10 Really Useful Apps for Teachers

Schools can have a bit of a love/hate relationship with digital technology but there are hundreds of apps that aim to make a teacher’s life easier.  We've picked 10 apps that we think can help you both in and outside of the classroom: 

1. StudyBlue

StudyBlue can help you to help your students study more effectively outside of the classroom. At its basic level there is an ever-growing library of user created study materials covering a vast array of topics.  As a teacher you can create your own digital flashcards, study guides and quizzes, with the option to add video and audio, which can be shared with your students.  

2. Wunderlist

As a teacher it can feel like you have a never-ending to do list!  Wunderlist can’t magically make this disappear for you but it can help you manage and organise your tasks effectively. This useful list-making app will let you add your tasks, create folders to group them together and set deadline dates and reminders.  You can also add subtasks, notes, files and audio to your tasks. You can set up email notifications so that you never miss a deadline and sync across all your devices so you can update your lists wherever you are.

3. Trello

Trello is not specifically designed for the classroom but this organisational tool is used by businesses to organise and follow shared projects.  The clean and fresh design uses a series of boards to group and track ideas and projects.  You can use as an individual to keep on top of your own projects or you could share with your students to help them manage ongoing groups projects and coursework effectively.  This also means you can keep an eye on their progress!

4. TED

In need of some inspiration for the classroom?  Look no further than TED talks; the video sharing platform has a vast library of videos full of ideas, playlists and thought-provoking talks covering a wide range of topics.  You can find a talk to show in the classroom or draw inspiration from other Educators when you are in need of a bit of a boost.  See our recent blog post “10 Inspiring TED Talks all Educators Should Watch” for a start although there are thousands more to discover.

5. Feedly

Keeping up to date with the latest news and advancements in education can feel like a full time job in itself.  Use a content curation site like Feedly to find relevant news articles and blog posts all in one place.  You can tailor to specific topics and add favourite websites so you don’t have to waste time clicking through lots of different sites.    

6. Pinterest

You might already be a fan of Pinterest outside of work but have you thought about using it in the classroom?  Education is a growing topic on Pinterest so there are lots of resources to be discovered.  Create boards to plan your own lessons, set up pins to help students study outside of the classroom or even produce how-to videos for parents to help them support their children with their homework.   

7. Remind

Remind is a free app that allows you to communicate easily and, most importantly, safely with your students and parents.  Both your number and your students' numbers remain completely private so that the information is never shared.  You can send reminders and alerts to your students and parents are able to sign up too.  You can schedule in reminders so that an alert about an end of term test can be scheduled in to go out closer to the time.

8. Prezi

Fed up of boring PowerPoints? Then try using Prezi instead.  The presentation software allows you to create interesting and attractive presentations quickly and easily.  It might seem complicated at first but once you have mastered the basics you’ll be able to whip up a Prezi in no time!  You can start from scratch and create your own completely bespoke Prezi or use one of their many colourful templates. 

9. Evernote

The app store is full of note-taking apps like Evernote so there is plenty to choose from. Evernote is handy as it works on desktop, mobile and tablets so you can sync across all of your devices.  You can also upload files, take photos and organise into folders.

iTunes U

iTunes U has big plans to bring the classroom into a completely paperless and digital world.  This app allows you to plan and post your lessons online, deliver and receive back homework, mark online and track your students’ progress.  You can add additional learning materials like books, videos and podcasts to enhance the learning materials and can communicate with your students via the app.

Have you found an app that makes your life easier?  Share your favourite teaching apps with us in the comments below.