Essential iPad Apps!

The apps available for use on the iPad are absolutely amazing! Even if you’re like me and only have one iPad in your classroom, your students can benefit enormously from using the incredible iPad apps!

There are so many fabulous apps available for use in education, and there is NO WAY I could possibly list or discuss even a majority of them. Listed below are a few of MY favorite apps to use in my classroom, and encourage my students to use. I will continue to update this list!

• Google Earth
  • By now, most people have heard of the awesomeness (new word!) that is Google Earth. Teachers can take their students on field trips without even leaving their classroom. My students love to visit the White House and use street view to go inside! We also love to visit Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Versailles, the Louvre, the Grand Canyon, and of course, Area 51 🙂
• Edmodo 

• If you’ve read my Learning Management Systems (LMS) post about edmodo, then this app needs no introduction! Students can download this app to their electronic device (iOS or android!) and access course materials, participate in discussion posts, and receive notification alerts for their teacher. The edmodo platform is VERY similar in appearance and accessibility to Facebook, which makes my students comfortable with using this program.
• Scan
  • I like to incorporate QR codes into my classroom learning environment. In my lecture presentation, I include a QR code that links to a primary source, a video, or information and allow students to use their electronic devices to access the resource. It is SO MUCH EASIER to create a QR code for students to scan than to provide them with an extremely long URL and repeat it constantly! Scan is awesome (and is sometimes free)!
• Educreations

• Educreations is an AMAZING tool for the iPad. Educreations allows teachers to upload an image, take a picture (with a tablet or smartphone, etc), or search for an image on the web. Once the image has been selected, you can draw and type on the image, which is amazing in virtually any classroom! Teachers can also record information and save the lesson! AND…it is FREE!!!
• YouTube
  • Youtube really needs no introduction…it can be an amazing tool in the classroom! Many channels are popping up that have amazing content for your classroom. Currently, in my social studies classes, I incorporate many Crash Course videos (mostly the American History genre). Check it out for classroom use!!
• Prezi
  • The Prezi app for the iPad allows the user to create a prezi directly on their iPad, share the prodcut, and present it directly from their iPad! A Prezi app is also available for the iPhone…the only downside is you cannot create from your phone, just present. Imagine, however, students standing up in front of your class, presenting a prezi from their iPhone. AWESOME!! Watch for a post totally about prezi!!
• Tellagami

• This app is FUN to use as a presentation tool. Create a “gami,” customize the background of your screen, choose a voice for your gami, and enter the text you want to play! I love to use this at the beginning of class to get students’ attention and provide them with information for the day! Give it a whirl!
• Evernote

• Many of my students LOVE this app! Since I allow them to take notes on their electronic device in class, I encourage them to use this wonderful app to organize and manage their notes, not only for my class, but for all of their classes. Users can create notebooks, import pictures, take pictures, and do so many more things right in the app. It is awesome and FREE!

• Google Drive
  • Access your Drive files on your iPad or iPhone. The app also allows you to create (with limited options) documents and spreadsheets on your device. FREE!
• Dropbox
  • Access your Dropbox files on your iPad or iPhone. Choose do open your files in apps you already have on your device. I frequently open a Dropbox file in the edmodo app, and attach a file to an assignment or a note on edmodo directly from my iPad!