10 Powerful Android Applications for Mobile Learning

10 android applications that are very useful for mobile learning are showed below. I have been using those applications for my learning purposes. The information of application details is taken from https://play.google.com/store.

1. Blogger

Blogger is a free app to create and manage blogs, an online personal diary/journal, namely writing a post, saving and publishing it, editing currently posts and embedding images to the posts. I use Blogger for learning such as writing self-reflection of the course, paraphrasing the materials, or just sharing my ideas about education. For example, I wrote a reflective essay entitled “My Learning Improvement during The Course” on my blog, http://wahyuddinmy.blogspot.com.au/. I think Blogger provides Bloom Taxonomy of Understanding, Analyzing and Evaluating since I can discuss, explain, summarize, interpret, compare, contrast, criticize, argue and verify the topic of the course.

2. Merriam-Webster 

Merriam-Webster is a free app to look for English word definition, synonyms and antonyms. It has features of voice search, example sentences, audio pronunciations and “word of the day” and can be operated despite no internet connection. I use the app for vocabulary building and seeing collocation. For example, if I want to know how an English word is appropriately used, I will read the word use in example sentences on the app. Meanwhile, the app supports Bloom Taxonomy: Remembering (because I can repeat and memorize words) and Understanding (because I can compare and interpret the use of the words). 

 3. English Synonyms Dictionary

This app is a free and offline English synonym dictionary, containing 8,500 synonyms with sound. The user just types a word on search feature, then the app will display its synonyms. I use the app to paraphrase my sentence. In doing an essay, for example, I should paraphrase the statement that I cite to avoid a lot of similarities detected by Turnitin by using synonyms.   In term of Bloom Taxonomy, the app helps learners in Remembering (because they repeat, list and memorize words) understanding (they compare and interpret the words), and applying (they use the words in writing and speaking).

4. Survey Monkey

This free app is intended for creating a survey, then sending it out via email, text, or social networks. Moreover, the app allows users to compare and analyze survey results in real time, then display the data in charts and tables. For me, this is a wonderful application to learn and conduct research. For example, I apply it to investigate my student satisfaction regarding my teaching. I think the app is helpful for Remembering/Understanding (learners list and classify indicators), Applying (they demonstrate research methods), Analyzing (they distinguish participants), Evaluating (they measure results) and Creating (they formulate, design and organize survey).

5. WhatsApp 

WhatsApp is a no-fee app and uses internet connection to send and receive text messages, free-calls, photos, videos, documents, voice messages, location and contacts. Moreover, it can bookmark the important messages, save chat history and broadcast messages. In terms of learning purposes, I use its Group Chat to interact with my classmates. For example, I discussed and debated about assignment 1 of Research Design with my classmates last semester in WhatsApp group chat. In my opinion, WhatsApp provides all Taxonomy Bloom levels: Remembering (reproduce), Understanding (explain), Applying (discuss), Analyzing (criticize, question), Evaluating (debate, argue, verify) and Creating (rewrite).

6. CM Browser

CM Browser is a free android app for browsing. To operate it, its users just open the app then type key words of information that they want to find out. The app is embedded with personalized bookmarks so that they can mark the important page and easily to revisit it in the future. I personally use CM Browser for my education activities such as browsing the information or seeing course information on MyUni. I think that CM Browser is a good way for Remembering in Bloom Taxonomy because learners can operate it to select and identify the information they need.

7. IELTS Flashcards

IELTS can be effectively learnt by using this free app. The app helps learners study faster by showing 2,000 premade flashcards from Achieve IELTS, Reading, Writing, Advance Vocabulary and General Vocabulary, making the learning process more exciting and fun. It was very beneficial for me in learning IELTS in 2015. In that time, one of my teacher feedback was I used to write common vocabulary in writing. By using the app, I could remember some advance vocabulary and applied them in my writing. The app helps learners remember (reproduce, write, select), understand (classify), apply (apply), Evaluate (select) and Create (rewrite). 

8. ColorNote

ColorNote is a free notepad app containing two note taking formats. Firstly, a Lined-Paper Styled Text Option allows users to type, save and edit words as many characters as they want. Secondly, a Checklist Option is listing items. After the list is saved, the users can check or uncheck each line. I personally use the app for taking note and listing learning activities to do. For example, while teacher is explaining the materials, I summary the information via text option. Bloom Taxonomy levels in this app are Remembering (learners list, memorize, and write) and Understanding (learners paraphrase and summarize information).

 9. TED

TED is a free and ideal app to watch talks from a lot of the world’s most fascinating and inspiring people. We can choose the video based on topic such as education, adventure, advertising, animals and many more, with subtitles in over 90 languages. For me, I use the app to build my vocabulary, develop my pronunciation and acquire new ideas in education sector. For example, I got a new insight about education after watching Ken Robinson “Do Schools kill creativity?” Bloom Taxonomy levels supported by this app are Remembering (recite and repeat), understanding (interpret), applying (illustrate) and analyzing (criticize).

10. YouTube  

YouTube is a free app for watching, commenting and sharing videos. Just open the app, then type the key word(s) of videos wanted to access. I use the app for learning especially when I need a tutorial. For example, last semester in Quantitative Research course, I used to misunderstand teacher’s explanation about SPSS such as how to conduct regression analysis. To solve that, I watched SPSS tutorial on YouTube, and I repeated it again and again until I got it. YouTube can assists learners in remembering, understanding and applying because they can repeat, discuss and demonstrate something they watch.

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