There are a daunting number of education apps out there for mobile phones and tablets!
What are your favorites?
Christine
Community Manager
Hi Monica:
Can you share what makes these literacy apps great from your view as a teacher. We are building an index of apps that have been mentioned in this group and we'd love to hear more about them from you or others who have used them!
Thanks for sharing!
Marc Johnson
Verizon Thinkfinity Community Host
Hi Marc,
The Dr. Sues books are great because they have a couple different modes. The students can read the stories themselves or have the story read to them. They can also tap anywhere on the screen and the word describing that object will appear and be spoken.
The magnetic letters are great because the students can drag them to create words. They can manipulate letters and words.
Chalkboard is great for small group instruction. It can be used as a mini whiteboard for writing words and ideas for the topics being taught.
Intro to letters is a great app for tracing letters. You can chose from individual letters or blends. Students practice hearing the sounds and tracing the letters.
I hope this helps!
In conjunction with English, has anyone seen these three, free, Android apps for Vocabulary Practice?
PowerVocab--work on spelling and vocabulary as well as play word search games
Words, words, words!--2000+ words with audio to help with pronunciation; mix things up with the unscramble game
Vocabulary Builder--get quizzed on thousands of English vocabulary words commonly found on tests such as the GRE and SAT; contains a built-in dictionary
Lynne
Here are some great Math apps - mostly for middle/high school grade levels...
Always interested in hearing about more!
Marc Johnson
Verizon Thinkfinity Community Host
Has anyone using cell/mobile phones especially with students encountered battery power issues? I read recently about Juice Defender, a free mobile app for android phones that prolongs the battery life between charges. Sounds like a good idea to me!
The app manages and monitors power consumption as well as data consumption and WiFi settings on your phone. To save power, the app will enable or disable settings to conserve power.
Anybody heard of this app or is anyone using Juice Defender? What do you think of it?
Lynne
Lynne, we have three EVOs in our household, and I've found the best source of Android info is http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=145 This is the subforum for Android phones, and while it tends to be Sprint-oriented, there's LOTS of good info here. People helping people. There are suggestions for programs like Watchdog which look at your running apps to see what might be on, and what might be eating your battery unnecessarily. There were a couple of positive comments about Juice Defender.
My experience is that the #1 thing that eats battery is the screen. (Well, 4G is worse but I don't have 4G available) The more you have your screen lit up, the faster the battery goes. The second is searching for a signal. If you're in a weak signal area, the phone will use more battery as it hunts for the signal. Having no signal uses less battery than having one available and having it come on and off.
Similar to #2 is hunting for WiFi. I leave my WiFi on all the time, but what really kills the battery is when there's WiFi available but it can't connect. I discovered this one day at work; we have WiFi but it's protected, and it requires setting the laptop to a specific IP, which I can't really do on the EVO. After I watched my battery do a nose dive one day, I figured out that I needed to tell the phone to "forget" that WiFi connection. ![]()
There are some things that may be defaulted to turn on at bootup, and you need to change the settings. Google Talk was one of these. It eats battery when in use, so I only turn it on if I want to chat with someone away from the PC. There are probably others. Also if you have your apps set to auto-update, some update practically every day.
Personally, I'm not sure I trust anything to decide when to kill stuff on my phone for me. I've found having an extra charging cord to be the handiest app.
That data consumption aspect in Juie Defender may be useful for people who are on limited data plans. (Sprint's Everything Data is unlimited)
Hi Michael,
Thanks for some great tips on saving battery consumption and changing factory defaults on android phones. I certainly learned some useful information from your detailed post. I'm sure others will find your explanations helpful. I appreciated your comments about Juice Defender and Sprint's offerings.
I hope other android users will join in this discussion and share their thoughts on additional ways to save battery power.
Lynne
Great app Kelly! Another great Astronomy app to try is "Goskywatch." The iPad only version is free. The universal app that runs on the iPhone and iPod touch is $3.99. I've used the iPad version out in the field during star gazing events hosted by our local astronomy club. It is an awesome tool. Kids love it as well. It allows you to view the sky in real time and uses the compass to align with your current position. You can literally hold it up to the sky and identify what you are looking at including planets, stars, constellations, messier objects and more. IMHO a must have for astronomy.
