iPad App Reviews

Leslie Owen Wilson, The Second Principle

Begin here:  

• Apple Configurator - an app to configure class sets of iPads without a server.
• From iPads in Education, Preparing Your School for an iPad Implementation
• Connecting the Common Core to IOS apps k-3 (math and ELA)
• AppsInClass - a group of iPad Jedi Master teachers have put together a critical, careful list of suggestions and reviews

By all means bookmark Bloom's Taxonomy of Apps - there is a k-12 (not annotated, and largely over grade 5) list of apps, a page for each level on the hierarchy. Also K-5 iPad Apps According to Bloom's Taxonomy, and the newer K-5 iPad According to Bloom's Taxonomy, which cover elementary grades.   iPad Apps and Bloom's Taxonomy at Langwitches Blog is also a place to begin.

Highlighted: The iPad As...  - sensible listing of apps organized by iPad learning goals.  You will probably want to add additional goals as you build your program, but this is a great listing to use when starting up. 

Search for Apps in iTunes - a video for the teacher beginning to build an apps collection.

Evaluate apps on your own:

• Does the app follow the Kind Kids App Rules? 
• Definitely read Langwitches post Evaluating Apps With Transformative Use of the iPad in Mind and download her evaluation poster
• Kathy Schrock offers an iPad App Evaluation Rubric (.pdf) 
• Ways to Evaluate Educational Apps from Tony Vincent offers two downloads: a sensible and rather complete rubric and a simplified checklist.  If you use them, give him feedback.

Lists (evaluated selections)

• 100 iPad apps perfect for middle school - from the 21st Century Fluency Project 
• 102 Interesting Ways to use an iPad - this is focused for elementary and ELL, but all teachers will find something here - check info as many apps have been updated
• 1000 Educational Apps - selected and approved - no notes, but does indicate free apps - by the TEAC (Texas)
• APPitic - evaluated lists created by Apple Distinguished Educators - groups to facilitate searching - largely elementary - has a SPED section
• Apps for children with Special Needs
• Applists from App Advice - many topics, including For Poets, For Writers, for Videographers... 
• Appy Hours 4 U - subscribe to this audio blog series investigating thematic app lists and how they can be integrated into the classroom
• Blooms Apps provides apps that support each level of Blooms taxonomy
• The iPad As...  - sensible listing of apps organized by iPad learning goals.  You will probably want to add additional goals as you build your program, but this is a great listing to use when starting up - from edtechteacher
• TECA Recommended Apps - sorted by category and target age - great idea list 
• Finding Good Apps for Children With Autism - links to top reviewed and selected lists - includes other special needs 
• How to View Flash on the iPad and How to Print from your iPad from Wired Educator contain evaluated lists of apps - this is a good site to put in your feed reader

Sources of the most reliable app reviews for parents and educators - keep in mind that most review sites review apps submitted to them, making it harder to review critically.  I find the best review policy is always to review it yourself.

• Teachers with Apps - fully reviewed after actual classroom use - tends to be elementary in focus
• TUAW (The Unofficial Apple Weblog) posts one or more app reviews in The Daily App Review - these review cover a wide range, including games, but can be searched quickly by scrolling - they are critical and relatively impartial - I use the RSS feed
• iear - I Education App Review - well indexed - the best feature is the list of classroom uses for some apps - apps often but but not always fully reviewed
• theipadfan.comhttp://www.theipadfan.com/category/app-reviews/ - full range, preK-adult
• appcheese.com - iPad book reviews - focus on classic tales and new titles
• Common Sense Media - deep listing of reviewed apps - search by category, age, or age range - no prices
• Apps in Education - reviewed selections - by category
• Mind Leap - educational apps reviewed by educators preK-middle - sign up for email updates
• Smart Apps for Kids - a dad's picks - check in daily for new reviews and frequent free app deals - note: he does review apps submitted by developers
• The Moms With Apps "App Catalog" in iTunes - read about it here
• Digital Media Diet - ebook reviews only - mom-tested - up through middle school, but mostly elementary and toddler
• Famigo - mini reviews - some search function
• Imagination Soup - a mom's reviews of educational apps - updates lists frequently (scroll down) - links to iTunes Preview
• Click Tick Boom - app reviews tend to be of strategy and other games - but with a YA appeal