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The Top 5 Methods to Assess Student Learning Online

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eLearning has made teaching more flexible and convenient. Now it’s possible to conduct remote classes and even run asynchronous learning programs.

However, many teachers remain faithful to traditional pen-and-paper knowledge assessments and don’t take advantage of the many opportunities that technologies offer.

In this article, you’ll learn about five knowledge assessment methods that will help you keep up to date, reduce manual checks, and deliver engaging online lessons.

What Is Knowledge Assessment?

knowledge-assessmentKnowledge assessment is a process that helps teachers see how well students have learned and retained the material and compare their performance with learning objectives. It shows whether students can understand and apply the information they’ve been taught.

Although assessments are most often used to check students’ knowledge and skills, they also provide an educational function. By completing the tasks, students focus on important aspects that were initially overlooked and see how they work in practice.

The 5 Best Ways to Assess Student Knowledge and Skills Online

In fact, most online assessment methods are not entirely new — everything we are going to talk about can be accomplished in traditional face-to-face settings.

However, we’ll show how much easier and more engaging these practices can be when moved online.

1. Online quizzes

online-quizzes-for-knowledge-assessmentMultiple-choice, true, or false, fill-in-the-blank questions… Simple and proven, quizzes are a mainstay of assessment. Many teachers love using them online as well because quizzes are:

  • Universal. You can use these at the beginning of a lesson to quickly check students’ knowledge of a previous topic or to create non-graded quizzes to fuel interest in a subject. They’re also great for baseline measurements or end-of-term exams.
  • Easy to grade. In general, quizzes are easier and quicker to check than open-ended questions or essays. But with eLearning tools, you can automate this process, so there’s no need to spend time checking them manually.
  • Great for assessing large audiences. You can easily measure the learning results of even hundreds of students in a short period of time.

Quizzes paired with advanced technology become even more useful for teachers and more engaging for students. To create online quizzes, you can use an eLearning authoring toolkit, such as iSpring Suite.

All you need to do is choose from 14 ready-made quiz templates, enter your question and answer options, set scoring rules, and the quiz is ready to go.

For reliable results, you can set time limits and randomize questions and answers to eliminate cheating. To enhance such an assessment, you can provide feedback for incorrect answers, add info slides, and set branching scenarios to create individual learning paths based on the students’ responses.

2. Simulations

simulations-for-knowledge-assessmentAlthough role-plays are less common than quizzes, they are becoming increasingly popular among teachers. They aim to authentically replicate a given environment or challenge, giving students the opportunity to train for real-life situations.

Role-plays can be used in many areas. For example, you can use them to develop the students’ decision-making and interpersonal communication skills or to provide practice during language lessons. In higher education, you can use role-playing to assess students’ professional skills, such as holding a diplomatic conversation, providing sensitive medical care, or acting as a psychologist or counsellor.

If you’re going to run role-plays online, try creating them in iSpring Suite. It has an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that allows you to build simulations quickly and easily. Simply make up a scenario — think of a fictional situation and role-play lines, select a suitable character with a background from the content library, and set up branches in the tool. As with quizzes, you can provide feedback on each answer and award points for successful completion.

3. Open-ended questions and essays

open-ended-questions-for-knowledge-assessmentSuch assignments push your students to think critically and apply the cognitive skills needed to respond in their own words. Essays and open-ended questions have two main benefits:

  • Improve speaking and writing skills. Students practice expressing their thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a manner that is logical and comprehensive.
  • Boost creativity. When students are encouraged to reason, reflect, and think about a topic, they learn to think creatively and are more likely to gain new perspectives and come up with fresh ideas.

You can create open-ended or essay-type questions using iSpring Suite. However, unlike quizzes or simulations, it is difficult to trust a computer to assess students’ detailed answers and grade them appropriately. Therefore, you’ll need to check each answer manually.

4. Online discussions

online-discussions-for-knowledge-assessmentThe next level method after open-ended questions is discussion. They help students think more deeply, find different perspectives on a topic, and make connections. Teachers have many ways to facilitate student discussions online.

For example, if you want students to collaborate and interact with each other, you can divide them into teams, each working on a specific project. Students can share and respond to each other’s ideas using web conferencing tools like Google Meet and brainstorm their ideas using a visual collaboration tool, such as Miro Board. After the discussion, learners can collect and present the best ideas. In addition to cases, you can ask students to create infographics together, using special tools like Pictochart or Visme. This will help them organize knowledge on a broad topic.

Alternatively, you can conduct asynchronous discussions through open public forums such as Quora or Reddit, or social media. This is how it works: you outline the topic, start a discussion, and invite students to continue it, supporting their views with relevant examples and arguments.

No matter which method you choose, it’s important to clarify from the beginning that you expect students’ active participation and are going to translate their engagement into grades.

5. Explanatory videos

explanatory-videos-for-knowledge-assessmentAccording to the Learning Pyramid model, teaching others increases knowledge retention by 90%. If students are able to explain the topic accurately and correctly, it means they’ve mastered the subject.

You can break down a broad topic that students have studied into different aspects and ask some of them to create short explanatory videos to present a concept to the class. Let them be creative and make videos the way they prefer, and you’ll see how engaged they get.

Creating explanatory videos can be super easy with iSpring Suite. With this tool, students can create video presentations directly in PowerPoint, record and edit video lectures, and combine them with screencasts.

The students can then share their videos on a common platform, such as an LMS if you use one, or on your group’s social media page, so their classmates can give them feedback.

4 Tips for Effective Knowledge Assessment

effective-knowledge-assessmentRegardless of which method of student assessment you choose, it’s important to remember these key principles:

1. Involve students in creating knowledge checks

Students can create short quizzes for their peers and then check each other’s answers. Such an approach will help you pique their interest and increase knowledge retention.

2. Make criteria transparent

When carrying out a knowledge check, you should not only have the ultimate learning objectives in mind but also give students a clear understanding of what is expected of them and how it will be assessed. This will help them avoid making mistakes because they don’t understand the task.

3. Provide feedback

Let your students know if they’re on the right track by giving them regular feedback. This is even more important in an eLearning environment because not everyone is tech-savvy yet. Post comments on students’ answers in forums, and provide immediate feedback in quizzes and simulations.

Text feedback is not always ideal, especially if you need to point out students’ mistakes. You can arrange feedback sessions using web conferencing tools so the students can hear your voice and there’s less chance of your feedback being misinterpreted.

4. Conduct non-graded surveys

non-graded-surveys-for-knowledge-assessmentIf the topic is quite complicated or the test shows poor results, conduct a non-graded survey to find out what caused the difficulties and how to improve the content or teaching methods.

iSpring Suite is great for creating non-graded surveys. With different questions, such as the Likert scale and true or false, you’ll get reliable feedback from students quickly and improve your teaching practices.

Takeaways

Creating effective online assessments doesn’t require you to be a tech geek. All you need is a little creativity to slightly adjust the familiar practices to the eLearning environment. We hope our tips will help you make knowledge assessments more impactful and engaging for your students, especially for the future of global schooling.

Top Reasons & Skills for Cybersecurity Education – What is Essential at a Young Age?