Marc
Have you looked at the Faulkes Telescope Project at http://www.faulkes-telescope.com/ ? It is a free site and uses stellarium
Barbara
Hi all—just making good on my promise...Science NetLinks has created a group with the the community called All About Science. Head on over there for more conversation on weather, gardens, bugs, and all things science!
Stellarium is used for planning observations. You can set the coordinates to the location of a telescope and the time so the observation, the observation itself can be simulated. Stellarium will let you determine whether an object is visible from that telescope at that time and whether it is sufficiently high over the horizon for making the observation. You can get more information at the Falulkes Telescope site
This one isn't an app, but an awesome website that can be used on tablets, desktops, and mobile devices is Piclits. This site is awesome for elementary students to apply and practice sentence construction, word choice, poetry, and for older students to create descriptive sentences and poetry that supports a picture background of their choice from the 1000's in their gallary. The best part of this site is that you can create a FREE account and then share the students authored pictures on website by sharing a link or embedding. There is also comment sections for feedback so there can be collaboration. It is awesome!
Gwynn Moore
Gina:
This app rocks! Thanks for sharing. I'll be passing this along to the science teachers in the schools I work with.
Marc
Has anyone used Videolicious--a free iOS app for creating videos? The concept behind Videolicious is similar to that used by services like Animoto. You can mix together images, video clips, music, and your voice to create a short video using Videolicious on your iPhone or iPad.
For schools using iPads, Videolicious might be a good app for creating and narrating short videos on different subjects.
What do you think of this free app?
Lynne
We are incorporating iPads in our school system, especially in the elementary grades with special needs students. It is amazing to see the students using these in the classroom. I had not heard of Videolicious; however, I have used Animoto. I plan to check this resource out and share with my colleagues using iPad, or better yet, I'll invite them to join Thinkfinity and find all these great resources and more.
Math Bingo is a really fun way to practice math facts (1-5). Number line involves higher level thinking by having the students place whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and percents in order on the number line (apprx. 3-7 grades). iLiveMath comes in several versions ($4.99). It consists of math word problems that integrate science. There are 3 levels in each. I purchases the iLiveMath Oceans (word problems about everything dealing with ocean life) and iLiveMath Entomology (insects). The iLiveMath apps are one of the few apps that work on a Smart Board. You have to buy the correct cable. A good history app is This Day in History. It gives historical facts/events for everyday of the year.
What cable?
I know I'm very late to this discussion, but I've got to add Puppet Pals HD (with the director's pass) and Book Creator to this list. Neither is specifc to a subject area, but both can be used for any subject matter. They are excellent creation tools and presentation devices.
Puppet Pals allows users to bring backgrounds (either those that come with the app or photos on the iPad's camera roll) and "puppets" (again, either those that come with the app or those from the camera roll) together to create a "puppet show" that can be recorded, sent to others, saved to the camera roll and transferred to a computer, etc. I have seen students get very excited about using their "puppets" to present information they've learned to a wider audience.
Book Creator lets your students become eBook (using iBook) authors! They can add text and images to pages in their book, formatting them to their liking. When a book is finished, it can be sent to iBooks on the iPad, or if it's part of an iPad cart in a school, synced to iTunes and transferred to all the iPads on the cart. I just had third graders complete books about the continents, and they are all now on all iPads on the cart. What a great resource for other students to now use those books if they are needing information on the continents. I've actually used my hand-held scanner to get jpeg images of some pages to put into Book Creator. It was so much easier than having a student retype the information! I'm working with a first grade teacher that wants to create iBooks with her students' actual handwritten pages--again, I'll just scan the pages as jpegs and we'll pop them right in to Book Creator! The developer said voice narration should be added soon, too, so students can then create audiobooks!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for the great suggestions. I recently ran across PuppetPals and was really impressed with the app. Even I enjoyed creating my own puppet show! Does the director's pass give additional characters and background? Have you had students use their own images? I'd like to hear how you think that works compared to using the built in characters.
