A Quick Primer on Useful Phone Applications for Tutoring and Academic Support

Modern educators rarely agree on how to properly use technology in and out of the classroom. This is particularly true with regards to smartphones, which, in the past ten years, have rapidly become the bane of many a teacher’s existence. While smartphones are often banned from the classroom, the gadgets still tend to “mysteriously” wind up in students’ laps, where the phones' soft glow often draws their eyes like moths to a flame (one fueled by inane texts and a never-ending stream of nostalgia-driven listicles).

Tutors too understand the frustration involved with peeling students’ eyes away from their phones. This is particularly upsetting because these students ostensibly seek out learning centers for help. With all of this in mind, it is time to start using the powers of technology for good. The truth is smartphones are uniquely well suited for higher education. Not only do they offer myriad applications capable of teaching students complex concepts through easy and approachable processes and games, they also make it possible for students to study in their spare time, whether while they are watching television, riding the bus, or killing time between classes.

Both Apple and Google offer countless proprietary and third-party applications that are well worth implementing in tutoring centers, if only in the closing minutes of a session. This way, tutors enable students to immediately practice the many things they’ve learned in the center—even on their way home. 

The following list is intended as a primer of sorts. Many of these apps are well known and widely used. Most of them involve mathematics.

1. Evernote

Evernote is the gold standard for phone and tablet note-taking software. It is available for just about all phones and tablets. It not only allows students to take text-based notes, but also allows them to take photos and record audio. This information is then stored in a Cloud, which makes it available to students from wherever they choose to log in.  

2. My Script Calculator (iTunes, Android)

My Script Calculator allows students to use their fingers to write equations into a window. The software then converts these equations into digital text and helps students solve them. In this regard, it more or less replaces a traditional calculator. It is far easier to write out math problems with one's finger than it is to type them into a bulky calculator, so My Script Calculator is perfect for students working on Trigonometry, Logarithms, Constants, and many other forms of complicated math.

3. PhotoMath (iTunes, Android) 

PhotoMath is fairly self-explanatory. It allows students to take photos of math problems, and then it converts these photos into workable text. Obviously, ill-intentioned students might abuse this application if they are not required to show their work on homework. Still, the app is invaluable for students who like to work backward from solutions when they get stuck on specific problems. 

4. Algeo

Alegeo is a graphing calculator application for Android. It features an excellent interface that is easy for students to use. It has full scientific function, including support for trigonometry, radians, degrees, notation, etc. 

5. gFlashPro

gFlashPro is a rather intuitive flashcard application. It allows students to create and organize virtual flashcards and even enables them to attach photos and other helpful visual cues to each card.