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It is crucial for kids to understand cybersecurity at an early age in this modern digital world. With the increased use of technology, children are more exposed to cyber risks.

Hence, it is essential that adults like parents, teachers, and others teach kids about cybersecurity and internet safety.

The Need for Cybersecurity Education

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As technology develops, cyber-attacks become increasingly complex and difficult to recognize. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, a leading cybersecurity research firm, cybercrime will cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025.

With this alarming statistic, it is essential to teach kids about cybersecurity at a young age to lower the danger of cyber threats.

Nowadays, young kids are exposed to technology and the internet. They use devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and gaming consoles to connect with friends, play games, watch videos, and learn. As they interact with these devices, they unknowingly expose themselves to online risks such as cyberbullying, identity theft, hacking, and phishing attacks.

The importance of cybersecurity education cannot be overstated. Children must be taught about cybersecurity and online safety so they can defend themselves against dangers.

Cybersecurity education can help children develop the skills needed to navigate the digital world safely.

Understanding Cybersecurity Threats

cybersecurity-threatsCybersecurity threats come in various forms and are continually evolving. It is essential to teach children about these threats to enable them to identify and avoid them.

Some of the common cybersecurity threats that children may face include:

1. Phishing attacks

Phishing attacks involve sending fraudulent emails, text messages, or social media messages to trick people into providing sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card details, and social security numbers.

2. Malware

Malware is software designed to harm or compromise a computer system. It can be downloaded onto a device through malicious links, email attachments, or software downloads.

3. Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying involves using technology to harass, humiliate, or intimidate someone. It can occur through social media platforms, online gaming, or messaging apps.

4. Identity theft

Identity theft is the unauthorized use of someone’s personal information to commit fraud or other crimes. Children are particularly vulnerable to identity theft since they may not have a credit history and may not detect the theft until years later.

Why Criminals Love Your IP Address

What can someone do with my IP address?” you may wonder.  An IP address is a unique identifier assigned to every device connected to the internet. It is like a digital address that identifies a device’s online location. Knowing someone’s IP address can allow cybercriminals to launch various attacks. For example, they could use it to conduct a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack to overwhelm a website’s servers or gain unauthorized access to a network.

Teaching Cybersecurity Skills

teaching-cybersecurity-skillsCybersecurity education should involve teaching children the skills needed to protect themselves online. Some of the essential cybersecurity skills include:

1. Password management

Children should learn how to create strong passwords and keep them secure. They should also know not to share passwords with others.

2. Privacy

Kids should understand the importance of privacy and how to protect their personal information online. They should also know how to adjust their privacy settings on social media and other online platforms.

3. Safe browsing

Children should know how to browse the internet safely, avoiding suspicious links, pop-ups, and downloads.

4. Social media safety

It is important to know how to use social media safely, including understanding how to recognize fake profiles and how to report inappropriate content.

5. Email safety

Identifying and avoiding phishing emails is also important. Teach kids how to verify email authenticity before clicking links or downloading attachments.

6. Reporting

Children should know how to report cyber threats and online harassment to trusted adults or law enforcement authorities.

Cybersecurity education can be incorporated into various learning environments, including schools, after-school programs, and online home learning. Teachers and parents can use age-appropriate materials, videos, games, and interactive activities to teach children about cybersecurity.

Creating a Cyber-Safe Environment

cyber-safe-environmentIn addition to teaching children about cybersecurity, creating a cyber-safe environment is essential. This involves setting rules and guidelines for using technology and the internet. Parents and teachers can establish guidelines on when and how children can use technology, what websites and apps they can access, and how to communicate safely online.

Parents can also use parental control software to monitor their children’s online activities and limit access to inappropriate content. This software can also help prevent children from accidentally downloading malware or giving out personal information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cybersecurity education is essential for children in today’s digital age. As children become more exposed to technology and the internet, they become more vulnerable to cyber threats such as phishing, malware, cyberbullying, identity theft, and hacking. Cybersecurity education should teach children the skills to protect themselves online, including password management, privacy, safe browsing, social media safety, email safety, and reporting.

Parents and teachers can also create a cyber-safe environment by establishing guidelines for technology use and using parental control software. Educating children about cybersecurity can help them navigate the digital world safely and reduce the risk of cyber threats and cybercrime.

The Wheels On The Bus Go Round And Round: The Ultimate Guide To Choosing A School Minibus

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guide-to-choosing-school-minibus

School minibuses are an important part of modern school life.

Whether you are taking children on a once-in-a-school-year trip to a museum or medieval castle, or a regular weekly journey to a swimming pool, the school minibus is a vital part of the journey.

Choosing the right one for your school and your school children can be difficult, but this guide should help you whittle down your choices and find the best bus for your school.

Lease, Hire, Or Buy?

lease-or-hire-school-minibusThere are a few different ways to finance a school minibus, and you need to work out which will be the best for you and your school. If you rarely use a vehicle, hiring one may be a better solution for ad-hoc travel plans. If you have a school minibus in your fleet, however, you a much more likely to find new uses for one that can often help add to your curriculum or service a school sports team.

Minibuses are a great asset for schools, and leasing one is probably the most cost-effective solution. You can lease a school minibus from The Minibus Centre and get behind the wheel of a modern minibus that has all the features you need to make school trips simple and safe. Their management team will help you find a minibus that suits your school, and a financial arrangement that suits your needs.

Reliability Is Key

reliability-of-school-minibusWhichever model of school minibus you choose it needs to be reliable. A breakdown on a motorway or in a car park can be a stressful experience, but it is even more stressful with a classroom full of kids on board. Minibuses are a lot like cars, older ones are more likely to have reliability problems. Modern minibuses are much more reliable, and their engines will have fewer issues and cheaper maintenance costs. Spending a little more on a newer vehicle will save your school money in the long run.

Find a minibus that is from a recognisable manufacturer. This will help ensure that it is more reliable and that any parts it ever needs for repairs will be readily available. If the vehicle ever needs to spend time off the road for repairs you do not want to be waiting a long time for a part to become available. This would have a massive negative impact on your regular school trips.

Safety Features

safety-features-of-school-minibusThe most important features of a school minibus are the safety features. These features help to protect the children during a journey, and you and your school have a duty of care to uphold. Seatbelts for every child are an obvious safety feature, and every minibus should have a seatbelt for every seat. If your minibus requires a special seating configuration, make sure this will not affect the availability of seatbelts.

There are some other features you should look out for when choosing a school minibus that will make life easier too. Reversing cameras can be a big help when finding a parking space, and can help your driver avoid small knocks. This simple addition can cut down on the cost of repairs, as well as help keep the children and the vehicle safe. Other features to consider are wipeable, easy clean seats and accessibility options for wheelchair users or less-abled children.

Seats For Everyone

seats-for-everyone-in-school-minibusSeating on a school minibus is very important. There needs to be a full seat with a seatbelt for every child, and the adults that are along for the ride. If you have students that are wheelchair users or have mobility problems, you need to ensure there is a space for them too. That space may need to have mounting points for a wheelchair to be secured to the vehicle during a journey.

