Regardless
of whether your kids are back to school or studying from home — learning tools
are now a necessity. 50% of students using technology to learn see a boost in
their comprehension and skills. It’s hard to narrow down the options, so we’ve
collated the top 5 learning tools for kids of all ages and levels. These are
designed to make learning more simple, whilst also improving academic
performance.
- E-learning platforms
Over the last year there have been many disruptions to
education. Some kids are falling behind their age-related expectations and need
a little more help. A lot of parents are now looking towards e-learning
platforms to give their kids a boost academically. However, with health, safety
and convenience still a priority, no one wants to travel to the ends of the
earth for a private tutor. Parents are busy!
One such platform is Tutor House. They offer affordable and
personalised one-to-one tuition, all from the comfort of your own home. Whether
you need an English tutor for
primary school or looking for “french lessons near me”, they’ve got the
perfect match for your child. This package deal comes with access to the
Whiteboard tool. It allows you to record sessions, track students’ goals and
progress over time. Not only is this going to improve kids’ learning
experience, but also ensure they achieve their target grades.
- What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?
Believe it or not, some kids do not know how to read an
analogue clock. This is not through the fault of parents or teachers, but sheer
convenience. Studies show that with world digitalisation, it’s quicker to read
a number displayed on the screen.
Thankfully there are apps that give you the time (pun
intended) to help your children learn in a fun way. One option is the “Jungle
Time” app for kids aged between 2-4 for £1.99. Alternatively, try the “Telling
the Time” app, which is intended for KS1 pupils and costs £3.99. This
interactive app also comes with math pop-quiz style questions to help them
practise key syllabus material too.
- Word wizardry
Similar to the above, spell-checking has gone amiss. Despite
the benefits of autocorrect, it doesn’t necessarily teach us how to spell. That
squiggly red line becomes nothing more than a burden.
However, there are free learning tools to help students
check their spelling and improve their vocabulary. One is Grammarly, which is
an intuitive tool to simplify sentences and check grammar. Another is
Hemmingway, where you can copy and paste large chunks of text. This online tool
is great to see the readability grade, the use of passive voice, adverbs and
more.
There are free and pro versions available, so go with the
version that best suits your needs. University students might need a more in-depth
analysis, whereas KS1 and KS2 pupils need something more simple. Either way,
this will help improve their writing and spelling skills, helping them reach
top marks.
One fun way to improve vocabulary is by playing word games like crosswords. These games challenge you to guess and spell words based on clues. It is great for expanding your vocabulary and even better for recalling and applying your existing vocabulary. You can even make solving these puzzles easier and more engaging by using word-solving tools such as unscrambled words for the more difficult ones.
- Upgrade your note-taking
With more students taking notes on tablets and laptops, it’s
about time we have a learning tool to upgrade this process. A popular choice is
Evernote, a high-level tool to help students organise and record notes. With
Evernote you can categorise “notebooks” for each different class, keeping
everything neat and tidy. You can also attach video or voice recordings,
hand-written notes, pictures and more. The phrase “there’s an app for that” has
never been, well, more apt!
If your kids love taking notes and want to take it to the
next level, then try Bit. Bit is a digital notebook that organises notes into
“workspaces”. Students can attach pictures, links, documents, spreadsheets —
anything noteworthy. This also works in live time, allowing students and
teachers to communicate, share notes and feedback on assignments or homework.
Overall, this enhances the learning experience.
- Smarty paints
For kids looking to improve their creative skills, there are
many learning tools available to help. Canva and Procreate are amazing online
platforms to cultivate your craft. With stylus options and digital creating
elements, you can transform your sketches and share them to a portfolio. This
is very helpful for kids and students wanting to gain entrance into art
schools, careers and even video-creating, which is all the rage.
Gone are the days of Paint and Photoshop — the latest
technology is much easier to use. The best part is you don’t need to be a
digital creator or the most artsy person. These platforms wein your skills,
like a Fairy Godmother — bibbity, bobbity, boop!
One last note
Using technology to our advantage can help kids excel at
school. These learning tools are a great way to boost your child’s confidence
and skills. Whatever their age or level, there is a tool for everyone. We know
it’s hard to strike the right balance, especially as parents. So make your life
(and your children’s) easier with online platforms.
Photo by Julia M Cameron from Pexels
Written by Naida
Allen
Naida is a witty wordsmith with a love for writing and
reading. She is a Content Writer and Social Media Executive at Tutor House —
the top UK provider of online and in-person tuition. She specialises in topics
relating to mental & physical wellbeing and career advice.
References
Boulton-Lewis, G., Wilss, L., & Mutch, S. (1997).
Analysis of Primary School Children's Abilities and Strategies for Reading and
Recording Time from Analogue and Digital Clocks. Mathematics Education Research Journal, 9(2), 136-15.
D’Angelo, C. (2018). The Impact of Technology: Student
Engagement and Success, The Impacts of
Technology Integration. Pressbooks.
Harris, L, J., Al-Bataineh, T, M., Al-Bataineh, A. (2016).
One to One Technology and its Effect on Student Academic Achievement and
Motivation. Contemporary Educational
Technology, 7(4), 368-381.
If you enjoy my blog, please consider following me on Bloglovin'
