http://www.techlearning.com/blogentry/10086
Top 50 Sites and Apps of 2015
David Kapuler is an educational consultant with more than 10 years of experience working in the K-12 environment. For more information about his work, contact him at [email protected] and read his blog at cyber-kap.blogspot.com
Top 50 Sites and Apps of 2015
- * Seesaw - Excellent free mobile app (Android/iOS) for students creating digital portfolio with educational portal.
- Code Kingdoms - One of my favorite sites for learning how to program (Javascript) by drag-n-dropping blocks of code (i.e Scratch). Also, has an abundance of lesson plans and students can learn how to create their own Minecraft style game.
- * Oncore - A free to use iPad app for teachers that acts like an all-in-one Learning Management System, where educators can assess students, take attendance, communicate with parents, and much more.
- * Plotagon - A wonderful site/app for digital storytelling where students create animated movies (i.e Xtranormal) by typing a script.
- Grammarly - A terrific site for helping students with their grammar, spelling, and more with detailed reporting.
- * Sketch Nation - A great free site/app (iOS/Android) for creating games. Students can also work on their STEM skills and learn the basics of programming.
- * Ignite Teaching - An excellent free iPad app for Project Based Learning through collaborative digital presentations/projects.
- Help Teaching - A very nice site for educational resources, printables, assessments, and more.
- * Class Compete - A super fun and innovative Game Based Learning system for grades K-8 in the subjects of Math and English.
- * WhatsDue - A cool new free mobile app (iOS/Android) for keeping students and parents up to date on what is happening in the classroom.
- Modern Chalkboard - A great site for finding free Smart Board resources and tutorials.
- * Galxyz - An innovative mobile app (Android/iOS) for Elementary Science that is COPPA compliant and aligned to Common Core Standards.
- * Mystery Word Town - The excellent mobile (Android/iOS) app that uses Game Based Learning to help learn and spell words.
- * Box Island: One Hour Coding - A fun free iOS app for ages 6 on up learning the basics of coding.
- TenMarks - A very popular site for Math for grades 1st-12th that tracks student progress as well as helps teachers differentiate instruction.
- * Bloomz - Bloomz is a free (iOS/Android) app for educators looking to communicate with parents via mobile devices.
- * Monster Math - An excellent iOS Math game with high replay value that helps students learn their basic Math Skills through an innovative platform-type game.
- Versal - A nice site for creating interactive digital lessons, that is ideal for online learning.
- Learnteria - A new site for educators looking for reviews on a wide variety items, such as: sites, books, apps, and more.
- * WonderBox - A wonderful free iPad app for students learning a number of different subjects (i.e Math, Geography, Science, etc) through use of videos, maps, images, and more.
- Story Shares - An interesting new site for readers grades K-12th. Story Shares creates digital books that are customized per Reading Level.
- * Quiz Hero - One of my favorite (iOS/Android) free apps that uses RPG game elements to learn a variety of subjects, such as: Math, Vocabulary, Science, etc).
- * Tickle - A fantastic iOS app to learn how to program by dragging blocks of code together, that works on items such as: Sphero, drones, etc.
- Quizizz - A excellent site for creating multiplayer quizzes where educators get results in real-time.
- * CodeQuest - A fun iOS app that helps teaches students learn how to code in CSS or html, ideal for STEM.
- Choosito - A new and safe way to search the web for students and library resources.
- AlfaTyping - A great site for educators for students to learn how to type while educators track their progress.
- * Milk Hunt - A entertaining Math game for 1st-5th grade that has students collecting bottles of milk while answering different questions.
- * Make It - A nice iOS app for grades K-2nd for creating games, stories, slideshows, and more.
- * Flashsticks - An innovative site/app for learning a foreign language through interactive post-it notes.
- * Brownie Points - An excellent free iPad app for Math grades K-7th, that uses an incentive based learning system.
- CodeCampKidz - An interesting site for students 5th-8th learning how to code in html, Javascript, and more.
- * myBlee Math - A nice free iOS app 5-12 yrs old learning Math. myBlee not only tracks student progress but offers rewards and puzzles in a wide range of Mathmatical topics.
