25 STEM Education Apps You Need in 2015

blog.iat.com /2014/12/29/25-stem-education-apps-you-need-in-2015/

Willow Becker

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SHARES

As the new year approaches, the thought on everyone’s mind is how to make 2015 even more interactive,
educational, and engaging for STEM students than the past year. Indeed, it has become a national priority to
develop new ways to entice students to STEM careers and offer engaging ways to teach STEM that dismantles
old and less-effective learning methods. From flipped learning to incorporating Learning Management Systems
(LMS), to augmented reality, teachers are talking about how to keep moving STEM education forward.

According to a recent Teachercast article, 5 EdTech Trends Changing Education for the Longterm, one of the
biggest trends for 2015 will be the incorporation of more apps into classroom curriculum including gamification,
collaboration, self-learning and assessment apps. Terry Heick (@terryheick) at TeachThought echoed similar
sentiments in his post 30 Trends in Education Technology for 2015 while pointing out the challenges of
technology integration:

“Schools are getting better at thinking tech-first (not in terms of priority, but design). But they are
still struggling to meaningfully integrate edtech at the learning model and curriculum level.“

Apps are potentially powerful learning tools, but good scientists are not made by apps alone — fostering
collaboration and critical thinking is key to successful STEM learning, as it should also be in STEM-learning
technology. Just check out Bill Church‘s recent edSurge article, How Edtech Tools Have Revved Up 21st
Century STEM Instruction, for further evidence of how much technology is changing STEM education. Notes
Church, “To me, the most exciting thing that I am now seeing with technology use in my classes is the blending
of tools together.“

So, keeping all of this fantastic information in mind, we present the best, boldest, and brightest STEM edtech
apps (many of which are free, a few of which you may already be using) that will keep your students ready to
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“rock the STEM” for another amazing year!

TECHNOLOGY (CODING)

1. MIT App Inventor (Grades 6-12)

Devices: Android / Price: Free / Twitter: @MITAppInventor

What could be more perfect to start our app extravaganza than an app that lets you create more apps? This
new, web-based program from MIT is a simple way to teach students how to create their own apps, offering
fantastic additional supports for teachers. From the 6-week training course in app-creation, to the online
educator’s forum and Verizon Innovative App Challenge, you can put your school on the map and get your
students excited about maker-motivated science!

2. Hopscotch (Grades 4-6)

Devices: iPad, iPhone / Price: FREE / Twitter: @Hopscotch

As a winner of both the 2013 Parent’s Choice Award and 2014 Best Educational Technology Award, this STEM
education app just seems to be getting better with time. This most recent version, the Hour of Code Edition, is a
perfect introduction to coding for younger grade students. With the rules students learn in this game (like
sequencing, abstraction, values, and conditionals), they are able to create games, animation, and art. An
excellent, free game that is highly reviewed by both parents and digital tech teachers.

3. Lightbot (Grades 6-12)

Devices: All / Price: $2.99 / @lightbotcom

According to Graphite.com, “Light-bot…was developed for kids by an undergraduate student who’s been coding
since he was a kid himself.” As such, this student-centered, STEM education app teaches computer
programming concepts through puzzles and problem-solving tasks. Students move a robot through a maze by
using programming commands, Boolean Logic, and conditionals. This is a fun, game-based way to teach
students the basics of programming. Also, check out the Hour of Code Special Online Edition!

ASTRONOMY / SPACE SCIENCE

4. Pocket Universe (6-12, College Level)

Devices: iPhone, iPad / Price: $2.99 / Twitter: @CraicDesign

This is the ultimate astronomy app that allows you to learn while you stargaze. It was also voted Best Education
iPhone App by AppAdvice, as well as being an Apple App Staff Store Favorite. As a science teacher, or parent of
a science student, this is a perfect, no-stress way to teach astronomical concepts in a beautiful and simple way.
You can take virtual tours of all the bodies in our solar system, read the most recent astronomical news, and
much more.

