63 of 100 - iDoceo App

iDoceo

The simplest way to use an iPad as a teacher is to replace the old-school day book that still graces the desks of most teachers. There are so many advantages to this system that, once set up, save you time and offers a plethora of improvements.


Applications:

1. It can integrate with all your own personal/work electronic calendars.
2. Content can be exported to almost any format and e-mailed for replacement teachers.
3. Content is backed up to a large range of cloud based storage e.g. Google Drive, Dropbox etc
4. Content can be easily shifted and moved as daily plans get revised.
5. Media content can be linked to lessons e.g. youtube clips etc.

* This week we have the pleasure of a fellow teacher presenting on this App who is more experience with iDoceo (over 1 year of use). Welcome Jo Copland to 100Appsin100Days!

63. iDoceo - Teacher Planning Diary for iPads from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

62 of 100 - True/False App

True/False App

A simple app to encourage rapid thinking/judgement processes across a range of knowledge domains. 

Applications:

1. Class warm up (if your knowledge domains intersect).
2. Encourages rapid processing of information for key relevant elements.
3. Rapid decision making processes - filtering and assessing known information and making valid decisions.

62 of 100 - True:False App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

61 of 100 - Translate Voice App

Translate Voice App

Its the kind of App you see in some form when people depict the future. You talk in English and its translates to any other language and speaks your works accurately in the chosen target language. I tested it with Japanese and French and it works well.

Applications:

1. The language classroom - test phrases, peer tutoring etc.
2. Travel app - slower communication but has potential.
3. School exchange programs - cross cultural communication beyond language classes.

61 of 100 - Translate Voice App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

60 of 100 - Explain Everything App

This was the definitive 'Smartboard Killer' app. Simple teacher created media content can be presented and interacted with in a normal classroom context with the addition of a $100 Apple TV. Check the video and try it out for a plethora of applications.

Applications:

1. Ease of use.
2. Teacher created content = specific to course/class needs.
3. Online sharing capability.

60 of 100 - Explain Everything App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

59 of 100 - The Wolfram Alpha App

Wolfram Alpha App

Information is not lacking when once seeks on the internet. The rising importance of filters and searching algorithms becomes increasingly important - this is where Wolfram Alpha shines. 

From the creators:

Remember the Star Trek computer? It's finally happening--with Wolfram|Alpha. Building on 25 years of development led by Stephen Wolfram, Wolfram|Alpha has rapidly become the world's definitive source for instant expert knowledge and computation. 

Across thousands of domains--with more continually added--Wolfram|Alpha uses its vast collection of algorithms and data to compute answers and generate reports for you. 

Parts of Wolfram|Alpha are used in the Apple Siri Assistant; this app gives you access to the full power of the Wolfram|Alpha computational knowledge engine. 


Applications:

1. Varied search algorithms to Google - yes, there is an alternative.
2. Broad range of knowledge domains represented.
3. Search responds well to natural language questions.

59 of 100 - The Wolfram Alpha App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

58 of 100 - The Instructable App

Instructable App

This app takes what Youtube does and packages it nicely. Want to learn how to do a full range of tasks with well created videos focused on a specific task? If so, this is for you.
From its creators:

From useful and entertaining how-tos and hacks, to delicious recipes and outrageous inventions, Instructables is the place to explore, document, and share your creations.
With over 100k tutorials in technology, workshop, living, and more, we have the largest collection of do-it-yourself projects created by others just like you.

Applications:

1. Focused instructional content that is easy to navigate.
2. Target towards teaching specific skills well and in sequence.
3. Novel and engaging - can create cross domain thinking skills/activities.

58 of 100 - Instructables App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

57 of 100 - The Hopscotch App

Hopscotch App

A great App for teaching basic programming logic to students (and adults) using simple blocks and engaging animations. 

