iPad Apps for Education

Monday, April 12th 2010 by Katie Stansberry
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The Apple iPad hit the stores only a little over a week ago, but there are already over 1,000 different applications created specifically for the handheld computing device. Apple’s new device also runs nearly all of the 150,000 iPhone and iPod Touch apps available. For all you technology junkies that have managed to snag an iPad already, we’ve created a list of the best new iPad apps for education.

Geography:

Want to show your students the world?  Try Beautiful Planet HD, which features more than 570 images from celebrated travel photographer Peter Guttman. Spanning seven continents and 160 countries, this app makes full use of the iPad’s HD capabilities. This breathtaking collection of images, arranged across a simple map format, provides a beautiful visual encyclopedia of the world.

Mathematics:

Packed with tools to teach students about how the world markets function, the Bloomberg app could be a great asset for middle and high school students interested in learning basic investment practices. The program interface is clear and intuitive, making a sometimes intimidating process much more fun. And best of all – it’s completely free.

Art:

Budding Monets and Picassos can paint their masterpieces using the new iPad app Brushes. Think a digital pain application can never compare to paint and ink? Check out the June 1, 2009 issues of The New Yorker, which artist Jorge Colombo created using the Brushes app. for the iPhone.

Astronomy:

Google Earth may have mapped the world, but to track the movements of the heavens you can’t beat GoSkyWatch Planetarium. Locate celestial bodies with a quick touch, or by simply pointing the iPad screen at the sky. One of the coolest features of this program is the ability of the user to direct the night sky image backward and forward through time, allowing students to check out the arrangement of the stars on the date of their birth.

Music Appreciation:

Magic Piano turns an iPad into a handheld keyboard. Like other music apps for Apple products, users can play songs both independently and through application-guided selections. However, the unique aspect of the app is the “piano roulette” function, which makes it possible for players to join in duets with performers from across the world. What a way to build interest in music among reluctant young students.

Science:

You’ve never seen the periodic table like this before. The Elements: A Visual Exploration is one of the first ebooks developed from the ground up for the iPad. The opening image in The Elements shows every element as a rotating sample. To learn more, users can zoom in on the element and see razor-sharp images and up-to-the-minute facts about the chosen sample. The awe-inspiring features of this app must be seen to be truly appreciated. Check out the video below to see more.

Early Reading:

While not an entirely new app, I include Dr. Seuss’s ABC on this list because the iPad version shows Suess’s whimsical illustrations to much greater advantage than the iPhone or iPod Touch versions. A perennial favorite of children and adults alike, Dr. Seuss’s ABC is sure to delight.

What’s your favorite iPad app for education?

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13 Comments

Terry Gibbons

Monday, 12th April 2010 at 9:21 pm
 

My two most favorite educational apps are Connect Now and Acrobat.com. They just came out recently. Since I am big into e-learning, its really exciting that Adobe just came out with two different mobile apps that allow you to attend web conferences, create office docs and even print from the “cloud” via an iPad, iPhone or iPod. Its a great way to connect and collaborate and teach.

Karl Schaefer

Thursday, 15th April 2010 at 3:54 pm
 

I looked at Brushes but did not pop for spending the $$. I have it on my iPod Touch and love it, but saw a review for ArtStudio for only .$99 on sale so thought I would try it.

Katie Stansberry

Thursday, 15th April 2010 at 4:21 pm
 

Karl – let us know what you think of it. I’d love love to find a cheaper art app that is of similar quality.

Top 10 Reasons iPad Will Change Education « edtech tools

Friday, 16th April 2010 at 2:58 pm
 

[...] The Edu-App Tsunami. Less than two weeks old and already more than a 1,000 education-related apps for the iPad? You ain’t seen nothing yet. Judging from the iPhone and iPod apps counts, there’ll be a million more before the end of the year. And that’s good news for education. Ride the wave here. [...]

Darin King

Monday, 19th April 2010 at 7:16 pm
 

I agree that many of the apps are pretty impressive, but until Apple gives K12 schools better ways to purchase apps and manage iPad/Pods, I can’t see how they will be deployed in large numbers.

The closed nature of the iTunes store, a lack of enterprise management tools and the “single consumer” model are significant barriers to adoption in K12 education.

World Tweets 2010-04-20 « iPad Fun!

Tuesday, 20th April 2010 at 10:44 am
 

[...] Authors http://bit.ly/bNxlOn #PubTip [2010-04-20 23:39:42] tekteech7 iPads for Education? Any tips? http://www.isteconnects.org/2010/04/12/ipad-apps-for-education/ [2010-04-20 23:39:41] heatherhockman RT @dealsplus: #IHaveAThing4 iPad. Retweet this to win an iPad [...]

Margaret Johnson

Wednesday, 21st April 2010 at 11:20 pm
 

None of the content you mentioned is unique to the iPad (i.e.: the iPad is not enabling a new experience in education).

The iPad is one hot piece of hardware, but shouldn’t we focus on breakthrough digital learning?

This has been a passion of mine for many, many years. I’ve been told by many folks (not just my mom) that our games – ItzaBitza and ItzaZoo (http://SabiGames.com) rethink reading practice. Indeed these games are based on five years of research and are a new approach to gaming.

Thinking through learning skills as they can emerge uniquely on a new platform is a true paradigm shift.

Roxxor

Tuesday, 11th May 2010 at 3:51 pm
 

One of the best educational apps I’ve found for the Pre-K and K group is Monkey Preschool Lunchbox by Thup Games. It’s very engaging and hits most of the basic pre-reading, pre-math, etc. attributes for this age group nicely, in a very intuitive and interactive way. A lot of old text and low-graphic adventure games are also available, which is a fun reading experience for grades 3-7.

I have been thoroughly unimpressed by textbooks thus far, as they are all very static, difficult to put notes on, and non-interactive. I look forward to a publisher taking a hint from Marvel’s comic reader for usability – that would really open up textbooks to ADHD readers as well, providing more focus and flow.

The interactive table of elements is a good example of making something dry interesting, and it’s a good start, a good enhancement.

I’m looking forward to direct learning on the iPad, with engaging learning tools, not just more of what you get offline. If we use

Language learning Ipads possibly has changed the we learn

Friday, 4th June 2010 at 9:59 am
 

I am a student of Department of Romance and literature and I have start using language learning iPad apps for French & Spanish.

You should give a look and possibly share the information about these apps, like Hello Hello Spanish, Hello Hello French apps. I sure these successful apps will change the we learn at home and at universities.

50 Useful Resources for Students With an iPad | Accredited Online Colleges.com

Tuesday, 27th July 2010 at 11:11 pm
 

[...] iPad Apps for Education: Katie Stansberry takes a look at some excellent apps for education. [...]

| MindShift

Thursday, 19th August 2010 at 8:35 pm
 

[...] the International Society for Technology in Education, lists a few of those apps by subject. For Geography, there’s Beautiful Planet HD, for math there’s [...]

links for 2010-08-19 « doug – off the record

Friday, 20th August 2010 at 1:06 am
 

[...] iPad Apps for Education | ISTE Connects – Educational Technology The Apple iPad hit the stores only a little over a week ago, but there are already over 1,000 different applications created specifically for the handheld computing device. Apple’s new device also runs nearly all of the 150,000 iPhone and iPod Touch apps available. For all you technology junkies that have managed to snag an iPad already, we’ve created a list of the best new iPad apps for education. (tags: ipad education iste apps technology iPod tools) [...]

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