- Erase all Kittens - A unique site that has students "hack" through the levels of a game to rescue all the kittens. A nice way to learn how to code and ideal for STEM.
- Lumio - Excellent site/company for Math games and resources, ideal for mobile learning or a 1:1 environment.
- * JellyBean Scoop - An interesting new site/app (Android/iOS) for finding "true" stories divided into four Reading levels. Be sure to check out JellyBean Writer too!!
- LearnBop - A great site for educators teaching Math in grades K-12 that tracks student progress and allows educators to differentiate instruction.
- FlipQuiz - A fun site for creating Jeopardy style game quizzes.
- * Spell 'till you Drop - A super fun iPad app that has students learning how to spell while playing through a game of building a bridge, with over 600 words included.
- * Code Blast - A nice introductory to problem solving by programming a rocket in this fun iPad app.
- * Explain 3D - Is a innovative mobile (Android/iOS) app that acts as an interactive encyclopedia that has a wide range of simulations on topics such as electronics, machines, and more.
- * Scoodle Jam - A great iPad app for grades K-6th ideal for Project Based Learning. Students can create presentations, drawings, projects, and more as well as choose through lots of educational templates.
- Study Ladder - A wonderful site for educational resources and games on a number of different subjects.
- * Monster Physics - An excellent iOS app for kids ages 9-11 learning the basic concept of Physics by creating their own interactive creations.
- * Zap Zap Math - A cool free mobile (iOS/Android) app for self paced learning in Math.
- * NumberShire - A terrific site/app for K-2nd learning basic Math concepts that tracks student's progress and is aligned to Common Core Standards.
- * Counting Kingdom - One of my favorite iOS apps for addition/Math for kids 6-8 yrs old that uses the popular "tower/defense" style game.
- * SlateMath - A free iPad for young learners learning the basic concepts of Math and numbers, with over 38 different activities.
- Kidtopia - A nice safe COPPA/CIPA compliant search engine for kids/students.
- Telling Time with the Smurfs - A great and fun way for students to learn how to tell time through an interactive story with Papa and Brainy Smurf.
David Kapuler is an educational consultant with more than 10 years of experience working in the K-12 environment. For more information about his work, contact him at [email protected] and read his blog at cyber-kap.blogspot.com
You've heard the saying, "There's an App for that!"
With all the iPad apps available for education today, it's hard to know which ones will be the most beneficial for you. This website is devoted to helping educators by showing them apps we've found over the years that may be useful for you. The pages to follow hold a plethora of apps! We hope they will be just what you are looking for to help make your life easier.
Below are a couple of videos if you are just getting started using your iPad:
Below are a couple of videos if you are just getting started using your iPad:
From TeachThought Blog:
1. Turn it on, off; restart it and charge it
Power button; long press and plug it in.
2. Redeem an iTunes card
Apple has you covered: “To redeem an iTunes Gift Card or Gift Certificate, click the Redeem link in iTunes, enter the code on the card or certificate into the Redeem Code box on the page, and click the Redeem button. On your computer, Redeem is the first link in the Quick Links section located in the right-hand column on the main iTunes page. On iPhone and iPod touch you’ll find a Redeem button at the bottom of the New Releases and Genres lists in Music, and on iPad it’s at the bottom of all three lists — Featured, Top Ten, Genius — in Music, Movies, and TV Shows.”
3. Sync with iTunes—and know what you can sync and what you can’t
For reference, check Apple’s help page, or Appducate’s page for some troubleshooting tips.
4. Check email
And this probably means social media messages, too. When you first turn your iPad on and open the native email program, you’ll be asked to give account information. Provided you do so, new emails will show up as notifications.
5. Download an app
This one is simple provided you’ve got an iTunes account. Open up the App Store, search, select, and download apps.
6. Share or save content from RSS or social readers
How to do this depends on if you’re using Pulse, Flipboard, SkyGrid, or something else, but knowing what to read, what to skip, what to share, how to share it, and what to save and how to save it is the foundation of digital media use.
