Tools Apps For Students Experiment Design

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Ideation and Design Tools

Popplet

Minimalist mind mapping to organize ideas

Bottom line: Easy-to-use idea organizer can help with simple mind mapping.

Grades: 1–12 Price: Free, Paid

MURAL

Multifaceted interactive whiteboard promotes collaboration

Bottom line: MURAL facilitates lesson presentation and group project collaboration from anywhere by making idea sharing a simple, visual process.

Grades: K–12 Price: Free, Free to try, Paid

MAD-learn

Create mobile apps with extensive help from start to finish

Bottom line: Intuitive platform encourages students to engage in design thinking and coding with loads of support.

Paper by WeTransfer

Beautifully designed digital sketchbook for any age

Bottom line: The simplicity and effectiveness of the app make this a powerful sketch and note-taking tool for the iPad.

Lucidchart

Intuitive editor helps users create and share dynamic visual diagrams

Bottom line: Students and teachers can use this tool alone or collaboratively to build and share stunning, effective visuals that stretch thinking.

Grades: 4–12 Price: Free, Paid

The Noun Project

Think in pictures with vibrant visual language everyone can understand

Bottom line: It's a neat, well-executed concept with lots of possibilities for learning, imagining, and creating.

MindMeister

Powerful mind mapper aimed at adults, simple enough for older kids

Bottom line: Sophisticated productivity tool enhances learning and organization with simple dashboard and slick workspace.

Grades: 5–12 Price: Free, Paid

Stormboard

Collaborate, brainstorm in real time with easy-to-use online whiteboard

Bottom line: A versatile, full-featured online brainstorming collaboration tool that can facilitate small-group projects.

Grades: 5–12 Price: Free, Free to try, Paid

Explee

Build slick, engaging whiteboard animations with Web-based tool

Bottom line: A stellar -- if somewhat pricey -- creation tool for the classroom.

Grades: 6–12 Price: Free, Paid

SketchUp

Make learning meaningful through 3D design

Bottom line: SketchUp is a fantastic, subject-agnostic tool that does take time to learn but helps students gain truly useful, transferable skills.

Grades: 6–12 Price: Free, Paid

Autodesk Sketchbook

Impressive creation tool for teens serious about art

Bottom line: Gives students easy access to professional tools for creating digital art.

Grades: 7–12 Price: Free to try

Grafio 3 - Diagram Maker

Flexible app transforms sketches into pro-level designs and diagrams

Bottom line: A terrific choice for creating simple diagrams or presentations on iOS.

Websites With Design Resources, Activities, and Inspiration

Makers Empire

Stellar 3D design hub promotes innovation, collaboration, and creation

Bottom line: This is a great design and creation tool that teachers and students can use to be innovative and share ideas with a vibrant community of makers.

Grades: K–8 Price: Free, Free to try

Design Squad Global

Fun engineering problems encourage classroom competition, innovation

Bottom line: Design Squad Global makes learning STEAM concepts fun through hands-on activities and easy-to-understand scientific explanations.

DIY

Design, build, and share new things offline and online

Bottom line: DIY motivates kids to tackle a wide range of problems with independent and scientific thinking.

Grades: 3–8 Price: Free to try

Tinkercad

Amazingly simple yet powerful online CAD tool turns kids into makers

Bottom line: Full-featured site and app make iterative 3D design accessible, social, and relevant.

Common Sense Selection

Google CS First

Middle school CS curriculum has stellar resources, room for creativity

Bottom line: A high-quality introductory CS curriculum where students can be creative, collaborate with others, and express themselves, in the classroom or at home.

KidsThinkDesign

Projects inspire creativity; a place for kids' sharing would boost fun

Bottom line: A go-to site for teachers looking for well-presented project ideas; kids will need opportunities to share work locally.

Common Sense Selection

Global Problem Solvers

Free animated series and companion materials bring problem-solving to life

Bottom line: If teachers go beyond the videos and worksheets, students can apply what they learn to hands-on, collaborative problem-solving projects.

Autodesk Design Academy

Outstanding project-based tutorials for popular engineering software

Bottom line: The projects found here are a great way to teach and learn digital design; all are truly fantastic (and free!), with everything you need ready to go.

WhiteBox Learning

Design, analyze, and then build STEM applications

Bottom line: Complete learning modules include simple CAD design simulation tools, a digital competition, and options for hands-on building.

Grades: 6–12 Price: Free to try, Paid

Instructables

Endless collection of DIY projects; good for sharing and inspiration

Bottom line: User-generated projects inspire sharing and learning, though more refined navigation would make it easier to sift through all the great ideas.

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