STEAM and PBL apps for students

Here are the apps that checked out on at least 12 out of the 20 items on our educational app evaluation checklist.

Minds of Modern Mathematics is an app created by IBM. The history of math is accessible and explorable within this app. There are great videos from the 1960s that explain interesting aspects of math that one doesn't often think about. This app helps student understand math on a different and deeper level, while also providing a pathway to analyze the effects of math on the greater world within a specific time period.

This science app is interactive and engaging. One can manipulate the brain to see specific areas from a 360 degree view point. Created by DNA Learning Center, this app scored 14 out of 20 on our educational app evaluation checklist. Understanding brain function is relevant to middle school science, social/emotional education, human anatomy, and more. Students could create connections to ELA, Social Studies, Technology and many other topics.

A fine, multi-use app, MOMA Art Lab was created by the Museum of Modern Art so that students could experience art on the many levels required in school today. From creating individual art pieces to support Project-Based Learning, to understand and applying art techniques, this app provides students with stress relief, a sense of creativity, and FUN.

Autodesk Desk Digital Steam Applied Mechanics and Measurement are two apps that I found interesting, engaging and frustrating. At first blush, both apps are great for accessing ways to investigate forces, energy & work, loads, power, and mechanisms, and all forms of measurement, including linear, geometric, angles, proportions, and more. Unfortunately, the tasks to be completed are very difficult and the explanations are geared more toward high school and college levels. These apps have not been updated in close to a year. But I have hope.

EduPad, Inc. has created a great math app that students enjoy while being challenged and engaged. The great aspects include a practice mode and test mode, use of a calculator or chalkboard for computation, sequential progress through grade level work that is also customizable. Student can begin at their level of understanding and jump around to areas of need. The not so great aspect is that you do have to pay $4.99 for each title. So, 6th grade math is $4.99. Then 7th grade math is $4.99 and so on and so on, for every title. They offer middle school language arts, health, and music which means that this app can quickly become very expensive.