Yes. Love is a strong word, but it’s almost Valentine’s Day. And these apps? I DO love them so much I kind of want to marry them. They are great. Why? Because they are not about consumption. They are about creation. Open ended apps that put the power of the iPad in the hands of the students, encouraging the REAL power of learning to come from their own thinking. What will your students create?
Easy Blogger Jr. is an interface for Blogger. It allows you to use a basic Blogger site for students to upload and share content to. The apps is also available to work with WordPress and Edublog. This app encourages students to reflect, share, ask each other questions, compare their thinking to other students thinking, and practice being responsible global citizens. Students can post photos, videos, and record voice overlays.
Such a simple app. It does just what is says… create a book. But there is so much more here. Add photos, videos, drawings, creations from other apps, text, sounds, and even pictures of projects. This app could be the start of student portfolios, weekly journals, creative poetry books, a place for students to write stories, and even non-fiction books to teach others. Even better? The books can be published to iBooks, enhancing students ability to see how their content can be authentically shared with the world in iTunes.
I have tried every drawing app out there. My own iPad is filled with apps that I’ve tried to find to rival my Sharpie and paper doodling love. Then? I tried Drawing Pad. I love it because of the options. An array of supplies to inspire students in various paints, markers, and more. Text can be added, or the drawings can be exported to other apps as photos.
The iPad is a great classroom camera, but we typically don’t print those photos or have an easy way to display. Here comes PicCollage… a great way for students to display their photos, add text, and even put a video clip. It’s a great introduction to digital media for young learners, and a flexible tool for the tech savvy kiddos looking for more.
If I had Popplet when I was a kid, I would have loved taking notes. The visual delight of the little bubbles, organized in web form to break down information, makes my heart sing. Popplet can be used to organize story elements during creative writing, taking notes during research, creating a simple timeline, and even organizing a project into parts.
Is this every app I love? Nope. But you know what? When it comes to apps, less is more. There are millions of apps available, and it’s easy to think of them like Valentine chocolates… you can’t have to many. But the really rich, delicious truffle apps that feed your brain and creativity? Just a few of the right ones, and your students creativity will make your heart sing!