The wave of the future is here, especially for education. Terms like 21st Century Computing, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), and Cloud Computing are mainstream. The introduction of mobile devices, iPods, netbooks, and more specifically, the iPad, has brought technology to more students than ever before. A one-to-one computing environment is not only a possibility, but also a reality in more school districts than people realize. With all that being said, below are my 10 favorite sites for finding educational apps.
- APPitic - Great site with over 1300 reviews done by Apple Distinguished Educators. These apps have been tested in different grade levels with different instructional strategies.
- Mind Leap - Excellent site with reviews built on a five-star scale. Reviews are done on a wide range of subjects and offers a nice breakdown of statistics such as educational quality, engagement factor, and shelf life.
- Best Kids Apps - Site with great reviews on iPhone, iPad, and Android apps. These reviews have a basic age rating and a nice image to go along too.
- Mac App Store - Probably the most comprehensive list of apps around. This application from Apple is the ideal place to find and purchase apps. Works on Snow Leopard OS and above.
- Fun Educational Apps - Ideal place to find reviews of apps for the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. This is one of my favorite sites to find in-depth reviews with lots of pictures of the app.
- Smart Apps for Kids - Designed by a dad on a journey to find the best iPhone & iPad apps. These apps are reviewed on a four-star scale and offer a nice "bottom line" for those who don't want to read the whole review.
- Best Apps for Kids - Wonderful site that does a great breakdown of an educational app, with reviews done on a scale of one through five. Offers readers advice on whether they should purchase the app or not.
- Teachers with Apps - Great site with reviews of apps that include videos and images. Ideal for teachers looking to find that perfect app for the classroom.
- Apps in Education - Nice collection of iPad apps that are reviewed by subject. These reviews are brief and to the point.
- I Education Apps Review - Designed as a community effort of reviews posted by a variety of users. There are even student reviews to give a unique perspective on the use of an app.
Bonus - Teach with your iPad - Wonderful wiki that lists a ton of apps by subject, type, and grade level. A must see!
David Kapuler is an educational consultant with more than 10 years of experience working in the K-12 environment. For more information about his work, contact him at dkapuler@gmail.com and read his blog at cyber-kap.blogspot.com.