Crystal
Hi Crystal,
The Director's Pass does give many more characters and backgrounds, but most importanly, it allows the user to use their own pictures on the camera roll to create characters and backgrounds. It is super easy to "cut" the characters out with your fingertip. Students figure out quickly that if they pose for a picture correctly, it makes their puppet even better for the show. I do recommend taking your photos with the iPad's camera app instead of directly in Puppet Pals. In addition to using people around the school for characters, students can also photograph props to cut out and use in their shows. (I believe you are limited to eight characters and five scenes per show.) The included characters in the director's pass include subjects like Christmas, entertainers, creatures, fairy tales, farm, pirates, thanksgiving, space, and wild west. You choose which subjects to install.
I think the students really like using/finding their own characters compared to using the built in characters. Some ways I imagine students using this app are to tell the history of their town or important people in the town's past, creating mini biographies on explorers, presidents, inventors, etc., or retelling stories they've read.
I hope this helps! Sarah
This is NOT true in my school or district. We have been told we have to pay for every app per iPad. It is similar to software licenses. If you have a license for one computer, it goes on one computer. If you buy one iPad app, it goes on one iPad. If you have bunches of iPads, you have to pay for bunches of apps.
:-(
Sheree
Hi Sheree,
Perhaps you already know about it, but you might consider checking out the volume discount pricing for education. It might be a good choice for you.
Crystal
That's the same thing I've heard concerning the pricing for apps for the iPad. I just got our Volume Voucher set up so I can purchase apps. In the school setting with the VV, it is not as easy as a trip to the app store- you need to purchase the apps via a different portal and then download them to the iPads.
We use the Apple Volume Purchasing Program. It can cut the cost in half when you purchase many copies of the same app. Here is the link: http://www.apple.com/itunes/education/
Sarah,
I am fully aware of volume purchasing. It is still EXPENSIVE.
:-(
Sheree
Are the discounts only for purchases of 20? I only have a few iPads at each school and don't think I will buy 20 of anything.
Any other suggestions for cutting costs?
Barbara
See this is my problem too. I have 12 iPads in my room. The volume purchasing program does nothing for me at all. If I want to buy an app for 2.99 (or more), I have to come up with the $35.88 (or more). That is a hefty price for one app to use in my classroom. Last year, I got enough grants to buy some pay apps for my class set, but apps come faster than grants do.
:-0
Virginia first launched a Mobile Learning Apps Development Challenge for mathematics in 2009. These winning apps are available for free download from the Apple Apps Store:
Number Line | ||
Freddy Fraction | ||
Fraction Factory |
In 2010, Virginia issued a challenge for companies to develop apps for social studies. These winning apps also are available for free download from the Apple Apps Store:
Westward Expansion | ||
Pass the Past | ||
Governomics |
What do you think of these apps for math and social studies?
Lynne
This looks like an interesting search engine for apps- saw it in a blog today: Quixey
Has anyone used Apps for Kids - By Appsfire - Android Market--a free app that helps locate new apps for you or your children to use on Android phones or Android tablets? You can browse Apps 4 Kids according to age of the child or the purpose of the app. Apps 4 Kids is a free app, but not all of the apps recommended on this site are free.
What do you think of this site for searching for apps for children?
Lynne
I searched at Quixey for high school topics- there were several hits. It does take time to weed though and find the best ones.
EMD PTE is a great periodic table reference app available for Android and iOS devices. Goes way beyond the basic stats of an element to include historical notes, photos and analytical testing information. I think this would be a must have on any classroom set of tablets used in a chemistry classroom.
Marc Johnson
Verizon Thinkfinity Community Host
For emerging readers, I love all of Sandra Boynton's book apps. The Going to Bed Book is an absolute favorite! Extremely clever interactions, read alongs, and individual words are clickable. My 4.5 year old son actually chooses these book apps over games!
The apps listed below are all free and available in the Apple App Store for downloading. They are part of Virginia's Learning Without Boundaries--an initiative from the Virginia Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology that incorporates wireless mobile handheld technology into teaching and learning. Anyone is welcome to use these apps for learning.
Learning Without Boundaries--free educational apps
What do you think of these apps? Which ones are you using in your classroom?
