Increasingly, schools are adopting the iPad as the student computing device of choice due to it’s flexibility, hardiness and price point.  The fact is that even with such a great tool you can’t actually do anything substantial on the iPad without some great open-ended apps for students to create content with.

These apps are what I would call essential apps every student should have if they want to source and create content that supports god quality teaching and learning. 

These are open ended, and offer numerous learning opportunities.  They are not games or apps specifically related to an area of the curriculum.  They are apps that encompass all areas of learning and encourage personalized learning.

My next task is to create some lesson plans or tutorials for each of these apps that you can use in the classroom.

You will also note none of these apps include pricing as it changes so frequently.  Please refer to the iTunes link for the correct pricing for your region.

Evernote

Evernote is the do everything app for the iPad and can essentially do parts of many of the apps listed below.  It is a great app for recording notes, pictures, images and video that can be utilized for a number of purposes such as note taking and creating digital portfolios.

• Submit Projects Online
• Create a digital portfolio
• Record and reflect upon a reading sample

Penultimate

This is a handwriting app that allows students to write on their iPad and use it as they would use a notebook. The great thing about Penultimate is that it gives students the power to organize their notes into notebooks then go on to organize the individual pages for those notes. The app is customizable as it allows the user to add their own notes and share them as PDF files and it also integrates with Evernote as a further bonus.

• Handwriting lessons on the iPad
• Create Mindmaps
• Digital Drawing Tool

iMovie

There is no better solution to creating and editing videos on the iPad.  It offers a number of great templates and an incredibly easy to use interface students can create a movie of their own with confidence

• Document a project
• Self reflection videos
• Peer Feedback videos
• Create an annotated photo essay
• Slow motion analysis

Garageband

Much like iMovie. Garageband offers students to create music and podcasts with ease.  It also offers a vast array of options for the serious musician who wants to record something live or create a soundscape from loops and samples.

• Create a Podcast
• Record a Soundscape of your school
• Create a soundtrack to a video

Google Drive

Google Drive offers iPad users FREE office functionality including a capable word processor, spreadsheet and Presentation tool.  Make no mistake it is not as easy on the eye or contains the beautiful templates of the Apple products listed below, but it does offer up to 50 people to simultaneously work on a document and integrated cloud storage which no other product can.  I believe it is a must have, even if you already own the apps listed below for it’s collaborative aspect alone.

• Complete a team project
• Create a class newsletter
• Shared bulletin boards and calendar

Numbers, Pages and Keynote

This is Apple’s take on Microsoft Office and Google Doc’s and they do a very good job of it on the iPad.  Beautiful templates, simple navigation and iCloud integration make it the premium office suite on the iPad but you will have to pay around $20 for the complete suite.  Definitely worth it if price is not a sticking point.

• Numerous Spreadsheet Application
• Create a portfolio in Keynote
• Publish written work in Pages

Mindmeister

Mindmeister is a beautiful mind-mapping tool which allows students to link ideas and create concept maps on their iPads.  It is very simple to use, has a great range of templates and offers students many options to export their mind map to another application for further use.

• Create a family tree
• Plan a Narrative
• Create a network Diagram

Calculator

It is a little odd that the iPad does not ship with a functional calculator app when the iPhone does.  But there are a number of free and paid options to choose from.  Make sure this is one of your first downloads and you get a calculator that is age appropriate.  Seriously too many to choose from here including many great free alternatives.

Wolfram Alpha

Ask Wolfram Alpha a question and it will give you an answer. Essentially like the Oracle that knows everything Wolfram Alpha is connected to numerous reputable databases of useful and useless information regarding statistics mathematical, scientific formulas and facts about the world.  A pretty amazing little tool for students who need to know things in a hurry.

Dictionary & Thesaurus

There are a number of dictionaries available on the iPad and some of these are very expensive.  Please select a dictionary thesaurus combo that meets the age and regional needs of your students.  A couple of respectable options which are reasonably priced would be Ninjawords and the Macquarie Essential Dictionary

Screen Chomp

Create screen casts on your iPad using ScreenChomp.  Students can create a tutorial or explain concept they have learnt by recording their voice and drawing on the screen.  Plenty of sharing opportunities for students to share their ideas with others make it an excellent collaborative tool.

• create video tutorials
• Explain a mathematical . scientific concept
• Add annotations to a picture