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

The proliferation of educational apps in mobile app stores is one of the most unthinkable revolutions that we could imagine a few years ago

The importance of educational apps and how to introduce them into our digital habits
educational apps, languages, programming, carpentry, robotics, web design, chapter by chapter, topic by topic,

The proliferation of educational apps in mobile app stores is one of the most unthinkable revolutions that we could imagine a few years ago. With the mobile app stores, there was an explosion of games and applications mainly for entertainment years ago. But one other area that has experienced growth is that of educational apps. Apps that are used to 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 application has been specialized by age and by theme. What's more, adults of any age can download dozens of educational apps to learn languages, programming, carpentry, robotics, web design, or any subject they want to learn about or want to learn more about.

Educational apps have been added to the catalogue of resources that we have in the 21st century to learn what we want, by our own decision. Beyond what was learned at school age. A range of possibilities that has opened up before us along with other available resources such as online courses that abound so much 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. It doesn't matter where you are or how much time you can spare. 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 has helped a lot.

Added to this is the autonomy offered by this type of application. 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 app. 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 they 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.

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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 to get into a topic out of interest or out of necessity, if our professional life is about 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 that of any other educational resource that we have at our disposal. Basically, we will have to find out if it is what we need for our needs and, once this doubt is resolved, ask ourselves if we have 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 learn 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. The same goes for platforms like Google Classroom, Doodle and the like that make it easy to communicate and manage classes. But that is another topic. The important thing about educational apps for the little ones is that they must be used with the participation and collaboration of teachers and parents and clearly delimiting at what times of the day they will be used and whether they 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. An opportunity to expand our knowledge or to 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, as is the case with the wide range of current online courses and educational apps. What's more, many educational apps provide easy access to online courses or integrate their own offers for 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.