.

11. 10. Epic!
Advantages Disadvantages
Free
Audiobooks
On and Offline reading
Books could be better
Epic! is an eBook library for
students under the age of 12.
It offers unlimited access to
over 15,000 children’s books.
Use for classroom:
Epic! Can be used to
supplement your classroom
library with new age
appropriate books.