iPads and apps, apps and more apps

Am Exchange’s recent focus was on iPads and various education apps. We were very fortunate to have Jacqui Pritchard and Mary Ann Apple join us to share ideas and prompt discussion. Here’s a summary – and links-- from our two meetings (Nov. 29 and Dec 14):

A background Research Article for this topic is available here: “7 things you should know about iPad apps for learning” from Educause (Feb. 2011).

Looking for ideas? These 3 sources provide links to numerous apps and are a great overview:

• MaryAnn’s libguides page: iPads in the Classroom
• From Palm Beach High School (shared at recent iPad workshop held for Northern Illinois Computing Educators): Suggested iPad apps for High Schools
• iEar.org (I Education Apps Review)

On November 29th, the Am Exchange group talked about the iPad supporting visual learners and we noted that teachers can now project with iPad 2. We also shared information on specific apps, including

Visual Learning

• imovie app cost: $4.99 – our anatomy classes have used this and Liette shared how her daughter had used it for a college project.
• Photogene (editing tool) cost: $2.99
• Corkulous cost: $4.99 -- bulletin board/word wall

Auditory Learning

• iBand cost: $.99
• Songify FREE – suggested by Matt
• Dragon Dictation FREE – very positive comments from Matt, Julia and Liette about the possibilities, especially for language classes
• VoiceThread FREE; we may have school accounts with more options

Organizing and Logistics

• Library Anywhere FREE – JudyG briefly noted the trial she has been working on to make our catalog available through a mobile app.
• Numbers cost: $9.99 – like Excel
• We also briefly touched on IT’s work with Webdav for students to collaboratively edit projects.

Overwhelmed? More of a visual learner? Here's a relatively short video from West Lake High School (near Austin Texas) where librarian Carolyn Foote and others talk about their favorite iPad apps:

On December 4^th, Jacqui and Mary Anne shared another round of apps, including some for Classroom Management:

• Gradebook PRO
• Teacher’s Assistant
  
• Julia noted that she currently uses SuperTeacherTools and loves it for assigning groups, seating charts, etc.

For Kinetic Wellness: iMuscle

For Note taking and Reading:

• Good Reader
• iAnnotate this is used by ESL students in their iPad pilot.
• Evernote
• Dropbox If the group is interested, we will probably plan to spend additional time with Evernote and Dropbox (whether as an app or with laptops/computers) during second semester.

Jacqui also talked about how you can pair a bluetooth keyboard (apple) with an iPad, especially for those who are not completely comfortable with a virtual keyboard. She and Mary Ann demonstrated a Virtual Desktop on the iPad with the potential to give us full access to the New Trier systems that can presently only be accessed on the network OR when signed into to WebVPN. What we did not get to was a quick demo using the QuickOffice App. They think this is an ideal App for those who would like to access and modify their Word, Excel, and PPT files on their iPad. Thanks again to Jacqui and Mary Ann.

The next Am Exchange meeting will be held, Tuesday, January 10th at 7:30am in the Library. Agenda topics will include Today’s Meet and how to set up a back channel discussion in your classroom (Peter Tragos presenting; postponed from November).

In attendance (11/29): Mary Ann Apple, Liette Brisebois, Raquelle Brennan, Judy Gressel, Andy Horne, Julia Kessel, Keta McCarthy, Jacqui Pritchard, Linda Straube and Matt Stuczynski.

In attendance (12/14): Mary Ann Apple, Liette Brisebois, Raquelle Brennan, Judy Gressel, Andy Horne, Julia Kessel, Keta McCarthy, Jacqui Pritchard and Linda Straube.