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Review by Caryn Lix, Common Sense Education | Updated April 2016

WhatsDue

Name: WhatsDue
Item: WhatsDue
Rating: 4
Author: Caryn Lix

Digital to-do list keeps students on-track, parents involved

Subjects & skills

Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.

4–12

Great for:

Classroom Management

Common Sense says (See details)

Teachers say (2 Reviews)

Take a look inside

3 images

Easily communicate upcoming events and assignments

See events in a clear, easily managed style

Pros: Student app has slick design with swiping to remove assignments, and customized reminders

Cons: No dedicated teacher app; removes some of the onus for students to

Bottom Line: If you're looking for a simple, free solution to manage assignment due dates and keep students accountable, then WhatsDue might be your answer.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Teachers can use WhatsDue to help students and parents stay organized, especially as it relates to turning in assignments on time. However, because families will require access to technology and the willingness to download the app, teachers should not rely on WhatsDue as their only method of connecting between families and school. It's an excellent option, but will not work for all students or all situations.

What Is It?

WhatsDue is a communication and classroom management app that offers teachers a way to share their calendar and classroom events, such as assignments and quizzes, with students and their parents. There's a web-based version teachers can use to manage classes, and then iOS and Android apps for students and parents. Families can check important dates and receive notifications when they're coming up. These notifications are voluntary -- students and parents will have to set the app to send them notifications, which is different from some of the one way text messaging apps available. Students can also select the intervals they want for their due date reminders. The most important part of WhatsDue isn't the reminders, however, but the "to do" list, which offers families a clear, easy to read list of upcoming assignments, events, and quizzes. As with many other electronic to-do applications, students can simply swipe to remove completed items. Teachers can organize their lists and add new types of events, such as school lunches or field trips, as well as the pre-loaded choices (assignments, quizzes, homework, etc.)

Is It Good for Learning?

Communication between parents and teachers is key to helping students succeed, and WhatsDue provides a simple, effective way for families to stay in touch. It eliminates the need for parents to contact the teacher asking about missed assignments, and will likely be very helpful to students who have difficulty organizing their own assignments and are always carrying around a smartphone. For many students, the traditional structure of writing things down is no longer feasible or practical; this allows them to use their phones and tablets in a way many of them will already be used to.

Rating Details

Overall Rating

Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

Students and parents alike will appreciate the modern, convenient way to keep up with assignments.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

Communication between home and school keeps students accountable, organized, and on track.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

Signing up is simple and efficient, and the website offers live chat and support.

Common Sense Reviewer

Caryn Lix Classroom teacher

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Teacher Reviews

(See all 2 reviews) (2 reviews)

Featured review by
Stephanie K. , Classroom teacher

Classroom teacher

Late assignments be gone!!

I really do love this app and think it's been a spectacular addition to the tools I use to keep my kiddos on track with their assignments. The feedback I received from the class that piloted the app was phenomenal! Several parents actually went out of their way to stop me and thank me for giving them such a useful tool. Especially since some of them travel and it allowed them to know ahead of time things they wanted to help their child finish up before they went out of town. ...

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