Bored with flashcards? Try these apps instead...

One of the greatest challenges I have faced as a 9th grade English teacher? Getting students to look beyond the basic flashcard as a study tool.

We've talked about Bloom's Taxonomy. We've looked at the difference between rote memorization and the ability to actually understand and use a word. I design my quizzes to require application of that knowledge.

But what do they pull out when I give them time to study vocabulary? Flashcards.

This is not to say that there is anything wrong with flashcards. But in an effort to help my students understand the benefits of study methods that incorporate visuals and sounds, I introduced them to Adobe Voice and Shadow Puppet Edu on their iPads. 

What fun! Students worked in pairs with these user-friendly tools to create simple videos that included their vocabulary words, visuals, and voice-over explanations. In doing so, they asked more questions, explored possible examples, and deepened their understanding of the words.

When asked, they unanimously agreed that they understood the words better after this exercise. And their scores on the next quiz proved them right.

As an added bonus, my students now know two new tools that they can use for a large variety of school projects. So check out some samples and try it for yourself!