Chromebook App Hub: Start learning with Google’s new educator tool

QA and Software Testing

In March 2019, Google announced to develop a Chromebook App Hub to help teachers and administrators to use educational tools and apps in the classroom. On Wednesday ahead of ISTE 2019, Google officially launched the App Hub. In addition to App Hub, upgraded version of Gradebook, Early Access Program, and Quizzes in Google Forms, Classroom, and Course Kit are among the new features added to Chromebook.

Teachers often search on the internet for new tricks and techniques to teach or to create lesson plans. Teachers also have to make sure that those teachings techniques meet the required policies. The Chromebook App Hub is the ideal place for educators to get a solution for these problems, to get new ideas and resources and also to learn the implementation strategies.

Epic! and Adobe Spark:

Google has teamed up with Epic! to create a community in the App Hub to showcase the best tools and apps for the classroom. Epic! is one of the vast children’s digital library which offers unlimited access to thousands of high-quality kid’s books, videos, quizzes and more. Adobe Spark will help Google in creating visual storytelling for the students of all levels. Educators can take help of Epic! and Adobe Spark to decide which tools fit into their classrooms and curriculum.

Khan Academy:

It is a free library which covers various topics such as math, grammar, science, history, standardized test and more. According to the marketing leader for Khan Academy, Eirene Chen, “The App Hub is a great resource for teachers, making it fast and easy to find apps and classroom activities that work well on Chromebooks”. EdTechTeam is helping Google in gathering the ideas of using apps in the classrooms.

Student Data Privacy Consortium:

For security and transparency to developer’s data and accessibility policies, Google has partnered with Student Data Privacy Consortium (SDPC) which will assist developers in considering the student privacy implications of their products. Dr. Larry L. Fruth II, CEO of A4L/SDPC says, “The SDPC is proud to work with [the Chromebook App Hub] to provide transparency and openness around the critical aspects of schools, states, and vendors securing learner information”. In order to create healthy digital citizenship habits Google is working with the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) and ConnectSafely.

Other Updates:

For teachers, Google has launched a beta program that allows them to create a rubric to attach it to an assignment and let students understand the grading system for their work. In addition to this, an updated version of Gradebook will also be launched which will let teachers view student’s progress. Along with it, the Early Access Program will help teachers to sync grades from the Classroom to the School Information System.

Technology giants like Google, Microsoft, and Apple are targeting schools and classrooms by investing in this sector to expand their business. Earlier this month in WWDC 2019 Apple featured its ClassKit and its free app for schools and teachers. Microsoft also has various tools for students and educators such as Learning Suite, Flashcards, Microsoft Mathematics, Project Tuva, and more. Despite such competition, the U.S. K-12 market is dominated by the Google Chromebook, the reason being its price and various tools for IT departments.

Educators can now find the apps and ideas on the Chromebook App Hub. Google has provided an Interest form for educators and developers where educators can submit their ideas by filling up the form and developers can join the Chromebook App Hub. Google said it will keep updating the App Hub so that teachers and students can find new ways of teaching and learning respectively.

Read My World: Microsoft’s language learning app

Language learning App

A team of eight Microsoft interns inspired from the Microsoft Education Team Challenge to build an app that could empower literacy and English Language Learning (ELL), developed an app named Read My World. Basically, Read My World is a Microsoft Garage project which aims to improve the English literacy skills by building a stronger vocabulary.

Read My World either works as a supplement to classroom training or offers a way to learn some words for those with lack of time or funds for language learning classes. This app uses the smartphone’s camera encouraging users to snap photos of real-world objects they encounter in their daily life. It uses the Azure Cognitive Services API’s to identify the object in photos. It then shows the spelling of the word and speaks the phonetic pronunciation of the identified vocabulary words. The app also consists of three in-built vocabulary games which motivate users to practice newly discovered words to strengthen comprehension and memorization.

This app takes a learn-as-you-go approach; when users encounter everyday objects or documents in their lives, they can use the app to take a picture and detect vocabulary words. The app is limited in terms of replacing formal instruction as it only focuses on things a user sees. As the learner uses the app not only he will master the everyday vocabulary but also gain confidence.

Key features of Read My World app:

  • Click a photo to identify an object from a library of over 1500 vocabulary words.
  • Click a photo to identify vocab words in documents or other written mediums.
  • See how the word is spelled and hear the phonetic pronunciation of identified words.
  • For later reference, you can save the photos with corresponding identified words to a personal dictionary.
  • Three vocabulary games help to practice saved words.

Organizations supporting literacy and willing to try and share feedback on Read My World, should request an invitation to join via a short questionnaire and the sponsoring team will be in touch.

What are Language Learnings Apps?

Language learning apps guide you learn a language from start to finish. They help you sharpen language skills that you may already have. Some apps are designed to learn new vocabulary, pronunciation, word games or dictionaries and some are designed as a full course.

Benefits of Language Learning Apps:

  • Learn new words
  • Practice speaking a language
  • Help you read and write a new language
  • They help accomplish your language learning goals

When you think of learning a new language the first question that comes to your mind is: When am I supposed to do this? Language learning apps do not have a time constraint. Instead, they provide you with time mobility to learn lessons whenever you get time.