The seating available for adults on the journey can be an important feature that goes overlooked. Having a rear-facing seat at the front of the vehicle is a handy feature that can give a teacher or parent an added level of control over the passenger cabin. The children have a pair of eyes supervising them throughout the journey, which helps keep them calm and lets an adult keep a watchful eye on things. Look out for this feature or consider adding it if you can.

Decoration And Signage

School minibuses should be fun as well as functional. The sides of the minibus are an opportunity for your school to show off some style. Decorations and signage can be a fun way to make your minibus your own, and make it easier to identify in a car park. You could turn the decoration of your minibus into a school competition. Asks classes or individual students to come up with a design for your school minibus and the winning design gets used on the bus.

How you can decorate your vehicle will depend on your financial arrangement. You will not be able to make any changes to a hired minibus, but if you own or lease your school minibus you should be allowed to add some customisations to help your vehicle stand out a little. Avoid paint if possible. A lot can be achieved with plastic wraps and adhesive signs. This makes it easier to remove the detailing later so you can return the minibus to your leasing agent or sell it to a new buyer without the signage.

Licencing And Insurance

licencing-and-insurance-of-school-minibusMany people can drive a school minibus with a standard UK driving licence. Make sure you fully investigate your driving licence before getting behind the wheel, as not all UK driving licences will allow the holder to drive a minibus over a certain size or weight. The age of your licence is an important factor. If you passed your driving test before the 1st of January 1997, you should be able to drive a minibus as these licences automatically include category D1 vehicles. You can only drive them voluntarily, however. You cannot drive them if you are specifically paid to do so.

Insuring a school minibus is a lot like insuring a private vehicle. You can search for a range of quotes using online tools and find the right balance between coverage and cost for you and your school. Insuring a school minibus is a little bit more expensive than insuring a private car, so be prepared for a jump in price from what you are used to. Most policies will insure any licenced driver drives the minibus but always check the details carefully before someone new gets behind the wheel. It is worth paying a little more to insure the vehicle with a reputable insurer that you can trust so that if there is a claim it can be settled quickly and you can get your minibus back on the road without too much disruption.

Final Thoughts

Remember this guide when you are searching for a school bus. Not all of them are the same. If you take your time and make a shortlist of must-have features, the deciding factor will be the cost. Investigate the different benefits of leasing or buying, and make sure you get some insurance quotes before committing to a vehicle.

5 Tips To Stay Ahead in Your Teaching Career

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teaching-career

After landing your first role in teaching, you might think it’s time to settle down, take it easy and enjoy your new role. Whilst this is still true in some respect, it’s important to keep moving forward, and progressing in teaching can lead to a long and rewarding career.

Learning new skills, getting leadership experience, and taking on extra responsibility will accelerate your professional development and help you stand out from the crowd.

Gaining extra experience, building strong, long-lasting relationships with your peers, and staying up to date with current teaching trends are all key ways you can take your career further.

It’s important that you recognise the potential opportunities for growth and make the most of them when they come around.

1. Nothing Beats Experience

teaching-career-developmentAs with any job, there is no substitute for experience. Knowledge of the real working role will change the way you react and deal with things and shape you as a teacher. It helps you develop and nurture the key skills needed to succeed and gives you a crucial understanding of the role and its requirements.

Experience is key for individuals starting their career, but also for those who are further down the line. To progress, you must consistently broaden your skill set and keep up to date with new ways of working. Having relevant experience is also key if you plan to change roles or specialise in a chosen area.

2. Build Relationships

teachers-talking-careerEducation is a relationship-based profession. Everything you do involves the building, maintenance, and development of relationships, from students to other professionals. They permeate throughout a school and those who progress successfully are often those who learn to develop, cultivate, and utilize those relationships in positive and powerful ways.

Nurturing professional relationships is a great way to learn from your peers and expand your skill set. Align yourself with key staff within the school and watch and learn from their approach to teaching. This can also open other opportunities that can help to take your career to the next level.

3. Partner With a Specialist Recruitment Agency

Recruitment-agent-teaching-careerWorking with a recruitment agency will help save time and put you ahead of the pack in an often highly competitive industry. They will use their skills and extensive networks to find the perfect role for you with the requirements you are looking for. Their knowledge is invaluable, and they offer fantastic support throughout your job search, from tailoring your CV to helping you showcase any nonprofessional experience.

Recruitment agencies such as LTF Recruitment are perfect for finding your first job as a newly qualified teacher (ECT), or as an experienced professional. They have various roles available for individuals looking to progress their careers in education, as well as a careers hub that features free and paid courses to help you stand out from the crowd.

Working alongside a recruitment agency that specialises in education roles will mean you can take advantage of the relationships they have already forged with schools in your area.

4. Stay Ahead of The Curve

teacher-training-for-teaching-careerThe education sector never sits still and there are always changes being made. Whether it’s new ways to teach, advances in technology, new syllabuses, or something else, you should always be on the front foot and up to date with any changes. Those who can adapt rapidly and are super organised are always more likely to progress further and faster.

Consume online industry-related content, continue with courses, build strong relationships with other teachers, and attend industry events and talks to keep your knowledge fresh.

5. Be Patient and Focused

teacher-working-for-teaching-careerYour skills and experience are both integral to your career progression, but it’s not the only thing that matters. Your personality, determination, and work rate will all impact the level you reach and how quickly. Work hard, stay focused and develop your skills and you will achieve your teaching career goals. Remember, your natural characteristics and personality will often open doors in your career when your skill sets are equally matched.

Getting to where you want to be in your career will take time. Focus on where you want to go and have a clear plan of how you want to get there, but be flexible enough to recognise other opportunities that might appear.

5 Ways For Online Educators To Keep Online Students Focused

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If you’re an educator who teaches online, one of the biggest issues you must deal with is a lack of focus from your students.

Because you’re not all in one room together, it can be hard to hold their attention. Not only that but there are always going to be more distractions at home than there would be in a traditional classroom.

Although it might sometimes feel like an uphill battle, there are some good measures you can put in place that will help your class concentrate better when you’re all working online.

1. Schedule In Plenty Of Breaks

break-to-keep-online-students-focusedOne of the reasons why adults and children – it doesn’t matter who you are teaching – will become distracted is tiredness. If they just keep working for hours on end, they’ll become exhausted, they’ll lose focus, and they won’t retain as much information.

Because of this, when you’re planning your lessons, you need to make sure you schedule plenty of breaks. If you include a five-minute break every half an hour, your students will stay much more focused, and they’ll get a lot more out of the lesson. You’ll feel as though you’re making more headway as well.

These breaks should ideally be spent away from the screen, and in a perfect world they’ll go outside, but any kind of break is a good start.

2. Be Consistent

be-consistent-to-keep-online-education-engagedIf you are tasked with teaching a class online, you need to be consistent. You need to get there on time so you’re ready to teach, you need to have a good lesson play, ideally with a starter to get people’s minds working, and you’ll need to work to a set routine.

Starting late, having a bad Wi-Fi connection, changing the routine randomly, and so on will be distracting, and it will mean that the students can’t concentrate. This might even be a subconscious feeling, but the result will be the same. Do whatever you can to stick to be as consistent as possible.

Even if you move offices, you’ll need to work out a way to stay on task, such as using IT relocation services so your students don’t have to be disrupted.