5. Stephen Hawking’s Snapshots of the Universe (Grades 4-12)

Devices: iPad / Price: $4.99 / Twitter: @RH_Digital

This versatile, multimedia app was selected by the Apple App Store as one of the “Best of 2014 for iPad,” mainly
due to its stunning graphics and unparalleled science knowledge base. The app includes 10 astronomy-based
science experiments that include video, audio, and interactive elements. Students not only learn astronomy, but
basic physics – and it all comes from the brilliant mind of Stephen Hawking. Game-based science education
doesn’t get any better than this!

6. NASA Visualization Explorer (Grades 2-12, College Level)

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Devices: iPhone, iPad / Price: FREE / Twitter: @NASAViz

NASA (one of our awesome partners in STEM) is the hub of all astronomy science knowledge. This is a visual
collection of all their space research – from the moon landings to the outer edges of the Kuiper Belt. One of the
app reviews enthusiastically states that this STEM education app is “Without a doubt, one of the best apps
ever…Reminded me why I was so interested in space exploration!” As a teacher or parent, this is a necessary
tool for talking about the solar system, space exploration, and global climate shift.

MATH

7. Get the Math (Grades 7-10)

Devices: Web / Price: FREE / Twitter: @GetTheMath

A great platform that answers that tired question: “When will I ever need to know Alegebra?” By mixing videos,
web interaction, and real-world scenarios, Get the Math shows middle and high school students how Algebra
really does apply to their lives. Professionals in the fashion, sports, and special effects industries explain how
they use math daily, and set up situations for students to solve. The best part about this math education app is
that the situations all use notable, real people like chef Sue Torres and special effects artist Jeremy Chernick.
For more real-life examples of “math in action”, check out our post on Rex Moribe, Engineering Superheroes:
How a Math Program Turned a Surfer Kid Into a 21st Century Problem-Solving Whiz.

8. DragonBox 5+ (Grades 1-5)

Devices: All devices and Web / Price: $4.99 / @DragonBoxApp

Touted as the game that “secretly teaches algebra,” this math education app has won a number of significant
awards for children’s educational games. Children from ages 5 and up can play an increasingly complex series
of math-related games that teach algebraic rules and get them comfortable working with variables. Jinny
Gudmunson of USA Today called it, “Brilliant. Kids don’t even know that they’re doing math.” This game is so
much fun, it is a must-have for any teacher or parent who wants to give their student a head start in STEM
concepts.

9. Mathalicious (Grades 5-8)

Devices: Web / Price: $185/teacher/year or Pay What You Can / Twitter: @Mathalicious

In order to create the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs , it is vital to get them excited about math
during the formative middle school years. Mathalicious is not only real-world based math, but it’s interactive and
aligned with the CCSS. This online math education app puts students into fun, relevant situations (like learning
through “The Biggest Loser,” or how to determine how much a Wii should sell for), and teaches them how to use
middle and high school math to solve their problem. The best part? There is a novel, pay-what-you-can structure
so that it is affordable for almost any teacher.

COLLABORATION & ASSESSMENT

10. WeLearnedIt (K-12)

Devices: iPad / Price: Free, $10/month, $995/year / Twitter: @WeLearnedItApp

This brand new STEM education app (launched in August 2014), provides a dynamic way to share assignments,
track student learning, and organize student work. This is a must-have app for 1-to-1 iPad classrooms, as it
allows teachers to monitor each iPad in their class on a number of levels. They can also upload rubrics, edit and
share curriculum tracks, and create project-based assignments including files from external sources. Students
and teachers can manage and make comments on their work through individual portfolios, making it easy to
share progress with parents and other professional supports.

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11. Kahoot (Grades K-12)

Devices: All / Price: FREE / Twitter: @GetKahoot

This cloud-based classroom management system is a great way to incorporate gamification in your STEM
classroom. With this app, teachers can create quizzes and activities called “Kahoots.” Then, Kahoot makes it
easy to do quiz-style games, with students chiming in from their personal devices. In addition, students can ask
questions during a lesson or activity, which makes them more likely to interact with the information being
presented. This is a must-have app, not only because it is so fun and exciting for students (and teachers!), but
because the analytics available allow you to manage your students’ learning and progress so easily – and from
any device.

