New Version Allows Teachers and Students to Keep on Top of Assignments, Tasks and Feedback Anywhere, Anytime and on More Platforms
Showbie, the maker of the Showbie iPad app for classroom workflow, announced last week a new version of the app extending its use beyond iPads to include iPhones and access from any web browser.
Showbie, used by more than 1.2 million teachers and students worldwide, is backed by Point Nine Capital, Kymbask Investments Inc., Yaletown Venture Partners and Imagine K12. The company organizes the paperless classroom by making it easy for teachers to assign, collect and review student work on their mobile devices. Now offering more flexibility for on-the-go teachers and students, Showbie provides a complete workflow solution for schools deploying a 1:1 device rollout.
With more platform options, Showbie makes it easy for teachers and students to streamline their relationship and improve how they communicate. Students can turn in their homework assignments as easily as taking a “selfie”− they snap and submit.
Unlike other general classroom apps, Showbie allows teachers and students to annotate directly on photos and PDFs – no switching between apps – making completing assignments and grading fast, effective and personalized. Showbie also stands out from other apps with its voice note capability that provides another feedback option. Voice notes open up the app to younger students who are not yet able to type and help teachers differentiate for all types of learners.
“All too often, apps and technology promise a richer learning experience, but end up burdening the teacher facilitating it,” said Showbie CEO and Co-Founder Colin Bramm. “We designed Showbie to be simple to use and make classrooms more efficient. Now we can offer more flexibility and additional platforms for teachers to provide quick, engaging and, authentic feedback to their students.”
“Showbie speeds up the coursework process and enables teachers to provide more personalized feedback to their students,” said Kathleen Johnson, teacher at Iron Horse Middle School in San Ramon, CA. “The app’s expanded availability on iPhones and web browsers allows me to quickly update homework, grade assignments and check student progress from anywhere, with or without Wi-Fi.”
The new version of Showbie works with iPads and iPhones (iOS 8 or later) and on any web browser including Safari, Chrome and Internet Explorer. With these new options, teachers and students can access the app in multiple ways in the classroom, from home, or on-the-go. In addition to extending Showbie to more platforms for mobile and web use, the app will now be available in 10 more languages to keep up with growing global demand. New languages include Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, and Arabic.
Pricing and Availability
The Showbie app version 2.0 is now available worldwide exclusively through the App Store. The web version can be accessed at www.showbie.com. The basic app is free and a subscription version with additional features is available for teachers at $9.99 a month. A school-wide version is also available directly through the company website.