7. Organize Apps
Just as you organize your books, magazines, clothes, and holiday decorations, organizing your apps isn’t a bad idea either. By long-pressing on the icons, you can drag them together to start placing them in folders. Rules for exactly how you can organize them is a topic we’re going to cover in a separate post, but it can be done by class, content area, task, function, grade level, students, etc.
You can also place more frequently used apps in the dock by long-pressing and dragging them down.
8. Use calendar reminders
A calendar can be a teacher’s best friend, and using reminders–not just for major dates, but PLCs, project due-dates, professional development meetings, and the like can save you in a pinch.
9. Turn off notifications for specific apps
Go to “Settings,” then “Notifications” to keep your digital sheep from bleating at you at 2 a.m.
10. Take a screenshot
Press the Power + Home button. (See our post here.)
11. Videoconferencing!
Using the built-in FaceTime software, Skype, or Google+ Hangouts, video conferencing may soon be as ubiquitous as a telephone call.
12. Use multitasking gestures
On iOS 5, Apple added the ability to use the four-finger swipe to pull up the multitasking drawer and swipe left and right between apps. You can also use a five-finger pinch to immediately view the homescreen. Note: this can be enabled on earlier iPads as well.
13. Update apps
You’ll notice the tiny red number on the app store when you have apps that need updating. Click on the app store, then on the lower right-hand side on the bottom task bar you’ll see an “Updates” symbol. Press here, then choose your apps to update.
14. Find and play great podcasts
Here are 40 for science, for example. Also, a nice trick here can be to play podcasts (and other audio) at double speed to save time, and create a chipmunk effect that will take you back to your childhood.
15. Check for remaining space
Go to “Settings,” then “General.” This will also show you how much space each app is taking individually.
16. Backup to iCloud
iCloud is Apple’s proprietary platform for cloud storage of your iPad’s contents. You get unlimited storage free of charge for movies, music, apps, books, and other items that are “Apple generated.” For your own personal media–photos, movies, etc–you get the first 5 GB free, and after that have to purchase additional space.
Note, you can also see Apple’s support page for iCloud here for details (essentially Settings-> iCloud–> Storage & Backup).
17. Sync to your computer via iTunes
Okay, so that’s the cloud: How do you backup your iPad to your computer? It’s pretty simple–a matter of hooking up your iPad to your computer via USB, then opening iTunes and telling it to sync. (Also, see here for details)
18. Review an app critically and constructively
Please, please, please don’t give apps one star because of one annoying feature, or something that is entirely specific to only you. Yes, these reviews are your way to give feedback to a developer, but they’re also for the average app user browsing the store. Be as specific and constructive as possible when you review so that both the developer and future “shoppers” have quality data to make a decision, and otherwise quality apps don’t languish in sales mediocrity because of punitive 1-star reviews. (Unless, of course, they deserve 1-star–then fire away.)
18. Use visual apps
Instagram is not just for Snoop Doggy Dogg–universities are using it too. The internet is fast becoming a place of visual spectacle, and apps like these will soon become more integrated, more powerful, and more popular (see how the concept behind Myspace became facebook, for example). For now, Instagram, tumblr, and pinterest are at the top of the heap, but nothing stays the same, am I right?
19. Share large files
Use Dropbox, SugarSync, or other software to backup and/or share files.
20. Find high-quality eBooks
Whether you’re using Google Books, Kindle, or the iBookstore, use ratings, social media, blog posts, Amazon recommendations, Amazon reviews, goodreads, and other avenues to consistently find the best eBooks for your little tablet that could.
21. Know what jailbreaking is
See Wikipedia for an explanation. Whether you do it or not depends on your tech prowess, and whether the iPad is yours or your schools, but you probably should at least know it’s an option.
22. Use as a second screen or for screensharing
Check here and here for examples.
23. Open various files
Whether a .docx file or a pdf, an mpg or an mp3, you’ll likely need to view it on your iPad at some point or another. Most of these files have built-in associations, so no special knowledge is necessary other than to press what you want open, but one day, when you do run into that odd file extension you’ve never seen before, don’t be surprised. Google is your friend.
Update
24. Collaborate with student digital portfolios
Collecting student work, commenting on Google Drive documents, responding to YouTube videos of student documentaries, helping students organize PDFs with a system that makes sense, etc.