The creators encourage early engagement with coding through the following:

Why learn to code? Computer Science is among the highest paid college degrees and programming jobs are growing at 2x the national average. By the year 2020, there will be a projected 1.4 million computer jobs but only 400,000 CS students. Even if kids don’t grow up to be programmers, the problem solving and critical thinking skills they will obtain playing Hopscotch are necessary for every career path. Hopscotch was inspired by MIT’s Scratch. 

Applications:

1. Teaches logical, sequential thinking through basic coding concepts.
2. Allows for great depth of differentiation in the one app - students of varied skill/experience will all be engaged.
3. Skills are transferable to mathematical knowledge and sequencing.
4. Students are free to incorporate their own narrative structures that interest them.

57 of 100 - Hopscotch App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

56 of 100 - 82nd & 5th

Curated Artworks

82nd & 5th is a great App that has museum curators talk in some detail about works in their care. iTunes puts this a littler better here:

Based on the award-winning online series 82nd & Fifth, the 82nd & Fifth app invites 100 curators from across The Metropolitan Museum of Art to talk about 100 works of art that changed the way they see the world, and 11 Met photographers to interpret their vision: one work, one curator, two minutes at a time. 

The App is visually stunning and the curators highly knowledgeable and engaging. These kinds of free Apps are what the iPad was truly designed to present. Highly recommended!

56 of 100 - 82nd & 5th from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

55 of 100 - The Elevate App (Brain Training)

Elevate App

This is a brain training app covers a range of thinking skills and builds a program to hone your thinking prowess. Choose an area of focus and the questions roll in and honestly get the grey matter ticking over. A great alternative to simple tools like Sudoku that keeps your brain supple and active. Highly recommended.

Applications:

1. Excellent literacy/numeracy trainers for adults or students.
2. Has the ability to focus on very specific thinking skills and has a broad range to choose from.
3. Keeps your thinking skills sharp and active. Use it or lose it!

55 of 100 - Elevate App (Brain training) from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

54 of 100 - The Meow App - Animal face editor (Sorry!)

Meow 

Well, in reviewing over 100 apps one must pay homage to at least a few of the non-sensical, low-brow, time-wasting yet amusing apps such as this one.

Applications: (not applicable)

54 of 100 - Meow - least useful app ; ) from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

53 of 100 - 1986 Photo Editing App

1986 

This app is really just a little fun. Limited application but does create some very interesting 80's effects. 

Applications:

1. Just for fun.
2. Photography/Art course for creating digital works with specific effects of this genre.

53 of 100 - 1986 App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

52 of 100 - The FishEye Lens App

Fish Eye Lens

This app creates a curved broad angle image that allows you to capture close to a 180 degree view. Here is a sample of this style of 'lens' as replicated with this app:

You adjust from a range of angles to create the desired effect for particular scenes.


Applications:

1. Photography & Art courses - an inexpensive way to experiment with fish eye lens effects.
2. Effective for images that want to capture subjects front and centre and expansive backgrounds.
3. Visually effective for sport based photography where the subject is moving - allows a broader capture area.

53 of 100 - 1986 App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

51 of 100 - The Easy Bib App

EasyBib

This app makes creating bibliography simple by simple entering the title or by scanning the barcode. Once your references are collated you can convert them to a variety of referencing systems (Includes: MLA, APA, and Chicago style citations ).


Applications:

1. An efficient way to create a bibliography.
2. Can be used to teach correct referencing.
3. Can be used to create a database of a personal reading library.

51 of 100 - Easy Bib from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

50 of 100 - The 'Google Docs' App

Google Docs

This app is a basic word processing app with basic formatting functions that are in programs like Microsofts Word or Apples Pages. As with all Google apps tools their strength lies in their enhanced functions in sharing, collaborating, viewing and commenting.

Applications:

1. Collaborative report/story writing.
2. Sharing documents with a colleague for review/comments/adaptions.
3. Co-constructing a collaborative working document e.g. policy document.
4. Gathering a particular communities input and feedback.

