Apps to enhance learning
There are a wide range of online apps that can enhance students' learning and engagement. All of the apps listed below work in the Chrome browser and are accessible on students' Chromebooks. Some require sign up while others are free to use without registering.
Google's experimental tool that tries to guess what you're drawing. Objects are downloadable as jpeg files which can be imported to other projects
This handy browser tool lets you upload images and remove the background ready for downloading and using in other apps.
Explore artists and art galleries from around the world. Interactive elements are educational and fun to experiment with.
A great site for learning about the colour wheel, Create your own colour palette and learn about hex codes to apply in their own digital creations.
A free online photo editing and image app. An alternative to the Adobe Photoshop.
The Breaking News Meme Generator - Create a breaking news image, just add your photo, write the headline. Image files can be downloaded
An online platform for creating books and comics. Students can create their own book, publish it online and share it via a link to their blog or document.
Upload your own image to a variety of backgrounds. There are plenty of effects available to support creative writing ideas, news and magazine articles.
Make your own crossword on any topic then embed into any site, blog or print off your crossword.
Graphic organisers, great for brainstorming. Three mindmaps are available for free. Students will need to sign in to save and download their work.
An online collaborative brainstorming app. Watch Tamaki College teacher, Kata O'Donnell's presentation to see how she used it with her students.
Google Trends can be used to introduce a topic or extend students' research projects. Compare and contrast different countries and time periods.
Interactive tools for graphing, geometry, collaborative whiteboard
Requires sign up to use html embeddable code available
Student blog post example
Coding Shapes in ScratchThis slide deck shows you how to create geometric shapes using the programming application Scratch
Sign up required to save work. Best to create a teacher account first.
Interactive simulations on a variety of science and maths topics. Lots of resources for teachers to support lessons. Easy to embed the interactions into your site using html code.
Introduce your students to Python with Trinket. Easily share or embed the code.
If you have a gmail account, you can create your own interactive map. Students can add information, photos and videos to explain for example global manufacturing.
Student example:
Poppy @ Bay of Islands College
Explore worldwide satellite imagery and 3D buildings and terrain for hundreds of cities. Zoom to your house or anywhere else, then dive in for a 360°
Students can easily create a comic strip or cartoon using inbuilt characters or uploading their own images.
Download as a jpeg file ready for uploading to their blog.
Canva is a free graphic design app that allows you to easily create presentations, videos and posters. Lesson templates and ideas are available.
An audio and visual experience for students to create and record their own music
Create and record simple music tracks which are then downloadable and ready to import to another app
Student example:
Michael @ Wesley Intermediate Copyright Song
Create an editable mp3 file by recording your own voice in the browser. Students can practice reading aloud or create their own podcast using downloadable files.
Voice recording app that runs in the browser. MP3 files can be uploaded to allow a voice over. Recordings can be downloaded or shared via a weblink
Create or repurpose flashcards, spelling tests, and simple online games. With a free account, teachers can create their own class and then use a range of interactive embeddable media to help students with their learning.
With an extensive library of Ted Ed videos, teachers can easily make rewindable learning videos. Videos, come with suggested questions and discussion points which students can pause to answer.
Choose from a huge library of videos or find your own YouTube video to create your rewindable learning resource. Questions can be inserted throughout the video to help teachers gauge students understanding.
Structured lessons using videos and questions on a wide range of topics created by the Khan Academy team.