10 apps students, teachers and parents should know

A new school year is about to begin, and there’s a lot of information to keep track of over the next 10 months. To help you along the way, Observer Online has compiled a list of 10 apps and online services that are sure to make it an easier year for students, teachers and parents alike. For college students Notion — This catch-all app is perfect for the fast-paced college environment where students must keep themselves strictly organised.

Notion acts as a digital workspace, allowing users to take notes, track tasks and even create databases. Anki — Flashcards have always been a mainstay of studying, but this app repackages the traditional method with an algorithm that it says helps students focus on more challenging material rather than repeat what they already know. A favourite of medical students, it also uses spaced repetition, which it claims helps users remember more.

For teens Lightbot — As Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education continues to be a priority for Jamaicans, the Lightbot app may come in handy. The video-game-type app, where users must tell a robot how to activate light tiles in a given level, aims to teach youngsters the basic concepts of programming. A Lightbot Jr app is also available for younger students.

Focus Tree — With the ongoing issue of screen time and shortening attention spans, teenagers who need help with staying focused may find it with Focus Tree, a distraction blocker presented in a game-like format, allowing students to maintain a digital garden while staying off their phone. Focus Tree not only blocks out social media apps during designated study times but also allows for flashcard creation and quizzes. The app also has a social aspect; it allows users to join shared gardens, view friends' study stats, and track group streaks.

For young children ABC Mouse — With no third-party advertisements, developers say parents can be confident that thousands of educational pieces and quizzes included in this app are all that their toddlers will be exposed to. Geared towards children aged two to eight, ABC Mouse has a free tier which offers up to 10 activities per day, as well as paid customisable options. Khan Academy Kids — Billed as an academy in an app, this app has free courses and is paced to each user, providing more quizzes as your child needs them and using animated characters and fun activities to …