Essential Apps for Teaching and Managing Online Classes: A Guide for Teachers New to Digital Skills
In today’s fast-paced digital age, technology has redefined how education is delivered. For teachers who aspire to earn six figures and connect with students globally, learning to use essential apps for teaching and managing online classes is critical. If you are new to digital skills, don’t worry. This guide will introduce you to the tools you need and explain how to use them effectively to create an impactful and profitable digital teaching career.
Why Apps Are Vital for Digital Teaching
Teaching online requires more than just recording lessons or sending messages to students. You’ll need tools to organize content, communicate effectively, create engaging lessons, and manage your business. Thankfully, a smartphone or a computer, combined with the right apps, can help you accomplish all these tasks.
Here are some reasons apps are indispensable for digital teaching:
1. Ease of Use: Most apps are designed with user-friendly interfaces, making them accessible to beginners.
2. Efficiency: Automate repetitive tasks like grading, scheduling, or organizing files.
3. Engagement: Apps allow you to create interactive content that keeps students motivated.
4. Global Reach: Reach students from all over the world using tools for communication and collaboration.
Let’s dive into some essential apps every digital teacher should know and how to use them to maximize your impact.
1. Communication and Video Conferencing Apps
These apps help you connect with students in real-time or asynchronously, ensuring that your classes are accessible and interactive.
Zoom
• What It Does: A video conferencing app for hosting live classes, webinars, or one-on-one sessions.
• Why It’s Essential: It supports features like screen sharing, breakout rooms, and recording, making it a comprehensive tool for online teaching.
• How to Use It:
1. Download and create an account.
2. Schedule a meeting and share the link with your students.
3. Use features like polls or whiteboards to make your lessons interactive.
Google Meet
• What It Does: A free alternative to Zoom, integrated with Google Workspace tools like Google Calendar and Gmail.
• Why It’s Essential: Easy to use, and students don’t need to download extra software.
• How to Use It:
1. Schedule a meeting through Google Calendar.
2. Share the meeting link with students.
3. Use screen sharing to present slides or videos.
• What It Does: A messaging app that supports group chats, voice calls, and video calls.
• Why It’s Essential: Ideal for teachers who want to manage small groups and provide quick updates.
• How to Use It:
1. Create a group for your class.
2. Share lesson materials, voice notes, or short video clips.
3. Use WhatsApp Business to automate replies or set up payment options.
2. Content Creation Apps
Creating visually appealing and informative content is crucial for engaging your students. These apps make it easy to design professional-looking materials, even with no prior experience.
Canva
• What It Does: A graphic design app for creating slides, posters, worksheets, and more.
• Why It’s Essential: Drag-and-drop tools and templates make it beginner-friendly.
• How to Use It:
1. Choose a template for your project (e.g., a presentation or flyer).
2. Customize it with text, images, and colors.
3. Download and share it as a PDF or image file.
Microsoft PowerPoint / Google Slides
• What It Does: Tools for creating presentation slides.
• Why It’s Essential: Perfect for structuring lessons visually.
• How to Use It:
1. Create a slide deck for your topic.
2. Add text, images, and animations to make it engaging.
3. Share the slides via email or present them during a live session.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
• What It Does: A tool for viewing, editing, and sharing PDF files.
• Why It’s Essential: Share handouts, worksheets, and assessments in a universally accessible format.
• How to Use It:
1. Scan or upload a document.
2. Add comments or annotations.
3. Share it via email or messaging apps.
3. Learning Management Systems (LMS)
These apps help you organize and deliver your lessons systematically while tracking student progress.
Google Classroom
• What It Does: A free platform for creating and managing virtual classrooms.
• Why It’s Essential: Integrated with Google Drive, it makes sharing assignments and resources seamless.
• How to Use It:
1. Set up a new class and invite students via email.
2. Post announcements, assignments, and quizzes.
3. Grade submissions and provide feedback directly in the app.
Teachable
• What It Does: A platform for creating and selling online courses.
• Why It’s Essential: Helps monetize your expertise while providing a user-friendly learning experience for students.
• How to Use It:
1. Create a course outline and upload your lessons.
2. Set pricing and marketing strategies.
3. Use built-in analytics to track enrollment and student engagement.
Moodle
• What It Does: An open-source LMS for managing courses and assessments.
• Why It’s Essential: Offers customizable features for advanced users.
• How to Use It:
1. Install Moodle on your device.
2. Set up courses with modules and quizzes.
3. Track student performance through detailed reports.
4. Assessment and Interactive Tools
These apps make it easy to create quizzes, polls, and other interactive activities to assess student learning.
Kahoot!
• What It Does: A game-based learning platform for creating quizzes and polls.
• Why It’s Essential: Adds an element of fun to your lessons.
• How to Use It:
1. Create a new quiz or choose from pre-made templates.
2. Share the game PIN with students.
3. Host live sessions or assign as homework.
Quizlet
• What It Does: A flashcard-based app for studying and reviewing concepts.
• Why It’s Essential: Helps students retain information through repetition.
• How to Use It:
1. Create flashcard sets for your subject.
2. Share the set link with students.
3. Monitor their progress through the app.
5. Productivity and Time Management Apps
Managing your schedule and tasks effectively is essential for staying organized as a digital teacher.
Google Calendar
• What It Does: A scheduling app for managing classes, deadlines, and meetings.
• Why It’s Essential: Helps you keep track of your commitments.
• How to Use It:
1. Set up reminders for upcoming classes or assignments.
2. Share your calendar with students for transparency.
3. Sync with other Google tools for seamless planning.
Trello
• What It Does: A task management app for organizing projects.
• Why It’s Essential: Visual boards make it easy to track progress.
• How to Use It:
1. Create a board for your teaching tasks.
2. Add lists for “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Completed.”
3. Drag tasks between lists as you complete them.
Notion
• What It Does: An all-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, and project management.
• Why It’s Essential: Helps you organize lesson plans, resources, and schedules in one place.
• How to Use It:
1. Set up a dashboard for your teaching materials.
2. Create templates for recurring tasks like grading.
3. Use collaborative features to work with colleagues.
Conclusion
Mastering essential apps is the first step toward becoming a successful digital teacher. These tools empower you to create engaging lessons, manage your time, and connect with students globally—all from your smartphone or computer. Start small, experiment with different apps, and focus on building your confidence. As you gain experience, you’ll find yourself well on your way to earning six figures and making a meaningful impact in the digital education world.
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