PowToon

Format: Web Based (Flash only)
Price: Free and Paid versions
Vendor: PowToon

PowToon is a brand new presentation software that is so simple and intuitive, it allows anyone who ever used PowerPoint or KeyNote to easily evolve their presentations to AWESOMENESS!
PowToon contains themes of animated characters, props and cool transitions which you can just drag and drop into a slide to create eye catching and fun presentations that can be presented in person, or turned into animated videos at the click of a button - to be shared on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter.

RH: This is a pretty neat presentation creator. I have made two, so far, and although the learning curve was a little tedious I would use it again here and there. It is currently in beta so it allows you to use it free of charge. I believe they have an educator account as well. I don't know how long before it becomes totally fee based.  In my view I wouldn't use it for content. I would use it for introduction, poster videos, and other announcement type of videos. They are fun to make. Below is Jennifer Cobb's and my first attempt and an AIM High video.

Format: iOS
Price: Free (for now)
Vendor: iTunes Store

Description: This app lets the user create mind maps, which can be save either locally on the iPad or, after setting up an account, in the Cloud.

JH: I used Inspirations frequently in the classroom. This may be a replacement! I have only started playing with it, so it is too early to tell, but being able to use the iPad's tactile functionality seems to make it easy enough to drag and drop elements of a mind map.

MentorMob

Format: Computer
Price: Free
Vendor: www.mentormob.com
MentorMob, a site that allows users to curate online content into step-by-step lessons on any topic.

RH: This is the free version and lets the user gather video, document, and web articles together into  a play list that students can access. One could put together an entire unit or area of study so students could access them all from the same location. Check out the tutorial video collection I put together for my students about Edmodo. I used ScreenCast-O-Matic to screen capture  and uploaded the videos directly to You Tube from the program. Very easy.

Create your own Playlist on MentorMob!

Format: Computer/iPad
Price: Free Resource
Vendor: iTunes


This ed site, which you can be a member or not, has provided a spreadsheet with 100+ must have iPad apps for education and personal use. All subjects are available and is in one place for easy scanning. The list includes free and fee based apps and are available in iTunes.

 RH: If you are like me and may be overwhelmed with the many resources available for the iPad. This spreadsheet may simplify your search for apps that you may want to try out for both your class room and personal use. You may have to either go "full screen" or resort to your desk top as you will have to move the slider at the bottom of the page to view the entire spreadsheet.

ScreenCast-O-Matic

Format: Computer
Price: Free
Vendor: ScreenCast-O-Matic

This is a free computer download that allows you to capture anything on your computer screen and posted to the Internet giving you a URL to be pasted or embedded on your site. You may play videos, show images, show power points within the capture and more.  


RH: This capture tool is not for the faint of heart. It can do a lot of things and therefore has somewhat of a learning curve. It is relatively easy to use but has the ability to zoom, draw focus to a spot on your screen, and be edited after the fact. My first experience resulted in a lot of noise in the audio. I don't know if it was because I just used my mic that was built into my laptop or what. The free version limits the recording to 15 minutes but a good screencast should  be less than 8-10 anyways. The pay version is only $15 a year and opens up more possibilities. This would  be a good choice if you have a lot of content on your computer and don't want to bother moving it to your iPad  or can't in order to use an iPad app to screencast. 

ScreenChomp

Format: iPad
Price: Free
Vendor:  iTunes


Share a great idea... Explain a tricky concept... Help kids with their homework...

RH: This screen casting app is similar to ShowMe and Educreations in that it provides you tools to write and record your ideas over a whiteboard or image. This is a very simple app and also lets you scroll up or down to a new page. The only drawback I see is that you can only import one image or background at a time. You can pause the recording and change the image but cannot have two at once. This app is perfect if you want simple and  no image or one image on the screen at a time.  I really like the three pen choices that are always displayed to make color changes on the fly.The app seems very stable and is made by TechSmith, the same company that makes Camtasia used by Khan.

360 Panarama

Format: iPad, iPhone
Price:$0.99
Vendor: iTunes


This photography entertainment app can take 360 panoramic photos with perfect ease. Panoramas may be shared online, through email, and more.


RH: This is the easiest panoramic photo app I have ever seen. The "stitching" is very seamless and may be used for fun or even for taking a panoramic view of your entire class room in one shot. Worth every penny of the 99 cents in cost. Very fun app and more importantly, very cool.

 http://360.io/NdTXjj
Here is a sample hosted on line. Check it out. Don't mistake this for Google Earth's Street View.