3. Remind Students To Eat And Drink

students-keep-healthy-to-focus-on-online-educationThis might sound strange, but reminding your students to eat healthy, energy-giving snacks and drink plenty of water throughout the day can make a big difference. It’s easy to forget to do these things or put them off until later when you’re busy with school or college work.

However, if you don’t properly nourish your body, you’ll become fatigued, unfocused, and irritable. Dehydration will cause headaches, and hunger will cause stomach aches. None of this is conducive to good work and good concentration.

You can remind your students to eat and drink when you send them for a break, for example. Or you can have a flask of water on your desk – when they see you sipping from it, it will remind them to do the same. No matter what you do, properly refreshed and hydrated students will be able to focus on what you’re teaching them much better than those who are hungry and thirsty, so encourage a safe and healthy learning environment even remotely.

4. Speak To Them About Devices

learning-devices-keep-online-students-focusedYour students wouldn’t have their phones or tablets with them in a traditional classroom (or at the very least, they wouldn’t be constantly looking at them – or looking at them at all), so you could make it a rule that they shouldn’t look at their devices while they are in class with you. Although they might think they can quickly check Instagram or TikTok, if they are in class, they’re meant to be listening to what you’re saying or carrying out work you’ve asked them to do.

Another issue that isn’t present in the classroom is the device they’re using to see and hear their lesson. Whether it’s a laptop, tablet, or phone, they need it to engage in their lessons, but it could mean it’s tempting to look at social media, for example.

At some point, you need to trust that this won’t happen, but keep reiterating the rule every day to ensure everyone understands that it’s in place because of their best interests.

5. Have One To Ones

one-to-one-learning-to-keep-online-students-focusedIt can be hard to teach online because of a more distant kind of interaction with your students. Because of this, you might not notice if someone is distracted or seemingly worried about something.

This is why it’s crucial to schedule one-to-ones with your students. When you do this, you can ask them about anything that might be worrying them and find out what it is that is causing them to be distracted.

Once you know, you can help them focus more and ensure you take their concerns into account. This will help keep them engaged throughout the mobile learning time and they will also build a stronger relationship with you.

Global Schooling: What’s an International Approach to Education?

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We can’t talk about the modern education system without mentioning the lockdowns that occurred during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

In the post-pandemic world, we know the limitations of traditional schooling better than ever before.

We know that there are only so many hours in a single day, and one physical classroom can’t accommodate the educational needs of all students.

That’s why we’re starting to see the emergence of a new concept: global schooling.

Limitations of Traditional Schooling

limitations-of-traditional-schoolingThe world is becoming globalized. And the traditional approach to schooling is becoming increasingly inadequate to meet the needs of students around the world.

According to a survey of over 3,000 people conducted by Tyton Partners, 6 out of 10 parents believe that educational preferences have changed post-pandemic. The need for more control, flexibility and personalization in the learning experience is becoming increasingly apparent by the day.

Some of the things the traditional schooling system is lacking include:

  • Consistency: We’ve seen how easily the traditional school system can fall apart. We don’t know when another world-changing event will happen. Researchers agree that even short interruptions in learning can lead to long-lasting negative effects on the educational, social, as well as emotional well-being of children.
  • Individualization: The lack of individualization in the school system isn’t anything new. As a matter of fact, the problem has been discussed since the 1970s. With the need for customized study plans, the traditional schooling system is unable to meet the needs of each student.
  • Diversity: Learning about different countries, histories, and cultures have been a problem for quite a while. With classrooms filled with students of different backgrounds, it’s obvious that the traditional system lacks the diversity needed in the modern world.

Now, when we say that the school system lacks diversity, we’re not talking about the students. The classrooms are more diverse than ever.

Rather, we’re talking about the fact that students often don’t have the opportunity to learn about the world beyond the one that surrounds them.

What’s Global Schooling?

In the past, families looking for study and work opportunities had to move abroad to find them. Research before the pandemic showed that there were more than 10,000 international schools around the globe, with nearly 5.4 million students enrolled.

However, international education nowadays is much more attainable. The lockdowns not only showed that eLearning is feasible and effective but also that students can also benefit from experiencing schooling around the world.

In Asia, for example, the demand for “Western-style education” has led many students to start visiting American and European learning platforms. For instance, 24HourAnswers, a platform that provides answers to students’ academic questions, saw a surge in traffic from places like Japan, China, and India.

The schools definitely noticed that modern students want opportunities to learn from several sources and perspectives. It’s time for parents and schools to start adjusting to the new reality and provide students with the global exposure they need.

How Global Schooling Could Help Students

how-global-and-online-schooling-helps-students

So far, we’ve established that learning about new cultures and perspectives is crucial for success in the modern world. Students need to prepare themselves to collaborate with a multicultural workforce and to understand the nuances of international relations.

But we’ve just scratched the surface. There are many more benefits to global learning, including:

● Flexibility

flexible-online-schoolingDifferent students, naturally, have different learning styles, schedules, and goals. Constraining the students to a single location, fixed timetable, and defined curriculum can limit their educational potential.

Not to mention that we’re discovering that there are more students with sensory issues than we thought. These students would greatly benefit from working with specialists that could personalize their learning experience.

● Selection

boy-studying-onlineWith large migrations across Europe and Asia, schools look more diverse than ever. It’s estimated that in high-income countries, around 15% of students are now from migrant backgrounds.

While a new country can give these students access to the education they need, a lot of them would still like to have an opportunity to learn about their home country and ancestor culture.

Connecting with teachers from their native land in their native language can help them make sense of their roots. That way, they can establish a healthier relationship with a place that shaped their parents.

● Accessibility

boy-attending-virtual-classStudents in remote areas have had problems accessing quality education all throughout history. With no need to commute from one place to another, remote and online learning has democratized education.

New technological advancements can help this process further by allowing students from all four corners of the globe to attend virtual classes in Metaverse-inspired classrooms.

Last year, Jeremy Bailenson, the director of Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, started teaching a VR class called “Virtual People.” Already, 260 people have been enrolled.

● Globalization

globalised-online-learningAccording to research from the World Economic Forum, the Asia Pacific region, followed by Europe, North, and Latin America, has had the biggest presence on learning platforms. Other regions will undoubtedly soon follow suit.

Experts in different fields aren’t concentrated in a single part of the world anymore. Leading STEM researchers are mainly located in Asia, the best programmers tend to be located in Europe, and so on and so forth.

Giving students access to the best professionals globally can help them learn more quickly and maximize their potential. Whether looking for help with math homework or trying to learn how to program in Python, global education platforms can give students access to educational materials from around the world.

The Future of Schooling

In the end, what are we proposing? Should all schools move online and start offering fully customized learning programs for students? Not at all. That would be far too drastic of a change, and since students need to socialize, this approach could be counterproductive.

However, it’s undeniable that the global approach to education has many benefits for today’s learners. The question is, when will we be ready to move beyond the traditional system and take advantage of what the world has to offer?

No matter what form global schooling takes, this new approach can and will help students more than it will hurt them.

