It's Elementary, Watson!
Apps for Elementary
APPS TO ACQUIRE INFORMATION
Skype: Educators love simple tools that they can use in multiple ways. Skype is a great way to virtually bring experts into the classroom and to help students make real-world connections to what they’re learning. “If we are talking about acquiring knowledge, Skype is brilliant,” Luhtala said.
Google Hangouts: Similarly, Google Hangouts is a great tool for connecting with other educators, students and classes. It’s easy to integrate with other Google products like Google Calendar and easy to send notifications inviting people to the conversation.
Junaio: This augmented reality app is a great way to connect digital media content to a physical object. Unlike similar products, it will scan both QR codes and bar codes. It can be used in connection to maps, to find local events and in any number of other creative ways. It works only on iPhones, but is free.
Layar: Another augmented reality tool, several elementary school teachers found it worked better for little kids than Aurasma, which requires individual accounts that can get complicated with young learners. Compatible with iPhones and iPads, this app is free.
iLearn United States: This game-like app has a learn mode and a game mode. Students acquire facts about a state like its state flower and flag and then use that information in a game, scoring points against a clock. It works on iPhone and iPad and the lite version is free.
Stack the States: This app allows kids to play with virtual flashcards in a fun easy way. Once they know the information, they put them in their “stack.” It works on iPhones and iPads and the lite version is free.
Kahoot: This app allows teachers to create quizzes that are more fun and interactive than what can be done simply in Google Forms. It also allows teachers to customize quizzes for students’ needs, changing details down to a very granular level. It is Web-based and free.
Plickers: One easy way many educators are using technology in the classroom is to have students respond to short questions during a lesson to test for understanding. That works fine when all kids have a smartphone or device, but Plickers is a solution for more low-tech classrooms. Teachers issue cards with choices on them (A,B,C,D). The teacher poses the question and students hold up the card corresponding to the answer they want to give. The teacher then uses her phone or iPad to scan across the room. Plickers registers the results and feeds it all into a database. It can be used on iPhone and Android devices as well as on the Web and is free.
ABCya: This app offers an interactive game-based learning environment for language. It is designed for grades K-5 and features beautiful design and crisp graphics. It’s also Web-based and uses Flash, but students can log in at home as well. This tool is Web-based and free.
Spelling City: The app offers 25 online spelling games. It's totally customizable so [the teacher] can have control over how to tie the word into a sentence. Teachers love this because they can connect the vocabulary to other classroom content and share what’s going on in class with parents. It is Web-based, as well as available on iPad and iPhone. The basic version is free.
Epic!: This is essentially a huge e-book library. The collection includes everything from picture books to graphic novels and even junior novels. It is “Netflix for kids books” because it offers thousands of titles. The books are for ages 4 and up and are fairly interactive. It is free and works on iPads and iPhones.
Biblionasium: Part learning management system, part conversation starter, Biblionasium is like GoodReads for elementary and middle school students. Teachers can create classrooms within the site, monitor students’ reading and see conversations around a book. This is a great way for younger kids to practice interacting in an online forum that is designated for them and their books. The site is Web-based and FREE.
APPS THAT HELP MAKE MEANING
The apps in this section help organize or share information that students or teachers have already found.
Symbaloo: Many teachers love this organizational tool. It allows a librarian or teacher to create accounts featuring a group of apps appropriate for each group of students. Kids can get comfortable with the apps and sites the teacher expects them to use without distractions. This app is available on the Web, Android phones and iPhones. It’s free for individual use, $34.99/year for a librarian or teacher account.
SeeSaw: This is an easy portfolio tool that allows teachers, students and parents to see and access video, audio, photo and text artifacts of learning. It’s easy to set up and even kids at the lowest level can use it. It’s compatible with iOS devices and is free.
Padlet: The simple app is a great way to crowdsource info, essentially collecting notes from lots of people in one place. Padlet is Web-based and free.
Desmos: This company has essentially replicated the functionalities of graphing calculators online, so all kids can have access. Graphing calculators are often one of the most expensive things on a back-to-school list, making this software very useful. It is Web-based, works on iPads and is free.
Word Clouds: Teachers use this app instead of Wordle if they use iPads.
ClassDojo: This tool is a fun and easy way to keep track of student behavior, allowing teachers to take attendance quickly and give positive or negative reinforcement, depending on a child’s actions that day. Each student gets a critter and some teachers find it very effective. It works on iPhones and iPads, as well as Android phones and the Web. It is free.
