How Mobile Apps Can Enhance Education By James Tredwell on August 1, 2019 Mobile technology – apps, web browsers, and online platforms, allow students to experience higher-quality learning experiences than ever before. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 93% of teachers have at least one computer in the classroom that’s connected to the internet. The near ubiquity of computer and internet access should translate to more opportunities for students to access new and exciting learning opportunities. Almost three-quarters of teachers agree that technology allows educators to: Reinforce and expand on educational content Motivate students to learn Expose students to a variety oflearningtechniques In addition, a majority say that technology provides them with a way to demonstrate concepts that they can’t show in any other way. This articlede monstrate a few ways mobile apps can enhance education and explain why it’s essential for all students to have equal access to mobile app technology. Interactive Mobile Apps Give Students Dynamic Experiences Interactive mobile learning apps provide enhanced experiences for students to access and learn course material. A few examples include: Gamification Augmented reality Multimedia content Gamification apps offer students incentives and make learning more enjoyable. The visual aspects included in many apps also help enhance recall abilities. For example, Kahootturns the classroom into a playground by transforming teachers’ questions into playable games. Review augmented reality companies to integrate these dynamic experiences into educational mobile apps. For example, Fetch! Lunch Rush is a popular app that turns elementary school math curricula into fun learning experiences by pairing mobile devices with game pieces that “come to life.” Fetch! Lunch Rush puts players in charge of feeding an imaginary movie crew by taking food orders, which supports math skills that align with school curriculum. Multimedia appssuch as Ted, Google Classroom, and YouTube also support innovative and unique organizational approachesto teaching. For example, the Google Classroom app helps teachers create classes, send assignments, and keep lessons organized. Schools and programs should review how augmented reality, gamification, and multimedia technology and tools cancreate more enjoyable, memorable, and productive learning environments for their students. More Resources are Needed to Provide Equal Education to All Students Most teachers agree that technology makes a big difference in the quality of education they can provide. Advanced technology, though, is not readily available to many students who live in low-income school districts, which primarily affects children of color. In fact, basic access to computers or internet connection remains an issue, especially in low-income neighborhoods. More than 40%of teachers in Title I schools say they never assign homework that requires access to an internet-connected computer because over 10% of their students don’t have a computer or internet at home. A lack of home computers and online access isn’t the only obstacle to equal education: proper training is scarce in low-income school districts as well, making it impossible to implement advanced technologies as part of curricula. A study by the Education Week Research Center found that teachers in high-poverty schools consistently say they are less likely to receive technology integration training. This dearth of resources creates a negative feedback cycle that accentuates the lack technology resources and training in low income communicates. Specifically, students whose education does not include technology graduate with limited experiences. This places them at a significant disadvantage when competing for college acceptance and ultimatelyemployment opportunities against people from schools or programs where technology is fully integrated as part of core curricula. It’s essential that low-income school districts are given the resources they need to integrate mobile technology into the classroom. Well-trained teachers, internet access, computers, and other devices are basic, crucial elements of a quality education in 2019. Mobile Technology Provides Significant Educational Advantages Augmented reality, gamification, and multimedia apps enhance learning in the classroom as it provides as more dynamic and interactive aspect than simple studying. Mobile apps create accessible learning tools that educators can use to promote innovative and engaging methods of education. The more exposure students have to these technologies and learning opportunities, the better prepared they are for future lives. This article is contributed by Emily Clark is a Content Developer for Clutch, a businessreviews platform in Washington, D.C. She researches app developers and digital marketing trends. Have an interesting article or blog to share with our readers? Let’s get it published