9 Implementations To Make Your Business More Disability Inclusive

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a-woman-on-wheelchair-talking-to-another-woman

An estimated 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, experience a significant disability. All these people use the products and services of businesses every single day, whether it’s supermarkets, retail websites, banks, or healthcare centres.

But despite this, it is remarkable how many organisations fail to make their business suitably inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities. Accessibility is more than just a wheelchair ramp or elevator. There are countless forms of disability, many of which are invisible.

It’s important that businesses large and small, take steps to make people with disabilities feel welcome, valued, and accepted. Too often, when buildings are erected or websites created, accessibility is seen as an afterthought at best. If true systemic change is to happen, inclusivity must be at the heart of all businesses.

If you own a small business and are wondering how you can make your company more disability-inclusive, there are so many things you can do. It’s important to remember that while physical access is crucial, it is only a small part of the solution.

What is really at the heart of the matter is equal service and ensuring that those with disabilities feel respected and empowered.

Here are a few tips for different kinds of disabilities to get you started.

1. Easy Parking

open-office-building-with-large-parking-spaceMost people without a disability don’t think about the considerations a disabled person has to make when choosing a business to fulfill their needs. Those with wheelchairs and reduced mobility will tend to opt for those with the most accessible parking spaces. This applies to everything from shops and cinemas to law firms and accountants. Parking in a busy town or city can be difficult for anyone, but for people with disabilities, it is often a dealbreaker.

Don’t let your lack of accessible parking cost you, customers. When choosing an office space to rent or erect your premises, this should be a major consideration. Designated handicapped parking spaces need to be laid out and marked in a particular way, as well as being wider and as close as possible to the main customer entrance.

2. Clear Pathways

a-woman-with-wheelchair-going-on-ofiice-pathwayThose with mobility impairments must be able to get around easily, both outside and inside your store or offices. Ensure all pathways are wide enough for wheelchairs, crutches, guide dogs, or human assistants.

A disabled person should be able to get from their transport to your premises with ease, but this shouldn’t stop at the front door. Interior passageways should be wide and kept clear at all times. Most people underestimate the need for hallways and corridors to be clutter-free.

It’s common in many offices to see cardboard boxes casually placed on the floor, or garish product displays set up right in the middle of a supermarket. But for a disabled person, this can be a huge inconvenience. Not to mention a dangerous hazard for someone who is vision impaired.

The layout of your office or store should be factored in, and there must be space for a wheelchair to pass through, turn around, and navigate corners with ease.

3. Good Lighting

an-office-with-good-lightingThere are far too many trendy stores and restaurants that attempt to create an atmosphere by keeping the lighting as low as possible. For many consumers, this is a minor annoyance, but for people with vision impairments or reduced mobility, it can be a real danger.

It’s important to make sure your store or office interiors are well-lit, so anyone can see their way around at any time of the day or night.

If possible, try to allow as much natural light into the building as possible, by leaving blinds and curtains open during the day and removing any obstacles from windows.

If necessary, supplement this with additional lighting, especially in passageways and other high-traffic areas.

4. Minimal Noise

there-is-two-man-in-office-area-one-on-wheelchairA lot of businesses play loud music at all times of the day, but this can be incredibly distressing for those who are hard of hearing. It makes it far more difficult for them to have a conversation or get help from a member of staff.

Although there’s nothing wrong with playing music at a low level, make sure it is not overwhelming and consider people on the spectrum of autism for example, who are hypersensitive.

5. Easy-to-Reach Products

a-man-with-wheelchair-writing-on-boardIf you own a shop, you want disabled people to be able to reach the products they need without help. High shelves are a major inconvenience for those in wheelchairs, little people, and others who may have trouble seeing or reaching the products on display. Generally, anything above four feet off the ground is not going to be accessible for many people.

The same applies to restaurants, and it is increasingly common to see dining establishments with high tables and service counters. Most buildings are designed and built by non-disabled people, many of whom are taller than the average person and don’t factor other needs into account. This can make life difficult for shorter people and exclude wheelchair users entirely. Generally, try to keep the things you want your customers to see at a lower level.

6. Accessible Toilets

washroom-mirrorNavigating public toilets can be difficult for disabled people, especially if they are in an unfamiliar building or location and don’t know what the facilities are like. Some disabilities mean an individual will need to use the toilet more often than most, so it’s important you have accessible bathrooms to cater to the disabled.

Having a separate accessible toilet for the sole use of those who are disabled is ideal. If your establishment has a single toilet cubicle for disabled and non-disabled customers to share, this can lead to long wait times and cause anxiety. Someone with a disability is unlikely to patronise a business with inadequate toilet facilities.

It’s essential you ensure you have a toilet that is accessible and comfortable. Make sure you get input from disabled people in the process, so you know everything you need to include.

7. Staff Training

there-is-two-woman-in-office-and-discussing-something-one-on-wheelchairSome members of your staff may not know people with disabilities or be aware of the challenges they face. Although they no doubt mean well, this may make it difficult for them to provide the service a disabled person may need. It’s possible they may display signs of ableism – whether intentional or not – that can make someone with a disability feel unwelcome and insulted.

As an example, a shop employee may not know how to interact with someone who has a visibility impairment and will ignore them because they don’t know what to do. On the other end of the spectrum, many people with disabilities have experienced people being overly condescending and attentive when their help is not required.

Actions like moving someone’s wheelchair without permission are an extreme invasion of one’s personal space, yet those who carry out this behaviour often don’t realise they are doing something wrong.

The solution is to ensure your staff undergoes full training in inclusivity and diversity. For those who are customer-facing, it is essential that they can meet the needs of the entire business clientele, providing an excellent service to all customers, disabled or not.

Training should ensure your employees are knowledgeable and sensitive to the requirements of disabled people while making them aware that some disabilities are not visible. The training can also focus on soft skills as they are important for any customer-facing member of staff.

8. An Accessible Website

a-man-on-wheelchair-using-the-laptopWhen thinking about accessibility, most business owners don’t consider the importance of their company website. But using the internet is a challenge for many disabled people, especially those with vision impairments, reduced motor function, or learning difficulties like dyslexia.

Making sure your website is inclusive to these individuals will only necessitate minor changes on your part but will make a world of difference to a disabled person. Things like breaking up content into digestible chunks or making the font larger will ensure it is easier to read.

Optimise and upgrade your website for keyboard navigation, as this will improve the user experience for those with motor difficulties that have trouble using a mouse. Write helpful alt text on images so those with impaired vision can understand the content and be careful with your use of colours.

Offering live chat functionality is a great way to enable many disabled people to contact your business, as they may not be able to visit you in person and it is a lot simpler than using the phone or email. Take a look at some of the best chat solutions for websites.

9. Company Culture

a-man-with-wheelchair-and-two-woman-doing-meeting-in-a-companyIt’s not only important that your business is inclusive to its customers, but also to its employees. There’s a high chance that one or more of your staff have a disability, so as an employer, you must be sensitive to that fact. It is your responsibility as an employer to cultivate a work environment that is transparent, positive, and inclusive.

Closing Thoughts

You want to foster a workplace in which those who are disabled feel comfortable sharing their experiences and challenges. Make a conscious effort to hire people with disabilities and promote learning and change across your organisation.