Puffin Web Browser: Educators using iPads have trouble running any program with Flash or Javascript. This Web browser allows both and is a good workaround if there’s a Web-based tool that has been out of reach because of platform incompatibility. It also has fast load times. There is a free version that works with Android and iOS products.
KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER APPS
Skitch: This app allows students to take a picture, write on it, decorate it, direct it to someone else, even use emojii on it. It’s another way to mix media to show understanding or add knowledge. Available for Android and iOS products for free.
Piktochart: An easy app to creates beautiful infographics. It’s free for the most simple templates and $39.99/month for over 100 themes. It is Web-based.
Adobe Voice: This iPad (only) app allows users to attach a voice recording over images. It is free.
Tellagami: This app has long been a favorite of many educators. It’s a quick and easy way to create and share animated messages. It works on iPads, iPhones and Android devices, and is free.
30Hands: This storytelling app has been particularly successful with elementary kids who are still struggling to write all that they know. Instead, a student or teacher can narrate presentations or images, sharing their learning that way. This is for iOS devices and has a free version.
Little Bird Tales:It’s another simple-to-use, voice-capture tool for storytelling. It’s free, works on iOS devices and has a Web-based version.
Powtoon: This Web-based tool allows students to create animated presentations. There is a free version and an expanded educator version for $6.25/month.
Glogster: This poster-making tool has been around for a long time, but recently got a huge overhaul. Now students can embed audio, video and music. Unfortunately, it is no longer free. Teacher light licenses start at $29.99/yr for 50 accounts. It works on the Web, iPads, iPhones, and Google Chrome.
Prezi: This is a good, free presentation tool for high school students. While some people complain it makes them dizzy, many still use it.
Green Screen: Featured in “Best New Apps in Education” in iTunes. Green Screen by Do Ink makes it easy to create incredible green screen videos and images right on your iPad. It’s only for iPads and it costs $2.99.
Sock Puppet: A video creator with sock puppet characters, students can lip sync their own videos. Only for iPhone and iPad and free.
Knowmia: Many teachers use this tool for flipping their lessons. The software offers lots of tools to design short video lessons. They can assign the video to their class and track who has watched it. Additionally, other people have access to the lesson. This is a Web-based tool and is free.
ABCya Animate: This versatile platform is so easy to use that kindergartners can make animations on it. It’s Web-based and compatible with iPads, but costs $1.99.
Do Ink Animate and Draw: A similar app for animating, this is better for older kids. It’s only for iPad and costs $4.99.
Chatter Pix Kids: Students can take photos or other images and easily create a voice over. It’s free and iOS compatible.
Lego Movie Maker: Students can create their own version of a Lego movie by building a scene and then capturing it with an iPad or iPhone. It’s then easy to add and delete frames, add a soundtrack, and even change the color filter. It’s free and iOS compatible.
Skype: Educators love simple tools that they can use in multiple ways. Skype is a great way to virtually bring experts into the classroom and to help students make real-world connections to what they’re learning. “If we are talking about acquiring knowledge, Skype is brilliant,” Luhtala said.
Google Hangouts: Similarly, Google Hangouts is a great tool for connecting with other educators, students and classes. It’s easy to integrate with other Google products like Google Calendar and easy to send notifications inviting people to the conversation.
Junaio: This augmented reality app is a great way to connect digital media content to a physical object. Unlike similar products, it will scan both QR codes and bar codes. It can be used in connection to maps, to find local events and in any number of other creative ways. It works only on iPhones, but is free.
Layar: Another augmented reality tool, several elementary school teachers found it worked better for little kids than Aurasma, which requires individual accounts that can get complicated with young learners. Compatible with iPhones and iPads, this app is free.
iLearn United States: This game-like app has a learn mode and a game mode. Students acquire facts about a state like its state flower and flag and then use that information in a game, scoring points against a clock. It works on iPhone and iPad and the lite version is free.
Stack the States: This app allows kids to play with virtual flashcards in a fun easy way. Once they know the information, they put them in their “stack.” It works on iPhones and iPads and the lite version is free.
Kahoot: This app allows teachers to create quizzes that are more fun and interactive than what can be done simply in Google Forms. It also allows teachers to customize quizzes for students’ needs, changing details down to a very granular level. It is Web-based and free.
Plickers: One easy way many educators are using technology in the classroom is to have students respond to short questions during a lesson to test for understanding. That works fine when all kids have a smartphone or device, but Plickers is a solution for more low-tech classrooms. Teachers issue cards with choices on them (A,B,C,D). The teacher poses the question and students hold up the card corresponding to the answer they want to give. The teacher then uses her phone or iPad to scan across the room. Plickers registers the results and feeds it all into a database. It can be used on iPhone and Android devices as well as on the Web and is free.
