App review by Amanda Bindel, Common Sense Education | Updated September 2014
InClass
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  • Download from App Store

inClass

All-in-one electronic organizer allows sharing, collaboration

Get it now
  • Download from App Store
Learning rating
Editorial review by Common Sense Education
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Grades
9–12 This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.
Subjects & Skills
Critical Thinking
Great for
Productivity
Price:  Free In-app purchase of $.99 disables ads. Another in-app purchase of $.99 enables a drawing tool.
Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
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Take a look inside

5 images
Calendar helps students stay current with assignments and due dates.
Enter teacher contacts for easy access.
Record audio to accompany notes.
Students can share notes with classmates.
Each semester can be grouped into one organizer, comprised of the calendars, contacts, and courses for that term.

Pros: Students can record audio to accompany notes as well as share notes.

Cons: The task of setting up, organizing, and using the tool is totally in the student's hands.

Bottom Line: Tool is ideal for college students, although motivated, organized high schoolers may find it helpful as well.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

This is a tool that can empower students, and it's just right for college students. High school students, especially those taking concurrent college courses or those with a heavy AP load, may find it helpful as well. No teacher dashboard is available to set up classes; students take full ownership of the app. Teachers in lecture- or discussion-based courses may want to tell students about it and encourage them to try it out for note-taking and sharing as well as for organizing their calendars.

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Standards:

inClass looks like an old-school cloth-bound organizer, mimicking the pen-and-paper method of calendaring, note-taking, and organizing. This little black book is totally electronic, though, giving students a single place to organize their school lives. Students can create separate organizers for each term, adding instructors and their contact information, creating classes with assignments and due dates, and taking notes within each course's section. Within their notes, they can add audio, images, files, and drawings (with the in-app upgrade). They can share these class notes with friends as email attachments, notes within the app, or via iTunes file sharing. Assignment due dates can be viewed through the calendar, which shows a month-at-a-glance on the left side of the page and a list of the selected day's activities on the right. The coolest and most usable feature is the note-taking, with both audio and note-sharing capabilities. Even students without the app can receive and listen to, or review, emailed notes.

Several other apps exist separately as calendaring, note-taking, or sharing tools, but inClass is unique as a complete organizational resource. Getting started can be a bit intimidating, especially for a Google generation used to at least some auto-populated information: Students have to enter class schedules, instructors, and assignments manually. inClass then gives students a hands-on lesson on the benefits of putting in a little work on the front-end so they can keep track of and share assignments and class notes, with everything easily accessible in the app.

Overall Rating
Engagement Would it motivate students and hold their interest? Is it visually appealing? Would it inspire teachers to try something new or change their instruction?

The portfolio-style design might not be familiar to most students, although using it is pretty intuitive.

Pedagogy Does the tool help teachers promote a more student-centered experience? Will students gain conceptual understanding or think critically? Does it deepen teachers’ pedagogical thinking?

Students are empowered to organize their work, schedules, and assigments, keeping contact information, calendars, and notes in one place. Sharing notes with classmates is easy, too.

Support Can students and teachers get assistance when they need it? Is it created with people of different abilities and backgrounds in mind? Is learning reinforced and extended beyond the digital experience?

Tips and tricks for getting the most from the tool are offered on Twitter, Facebook, and a YouTube channel. Note-sharing is versatile and easy.

Common Sense reviewer
Amanda Bindel Classroom teacher
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Key Standards Supported

Reading Science/Technical

  • RST.11-12.9

    Synthesize information from a range of sources (e.g., texts, experiments, simulations) into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon, or concept, resolving conflicting information when possible.

Speaking & Listening

  • SL.9-10.2

    Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.

  • SL.11-12.2

    Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.

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