It is not uncommon for students to fall behind in their work, be it as a consequence of missing a large amount of school or due to not understanding the material presented to them sufficiently well. This problem is not unique to Nanticoke, of course; in view of this, and in view of its widespread nature, a variety of free/freemium apps and software has been developed to assist the education of pupils around the country. While phones are often seen—admittedly not without reason—as being sources of distraction during school or school-related activities, these programs are exceptions to the common stereotypes, providing nothing more than learning benefits; many of these pieces of software are used (sometimes in website form) in classrooms themselves!

The following computer and mobile programs have proven, over the years, to be among the most useful to students:

Quizlet

Quizlet allows for the creation of flashcards, vocabulary-based or otherwise, and practice utilizing them. After generating a study set, users are able to electronically test themselves and their knowledge of the content in the flashcards via quizzes and games. Quizlet is available online and on Android and iOS; it is free to use (albeit in a somewhat feature-limited state). More information about Quizlet can be found on the project’s “About” page.

Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a free education tool, utilizable by any professional, educator, or other individual who has created a Google Apps for Education account. In essence, Google Classroom is designed to give online content creators and teachers the ability to go paperless, centralizing their e-learning materials in a single cloud-based location. Classroom also functions alongside other cloud-based productivity software of Google’s creation (such as Google Drive), allowing one to perform practically all necessary schoolwork without touching a single sheet of paper. More information about this product can be obtained in Google Classroom.

Sparknotes

For individuals who need a brief and simple rundown of a story—be that due to not having read it or otherwise—Sparknotes is an invaluable resource. The website provides users with the basics of what they need to know about any of thousands of stories. Originating from a legacy website known as “Sparky,” its successor provides study guides for literature, poetry, history, film, and philosophy; it also includes several quizzes for each work in order to test users’ comprehension. More information about this product can be found on its Sparknotes.  

Mathway

Photomath

Photomath, in a similar manner to the previous program, enables one to take a picture of any math problem and receive a generated response, with step-by-step directions for completing the problem additionally being provided. The app, reviewed by Forbes, serves to greatly improve students’ comprehension of problems and formulas which they are tasked with solving.

Grammarly

Shmoop

Shmoop is a basic learning tool which serves to help students complete their schoolwork. Founded by David Siminoff and his wife Ellen, the website balances a teen-friendly, approachable layout of information with academically beneficial materials to help students understand what they are studying and the purpose of such. The website caters to visual learners as well as text lovers, boasting a massive and ever-growing library of videos on nearly any imaginable scholarly topic.  

TED