The Best iPad Apps for Teachers

Link to Updated Version of this Article

Looking for a few good apps to use in your classroom?  Here is a short list of apps for iOS devices and some for Android.  Thanks to the ladies at SimpleK12 at #ISTE2014 for sharing these:

Spelling city - https://www.spellingcity.com/app-redirect.html?ReturnURL=%2F  - vocabulary, spelling lists, free activities

Science 360- http://science360.gov/ipad/ - this app offers streaming video on a wide array of science topics.

History pin-http://www.historypin.com/map/#!/geo:51.6,0.05/zoom:7/  - Teachers can use this site/app to pin pictures and information related to historical topics.

Wunderlist - https://www.wunderlist.com/en/  - manage your to-do list.

Project Noah- https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/project-noah/id417339475?mt=8&ls=1  or http://www.projectnoah.org/ - tool to document and explore wildlife.

Virtual tour - Library of Congress -https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/library-congress-virtual-tour/id380309745?mt=8 - Take a virtual tour of the Library of Congress.

iTunesU - http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/itunes-u/ Download the app or visit the link for more information on virtual courses from a wide range of K-12, Colleges, or Universities.

Quizlet - http://quizlet.com or https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quizlet/id546473125 - create and deploy quizzes on the app or online.

Kindle - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kindle-read-books-ebooks-magazines/id302584613?mt=8 - You don’t need a kindle to take advantage of the Amazon service.  Download the app for your iPad.  

Evernote - This note taking app allows you to curate topics from anywhere. - https://evernote.com/evernote/ or https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/evernote/id281796108?mt=8

Zite - This curation tool lets you gather articles from your favorite web news sources - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zite/id419752338?mt=8

Sockpuppets - This app lets you create your own sock puppet videos with backgrounds, scenery, and yes, sock puppets- https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sock-puppets/id394504903?mt=8

Dictionary.com - Look up any word, root word, synonym, antonym...you name it. http://dictionary.com or https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dictionary.com-dictionary/id364740856?mt=8

Space images - images and videos of stars, planets, and space.  From NASA - http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/apps/spaceimages/

Groovy grader - an EZ Grader App - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/groovy-grader/id376433959?mt=8

igradr - grader tool - Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teachersparadise.iGradr&hl=en

Sphere 360 -  Explore or create 360∘ moments with this app using panoramic photos. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sphere-360o-photography/id335671384?mt=8

Bloomberg app - Math and Finance app by Bloomberg - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bloomberg-for-ipad/id364304764?mt=8

Khan academy - video tutorials on educational topics - https://www.khanacademy.org/ or https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/khan-academy/id469863705?mt=8

History maps - Interactive Maps of the world for iPad.  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/history-maps-of-world/id303282377?mt=8

Stack the states - Learn the 50 states and their place on the map - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stack-the-states/id381342267?mt=8

50  States - Free - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/50-usa-states-free/id482015762?mt=8

Simple K12 app - Stay in Touch with SimpleK12 PD on your iPad -https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/teacher-resource-day-simplek12/id630772183?mt=8

The Teacher and the One iPad Classroom

Recently I ran across an article in twitter that discussed tips on teaching in the one iPad classroom. The article share several great tips and I thought I would continue the discussion by providing some of what I have learned along the way myself.

Splashtop - this app was mentioned in the above article and have to agree it is great. Available in the app store for $2.99 this app allows the teacher to utilize wifi to control their teacher desktop from anywhere in the room. While it requires a bit of installation to get started, you basically stream across the network to your computer and you can see your desktop (PC or MAC) on your iPad. Sort of like using the iPad as a slate.

Socrative- who needs clickers when students can respond to your questions on their own devices via this free app. Teachers download the socrative teacher app to their iPad to create and deploy questions. Student's download the socrative student app to access your questions via a code given by you. What better way to employ #BYOD!

HDMI or VGA Out cable - Depending on which type (HD or VGA) LCD projector you have in your classroom, you can purchase a cable for $40 or less to connect and mirror content from your iPad onto your projected screen. This is great if you are teaching from keynote, trying to demo an app, or simply teaching from the web. The only caveat is that you are wired to your projector. If you don't like that, you can go wireless by connecting Apple TV to your projector and using AirPlay.