12. Educreations Interactive Whiteboard (Grades 6–12)

Devices: iPad / Price: FREE, $11.99/month, $1495/year / Twitter: @educreations

From the innovative and interactive team at Edmodo, get ready for a stress-free alternative to purchasing an
interactive whiteboard. Much like the in-the-classroom whiteboard, both teachers and students can create
presentations, interactive activities, and assessments easily. Yet, this online whiteboard doesn’t require the huge
up-front investment. This is a great STEM education app for incorporating project-based learning curriculum and
interactive presentations.

EARTH SCIENCE

13. Project Noah (Grades 4-12)

Devices: All / Price: FREE / Twitter: @projectnoah

This app not only teaches physical science and biology concepts, but civic responsibility and journalism.
Students can contribute to this crowdsourced nature journal of flora and fauna simply by taking pictures of the
world around them. You and your class can also join group or global missions (did we mention it’s social?) to
gain information for particular research goals. One of the best parts of this app is the “active user community,”
which gives your students a great forum to talk science with professionals and novices around the world.

14. Science through Photography (Grades 3-6)

Devices: Android, iPad / Price: $3.99 / Twitter: @AlexDJones

In this app, students are able to view high-resolution images and connect their visual experience to science
concepts. Developed to appeal to the three basic learning styles, students can manipulate the images, listen to
the lessons, and view the images simultaneously to get a deeper understanding of earth science. This is a
perfect app for creating multi-sensory lesson plans and modifying science concepts for high-needs students.

15. Earth-Now Jet Propulsion Laboratory App (5-12)

Devices: All / Price: FREE / Twitter: @NASAJPL

This is the one science education app in the pantheon of interactive NASA options that focuses on the earth’s
atmosphere and health. Through a series of color-coded maps, this app shows the surface air temperature of the
earth, gaseous levels, and other global climate data. Also, check out some of the other apps from NASA,
including Space Place Prime – a daily online magazine with space and earth-related news.

ENGINEERING & MAKERS

16. Sound Uncovered (Grades 3-12)

Devices: iPad / Price: FREE / Twitter: @exploratorium

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This impressive app is an interactive tool that teach students (and future sound engineers of the world!) about
acoustic phenomena, auditory illusions, and sound-processing. Your students can do virtual experiments and
look at fantastic images of how sound works. It includes supporting videos and webcasts to deepen the inquiry.
Teachers who have used the book have given rave reviews, like, “Every page includes exploration, investigation,
and reading text. Information is clearly presented and scientifically sound.”

17. Instructables (Grades 6-12)

Devices: All, Web / Price: FREE, $47.40/year, $69.95/2 years / Twitter: @instructables

For hands-on inquiry science, Instructables is a great source for cool projects that will inspire and guide kids.
This community of user-created projects aren’t limited to science alone, but include a huge repertoire of physical
science, biology, and food science activities (many of which are created by students). You can also get involved
in education groups and send messages to other teachers or parents. This is a great all-around resource for any
STEM supporter.

18. Robots for iPad (Grades 6-12)

Devices: iPad / Price: FREE / Twitter: @robotsapp

Touted by many (including the New York Times, Wired, The New Yorker, and many others) as the best robotics
app on the market, this mobile app from IEEE Spectrum Magazine is the go-to for students who are interested in
robotics. In it, students can explore over 150 different robots from 19 countries. They’ll love the stunning visuals
– with 360° views, video tutorials, and high-interest articles to support the experiential learning. Not only is it an
award-winning science education app, but it’s free, which makes it one of our top picks on the list!

GENERAL SCIENCE

19. Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards (Grades K-12)

Devices: All / Price: FREE / Twitter: @MasteryConnect

Publisher Mastery Connect has placed the planning power right into the palm of your hand with this informative
and functional app. Teachers and parents can now view the Standards in one app, in the palm of their hand.
Teachers can also organize lessons by conceptual progression and topic, or use the domains model. The
Common Core State Standards app, also published by Mastery Connect offers a similar experience but for
Common Core State Standards. The CCSS app has frameworks for both traditional and integrated Math
standards, much like the most recent version of the IMP curriculum from IAT. Whether you want the Math or
Science standards, Mastery Connect is the perfect app developer to keep your kids on track in 2015.