Halftones

Format: iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
Price: $0.99
Vendor: iTunes


Halftone turns your photos into unique, vintage comics that friends and family will love! More than a simple “photo filter” app, Halftone makes it easy to add paper styles, captions, speech balloons, graphic stamps, and fonts (including built-in comic fonts).

RH: This is an entertainment app that can turn your pictures into fun "comic" like end products. I have had some fun making cards of my grandson's antics.

Just a sample of a Halftone creation. Lots of fun. Also, I signed it using A+ Signature (previous post).

Net Texts

Format: iPad, Computer
Price: Free Demo App
Vendor: iTunes


Introducing the Net Texts iPad app, which lets students use multimedia courses customized by their own teachers instead of a backpack full of heavy books!

RH: This app is amazing and has tremendous potential. I thought it would be fun to create an app that would allow a teacher to aggregate subject matter from open and free resources on the Internet in any subject or area of study. Well, this app does just that. I don't know the details of how this will be priced or if it will be an education open source app. There is a web site introducing it which can be searched under the same name. Awaiting further details. Caution! When you download this app and choose a course to download as well, it will take awhile as it is thick and rich with goodies.

Have Technology Will Travel

Format: iPad
Price: Free
Vendor: Internet Blog


Fishing for good classroom apps? Here is a blog site that has put together a ton of good search sites for the latest apps for classrooms.


RH: As you read down his page you will see Blog Posts, Websites Devoted to Apps,  a Database List of Apps, a group titled "Other," and the author's (Jason Mammano) Personal Must Have Teacher Apps. Granted, these will be reviews from teachers you don't personally know but it is a good resource none the less.

Good Notes Free

Format: iPad
Price: Free Lite (upgrade 3.99)
Vendor: iTunes


GoodNotes lets you take handwritten notes, sketch diagrams, mark-up PDFs and organize them on a beautiful bookshelf. Turn pages with a swipe, highlight or add notes to any page, and share your notes with anyone. GoodNotes will automatically save your notes and has full backup function to prevent data loss.

RH: This is the free version of GoodNotes. This app provides a number of templates including lined, blank, squares, and music note sheets. The free version limits you to two notebooks and the upgrade is a little pricey at 3.99. I really like the ability to enlarge your paper as you write and then shrink it back at will. You can also import images and be able to write all over them.

Groovy Grader

Format: iPad, iPhone
Price: Free
Vendor: iTunes


A very simple grade percentage calculator. 


RH: This app can be opened, set for number of questions, and you are ready to quickly access percentages. If you have an assessment where you are using number of questions correct, this is perfect. It works just like the old slider grade percentage indicators.

Rover

Format: iPad
Price: Free
Vendor: iTunes

Can’t access Flash on your iPad? Rover CAN! Rover is the free education app that streams educational Flash content to your iPad.

RH: This is a games app that makes it possible to access Flash. If you get a message that you need Flash to view a video, then, you cannot view it on your iPad unless you have a nifty program such as Rover. You open Rover and paste the URL of your intended video into the browser of Rover and you can watch it. Rover plays the video inside Rover and fools Flash. Some videos play a little "clunky" but it's better than not being able to play it all.

Papa Johns

Format: iPad
Price: Free
Vendor: iTunes


An app that allows you to order your pizza online.


RH: I am reviewing this app not because I love Papa Johns, I do, but because you can search iTunes for any of your favorite eating or service establishments, such as Great Clips, etc. With the app you can order, set an appointment, or get infinite information about the establishment. For example when I look at my hair cut place's app I can see how long is my wait and set my appointment. When I arrive, my name is already on the screen and if I time it right, I'm next.

Educreations Interactive

Format: iPad
Price: Free
Vendor: iTunes


Educreations is a new iPad app that turns your iPad into a whiteboard. You can use the app to illustrate concepts and narrate what you're doing on the screen. You can draw images from scratch on the Educreations iPad app or you can upload images and draw on them. Your completed lesson can be shared directly to others or made public on the Educreations website.


RH: Educreations is very similar to Show Me and Screen Chomp iPad apps. All three of these free iPad apps could be used to deliver short lessons to students. You could also use these free iPad apps to have students develop and share short lessons with each other and you. I prefer ShowMe.