iPads: Rules and Applicable Applications in the Modern Classroom

Part I:

Conditions for iPad Use

1.  I am solely responsible for my iPad while it is in my care.  I am responsible for any damages that occur while it is in my care.

2.      I will take good care of my iPad: I will not leave it unattended, eat or drink around it, loan it to others, go for a day without charging it, or disassemble it. 

3.      I will never remove my iPad from its protective case, and will only use it while sitting down.

4.      I will only use my iPad for appropriate purposes, and understand that my iPad is always subject to inspection, at any time, without notice.

 5.      I will file and document a police report in the case of theft, vandalism or any other insurable acts.

 6.      I will not change settings on my iPad or download non-educational applications.

 7.      I will bring my iPad to school every day or risk losing my iPad privileges.

Part II:

General Applications

Side by Side allows users to open multiple windows on their iPad.  The app allows for up to four adjustable windows at once.  This is an extremely helpful app on an iPad because it augments single window setup that comes standard on the device.  Anyone who uses a laptop or desktop to browse multiple websites at once, compare information or follow instructions from one site for use on another can use Side by Side to do the same things on an iPad.  The limitations for this app are that it only shows web-based windows; it cannot run apps side by side.  I have already used this app in my iPad endeavors; it has made cross-referencing so much easier.
Cost: Free

Educreations Interactive Whiteboard allows users to create lessons, share lessons and download lessons posted by others.  The interactive whiteboard records voice, text, images or hand-drawings to present lessons which then can be shared privately or publicly.  This app would be great for a flipped classroom, where lessons are watched at home, or for makeup or review work.  This app is limited by its simplicity; there are only four color choices and doesn’t allow for uploading video (though it might, but I couldn’t find anywhere to do so).

Cost: Free

Dropbox allows for true mobility of videos, photos and documents.  It is a cloud-based application that stores sharable information online, so it is accessible from any device, anywhere.  This is good for a classroom because it prevents the excuse, “my dog ate my homework.”  Requiring students to store things in a cloud makes them accountable for any assignments.  The limitations of Dropbox are that it doesn’t support some programs and shared files cannot be tracked, which is dangerous for plagiarism and piracy. 

Cost: Free

Content-Specific Apps

Duolingo is a free language app that teaches users several different languages.  The genius of Dugolingo is that it teaches translation using real documents which are uploaded for translation; users practice language by translating documents which are uploaded for translation, and when the document is fully translated it is returned to the owner, who then pays the site.  The app is similar to Rosetta Stone in its simple language lessons, and accounts can be accessed from any device.  The limitations are that it only teaches five languages, and that it can be addicting.

Cost: Free

Today’s Document from the National Archives is a free app that posts historical American documents daily.  There are documents ranging from photos of presidents as children, to treaties, to declarations of war and peace.  This app would be great for use in a history class as a warm up exercise to get students thinking about history, or as a primary source resource.  The most pressing limitation is that the documents are posted without context; there is no other information about the document besides the title.  This could also be a benefit as it would lead to research by students.

Cost: Free

Exploratorium’s app, Color Uncovered, is an app which uses different optical illusions to discuss color and the different ways that people experience color.  There are different “chapters” to the “book,” which provide examples of illusions then discuss why we see what we think we see (or don’t see).  This would be an interesting app to use in an art class which is discussing color, value and hue; learning that perception is important to color choice is valuable in an art class.  The limitations of this app are that it only has so many chapters and would quickly get boring. 

Cost: Free