50 of 100 - Google 'Docs' App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

49 of 100 - News-O-Matic App

News-O-Matic

This app curates news stories and presents five in a simple and readable format aimed at primary students. It does tend to be a little American-centric, however there is a full range of articles that can apply across many curriculum areas. If you sign up as a teacher you can access pre-made teaching resources related to each of the articles which you can adapt for you context. 

Applications:

1. Create global awareness in classrooms in an easily digestible format.
2. Engage students in critical thinking about media sources and their bias.
3. Connect classrooms with authentic and current events. 

49 of 100 - News-O-Matic App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

48 of 100 - The ABC iView App

ABC iView 

Television stations have bowed to the need for flexibility of anytime/anywhere content provision. The ABC iView app does this particularly well and neatly arranges some great quality content in a simple to use app. It requires a decent internet connection to be a smooth experience, however, the video is optimised for quick playback.


Applications:

1. Fantastic archive of content with direct connections to education.
2. Can create authentic contexts for learning content with up to date media content.
3. Can be used for blended learning and to build student knowledge prior to a class discussion.
4. Great material for extension and enrichment.

48 of 100 - The ABC iView App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

47 of 100 - The Timeline Eons App

Timeline Eons 

The timeline eons app gives fantastic comparative visuals of a range of historical events. These range from things such as the Byzantine Empire to Obama's time in office. The app user can zoom in and get more detail on specific events on a particular timeline. In addition, there is also the 'big picture' view of history that places events in a broader historical perspective. 


Applications:

1. Identify key events in a particular timeline in history.
2. Compare time frames to give a broader 'bigger picture' view of history.
3. Seek interconnections between events and look for possible causal relationships.

47 of 100 - The Timeline Eons App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

46 of 100 - The Universal Zoom App

Universal Zoom

The universal zoom app is a simple and visual way to teach scale and perspective. It has basic information about a variety of objects/subjects from the smallest cell to the tallest mountain and students can compare and contrast these.

Applications:

1. Teaches scale and perspective in a highly visual and memorable way.
2. Great for showing objects in the microscopic scale and giving them comparative meaning. 
3. Can print out comparisons relevant to a particular unit of study.

46 of 100 - Universal Zoom App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

45 of 100 - The Book Creator App

Book Creator 

This app is just simply great. Make iBooks and other ePub format books (digital books) straight from your iPad. Easily input text, images, audio and video and turn it into a beautiful digital textbook with ease. The potential of this app is staggering in a context where teachers are digital curators of content, and, in which students an publish professional content for an authentic audience. 

Applications:

1. Teacher and Student created textbooks.
2. Self published works - e.g. narratives.
3. Scientific research publications.
4. Digital book archive of and event/trip.
5. Collaborative student work where each student/group contributes a chapter.

45 of 100 - Book Creator App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

44 of 100 - The Chord App

Chord! App

The chord app has many allows any song to be transposed, chords to be viewed (with many different fingerings) and improvisation scales suggested over certain progressions (over 400 scales!). It's one musical app with years of learning content for a few dollars. 


Applications:

1. Music theory classes
2. Reference for learning improvisation (scale suggestions)
3. Repository of alternate chord fingerings. 
4. Beautiful formats for sharing/printing song chords.

44 of 100 - Chord App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

43 of 100 - Curious App

Curious App

What are you curious about?

Chances are their may be an answer to your question in this App. Some quick searches find videos and resources on:

- How to grow blueberries
- How to use a compass
- Improve your drawing skills
- Functions and equations etc

Much of the content is free, some requires payment (though you can preview some of the video to assess its suitability.

Applications:

1. Curated video learning content in one clean format and with one purpose (unlike the wild jungle of Youtube)
2. To integrate some real world learning activities in your classroom outside of your particular skill set.
3. To integrate some cross domain learning into your subject to enhance student engagement e.g. How to photograph smoke in a math unit on fractals.
4. To embrace life long learning.

