The importance of educational apps and how to introduce them into our digital habits

The proliferation of educational apps in mobile application stores is one of the most unthinkable revolutions that we could imagine a few years ago. With the mobile app stores, there was a explosion of games and applications Mainly for entertainment. But one other area that has experienced growth is that of educational apps. Apps that are used for learn and/or teach using technology within our reach such as smartphones and tablets with touch screens.

At first they were only for the little ones. But over time, this type of applications has gone specializing by ages and themes. What’s more, adults of any age can download dozens of educational apps to learn languages, programmingcarpentry, robotics, web design or any subject they want to learn about or want to learn more about.

Educational apps have been added to the resource catalog we have in the 21st century to learn what we want, by choice. Beyond what was learned at school age. A range of possibilities that has opened up before us together with other available resources such as online courses that are so abundant on the Internet.

Where you want, when you want

The main advantage of educational apps, which they share with online courses, is the availability for any type of agenda. No matter where you are nor the time you can dedicate. Educational applications are designed for consumption at any time of the day for as long as we want. There, the use of didactic techniques such as microlearning and the organization of knowledge in small pills of a few minutes.

To this is added the autonomy they offer these types of applications. We can advance chapter by chapter, topic by topic, on our own. Using tests and questionnaires we will know if we should move forward or it is better to review what we have learned. Without the need for someone behind to explain what to do. Everything is in the app.

And at the same time, the interaction of the app with the Internet allows us to connect with other students or, in some cases, do the same with experts in the field who answer our questions or complement what we have learned on our own thanks to the application. In this sense, some educational apps are committed to facilitating their own online communities in which to exchange doubts, suggestions or start conversations related or not to the subject of the app.

Where to start with educational apps?

Another advantage offered by most educational apps is that do not require prior preparation to use them. They are designed for immediate consumption once we have downloaded them to our devices. After a brief introductory tutorial, we can now start with the first lessons. It’s that simple.

So how do you get started with an educational app? Not all cases are the same. It will depend on whether we want to try an educational app out of curiosity, if we want introduce us to a topic out of interest or out of necessity, if our professional lives depend on it, if we use the app autonomously or as a complement to an online course or face to face training…

The approach is similar to any other educational resource that we have within our reach. Basically we will have to inform ourselves about if it is what we need for our needs and, once this doubt has been resolved, ask ourselves if we have the adequate availability. From there, planning the use that we will make of the educational app in question has no complications. On the way to work, during a free afternoon, even on vacation. Educational apps are designed to learning while enjoying. They offer games and recreational activities as an incentive, so any free time is good to keep moving forward.

A different case is that of educational apps for children and young people. Many of them are designed to be integrated into educational practice, face to face or at a distance. Proposals like Kahoot!, smartick either Scratch they are already integrated and used in the respective subjects in a natural way. The same goes for platforms like Google Classroom, doodle and the like that facilitate communication and class management. But that is another topic. The important thing about educational apps for the little ones is that their use must be done with the participation and collaboration of teachers and parents and clearly delimiting at what times of the day they will be used and if it will be done inside or outside the classroom.

One more chance to learn

In short, educational apps are one more resource that we have at our disposal, from children and as adults. A different way of learning through activities and games to encourage its use. And that we can do during a trip on public transport, a time that we have free or a break at work. a chance to expand our knowledge or of reinforce what we already have.

Although the most popular educational apps focus on languages ​​and programming, there are others focused on other topics such as mathematics, robotics or broader topics such as the wide range of current online courses and educational apps. What’s more, many educational apps facilitate access to online courses or integrate their own offers for their use Anytime, anywhere. Always thinking of facilitating access to knowledge by organizing it in the most optimal way possible, regardless of who is on the other side of the screen.