There are a multitude of websites that have recommendations for various educational iPad apps. There are very few that are consistently solid. Richard Byrne's iPad Apps for School is generally a great resource and he posts several worthwhile apps each week. He also has a companion site Android 4 Schools which I'm sure we'll need to use in the future as more and more Android devices come into our classes.
Today, MindShift, a blog that I usually follow for it's engaging and challenging thinking on education, posted 5 Great Math Apps for Grade School Kids. As I read the descriptions, I found myself agreeing with them. Three of the five apps are paid ($2 - $4), but if they perform as described, would seem to be the kind of apps that help build math fluency in a manner that goes beyond a digital flash card.
I further realized that MindShift has a page for educational apps, and the nice thing about it, is that they don't post a lot. A few ideas every few months - kind of like us.
Friday 21 June 2013
Friday 11 January 2013
iOS App Privacy
If you are concerned about your personal privacy and the privacy of the students in your class, you might want to take a look at Clueful. The site has a database of iOS apps maintained by Bitdefender and reports how various apps use your personal and device informations (i.e. your location, whether it accesses your contact list, etc.). The database is searchable. Not all apps from the app store are in the database, but many are.
Wednesday 9 January 2013
Keep Students On-Task/On-App with Accessibility Settings
One of the issues that is often raised when discussing the use of handheld and portable apps in the classroom is that of controlling what the students are doing (i.e. "How can I make sure that students are doing what I want them to, and not checking their Facebook accounts?"). While the most effective way to do this is through developing common expectations for the use of technology in the classroom with students and creating a culture in which they are respected, sometimes that doesn't happen quite the way that we anticipate or some students intentionally (or unintentionally with younger students) "accidently" move on from the assigned task or app.
Two resources explaining a method of keeping students "on-app" through the use of the Accessibility settings in iOS devices. Check out the posts below for more info on how to restrict students to using a certain app by requiring a password to switch apps.
- Enable “Kid Mode” on iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch with Guided Access in iOS - OSX Daily
- More iPad Helpsheets - Ant's ICT (PDF)
For Parents and Teachers Considering Handheld Devices in the Classroom
The Huffington Post recently published Janell Burley Hofmann's letter and contract to her son (who was the lucky recipient of an iPhone over the holidays) outlining the conditions of being entrusted with an iPhone. This might be useful to you as a parent, or if you are considering allowing students to bring their own handheld devices into your class. Perhaps this might be used to introduce a discussion about reasonable expectations for the use of these tools in the classroom.
Dear Gregory
Merry Christmas! You are now the proud owner of an iPhone. Hot Damn! You are a good and responsible 13-year-old boy and you deserve this gift. But with the acceptance of this present comes rules and regulations. Please read through the following contract. I hope that you understand it is my job to raise you into a well rounded, healthy young man that can function in the world and coexist with technology, not be ruled by it. Failure to comply with the following list will result in termination of your iPhone ownership.
Wednesday 21 November 2012
Edmodo
Works with: iPad, iPhone, iPod
Price: $Free
Link: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/edmodo/id378352300?mt=8
Curriculum areas: Across the curriculum
Strengths: Collaboration, Content/Resources, Communication
Grades: Junior (Gr. 4 - 6), Intermediate (Gr. 7-10), Senior (Gr. 11 - 12), Teachers/Administrators
Description: For classes that use Edmodo, the mobile app is a great tool that can allow students and teachers a new means to access their site.
Initial usefulness rating: 3
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ShowMe
Works with: iPad
Price: $Free
Link: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/showme-interactive-whiteboard/id445066279?mt=8
Curriculum areas: Across the curriculum
Strengths: Collaboration, Creative, Reading, Writing, Communication
Grades: Kindergarten, Primary (Gr. 1 - 3), Junior (Gr. 4 - 6), Intermediate (Gr. 7-10), Senior (Gr. 11 - 12), Teachers/Administrators
Description: The app allows you to capture an image, annotate it using the writing tool and also add audio recording. Can be used to record student thinking as they work through a problem solving process (i.e. 3 part math lesson, science experiments, critical thinking challenges).
Initial usefulness rating: 4
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Puffin Browser
Works with: iPad, iPhone, iPod
Price: $2.99
Curriculum areas: Special Education, Across the curriculum
Strengths: Content/Resources, Communication
Grades: Kindergarten, Primary (Gr. 1 - 3), Junior (Gr. 4 - 6), Intermediate (Gr. 7-10), Senior (Gr. 11 - 12), Teachers/Administrators
Description: One of the issues that arose with iOS devices is that they do not display popular web sites that use Adobe Flash technology (such as Tumblebooks, ShowWorld, and many more). The Puffin browser provides a work-around for these sites including providing a virtual trackpad and access to the keyboard. The work-around involves You can learn more about the app on their website at http://www.puffinbrowser.com/.
Initial usefulness rating: 4
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