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Best 1-to-1 iPad Apps for Learning
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Classroom Management and Teaching Apps for iPads
TinyTap - Educational Games
Book-and-game builder empowers creativity, boasts vast content library
Bottom line: With some patience and planning, this game maker can be a classroom game changer.
Classkick
Easy-to-use, real-time monitoring, feedback, and assessment for 1-to-1
Bottom line: It's a great option for teachers who want to go paperless, provide specific feedback, and encourage collaboration among students in 1-to-1 classrooms.
Seesaw: The Learning Journal
Versatile digital portfolio appeals to teachers, students, and parents
Bottom line: A powerful multimedia learning and communication tool that demonstrates student progress over time.
Nearpod
Interactive slideshow tool engages students, promotes collaboration
Bottom line: This effective tool leverages the capabilities of 1-to-1 environments and offers both teacher- and student-paced learning.
Recap: Video Response and Reflection for Education
Multimedia reflection app puts a new spin on class discussion
Bottom line: By promoting regular self-reflection and inquiry through Recap, teachers can support more authentic learning and self-assessment among their students.
MyLife Meditation
Appealing app guides meditation, promotes compassion
Bottom line: An accessible, well-designed tool for making meditation a daily practice for both students and teachers.
Educreations
Enliven lessons and presentations with easy-to-use whiteboard tool
Bottom line: An easy, functional way to create presentations on the fly.
Showbie
Flexible desktop, mobile assignment tool works best with pro features
Bottom line: A flexible way to collect student assignments and offer written and verbal feedback, especially with the premium features.
Notability
Flexible note-taking tool empowers learners of all abilities
Bottom line: An excellent tool that lets students make their notes thorough and useful in the way that best suits their learning styles and abilities.
Quizlet
App to find, create, use digital flashcards; website is better
Bottom line: A convenient way to find, create, and review digital flashcards, which have all the advantages and disadvantages of paper flashcards.
Arts and Creativity Apps for iPads
Artsonia Kids Art Museum
Online art museum empowers students to exhibit, explain their work
Bottom line: A well-loved digital art museum that allows students to share work and reflect on their artistic process while helping teachers assess student understanding of artistic concepts.
ScratchJr
Drag-and-drop programming is an effective intro for budding coders
Bottom line: With a little adult help, this is a rich platform for getting kids into programming and digital creation.
Toontastic 3D
Flexible tool hands kids the reins for creative animated storytelling
Bottom line: Despite some lack of variety and simple drawing tools, Toontastic 3D remains a terrific, versatile storytelling tool.
Wizard School!
Curated videos and creative challenges ignite active learning
Bottom line: There's plenty of material to inspire kids to embark on learning adventures that get them to explore, create, and share safely on the screen and off.
Cozmo
A little robot with big personality brings code to life
Bottom line: From Cozmo's engaging personality to endless programming possibilities, this little robot will capture your heart and spark imagination.
DIY.org – Creative Challenges
From cardboarding to cooking, this app helps kids find the fun in DIY
Bottom line: Fabulous way for kids to get skills and share their projects digitally.
Book Creator
Magically easy way to create and publish digital books and multimedia
Bottom line: This is a top-quality creation tool that lets students of many ages and abilities publish their own digital books.
Educreations
Enliven lessons and presentations with easy-to-use whiteboard tool
Bottom line: An easy, functional way to create presentations on the fly.
Paper by WeTransfer
Beautifully designed digital sketchbook for any age
Bottom line: The simplicity and effectiveness of the app make this a powerful sketch and note-taking tool for the iPad.
GarageBand
Amazingly powerful audio workstation unleashes creativity
Bottom line: There's exceptional functionality in this solid, all-inclusive audio workstation that's fantastic for high-quality, anytime, and anywhere audio recording and sharing.
Canva
Create snazzy designs in seconds with flexible, cloud-based tool
Bottom line: A flexible, accessible way to get kids -- especially design novices -- creating digitally in your classroom if you have stable internet and time to get students set up to be successful.
iMovie
Movie editor will satisfy beginner and intermediate creators
Bottom line: Despite some limitations with editing, it’s the perfect tool to get teachers and students started with digital video production.
Photoshop Express Photo Editor
Top-notch photo editor helps perfect pics for creative projects
Bottom line: This is a powerful, free creation tool from the industry leader in photo editing.
Animoto: Slideshow Maker
Slick video slideshow tool lets kids tell stories and share them
Bottom line: Anything that happens during school can be turned into an engaging video slideshow.
ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies Apps for iPads
Khan Academy Kids
Creative, smart mix of pre-K to K activities is a breath of fresh air
Bottom line: It's tough to stand out in the crowded early learning space, but this collection does just that, offering a one-stop shop for creative learning of foundational skills.
DragonBox Numbers
Explore the concept of numbers through puzzles and fun gameplay
Bottom line: Though there are a few kinks, kids experience fun gameplay while internalizing fundamental number concepts.
BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week
High-quality animated videos engage young kids in a variety of topics
Bottom line: Great videos, though kids' learning should be enhanced with interactive elements to encourage deeper, more active learning.
Skybrary – Kids Books & Videos
Kids can "go anywhere, be anything" with vast book and video library
Bottom line: Wonderful and practical way to get kids excited about learning and reading -- the greatness of the classic TV series, updated for the 21st century.
Epic! - Kids' Books and Videos
Free, expansive digital library unlocks treasure trove of books
Bottom line: This large collection of books and videos on a wide variety of topics is an easy -- and free -- enhancement to any classroom library.
Google Earth
Cool geographical exploration tool has endless classroom applications
Bottom line: Google Earth is an engaging and completely open-ended app perfect for use across the educational spectrum.
LightSail
Powerful, flexible reading tool measures meaningful literacy gains
Bottom line: A powerful literacy platform for developing and empowering readers, with useful customization features for both teachers and students.
News-O-Matic EDU
Daily news stories and supplements keep elementary schoolers current
Bottom line: This highly useful current events platform can be a daily fixture of elementary school classrooms.
Grammaropolis
Animated parts-of-speech app enlivens grammar lessons
Bottom line: It's a cute concept that makes sense out of sometimes hard-to-understand grammar concepts.
NASA
Visually super NASA-backed treasure trove may overwhelm
Bottom line: A visually stunning way to get kids interested in science and space exploration.
Dictionary.
Vast word reference features tons of content and word games
Bottom line: Powerful tool crammed full of games, classic reference information, and flexible controls.
Pages
Writing and publishing tool is an increasingly satisfying option
Bottom line: With useful new book creation features, Pages is a much-improved publishing tool for Apple-oriented classrooms.
DragonBox Algebra 5+
Mesmerizing step-by-step puzzler sets the foundation for algebra
Bottom line: This innovative game-changer teaches algebra, changes the way kids learn it, and even changes how they feel about it.
CueThink
Social approach to problem-solving promotes deep math learning
Bottom line: An innovative, community-based platform that helps students plan, strategize, and collaborate.
Lab4Physics
Bring physics to life using lab sensors built right into your smartphone
Bottom line: Use your smartphone to gather data and study speed, gravity, waves, and other physics concepts.
Cogent Education
Think like a scientist: Solve biology case studies
Bottom line: Practice problem-solving skills and learn biology through interactive case studies.
NPR News
Top-notch digital content takes students beyond the airwaves
Bottom line: Provides an easy, fun, and effective way to engage students with radio.