Flipping with videos- planning on flipping your classroom this Fall? Try one of these apps (educreations, screenchomp, or explain everything) to record your lessons and offer them up as short bits of lecture/homework for your students.

Thanks to Think-Share-Teach for the inspiration for this entry! Enjoy the new school year!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

No boundaries: Using iPads to reach English Language Learners

Tis afternoon I attended a session by Lisa Estrada, Program Coordinator, and Heather Parris-Fitzpatrick, Program Specialist with Nassau, BOCES. The discussion focused on the use of iPads for ESL students.

http://esltechies.com

Essential questions:

--How can educational apps strengthen and support critical thinking?
--How can digital media remove boundaries and promote achievement for ELLs?
--How can distance learning expand horizons for All students?

To answer these questions, the presenters stress their love of the iPad because it provides multimedia support, accessibility, portability, multiple modalities for learning, and that the device addresses all language skills.

iBooks was a key component of their program as they feel that it promotes critical thinking through its features:

Bookmarking
Highlighting
Note-taking
Dictionary
Search
Google and Wikipedia access

For designing curriculum for ELL and ESL students, presenters suggested resources which can be found in iTunes U. This iPad/iPod/iPhone resource provides a wealth of ESL/ELL material in the form of podcasts and vodcasts which can be downloaded as full courseware for free.




The focus of the session focused heavily on iBooks, but I must point out what some of the attendees brought up. The accessibility features of the keyboard allow users to type in their native language. As well, the standard keyboard will allow you to add special characters to your documents by pressing and holding any letter




The presenters also pointed out that critical thinking can be enhanced through use of apps such as:

ebook readers
Graphic organizers
Translators
Test prep
Subject specific apps

A list of suggestions is found on their site: http://esltechies.com


They also are big fans of one of my favorite apps, Explain Everything!.

Tis app can be used to record audio, screenshots, and screencasts along with notes, edits, and graphics. Once your video explanation is complete, it can be uploaded to the web for student viewing. This app is one of my favorites (said that already) and one I'll be covering in our Flipping the Classroom class in July!





Other apps they recommend include:

Notability - allows students to take finger written notes, or audio notes.

Photo card - allows students to write on a photo. Great for creating postcards, or even flash cards.

iTranslate - free app.

Polycom- app that allows you to connect from iPad to anyone with polycom video conferencing system.

Popplet- good For creating concept maps and charts.

For more information and tips on teaching ESL/ELL students using technology, visit http://ESLTechies.com




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:ISTE 2012, San Diego

Apps with Aptitude

Cathie Loesing, Program Coordinator with the eMints National Center, presented a session this morning on the use of iPads in the K-2 classroom. She stresses that when using iPads and selecting apps for lessons that teachers should focus on the following:
Apps should promote higher level thinking
Lessons should prompt community based learning
Stress inquiry based learning
She discussed many of her favorite apps, but rather than have me pick and choose, I though I would post a link to her site so you could see the apps for yourself. She lists many paid and free apps. Enjoy!
http://appswithaptitude.weebly.com/
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:ISTE 2012

Explain Everything - iPad App

Explain Everything is an app for the iPad ($2.99) that allows you to record and post explanations of...well,  almost anything.  Complete with tools that allow the user to mark up and annotate, this app also allows you to record from a website.   Screen clicks are shown as you explain navigation of a website, for instance.  Add clip art, import links/sites/files from Evernote, Dropbox, and iPad Photos.  You can also add shapes and text to your video, as well as create an entire multi-page presentation. 

When finished, export your creation as an image or video via email, dropbox, YouTube, or Evernote.  The possibilities allow sharing with other users a snap.  This is a great tool if looking for a paid alternative to some interactive whiteboard apps. 

For a quick explanation of the app, view their video on YouTube:



Not shown in the video, but now available in the app, is the ability record while viewing a website.    See explanation below: