iPads, MakerEd and More in Education

Below is a collection of some of what think are the best mobile apps for teaching world history. The apps cover different topics from history maps to timelines of world historical events. We have also included a quiz app to test students general knowledge in history. We arranged the apps int two main categories: iPad apps and Android apps.

Reading about archaeology and museums and ancient civilizations can be a lot like reading about anything else at school—some kids might find it moderately interesting, while others probably wouldn’t. But what if students could play the role of archaeologists and museum curators, researching and creating their own museum exhibits using the very latest in super-cool modern technology?

My 8th grade World History survey course covers the Paleolithic Era to 1500 CE, and in the first few weeks of school, students are introduced as much to the study of history as to the content. In a virtual meeting with an archaeologist, my co-teacher and I got the idea for a Project Based Learning experience, culminating with a museum exhibit, complete with 3D-printed artifacts and augmented reality software, to showcase their learning to their parents. Below is the outline of the project.