ABCya: This app offers an interactive game-based learning environment for language. It is designed for grades K-5 and features beautiful design and crisp graphics. It’s also Web-based and uses Flash, but students can log in at home as well. This tool is Web-based and free.
Spelling City: The app offers 25 online spelling games. It's totally customizable so [the teacher] can have control over how to tie the word into a sentence. Teachers love this because they can connect the vocabulary to other classroom content and share what’s going on in class with parents. It is Web-based, as well as available on iPad and iPhone. The basic version is free.
Epic!: This is essentially a huge e-book library. The collection includes everything from picture books to graphic novels and even junior novels. It is “Netflix for kids books” because it offers thousands of titles. The books are for ages 4 and up and are fairly interactive. It is free and works on iPads and iPhones.
Biblionasium: Part learning management system, part conversation starter, Biblionasium is like GoodReads for elementary and middle school students. Teachers can create classrooms within the site, monitor students’ reading and see conversations around a book. This is a great way for younger kids to practice interacting in an online forum that is designated for them and their books. The site is Web-based and FREE.
APPS THAT HELP MAKE MEANING
The apps in this section help organize or share information that students or teachers have already found.
Symbaloo: Many teachers love this organizational tool. It allows a librarian or teacher to create accounts featuring a group of apps appropriate for each group of students. Kids can get comfortable with the apps and sites the teacher expects them to use without distractions. This app is available on the Web, Android phones and iPhones. It’s free for individual use, $34.99/year for a librarian or teacher account.
SeeSaw: This is an easy portfolio tool that allows teachers, students and parents to see and access video, audio, photo and text artifacts of learning. It’s easy to set up and even kids at the lowest level can use it. It’s compatible with iOS devices and is free.
Padlet: The simple app is a great way to crowdsource info, essentially collecting notes from lots of people in one place. Padlet is Web-based and free.
Desmos: This company has essentially replicated the functionalities of graphing calculators online, so all kids can have access. Graphing calculators are often one of the most expensive things on a back-to-school list, making this software very useful. It is Web-based, works on iPads and is free.
Word Clouds: Teachers use this app instead of Wordle if they use iPads.
ClassDojo: This tool is a fun and easy way to keep track of student behavior, allowing teachers to take attendance quickly and give positive or negative reinforcement, depending on a child’s actions that day. Each student gets a critter and some teachers find it very effective. It works on iPhones and iPads, as well as Android phones and the Web. It is free.
Puffin Web Browser: Educators using iPads have trouble running any program with Flash or Javascript. This Web browser allows both and is a good workaround if there’s a Web-based tool that has been out of reach because of platform incompatibility. It also has fast load times. There is a free version that works with Android and iOS products.
KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER APPS
Skitch: This app allows students to take a picture, write on it, decorate it, direct it to someone else, even use emojii on it. It’s another way to mix media to show understanding or add knowledge. Available for Android and iOS products for free.
Piktochart: An easy app to creates beautiful infographics. It’s free for the most simple templates and $39.99/month for over 100 themes. It is Web-based.
Adobe Voice: This iPad (only) app allows users to attach a voice recording over images. It is free.
Tellagami: This app has long been a favorite of many educators. It’s a quick and easy way to create and share animated messages. It works on iPads, iPhones and Android devices, and is free.
30Hands: This storytelling app has been particularly successful with elementary kids who are still struggling to write all that they know. Instead, a student or teacher can narrate presentations or images, sharing their learning that way. This is for iOS devices and has a free version.
Little Bird Tales:It’s another simple-to-use, voice-capture tool for storytelling. It’s free, works on iOS devices and has a Web-based version.
Powtoon: This Web-based tool allows students to create animated presentations. There is a free version and an expanded educator version for $6.25/month.
Glogster: This poster-making tool has been around for a long time, but recently got a huge overhaul. Now students can embed audio, video and music. Unfortunately, it is no longer free. Teacher light licenses start at $29.99/yr for 50 accounts. It works on the Web, iPads, iPhones, and Google Chrome.
Prezi: This is a good, free presentation tool for high school students. While some people complain it makes them dizzy, many still use it.
Green Screen: Featured in “Best New Apps in Education” in iTunes. Green Screen by Do Ink makes it easy to create incredible green screen videos and images right on your iPad. It’s only for iPads and it costs $2.99.
Sock Puppet: A video creator with sock puppet characters, students can lip sync their own videos. Only for iPhone and iPad and free.