Not only will you be creating a welcoming environment for those with disabilities, but you will also be helping your business by expanding your customer base.

The 6 Benefits of Standing Desks for Teachers & Students

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In today’s classrooms, standing desks are becoming increasingly popular to improve student learning and engagement and the well-being of all.

In a study released by the Office for National Statistics in 2018, one of the four most common reasons for sickness absence of musculoskeletal problems (including back pain and neck and upper limb problems).

With many education settings grappling with student absenteeism and increased staff absences, standing desks could improve the situation. Standing desks are not only beneficial for students’ and educators’ physical health, but they can also help to create a more productive learning environment, improve focus, and promote better posture.

In this article, we will explore the benefits of using standing desks in the classroom and discuss why they are becoming an increasingly popular choice for educators and schools.

The top 6 Benefits of using Standing Desks in Education

benefits-of-standing-desks1. Better Physical Health

benefits-of-standing-desks-for-physical-healthStanding desks can help to improve students’ and educators’ physical health by reducing the amount of time they spend sitting in one position. This can help to reduce the risk of developing poor posture, back pain, and other health problems associated with prolonged sitting.

Additionally, standing desks can help to increase students’ and educators’ energy levels and alertness, which can lead to improved focus and engagement in the classroom.

2. Increased Focus

better-focus-for-teaching-and-learningStanding desks can help to improve student and educator focus by allowing them to move around and change positions throughout the day. This can help to reduce fatigue and increase engagement in the classroom.

Additionally, standing desks can help to reduce distractions by allowing students to stand away from other students who may be disruptive.

3. Improved Posture

better-posture-with-standing-deskStanding desks can help to improve students’ and educators’ posture by encouraging them to stand upright and maintain good posture while at school. This can help to reduce the risk of developing poor posture, which can lead to a variety of health problems.

Additionally, good posture can help to improve students’ focus and concentration, which can lead to better academic performance.

4. Higher Productivity

alternate-between-sitting-and-standingStanding desks can help to increase student and educator productivity by encouraging physical activity which stimulates the mind and brain activity. Engaging in theoretical activities combined with physical movement activates muscle memory as well.

Memorization and recall are enhanced and lead to higher productivity when engaged in tasks or assignments.

5. Increased Energy

teacher-students-standing-while-studyingStanding desks can help to increase energy levels in the classroom by allowing students and educators to move around and get their blood circulating. This can help to keep students alert and focused, leading to better learning outcomes.

The EZ Shopper standing desk for example is an adjustable desk, which is designed with a wide range of heights, so students and educators of all sizes can find a comfortable position to work in. It also features a spacious work surface, making it easy for its users to spread out their materials and work efficiently.

Additionally, it is easy to assemble, making it a great choice for educators who want to quickly and easily set up a standing desk in their classroom.

Why is standing up while learning more effective?

standing-desks-improve-classroom-learningStanding up when answering questions, doing quizzes or exams helps the student stay focused and engaged in the lesson. It also helps to create a sense of order in the classroom and can help the teacher to better assess the student’s well-being.

Additionally, standing up when answering questions can help to increase the student’s confidence and self-esteem, as it shows that they have the courage to speak up and be heard in front of the class.

Finally, standing up can also help to improve posture and blood circulation, which can lead to better overall health and well-being.

Is it better to sit or stand while studying?

A lot of research has been done on the effects of sitting and standing on learning outcomes.

Generally, the consensus is that standing is better for learning than sitting. Studies have shown that standing desks can improve concentration, reduce distractions, and increase engagement.

Additionally, standing can help to improve posture and reduce back pain. A standing desk can be more beneficial if used properly, by alternating between sitting and standing throughout the day and by following the recommended height guidelines for a more comfortable posture.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to sit or stand while studying should depend on the individual and their needs. Some people may find that they are more productive while sitting, while others may find that they are more productive while standing.

It is important to experiment and find out what works best for everyone. However, to maintain a good posture throughout the day and taking regular breaks in order to keep the mind and body engaged while at school is a key elements of a healthy lifestyle.

How to build a football career with football training for jobs in football?

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England is one of only 8 countries to ever have won the World Cup.

But the money and glory aren’t just in playing in the World Cup. The European football market is huge at 21.9 billion pounds. The size of the industry guarantees a place for someone with adequate football training.

Proper football training is indispensable for anyone pursuing a career in football in England.

In this guide, we’ll explain the different stages of undergoing proper football training in England.

Football training as a youth

Most footballers start their journey young. Here are some ways your child can do it as well.

1. Start out at football schools

jobs-in-football-at-football-schoolsFootball training can start at the age of 4. As a parent, you must focus on your child’s training, exercise, and nutrition.

With this, enroll your child in a football school. It is recommended for children between the ages of 4-12.

The school can provide healthy competition and growth in a structured learning environment for your child. They will be in the hands of professional coaches who will help them become well-rounded and versatile footballers.

Famous football schools in England can be found in almost every city that has a football club. Additionally, you can find football academies that are not part of an FC:

Nike Academy

David Beckham Academy

Academy of Light

Arsenal F.C. Under-23s and Academy

Chelsea F.C. Under-23s and Academy

Liverpool F.C. Reserves and Academy

Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy

Newcastle United F.C. Reserves and Academy

Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Under-23s and Academy

For international football:

FCV International Football Academy

Manchester International Football Academy

You can find many local football training academies in your vicinity as well.

If a football school is not an option, don’t forget that there is football taught at every public and private school in the UK and football clubs are usually offered too. Encourage them to try for the school team. Like Jordan Pickford whose only experience before signing to his hometown club aged eight was playing for his school.

2. Join a football boarding school

football-boarding-schoolsOnce you have tested the waters with football schools and think your child has what it takes, send them to a high-performance football boarding school.

These boarding schools are geared around creating professional footballers and football is part of their daily routine. These schools will develop your child’s raw talent and teach them the soft skills needed for jobs in football.

One such boarding school and academy is Ertheo where Calaum Jahraldo-Martin spent 2 years in the academy learning everything there is to know about professional football.

Other famous football academies and boarding schools in England are:

Bradfield College

Millfield School

Shrewsbury School

Brooke House College

Conduct research about the nearest boarding schools to you, meet the teachers and coaches, check the facilities, and go with the one you feel is the best match for your child.

3. Participate in football tournaments

football-career-with-football-trainingOnce your child has the training needed, it’s time to test their abilities on the field.

Encourage them to take part in tournaments. Just in 2023, there are three types of football tournaments coming up:

  • Tournament Nationals – A regional grassroots competition for U7 to U15 boys and U9 to U13 girls.
  • The One. 11v11 Nationals – A national one-day tournament for 11v11 teams U13 to U18 boys and U14 and U15 girls.
  • One Tournament England Experience played at St. George’s Park National Football Centre for U8 to U11.

They can also register for football festivals like ESF 2023. It is the biggest football festival operating since 1989.

Your child will be able to meet legends like Robert Pires, John Barnes, Ian Wright, Kevin Keegan, Casey Stoney, Teddy Sheringham, Jordan Nobbs, and Danny Murphy.

Starting a career in football

Being a professional footballer is the dream job for many. It promises fame, wealth, luxury and so much more.