Lynne
Try PhET: http://phet.colorado.edu/
It's interesting that you should bring up this tpic at this point because we've been researching science apps. We've come across quite a few good ones. Here is a list of a few of the biology ones that we've found:
Frog Dissection: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/frog-dissection/id377626675?mt=8#
HudsonAlpha iCell: http://www.hudsonalpha.org/education/digitaleducation/cell
- this app is also available online
Pocket Heart: http://www.pocketanatomy.com/pocket-heart-for-ipad/
- this app is probably more appropriate for college level and beyond, but it sure looks like a great app so I think that some advanced students could use it. It costs $6.99.
It also looks like Carolina Biological Supply has developed apps, both free and paid versions, for chemistry and biology: http://www.carolina.com/category/itunes+science+apps.do
Good luck finding apps for your students to use.
Renee
Thanks for these biology app ideas! I will have to look further into these, and also how to use the phet simulations on the iPad - I got a little lost trying that one. I have found a lot of flash cards/definitions and a few good anatomy apps (Skeletal Head & Neck Pro III and 3D Brain), but nothing for cell energetics or ecology and nothing that I would consider to be a "game". Here are some website "games" that I currently use that I was hoping to find "app" versions of:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/dna/#
http://www.gould.edu.au/foodwebs/kids_web.htm
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/2001/index.html
Thanks again for your ideas!
I teach middle school in Scottsdale, AZ and we are highly into BYOT = Bring your own technology to school.
My middle school computer group has composed a list of Sites to use w/ Mobile Phones in Education
I thought you may all like to take a look at these sites. I was surprised that Poll Everywhere http://www.polleverywhere.com didn’t make the list. I’ve been using it quite often in my classes. - A great site w/ mobile apps for all platforms, for recording one's voice and then embedding it into a site/blog. - Is an instant mobile network for connecting people and tracking topics. Also, a great way to manage cell phones from a web environment. 2. ClassPagerhttp://blogspot.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f92eccb27d9acdbd7f869afcc&id=8cad88163c&e=c080792bc4 - CP takes the classroom "clicker" to the next level through the use of text messaging, polling, Q/A, and the ability to update students/parents at any time. 4. ClassParrothttp://blogspot.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f92eccb27d9acdbd7f869afcc&id=f651a6abab&e=c080792bc4 A safe and simple way to text students. This is a great way to send class reminders, updates, and allow for parents to receive texts too. - A great site for free group texting. A user can send texts, files, photos, and more. 6. SnappSchoolhttp://blogspot.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f92eccb27d9acdbd7f869afcc&id=17f3894197&e=c080792bc4 - This is a great site to engage parents for free w/ SS messenger. Also, a user can send class wide updates by text message or email straight from their phone. 7. StudyBluehttp://blogspot.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f92eccb27d9acdbd7f869afcc&id=0d19a0360f&e=c080792bc4 - A great way to study online flashcards, quizzes, or study guides. Also, there is a free mobile app for SB for all platforms. 8. StudyBoosthttp://blogspot.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f92eccb27d9acdbd7f869afcc&id=d485497a7c&e=c080792bc4 - A great way to study on a cell phone through text messaging and SMS. - A innovative site for teaching and learning through text messaging. Everything associated w/ this site such as signing up for a class is all done through the use of texting. The good news is that the number of classroom-ready m-learning sites continues to grow! Kingston
Teachers, have you seen Nearpod, an app designed for creating and delivering lessons on iPads? It is a free app that teachers can use to create quizzes, polls, and multimedia presentations. If students have Nearpod installed on their iPads, they can respond to the teacher-created materials. Then teachers can view students' responses individually or as a whole class. This is a good method for customizing lessons for specific students.
The video below provides an overview of Nearpod.
What do you think about its potential as a classroom tool?
Lynne
Science NetLinks is currently developing a couple mobile apps, but until those are up and running, we've been playing and reviewing many science-focused apps and we've started posting them on our site. We have a Science App Collection which is growing each week. If you have recommendations for science apps that we should check out, let us know.
Suzanne
AAAS, Science NetLinks
Project Director
For more science posts and discussions, visit and join the All About Science group.
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