43 of 100 - The Curious App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

42 of 100 - Google Sheets App

Google Sheets App

Put simply - Its like excel but you can share it with others who can also contribute to the spreadsheet.

(The Google sheets app is connected to the Google Apps for Education (GAFE) platform. What does this mean? You need a google docs account (i.e gmail address) for this App to work. Once signed up this app is a simple spreadsheet making app. The usefulness is in its functionality in relation to collaborative editing & sharing.)

Applications:

1. Collating information for almost any purpose. Set up the parameters and then share with editing access those that need to input information.
2. Student content submission (e.g. students drop their blog addresses links into a shared spreadsheet (p.s Google Classroom also does this - coming in another blog post)
3. Organising a supper roster. 
4. Organising travel arrangements.
5. Organising costing details. 

42 of 100 - Google Sheets App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

41 of 100 - City Mapper App

CityMapper

This App makes it easy to navigate the worlds largest cities in one simple, free and often humorous app. Get from A to B in the simplest of ways (even better than Apple Maps and Google Maps) and even try some great transport methods such as teleporters and catapaults (watch the vid!).


Applications:

1. Geography - mapping skills, distances etc.
2. Mathematics - set real world mathematical problems i.e travel time comparisons depending on mode of transport - perhaps map to carbon footprint costs?
3. When travelling this works more efficiently and has a friendlier interface as compared to other map tools. 
4. Compare transport methods and consider city planning from a transport perspective. 

41 of 100 - CityMapper App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

40 of 100 - The Bean Hunter App

Bean Hunter

Like coffee? Appreciate the opinions of others? This app uses 'user' information to rate coffee spots by location. A simple and focused use of geographical mapping and personal interest (coffee). 

Applications:

1. Find great coffee anywhere.
2. Contribute your bean opinion for enhanced value for users.
3. Support/Promote excellence in business.

40 of 100 - The BeanHunter App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

39 of 100 - Playground Finder App

PlayGround Finder

Playgrounds. What's not to love! This app will find the nearest one and list its attributes and features in milliseconds. Requires an internet connection (3/4G iPad or iPhone). Particularly useful when travelling and needing a playground for a fun break with kids! (Thanks Steve & Louise)

Applications:

1. Builds social value by contributing back to the net locally and globally.
2. Appeases kids when travelling with physical activity and a amenities.
3. Uses local knowledge effectively.

39 of 100 - The PlayGround Finder App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

p.s requires 3/4 connection or internet access.

38 of 100 - The Green-screen App

GreenScreen App

This is cool. Record in front of a 'green screen' and drop in any reality you would like in the background. This allows anyone with an iPad/iPhone to employ the basics of high end movie production for a few dollars. Create any context and see what you can create with this great movie making app!


Applications:

1. Create movies with any context that suits.
2. Use professional techniques in your movie editing.
3. Deconstruct Hollywood through learning its secrets.

38 of 100 - Green Screen App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

37 of 100 - Haiku Deck App

Haiku Deck 

Japanese simplicity. What is not to love! This app avoids 'death by PowerPoint' by encouraging presentations to be highly visual, minimal text and maximum impact. Choose from great stock images, add some simple text and use verbal communication for maximum effect.

Applications:

1. Avoid death by powerpoint.
2. Focus on content and high-impact visuals vs read the page.
3. Embrace clean design principles.

37 of 100 - Haiku Deck App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.

36 of 100 - Tellagami App

Tellagami App

This app allows users to create simple animations and add voice-over narrations in a simple app. The animation mirrors the narrated voice in movement and there are a range of gestures, emotions etc that can be programmed. 

Applications:

1. Integrated into iMovie as a virtual host/guide.
2. Integrated in to a blog or website as a virtual tutor or help guide.
3. Create short animations collaboratively where students create a dialogue between virtual characters and cut it together in iMovie.
4. Virtual teacher in a LMS environment to reinforce salient teaching points.

36 of 100 - Tellagami App from Rob D Spreitzer on Vimeo.