How Can Teachers Use It?
For many teachers, videos are an engaging way to introduce a learning unit or to supplement instruction. While the right video can be hard to find, teachers will definitely appreciate Mobento for its high-quality content.
The excellent search tool is especially helpful for busy, on-the-go teachers -- the quick search will be a real time-saver for finding just the right video to meet their needs. Additionally, teachers might want to recommend the app to students who have access to a mobile device -- either those who may need some extra support,or those who might benefit from some enrichment in a particular subject.
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What's It Like?
Mobento is focused on finding high-quality learning videos from around the Internet for students' and teachers' benefit. Offerings on the app include videos from both TED and Khan Academy, among others. The Mobento app allows teachers and students to search for and watch videos from a curated selection of content. Mobento claims that its search algorithm allows users to search the words within their curated list of videos; this helps locate the most appropriate video for their learning needs.
Users sign up for "courses" based on topic and then proceed to view the related videos or bookmark them for later viewing. Users are encouraged to "favorite" videos in order to help others on the site find the best content more easily. Additionally, users can leave comments and take personal notes on each of the videos. Social media sharing is encouraged through Facebook, Twitter, and email.
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Is It Good For Learning?
Mobento focuses primarily on topics in science and math but also includes a few humanities-based "courses" like world history, world religions, and education; new topics are added from time to time. The app's search feature is its most powerful tool; the ability to quickly find the best videos from around the Web -- based on the video's content -- is an outstanding feature.
The app is easy to navigate, and its simple interface allows for users to quickly engage with the content. However, with such a strong search feature, it's disappointing that Mobento doesn't offer captions for every video. In many cases, determined users may be able to find the videos on their original sites and enable captions there. TED, Khan Academy, and other learning sites from which Mobento pulls its content offer a captions option -- it would be great if this feature could work within the app. Overall, while it's nice to find these curated videos in one place, an even more extensive collection would help round out the site.
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The main screen highlights Mobento's breadth.
The search function allows students to search for precisely the video they're looking for.
A list of recent videos helps users navigate.
The menus are easy to navigate.