Knowmia: Many teachers use this tool for flipping their lessons. The software offers lots of tools to design short video lessons. They can assign the video to their class and track who has watched it. Additionally, other people have access to the lesson. This is a Web-based tool and is free.
ABCya Animate: This versatile platform is so easy to use that kindergartners can make animations on it. It’s Web-based and compatible with iPads, but costs $1.99.
Do Ink Animate and Draw: A similar app for animating, this is better for older kids. It’s only for iPad and costs $4.99.
Chatter Pix Kids: Students can take photos or other images and easily create a voice over. It’s free and iOS compatible.
Lego Movie Maker: Students can create their own version of a Lego movie by building a scene and then capturing it with an iPad or iPhone. It’s then easy to add and delete frames, add a soundtrack, and even change the color filter. It’s free and iOS compatible.
Apps K-12
Creative Video Apps
- iMovie - Apple's video editor keeps improving and gets better every year.
- Green Screen by DoInk - Quite possibly one of my favorite apps ever. Love it.
- Animation & Drawing by DoInk - Draw and animate your very own movie
- TouchCast Studio & TouchCast Ext Cam - If you've never used it before, just try it.
- MovieDrops for iMovie - perfect companion app for green screen video backgrounds
- IntroMate Intro Maker for iMovie - Create awesome video intros quickly and easily
- Hyperlapse - a time-lapse movie maker and video stabilization app
- iMotion HD - perfect for easy stop motion movies, or the odd time-lapse movie
- Splice - a free video editor that is as good as, or better than, iMovie.
- Quik - the quickest and easiest app for making photo slideshows, bar none!
- IPEVO Whiteboard - Screencast and annotate over live video for free!
- ExplainEverything - Arguably one of the best iPad apps for education.
- Adobe Spark Video - An amazing, free digital storytelling video app from Adobe.
- ChatterPix Kids - Endless fun for young and old. Few apps are easier to learn.
- Pic Collage Kids - a safe, fun, collage app that is very versatile
- Annotate - Handy editing tools like crop, draw, arrows, text, emoji and blur
- Photoshop Lightroom - the mobile version of Adobe's Lightroom editor
- Photoshop Mix - cut out, combine & blend pictures to create multilayered images
- Photoshop Express - fast, powerful, and advanced editing now with collages
- Pixelmator - a powerful, full-featured, layer-based image editor
- Superimpose - create superimposed or juxtaposed photos on your iPad
- Snapseed - a complete and professional photo editor developed by Google
- Canva - One of the easiest and most stylish design apps available.
- Adobe Spark Post -a great design app that is as good, (or better?) than, Canva.
- Desynger - Another template based app in the same vein as Canva and Spark Post.
- Word Swag - This app has lots of imitators, but none are as good as the original.
- Studio Design - A social design app that lets you browse & remix designs from others
- Assembly - Create icons, logos and scenes using a building block approach to design.
- Opinion Podcast - The barrier to podcasting has never been lower. Try this app today!
- Bossjock Jr & Bossjock - create and publish rich audio productions on your iPad
- Voice Record Pro 7 - Record audio, edit it, and even upload it to share on YouTube.
- Ferrite Recording Studio - a full featured multi-track audio editor for the iPad. Wow!
- Soundtrap - the multi-platform, cloud based audio editor has a very decent iOS app.
- DropVox - Records audio and automatically uploads it to Dropbox
- Audionote - Syncs audio with typed notes so you can hear what was said at any time
- Adobe Spark Page - A well-designed multimedia storytelling tool from Adobe
- Book Creator - Not all apps are worth paying for. This one is. Just buy it.
- Sway - Similar to Adobe Spark Page. A great app for stories or presentations
- Toontastic - Create and animate your own cartoon adventure for free
- Shadow Puppet EDU - make videos to tell stories, explain ideas, & document learning
- Telestory - An awesome, free augmented reality video storytelling app
- Our Story for iPad - a great introduction to digital storytelling for younger students
- Puppet Pals - Create simple animated stories with puppets and even yourself!
- ComicBook! - a comic book creator with lots of options for customization
- Sock Puppets - Create your own lip synched puppet videos with props & backgrounds
- Adobe Draw - A very well done vector drawing app with layers and lots of pen tools
- Masterpiece for Osmo - Use Osmo to record a sto-mo video of you tracing an image
- Paper 53 - It's hard not to love this simple, yet powerful, drawing app. Lots to like.
- Tayasui Sketches - Similar to Adobe Draw. Multiple tools, layers and more
- Sketchbook Express - Tools and brushes to create doodles, quick sketches or artwork