10 Great Classroom Apps for the New Year
2012 might be the year of the dragon on the Chinese calendar, but in classrooms all over the world, 2012 is also the year of the app. Since its original release two years ago, the Apple iPad has steadily evolved from a device primarily used for entertainment to one that is fast becoming an invaluable part of the education landscape.
Educators and students from K-12 to college are using the iPad to write research papers, learn new vocabulary words, keep track of attendance, and create multimedia presentations. Thanks to the thousands of applications that have been developed specifically for use in education settings, the iPad stands to make an even greater impact in classrooms all over the world in 2012.
Check out the 10 iPad apps that are sure to breathe a little fire into any classroom lesson or lecture this year:
Futaba Classroom - Remember teaming up with your friends in the classroom and having board races to show what you knew? Designed for kids from K to 5th grade, Futaba Classroom brings this same feeling of competitive interaction right into the classroom for you and your students to show off their knowledge. Students can play head to head or in up to groups of 4. Battling each other in Math, English, Spanish, Money Counting, Telling Time and then some has never been more fun! Such a cool game we decided to feature it straight out!
Math Bingo – Math, bugs, and bingo … what more could a teacher ask for? By combining funny characters with a virtual reward system and a classic game, Math Bingo is an entertaining alternative to using traditional enrichment worksheets to teach basic math operations.
Toontastic – Heard any good stories lately? If you were using the Toontastic app in your classroom, you probably have. Toontastic is a free app that lets users create and share their own stories. Students can make up their own characters, add voice-overs, and even add music to their stories. What stories will your students tell?
Flashcards for iPad – Wanting to augment your language class? This is an incredibly well thought learning tool for all educators around the globe. You can teach a second language to kids smoothly. Built in games and activities both introduce and reinforce a variety of languages. US based educators teaching Spanish or French will find this app particularly useful.
Inkling – Forget learning out of a boring old textbook. With Inkling, students can share notes, access multimedia content, and interact with their textbooks like never before. Inkling certainly doesn’t sacrifice content … it just helps bring it to life.
Coaster Physics – Some iPad apps make sense, while others make cents. The Coaster Physics app actually makes both. For just 99 cents, Coaster Physics replaces expensive pieces of equipment and software, and provides an affordable and engaging way to teach students basic physics concepts.
Google Earth – A classic app in the world of iPads, Google Earth can be used to supplement lessons on just about every subject. Learning about Darwin? Let Google Earth take you on a virtual tour of the Galapagos. Studying Shakespeare? Let Google Earth transport you to England. Whatever the lesson, with the updated Google Earth app, a field trip to a far off place is only a tap and a swipe away.
Vital Signs Camera – With this amazing app from Phillips, even fitness testing can take on a whole new meaning. By using some amazing new technology, the Vital Signs Camera app actually uses the iPad camera to measure breathing and heart rates – perfect for teachers looking to combine P.E. with math or science lessons.
Grammar Dragon – It’s a proven fact that kids love dragons … trust us. Grammar Dragon takes the fantasy of dragons and combines it with the realities of grammar to create a simple but magical app that really helps improve reading and verbal skills, as well as an understanding of the parts of speech.
ResponseWare – Is there anything more uncomfortable to a teacher than dead silence after posing a question? With ResponseWare, you can soon say goodbye to a quiet classroom and hello to one where everyone feels comfortable participating. Creating instant polls and quizzes to check for understanding or to engage even the shyest student has never easier. What do you think?
iWriteWords – One of the most adaptable and acclaimed apps in the iTunes store, iWriteWords is an amazing app that is being used extensively in the early grades and in special education classrooms. For students or teachers who find traditional pencil and paper handwriting exercises too bland or too difficult, iWriteWords serves as a comparable and fun tool that takes advantage of the iPad’s many entertaining and interactive features.
