Notability

Works with:  iPad

Price:  $4.99

Link:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/notability-take-notes-annotate/id360593530?mt=8

Curriculum areas:  Language (English), Math, Science, Social Studies (incl. History/Geography), French, Special Education

Strengths:  Creative, Writing

Grades:  Junior (Gr. 4 - 6), Intermediate (Gr. 7-10), Senior (Gr. 11 - 12), Teachers/Administrators

Description:  Notability is a note-taking app that allows users to enter text, draw, take pictures and record their voices.  It also integrates with Dropbox allowing students to open up documents created by others (in Notability). 

It allows for a wide variety of creative uses. 

(Note:  When I posted this, the app was only $0.99)

Initial usefulness rating: 3


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Google Search

Works with:  iPad, iPhone, iPod

Price:  $Free

Link:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-search/id284815942?mt=8

Curriculum areas:  Language (English), Science, Social Studies (incl. History/Geography), French, Special Education

Strengths:  Collaboration, Creative, Reading, Writing, Reference, Content/Resources, Teacher Tools, Communication

Grades:  Primary (Gr. 1 - 3), Junior (Gr. 4 - 6), Intermediate (Gr. 7-10), Senior (Gr. 11 - 12), Teachers/Administrators

Description:  Google Search is Google's official app for iOS devices (they also have specific apps for Maps, etc.).  It allows users three ways to access Google Search; 1. Type in a search term, 2. Use voice (i.e. "Define: triangle") 3.  Goggles (search for similar images using the built in camera).  The voice search feature along makes this app worthwhile, especially when working with students who use non-conventional spelling.

Another advantage of using the Google Search app is that it allows users to access several of Google's other tools such as Docs, Calendar, Gmail, Translate, etc.

This app can be tied to a personal Gmail account, a Google Apps account, or just used on it's own without being signed in.

Initial usefulness rating: 4

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Dropbox

Works with:  iPad, iPhone, iPod

Price:  $Free

Link:  http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8

Curriculum areas:  Language (English), Math, Science, Social Studies (incl. History/Geography), French, PhysEd/Health, Art, Special Education

Strengths:  Collaboration, Content/Resources, Teacher Tools

Grades:  Junior (Gr. 4 - 6), Intermediate (Gr. 7-10), Senior (Gr. 11 - 12), Teachers/Administrators

Description:  Dropbox (www.dropbox.com) is an online web tool that gives users 2 GB of online storage space.  Files (documents, pictures, etc.) are stored online but can be synced between many devices as well as accessed through their website. 

This tool allow teachers to both share resources out to students (i.e. push out a text, graphic organizer or other file) and gives students and teachers a place to save their work. 

The primary advantage of Dropbox in relation to iOS devices, is that it gives teachers and students a way to get content off of the iPad.  This is particularly important in multi-user environments (like most of our schools).  Any work uploaded to Dropbox can then be accessed by the teacher through another portable device (not just iOS - Blackberry, etc. also work) or a desktop computer.

Another strong feature of Dropbox that makes it worth using is that many other apps work with Dropbox.  For example, Explain Everything and Docs to Go, allow you to access and save your work in Dropbox.

Dropbox can easily upload anything saved in the Camera Roll.

Initial usefulness rating: 5


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Sonic Pics

Works with:  iPad, iPhone, iPod

Price:  $2.99

Link:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sonicpics/id345295488?mt=8

Curriculum areas:  Language (English), Math, Science, Social Studies (incl. History/Geography), French, Special Education

Strengths:  Creative

Grades:  Kindergarten, Primary (Gr. 1 - 3), Junior (Gr. 4 - 6), Intermediate (Gr. 7-10)

Description:  SonicPics allows students to create a quick and easy picture slideshow with voiceover.  They can create slideshows based on recounts, procedural writing, narratives, and much more.  Great tool for assessment (i.e. students can use this app to communicate their knowledge and understanding of a particular concept in any subject). 

Initial usefulness rating: 5


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Explain Everything

Works with:  iPad

Price:  $2.99

Link:  http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/explain-everything/id431493086?mt=8

Curriculum areas:  Language (English), Math, Science, Social Studies (incl. History/Geography), French, PhysEd/Health, French

Strengths:  Creative, Content/Resources

Grades:  Junior (Gr. 4 - 6), Intermediate (Gr. 7-10), Teachers

Description:  This is a powerful creative app that can be used for many purposes.  Explain everything is a whiteboard tool that allows users to integrate photos, web pages etc. into their whiteboard.  Students can add text, draw, add shapes, etc. across multiple whiteboard surfaces.  In addition, they can record voiceover as they talk through the solution to a problem, make judgements and explain their evidence for them using the tool.  Student presentations can be saved as movie files on the iPad or exported to Dropbox allowing a teacher to view them from a desktop.

Initial usefulness rating: 5


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