Here are a few steps to follow to get on track for jobs in football.

1. Join a team

how-to-join-a-football-teamFootball is a team sport, so if you want to play and learn the game, you must join a team.

To maximize your visibility to scouts during your development, you must play games frequently.

Additionally, don’t be scared to switch teams. While it is good to support a local team, if they lack excellent coaching or perform at a high level, it serves no use for you personally.

You must be willing to look for the best setting for your skills to flourish if you want to succeed as a professional.

How can I join a football team?

You can use the Find England Football website to find the type of team that you are looking for and join them for competitive leagues and tournaments.

2. Create a football CV

football-resume-and-cv-tipsIt is a good idea to put together a CV listing your:

  • Positions
  • Qualifications
  • Accomplishments, and
  • Graphic highlights, if any exist.

Not only does it give recruiters and future employers a profile of you, but it also fosters self-reflection, which may help you figure out your strengths and limitations.

Consider your resume as a personal statement outlining both the football player you are today and the one you hope to be in the future. You can use it as a tool for setting goals in that regard. In the digital age, it is also recommended to have an online portfolio or CV website.

3. Get an agent

football-career-agentFootball, like many other professions, places a strong emphasis on networking. An agent can help you make contacts within the industry.

Although agents play a variety of roles, their primary responsibility is to match you with appropriate teams and make sure you are treated fairly.

In many instances, agents or agencies will approach you in an effort to represent them. But you can also go look for them.

When looking for an agency, you should do your research because not all of them are close with managers or club officials.

How can I find a good football agent?

Go to the list of FA Registered Intermediaries. You can compare and pick an agent you find suitable and get in touch with them. To make them interested in you as a player, send a highlight video of yourself and make sure the first few seconds include your best plays.

4. Go to a football trial event

jobs-in-football-with-trialsA prospective footballer’s club trial might be one of the most important moments in their career.

It’s an opportunity to demonstrate football skills to a potential employer and possibly land a job.

It is advisable to take the trial very seriously, showing the qualities that brought you there in the first place, but also to make an effort to enjoy it.

Do your best throughout the practice and games while showing respect for the staff, coaches, and other players.

Don’t give up even if your trial doesn’t lead to a contract offer. Keep trying.

5. Play football at university

football-career-at-universityYou can also try for a football scholarship at a university. You will get to play on the team and receive higher education.

Clubs keep an eye on collegiate football, and some universities have close relationships with clubs. So, you have a chance to join that club.

You can conduct your football training outside college as well.

For example, Matt Smith gained non-league football experience with New Mills, while studying at the University of Manchester. Subsequently, he made his debut for New Mills in the North West Counties Premier League.

Here are some of the scholarships you can apply for. Once you have chosen a scholarship, visit their official website and check if you meet their criteria.

Variety of jobs in football

Jobs in football don’t just entail playing for a team or in a club. There are tons of other options and let’s explore them.

1. Youth coach

football-career-as-youth-coachYou will work at the grassroots level.

With instructing kids in football, you also have to inspire them to play, watch, or coach football for the rest of their lives.

You will obtain the certifications and credentials required to instruct their sport, such as the FA badges for football coaches, allowing your players to take part in engaging, instructive, and hands-on lessons.

You will need to pursue one of the following degrees at the renowned University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) and Global Institute of Sport at the Wembley and Etihad campus to become a youth coach.

  • BA (Hons) Football Coaching (Blended)
  • BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management
  • BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Talent Development
  • MSc Football Coaching
  • MSc Football Coaching (Blended)
  • MSc Football Coaching & Analysis
  • MSc Football Coaching & Analysis (Blended)
  • MSc Performance Analysis in Football

2. Academy coach

football-training-for-jobs-as-academy-coach

You will work from the grassroots to the professional level for the footballer’s development.

Every level has unique duties that call for unique skill sets. You can pursue degree programs, or several industry certifications to improve your employability. This also includes football-related credentials from The FA and UEFA.

Such Academy coach degrees at the UCFB include:

  • BA (Hons) Football Coaching (Blended)
  • BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management
  • BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Talent Development
  • MSc Football Coaching
  • MSc Football Coaching (Blended)
  • MSc Football Coaching & Analysis
  • MSc Football Coaching & Analysis (Blended)
  • MSc Performance Analysis in Football

One of the first people a young player will interact with when they sign up with a professional club is an academy coach. You will be in charge of overseeing their anticipated growth.

You will also be essential to the management structure of the first team.

3. Performance analyst

football-career-as-performance-agentThe perfect job for football fanatics.

You will analyze each play from every game that a club participates in, and that of the opposition week in advance.

You will print copies for the players and coaching staff to study as they get ready for the upcoming big game.

The coaching staff must have all the resources available to them to prepare their team. It is your job to work around the clock to make sure of this.

Like scouts, you will record the athletes’ performance and fitness levels using tools like Scout7, STATS (previously ProZone), and data gathered by companies like Opta.

Performance coaches typically have degrees from UCFB in the following fields:

  • ​​BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Talent Development
  • BA (Hons) Football Coaching (Blended)
  • BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management
  • MSc Football Coaching
  • MSc Football Coaching (Blended)
  • MSc Football Coaching & Analysis
  • MSc Football Coaching & Analysis (Blended)
  • MSc Performance Analysis in Football

4. Scout

football-scout-careerDo you have an undying love for the game? Work as a scout and you can see thousands of players of all ages and levels over a season and unearth tomorrow’s talent.

You should have a natural eye for spotting talent in any position as a scout, and a voracious appetite for football at all levels.

Stats, data, and software now play a significant role in scouting new talent in the twenty-first century.

Finding the next generation of talent is made easier by programs like Scout7 and STATS (previously ProZone) and gathered by companies like Opta.

You can pursue either of these degrees at UCFB to become a scout:

  • BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Talent Development
  • MSc Football Coaching & Analysis

So what’s next for you?

England loves football with unimaginable passion. Exactly how popular is football here in England?

A Statista survey revealed that in the 2020/21 academic year, around 33.3 percent of children aged between 5 and 16 had played football in the week prior to the survey.

 

So, there’s a tremendous opportunity and competition in the UK to build a football career, not to mention possible fame and wealth. Lace those boots, give up excuses, gather the information you need, and get going.

Top 5 Geography Apps For Primary School Kids

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A 2008 study to raise geographical awareness found that 65% of Britons feel that the United Kingdom is made of 4 countries instead of 3 (England, Scotland, and Wales).

A decade later, in 2018, another survey revealed that 1 in 5 Brits didn’t know that Europe is a continent. 

Well, that’s enough to prove that we, as a country, need to brush up on our geography skills. And what’s a better way to do that than start right in primary school?

In fact, the Internet is now making learning simpler, more effective, and more enjoyable.

And we have a bunch of geography learning apps that can help primary school kids learn geography, in an easy and fun way.

Read on to check out the top-rated 5 geography apps for primary school kids. 

How did we select these 5 geography learning apps?

There are hundreds (if not thousands!) of apps that are filed under the ‘geography’ tag on application stores. So how did we find out the top 5 apps for your primary school kids?