20. Anatomy 4D Google App (Grades 9-12, College Level)

Devices: Android, iPhone, iPad / Price: FREE / Twitter: @DAQRI

If your students have ever wondered why people get sick, or if you include medical and health inquiry into your
science curriculum (like our PBIS unit, “Good Friends and Germs”), this is a great tool to help them their
questions through inquiry and discovery into the human body – up close and personal! In this app, students print
any of the 2D images from the publisher’s website and then scanning it with their device. Instantly, they have an
anatomy lab that allows an intimate understanding of the human body. One parent said about the app, “Everyone
I’ve shown this to, loves it – including younger kids and even my daughter in medical school! The ability to really
closely inspect any aspect of human anatomy is incredible.”

21. DIY Nano (Grades K-5)

Devices: iPad, iPhone / Price: FREE / Twitter: @SWNISENet

This is a great app for hands-on teachers and parents who want to introduce nanotechnology to their students in

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a fun and simple way. Each lesson has step-by-step instructions, a list of easy-to-find materials, and support
videos to show you how to accomplish the experiments’ goals. Developed by the NISE Network and funded by
the NSF, this free app allows young students to learn complex nanotechnology concepts very quickly. In
addition, since the app requires adult supervision, it can be a great way to provide one-on-one science
instruction.

22. Algodoo (Grades 4-12)

Devices: Android, iPad, Mac, Windows / Price: FREE / Twitter: @algodoo

Description: Algodoo mixes the concepts of a sandbox and laboratory so that students can create their own
physics questions and discover the laws that govern gravity, magnetism, and light. Teachers can use the built-in
lessons, which feature reflection and assessment options, or create simple labs and tutorials that can be
duplicated by students at a later time. Teachers love this app because it really gives students a hands-on
experience with physics. One teacher commented, “Algodoo’s science lessons feature built-in prediction and
reflection questions to help players think through what they’re learning instead of just following directions.”

23. Labster (9-12, College Level)

Devices: Web / Price: $7.99 per lab, $29.99/student/year (high school), $49,99/student/semester (college) /
Twitter: @labster

A recent study published in Nature Biotechnology showed that regularly using this app in the classroom actually
increased learning outcomes by more than 70%. This web-based app focuses on teaching biotechnology and
microbiology, specifically to perform labs that are too expensive or unsafe for a traditional lab setting. Best of all,
the app is inquiry-based, meaning that students can make mistakes, hone their hypotheses, and learn the
underlying concepts in a very organic way.

24. The Radix Endeavor (Grades 8-12)

Devices: Web, Windows, Mac / Price: FREE / Twitter: @radixendeavor

The Radix Endeavor was collaboratively designed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MIT, and Filament
Games to be an innovative way to get students excited about math and science. Students adventurously
navigate their way through the island of Ysola, solving both math and science problems in order to win. As an
added bonus, the online game website offers teachers tools for incorporating the game into the larger class
curriculum structure. You can also learn more about the research backing the game’s development process and
specific learning outcomes.

25. News-o-Matic School Edition 2014-2015 (Grades 1-4)

Devices: iPhone, iPad, Android / Price: $9.99 / Twitter: @News_O_Matic

This non-fiction reading app was launched in early 2014 as a way for educators to support their curriculum with
reading practice. The School Edition provides five CCSS-aligned stories each day, with additional extension
activities and quizzes. News-O-Matic also incorporates writing exercises, which is perfect for schools that
promote cross-curricular content support. Although it’s not specifically a STEM app, there is a wealth of great
science and math activities and stories. News-O-Matic is a great tool for teaching students how to discovery the
science in non-science news and to question and discuss how science impacts real news. Great for promoting
science literacy.

What Do You Think?

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or administrator, these apps are a great investment in your students’ STEM
learning in the classroom and at home. From math and science fundamentals, to robots and nanotechnology,
there is something for every kiddo (and even adults) to get excited about.

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Are there any must-have STEM apps that we missed in this list? Share your thoughts and classroom-tested
suggestions in the comment section below!

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About
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Willow Becker

Willow Becker has been teacher, writer, and education enthusiast for over 10 years. She loves learning new
ways to think about science and math, especially when it includes explosions or zombies. She lives in Utah with
her daughter, husband, and dangerously fat Pug.

Latest posts by Willow Becker (see all)

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