25. Turn off an app
Pushing an app to the background while it’s still running in dock/taskbar consumes energy. Tap home button once to push to background, double tap home button to get to taskbar, hold app icon until it dances/wiggles, & press the little red minus button in the upper left. Don’t worry–your app data is safe.
26. Manage your location data
Do you want everything you do tagged with your date/time & location for people to stalk you or rob your stuff while you’re gone? Settings>Privacy>Location Services>On with FindMyiPhone running at a minimum. Whatever else you do, leave location service for that one running. If you take pictures of kids, I would make sure your Camera & Facebook location services are off–you need to be smarter with this function.
27. Find your lost device
Getting your device registered–must have an iCloud account for that–and how to access the device, how to lock it down using “Lock” and “Wipe” if necessary. Sending a sound to it through FindMyiPhone is handy if you’ve misplaced it & know it’s on, with internet access. (25-27 courtesy TeachThought reader Julia Hengstler)
1. Turn it on, off; restart it and charge it
Power button; long press and plug it in.
2. Redeem an iTunes card
Apple has you covered: “To redeem an iTunes Gift Card or Gift Certificate, click the Redeem link in iTunes, enter the code on the card or certificate into the Redeem Code box on the page, and click the Redeem button. On your computer, Redeem is the first link in the Quick Links section located in the right-hand column on the main iTunes page. On iPhone and iPod touch you’ll find a Redeem button at the bottom of the New Releases and Genres lists in Music, and on iPad it’s at the bottom of all three lists — Featured, Top Ten, Genius — in Music, Movies, and TV Shows.”
3. Sync with iTunes—and know what you can sync and what you can’t
For reference, check Apple’s help page, or Appducate’s page for some troubleshooting tips.
4. Check email
And this probably means social media messages, too. When you first turn your iPad on and open the native email program, you’ll be asked to give account information. Provided you do so, new emails will show up as notifications.
5. Download an app
This one is simple provided you’ve got an iTunes account. Open up the App Store, search, select, and download apps.
6. Share or save content from RSS or social readers
How to do this depends on if you’re using Pulse, Flipboard, SkyGrid, or something else, but knowing what to read, what to skip, what to share, how to share it, and what to save and how to save it is the foundation of digital media use.
7. Organize Apps
Just as you organize your books, magazines, clothes, and holiday decorations, organizing your apps isn’t a bad idea either. By long-pressing on the icons, you can drag them together to start placing them in folders. Rules for exactly how you can organize them is a topic we’re going to cover in a separate post, but it can be done by class, content area, task, function, grade level, students, etc.
You can also place more frequently used apps in the dock by long-pressing and dragging them down.
8. Use calendar reminders
A calendar can be a teacher’s best friend, and using reminders–not just for major dates, but PLCs, project due-dates, professional development meetings, and the like can save you in a pinch.
9. Turn off notifications for specific apps
Go to “Settings,” then “Notifications” to keep your digital sheep from bleating at you at 2 a.m.
10. Take a screenshot
Press the Power + Home button. (See our post here.)
11. Videoconferencing!
Using the built-in FaceTime software, Skype, or Google+ Hangouts, video conferencing may soon be as ubiquitous as a telephone call.
12. Use multitasking gestures
On iOS 5, Apple added the ability to use the four-finger swipe to pull up the multitasking drawer and swipe left and right between apps. You can also use a five-finger pinch to immediately view the homescreen. Note: this can be enabled on earlier iPads as well.
13. Update apps
You’ll notice the tiny red number on the app store when you have apps that need updating. Click on the app store, then on the lower right-hand side on the bottom task bar you’ll see an “Updates” symbol. Press here, then choose your apps to update.
14. Find and play great podcasts
Here are 40 for science, for example. Also, a nice trick here can be to play podcasts (and other audio) at double speed to save time, and create a chipmunk effect that will take you back to your childhood.
15. Check for remaining space
Go to “Settings,” then “General.” This will also show you how much space each app is taking individually.
16. Backup to iCloud
iCloud is Apple’s proprietary platform for cloud storage of your iPad’s contents. You get unlimited storage free of charge for movies, music, apps, books, and other items that are “Apple generated.” For your own personal media–photos, movies, etc–you get the first 5 GB free, and after that have to purchase additional space.