Well, our team carried out extensive research and found these apps based on the following criteria:

  1. Apt for kids in primary school
  2. Affordable for parents/teachers/educators
  3. Good user ratings on app stores/websites
  4. A unique set of features that promote geography learning in a fun way

Disclaimer: all app details listed are based on the latest information available at the time this post was published. 

This article is a result of independent and unbiased research by our team of in-house experts.

Read on. 

Top 5 Geography Learning Apps for Primary School Kids

Quick Summary

Here’s a quick summary of the top 5 apps for learning geography for primary school kids. 

App Age Rating Price What is it? Download Link(s) Overall Rating
Stack The Countries Everyone $2.99 A fun educational game that lets children stack countries and earn points for learning geography. Apple store

Play Store

4.51
Google Earth Everyone Free Interactive app that allows users to explore the world through satellite imagery and maps.  Play Store

Apple Store

4.21
Barefoot World Atlas 4+ years $4.99 Engaging app for introducing children to geography and cultures with interactive maps, illustrations, and animations. Apple Store 4 ⭐
Seterra Geography 4+ years Free Educational app that offers quizzes, games, and exercises to help kids learn geography. Apple store 4.8⭐
Osmo Detective App 5+ years Free A unique app that combines physical play with digital learning using real-world maps and landmarks. Apple Store

Fire tablet

4.72

 

1 – Average user rating from Google Play Store and Apple App Store

2 – Information as mentioned on the app website

1. Stack the Countries

Age rating: Suitable for primary school kids and above.

Price: £2.99

Stack the Countries is a fun and educational geography app designed specifically for primary school kids in the UK.

Watch the game in action here. 

Key features:

  • Interactive game that challenges players to stack countries based on their location, flag, shape, and other features.
  • Comes with a ‘Learn mode’ that provides information about each country’s population, area, capital, and other geographical titbits.
  • The game can be customised to help players focus on certain specific regions or geographical features.
  • Cool voiceovers and fun animations engage young players and make learning more enjoyable for them.
  • Offers comprehensive progress tracking and reward options that can be used by teachers to encourage continued learning
  • Scope for choosing from the multiple user profiles, making it perfect for classroom or family use.
  • Available in multiple languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, and more.
  • The app also works without an Internet connection, making it ideal for on-the-go learning.
  • Designed specifically for primary school kids in the UK and aligns with the national curriculum.
  • Affordable price point, making it accessible for schools and families.

Get Stack the Countries for iOS

Get Stack the Countries for Android

2. Google Earth 

Age rating: Everyone

Price: Free.

Google Earth is a fascinating app brought to you by Google that can be used to help primary school kids learn about geography by exploring different parts of the world and discovering new places.

Key features:

  • Has an interactive 3D globe that can be zoomed in and out to view different locations.
  • Lets users search for specific places and landmarks.
  • Comes with a Street View feature that allows users to virtually walk through streets anywhere in the world. 
  • The Layers feature can be used to display different types of information, such as weather, traffic, and satellite imagery.
  • Users can create custom maps and save them for future reference.
  • The Flyover feature lets users virtually fly over landscapes and buildings.
  • Using the time-lapse feature, users can see how a location has changed over time, thus, adding a historical touch to geographical learning.
  • Information cards that provide details about landmarks and places.
  • The Voyager feature offers guided tours that have been created by experts.
  • Also includes classroom resources that provide lesson plans and activities for educators

Get Google Earth for iOS

Get Google Earth for Android

3. Barefoot World Atlas 

Age rating: Suitable for children aged 4 and above.

Price: $4.99

Barefoot World Atlas is a beautifully-designed interactive atlas app designed by Barefoot Books. The apps can help children learn about different countries and cultures around the world.

Key features:

  • Features an interactive 3D globe that can be rotated, and zoomed in and out to view different locations.
  • Has high-quality graphics and animations that make learning more engaging for its young audience.
  • Offers a vast pool of information and statistics about countries like their flags, currencies, languages, and more.
  • Has interesting narration and music that enhances the learning experience to make it fun. 
  • Includes interactive games and quizzes that test children’s knowledge and assess what they have learned so far.
  • Users can also create custom tours and save them for the future.
  • Has in-depth articles about different cultures and countries.
  • Also works in the Offline mode that allows children to explore the app without being connected to the Internet.
  • Available in multiple languages, including English, French, German, and Spanish.
  • The app has been designed with input from teachers and educational experts and aligns perfectly with the national curriculum.

Get Barefoot Atlas for iOS

4. Seterra Geography 

Age rating: 4+ 

Price: Free

Seterra Geography is an educational app that helps children learn geography, countries, and their capitals with ease. The app offers different modes that cater to different learning styles and abilities.

Key features:

  • Covers all types of coursework and geographical exam levels.
  • Includes different game modes, including quizzes, timed challenges, and map exercises, to help children learn in different ways.
  • 4,000+ geography quizzes and exercises.
  • Comes with multiple difficulty levels that cater to children of different ages and abilities.
  • Teachers/parents can customise the quizzes to help children focus on specific regions or topics.
  • The app can be accessed offline as well. 
  • Post learning about countries, users can quickly test their memory with interaction map identification. 
  • High-quality graphics and animations have been used to make the experience enjoyable. 
  • Features leaderboards and achievements that use the spirit of competition to help children continue learning and improving.
  • Allows zooming into even the smallest islands that dot the maps
  • The app is free to download and entirely ad-free. 

Get Seterra Geography for iOS

5. Osmo Detective Agency

Age rating: 5+ 

Price: Free

(The physical version of the game costs $49 and needs an Osmo base to play, which costs $39)

The Osmo Detective Agency app is an educational game that combines physical play and digital learning to teach children about critical thinking, deduction, and problem-solving. All while exploring different regions and geographies.

Key features:

  • Features an interactive game that allows children to solve mysteries and crimes by collecting clues and analysing evidence.
  • Built using interactive artificial intelligence technology.
  • Includes virtual travel to 6 countries and tracing clues while learning about the country’s geographical locations and landmarks.
  • The physical game pieces are used to interact with the digital game on the Osmo base. This ensures that children also spend quality time with family/friends and not just on their devices. 
  • 8 maps, a map holder, and a magnifying glass come included when you purchase the game. 
  • Includes multiple game modes, including Story mode, Free Play mode, and My Detective mode, that are suitable for different learning styles and abilities.
  • Has an adaptive learning algorithm that automatically adjusts the difficulty level based on the child’s performance.
  • Includes various themes and storylines, for example, Monster Mansion, Detective Agency, and Secret Pizza Party, that keep children engaged and motivated.
  • Custom profiles can be created for multiple players. This makes it perfect for families and classrooms.

Get Osmo Detective Agency app for iOS

Get Osmo Detective Agency app for Fire tablet

Let the Geography Fun begin

With that, we have come to the end of our list of geography learning apps for primary school kids. And now it is time for you to start downloading the most suitable app for your kids’ needs.

With these geography learning apps, your child can learn geography while enjoying it to the fullest. 

Check out other recommended online games and apps here for more learning fun:

Best 7 STEM Subjects Apps for Young Children

 

14 Best Free Math Apps for Kids For School Readiness

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