Qwiki

Works with:  iPad

Price:  $Free

Link:  http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/qwiki/id373717412?mt=8

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

Strengths:  Reading, Reference, Content/Resources

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

Description:  Qwiki is an app that works with Wikipedia, Google, Fotopedia and YouTube to create an accessible, interactive multimedia encyclopedia.  The majority of the content (text and images) seems to be sourced from Wikipedia and the other sources are supplementary.  One of the benefits of this app is that (by default) the text of the articles is read aloud, helping younger students and students with IEPs access the texts.  As images are featured, students can click on the images to enlarge them and view the original source material.

Initial usefulness rating: 1

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Speak it! Text to Speech

Works with:  iPad, iPhone, iPod

Price:  $1.99

Link:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speak-it!-text-to-speech/id308629295?mt=8

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

Strengths:  Reading, Writing

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

Description:  This is an assistive technology app that allows users to copy text from any other app (i.e. browser, text editor, etc.) and have it read to them. 

Although this feature is built in to the iPad 2, using it demands modifying how you interact with the iPad (i.e. use different numbers of fingers to open apps, etc.).

The four built in voices are pretty good and you can change the voice volume and speed.

Initial usefulness rating: 2

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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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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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