Technology for eLearning and Educators

Here at BigMarker, we are proud of the diverse Community of people that can be found on the site. Nonprofits, educators, and businesses are just some of the demographics represented on the site, using it as a place of both community and collaboration. Because we represent such a wide range of users, we'd like to use the blog to focus in from time to time on these different topics, to reflect, ultimately, what BigMarker is about.

Last week, Caryn dove into the resources that help nonprofits accomplish their goals. This week, I would like to highlight a few startups that focus on eLearning and helping those inside the classroom.

1. MentorMob

One playlist to rule them all

MentorMob allows teachers (and life long learners) to create, curate, and share playlists with anyone (students, friends, collegues, the world). The platform is perfect for eLearning because it allows teachers to send their students a specific lesson. I like to think of Mentor Mob as a more amazing and functional (and prettier) Udemy and Kahn Academy.

The best part of the MentorMob is the people behind it. They take the time to listen to educators and students. If you have any issues, feedback, or suggestions, they actually use your advice and answer your questions.

2. eSpark

iPads in class—wish I was still in school

Part of the eLearning trend is the use of iPads and iPhones in the classroom. eSparkhelps schools and teachers put iPad software in the hands of elementary students. With customized reporting and analytics, teachers get a clear picture of where their students are in the learning process.

According to eSpark, their program is fun for students. I can imagine it would have been pretty amazing as a fourth grader to get my hands on an iPad. "In a large class, your child is simply not getting an individualized learning experience. Learning shouldn’t be “one size fits all.” In eSpark, students take an adaptive diagnostic test to pinpoint their unique learning strengths and areas for development."

3. BenchPrep

Ready, Set, Test

"BenchPrep’s practice tests and hundreds of practice questions give you realistic practice for test day. And with detailed solutions to every question, you can review exactly what you did wrong so you don’t make the same mistakes again."

BenchPrep helps students study for the SAT, ACT, and any test, on pretty much every device. Look out bedazzled Nokia, even you, with your rinestone shell, can study for the upcoming Algebra final. With eLearning, teachers should be encouranging their students to use their phones during class, and BenchPrep is one major reason why.

4. Tabule

"We give you the tools to make class suck less."

Tabule, as advertised, gives you tools that don't suck. Their platform is still in beta. There is a lot of promise in this Chicago Startup, especially for non-traditional educators and students. I like their wit, and this could be a useful tool when trying to reach those hard to reach students.

This is one startup to keep watching.

5. BigMarker

Meet face-to-face.

You can send emails back-and-forth between you and your students. Or you can hop on a video conference and chat in realtime. With more-and-more students and teachers being part of online or hybrid learning, educators and students need a way to communicate in realtime.

At BigMarker, we are dedicate to helping educators, and we offer free Communities and Conferencing to individual educators. Email me at [email protected], and I can help you meet with your students. If you want to know more about how educators are using BigMarker, please read this blog.

Bonus:

GoSoapBox

Ask questions without raising your hand

While GoSoapBox is not super useful for eLearning, it is a cool resource for the classroom, lecture hall, and school event. The application allows students and teachers to ask questions in realtime and then vote on which questions are the most pertinent. This allows teachers to know what needs to be answered and in what order.

Personally, I have found this application useful at events, so that the MC doesn't have to keep passing the one mic around.

Cappex

Finding the right college is a match made in Heaven

Cappex makes finding the right college easy and simple. I remember flipping through a thousand page manually of all the universities and colleges in North America, and eventually finding the school for me, after hours of searching. Realistically, that book was outdated and a lot had changed at my college.

Students need to know their options; Cappex gives them options.