This is a very interesting app that would interest most students and students of varying ages. This app allows you to explore images, videos, mission information, news, and other NASA content. You can save images and store them in folders to come back and retrieve later. This would be very beneficial for teachers to use in lesson plans or to post on smart boards for students during science lessons. The app would allow students to watch NASA tv to see live coverage of space missions. The app is very informative when it comes to telling you about upcoming sightings, helps you track ISS and orbiting satellites. The content in this app would be applicable to integrating subjects such as art, math, science, reading, and writing.
ESOL - Spellbound
This was perhaps my favorite app and could see using this app on the iPad(s) in my classroom. It would be very useful to have individual iPads so that student progress could be tracked. It would be helpful for a wide range of ages and grade levels, especially ESL students. This app allows the teacher to load words and phrases to the app and the teacher can also make voice recordings of the words and phrases. This is very helpful to ESL students. Students can listen, read, and write their words all within the app. This app keeps a record of their history, grades, and even how long they study particular words. It also allow students to take quizzes and gives immediate feedback. The teacher can also email results to herself for class records, or for parents. This app could also be used across several subjects and allow students to practice vocabulary from many content areas. It would align with many standards required in the classroom.
Math - Mathematics
I think this was my least favorite app that I looked at. I did feel like it would be a helpful app for students of older ages and grades, at least from what I could tell from the app demonstration and reviews. This app is more of a reference tool and does not allow for a lot of practice. It covers a wide variety of topics, but seems like it gets its information from the internet and a variety of sources. I am concerned it could give some inaccurate information. I am also uncertain if you can choose a grade level or appropriate topics for younger grade levels. It did show that various calculators were built in and students can add notes into the app. I am pretty sure this is an app I would not use. I am sure there are better ones available although I like that it covers a variety of topics.
Social Studies - Stack the States
This looks like a fun app and I was interested in playing it as an adult. This would be an appropriate app for students in elementary grades, but older students might enjoy it as well. This app allows you to learn about the 50 states. Its colorful, fun, has sounds, and is attractive for young children. It allows you to learn about many aspects of the states like geography, flags, and even shapes. Students can create profiles and track their progress.
Music - Piano Free with Songs
I really would like to have this app. This app shows a full 88 key keyboard and has over 1,000 songs you can learn to play from a variety of popular artists. The app has a built in metronome, reverb, and other musical functions. Allowing students to use their talents for learning is very important. Music has shown to enhance learning in other subject matter. Using this app would also allow students who learn musically to have the opportunity to use that skill. I can think of several lesson ideas that would benefit from using this app and many ideas that would allow students to use their creativity. For example, a student could write a theme song for the classroom and we could use it in announcements in the morning. I am a big proponent of the arts and feel like it is beneficial to provide those outlets for students in the classroom even if it only involves a simple app.
Well done
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