Note, you can also see Apple’s support page for iCloud here for details (essentially Settings-> iCloud–> Storage & Backup).
17. Sync to your computer via iTunes
Okay, so that’s the cloud: How do you backup your iPad to your computer? It’s pretty simple–a matter of hooking up your iPad to your computer via USB, then opening iTunes and telling it to sync. (Also, see here for details)
18. Review an app critically and constructively
Please, please, please don’t give apps one star because of one annoying feature, or something that is entirely specific to only you. Yes, these reviews are your way to give feedback to a developer, but they’re also for the average app user browsing the store. Be as specific and constructive as possible when you review so that both the developer and future “shoppers” have quality data to make a decision, and otherwise quality apps don’t languish in sales mediocrity because of punitive 1-star reviews. (Unless, of course, they deserve 1-star–then fire away.)
18. Use visual apps
Instagram is not just for Snoop Doggy Dogg–universities are using it too. The internet is fast becoming a place of visual spectacle, and apps like these will soon become more integrated, more powerful, and more popular (see how the concept behind Myspace became facebook, for example). For now, Instagram, tumblr, and pinterest are at the top of the heap, but nothing stays the same, am I right?
19. Share large files
Use Dropbox, SugarSync, or other software to backup and/or share files.
20. Find high-quality eBooks
Whether you’re using Google Books, Kindle, or the iBookstore, use ratings, social media, blog posts, Amazon recommendations, Amazon reviews, goodreads, and other avenues to consistently find the best eBooks for your little tablet that could.
21. Know what jailbreaking is
See Wikipedia for an explanation. Whether you do it or not depends on your tech prowess, and whether the iPad is yours or your schools, but you probably should at least know it’s an option.
22. Use as a second screen or for screensharing
Check here and here for examples.
23. Open various files
Whether a .docx file or a pdf, an mpg or an mp3, you’ll likely need to view it on your iPad at some point or another. Most of these files have built-in associations, so no special knowledge is necessary other than to press what you want open, but one day, when you do run into that odd file extension you’ve never seen before, don’t be surprised. Google is your friend.
Update
24. Collaborate with student digital portfolios
Collecting student work, commenting on Google Drive documents, responding to YouTube videos of student documentaries, helping students organize PDFs with a system that makes sense, etc.
25. Turn off an app
Pushing an app to the background while it’s still running in dock/taskbar consumes energy. Tap home button once to push to background, double tap home button to get to taskbar, hold app icon until it dances/wiggles, & press the little red minus button in the upper left. Don’t worry–your app data is safe.
26. Manage your location data
Do you want everything you do tagged with your date/time & location for people to stalk you or rob your stuff while you’re gone? Settings>Privacy>Location Services>On with FindMyiPhone running at a minimum. Whatever else you do, leave location service for that one running. If you take pictures of kids, I would make sure your Camera & Facebook location services are off–you need to be smarter with this function.
27. Find your lost device
Getting your device registered–must have an iCloud account for that–and how to access the device, how to lock it down using “Lock” and “Wipe” if necessary. Sending a sound to it through FindMyiPhone is handy if you’ve misplaced it & know it’s on, with internet access. (25-27 courtesy TeachThought reader Julia Hengstler)
50 really useful iPad 2 tips and tricks
An absolute gem of an article by John Brandon and Graham Barlow from MacLife on 30th March over at TechRadar. This is going to become my iPad manual from here on in. Customized iPads for all
http://appsineducation.blogspot.com/2011/04/50-really-useful-ipad-2-tips-and-tricks.html
The Complete List of iPad Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/14529/the-complete-list-of-ipad-tips-tricks-and-tutorials/
An absolute gem of an article by John Brandon and Graham Barlow from MacLife on 30th March over at TechRadar. This is going to become my iPad manual from here on in. Customized iPads for all
http://appsineducation.blogspot.com/2011/04/50-really-useful-ipad-2-tips-and-tricks.html
The Complete List of iPad Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/14529/the-complete-list-of-ipad-tips-tricks-and-tutorials/