Education is an important foundation for children as they grow up. It opens up endless possibilities for future careers and life choices. Children who are given an opportunity to expand upon their learning experiences outside of school can achieve better results and can be more successful in life.
There are numerous tools available that can help children learn outside of school. Here are some of the top learning tools that parents should know about.
1. YouTube
Ranked as one of the top educational tools in 2018 and 2019 in the 13th Annual Learning Tools Survey, YouTube remains a great way for children to learn. While there are some entertainment videos on the platform, there is also a wide variety of learning opportunities.
Use channels like PBS Eons and SciShow to educate children in many aspects of life for free. These channels mix education and fun in a child-friendly way. They are also short, with most videos lasting just under 10 minutes. So great for short breaks.
Another great example is History Buffs, which analyses the accuracy of films based on the true stories they’re based on. A great way to get children to enjoy history.
However, it is highly recommended that you actually supervise children with YouTube. Just to be sure they’re not switching to the latest online video craze instead of studying.
2. TED Talks
TED talks are a series of talks given by influential people on specific topics. While they don’t teach any maths or English, they do provide a wide spectrum of inspirational speeches that inspire and make people think. While they are technically seen on YouTube, you can also see TED Talks on their own website.
Numerous people throughout the years have been seen on TED talks. And the topics range across the spectrum including politics, business, nature and more. It is a really good tool to inspire children but also to widen their learning experiences. Again, it is important that you try to monitor their use of this tool, to ensure the topics are what you want them to be.
Essentially, Exemplar Education is an online maths, English and reading programme, comprising lessons that help children learn and revise in accordance with the UK National Curriculum and the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence, as defined by the respective governments. This educational tool is one of the best learning resources available online due to its ease of use and in-depth learning.
Exemplar Education reviews from parents prove children can achieve better maths and English results with this learning portal. And the Exemplar Education cost is more than reasonable.
This free maths learning tool is a great weekly way to test the learning of your children. Once a week, a new assignment is given and children can learn new mathematical concepts with the help of Simon Singh.
While aimed at 11 to 14-year-olds, the learning in the weekly assignments can be done by anyone. Students can sign-up for free on their website. When new assignments are ready, they (or you) will get an email.
Google Scholar is a great place where children can find research papers to help with homework or for extra study. The free search allows students to find written research papers quickly and without the need to subscribe to expensive literary databases.
In the past year, Google Scholar has seen its value for learning increase significantly. In 2018, it was ranked in the lower top 100 of the best online tools. Now it is ranked 39th.
Apple Podcasts have been around for a long time but they’re not often associated with learning. However, Apple has more than 200 podcasts aimed at educating people, including topics such as German, Spanish, English grammar, history and more.
Podcasts are great because they can be downloaded and played almost anywhere including in the car on the way to school, on the way home or on long weekend trips. And with so many options, you can really tailor your child’s education to their interests and learning requirements.
7. H5P
If you want your children to learn some website coding skills, then H5P might be a great option. With a free account, they can create interactive website elements that they can publish on websites they own. A great way to learn a skill that is going to be in demand for years to come.
8. MindMeister
Mindmapping has been a learning practice for generations. MindMeister takes the process to the next level and helps children map out complex studies to make it easier to understand and revise. There are free and premium versions of this software, but it is a valuable piece of software that helps students to learn.
In the 2019 Annual Learning Tools Survey, it was seen as the 63rd most important learning tool. This was a massive increase from its 2018 position when it only just made it into the rankings.
9. Grammarly
Children who like to write a lot should be using Grammarly. This automatically looks at text and corrects it for spelling and grammar. It is a great tool and even the free version can help improve your child’s grammar for those extra points on tests/exams.
However, the premium version adds new elements including passive voice and transition words.
10. ClassTools
If you want to be more involved in the education of your children, why not create them games, quizzes and activities online? This simple to use online tool is free and any work can be hosted on a blog, website or intranet. There is no signup or password needed and no charge for the work.
It is a great way to help children revise and a way for you to be a part of their educational journey.
Conclusion
When it comes to education, there are lots of tools available to help children learn. Some of the best are above. With more education, you can see your children’s learning thrive.