Top of the Apps (part 1)

iPads are ideal for use in primary settings, due to their portability, speed of use and range of apps. In this series of posts, we will explore the most useful iPad apps, the reasons for them being so useful in primary settings and possible applications across the curriculum.

Distilling a list of the useful apps down to the top 5, 10 or even 20 is quite a challenge! For this reason, this will be the first in a series of 'Top of the Apps' posts, all exploring the most useful, versatile and best value apps for primary schools.

Let's begin! (cue the music...)

#5 - Voice Recorder

Voice Recorder is a simple, often overlooked app on iPads. It has a single function, to record and save voice recordings. Why would you use Voice Recorder over tools like iMovie, Book Creator, Puppet Pals, Arduino Science Journal, or other multimedia apps?

As stated, the power of voice recorder is in its simplicity. Through using Voice Recorder, children can focus on their voice input without worrying about other multimedia possibilities.

This can be particularly useful for talk for writing. Children can rehearse their sentences verbally before committing them to paper. Children's internal voice is often a precursor to their effective writing and giving them the opportunity to rehearse their ideas verbally before committing them to the page gives them confidence and reduces their cognitive load when it comes to writing.

Voice Recorder can also be a useful tool for children to use while interviewing, creating podcasts or recording their findings in Science or Humanities subjects.

Overall, Voice Recorder is a tool that children should be fluent and effective at using on iPads.

The power of Voice Recorder is in its simplicity, allowing children to concentrate on the content of their voice recordings.

#4 - Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a virtual learning environment (VLE) . We are all familiar with concept, but is is easy to forget what a revolution this has been.

Using Google Classroom, teachers can post materials to students which they can access at their own pace. Children can access differentiated materials, including images and videos. Children learn to communicate with the teacher and each other, learning digital citizenship and digital literacy skills as they access their learning.

And this is only scratching the surface.

Using Google Classroom, teachers can organise materials into assignments for students to complete, materials for reviews and Forms for testing and assessment.

At primary-level, Google Classroom enables children to learn the basics of working effectively in an online environment, as well as benefitting their independence, ability to review past materials and ability to communicate and collaborate.

For these reasons, it is an essential iPad app.

#3 - Canva

I covered Canva in a blog post here. Canva is quickly becoming one of the most powerful tools for education, owing to the development of the Canva class environment, teacher tools and the range of templates available to children and teachers.

Teachers can set up classes and invite children to join using links shared with them via a VLE. Once children have joined a class, teachers can assign them work and see work handed in to the teacher.

What separates Canva from a VLE like Google Classroom is the seamless integration of graphic design tasks like infographics, posters and collaborative whiteboards. Teachers can create templates and share these with children, or ask children to create their own. Collaborative whiteboards are a particularly powerful tool, enabling a class to contribute ideas on a topic in real time.

Children can also use Canva to create infographics, posters, advertisements and their own collaborative whiteboards. Put simply, Canva is a joy to use and children love its design and collaborative tools.

Creating whiteboards in Canva is an effective way of engaging the whole class in idea sharing and collaborative work.

#2 - Keynote

Keynote allow children to quickly and easily present their ideas, using cutting edge design tools.

Children can choose from a range of templates and add images, shapes, text, animations and design to create effective and engaging presentations. These is a strong case for Keynote becoming the primary method of children's presentation of idea, since it combines ease of use with striking visual results.

In this blog post, I wrote about he potential for Keynote to create animations at primary-age level.

Children can import images from the internet, or us their own photographs as a base layer to draw on top of. They can then develop their drawings through animation in Keynote to cerate animated ideas about a topic. In this way, Keynote becomes much more than a presentational tool, becoming an an effective tool for creating animated work about a topic.

Children can use Keynote to create animations.

#1 - Book Creator

And at number 1, yes, you've guessed it, it's Book Creator!

Book Creator is, in my opinion, an essential paid iPad app. It combines drawing tools, voice recording tools, text editing, digital design, comic strip creation and e-book creation into a single app.

Book Creator can be used as a digital workbook or portfolio across the curriculum. It can be used to record observations in Science, progress in Computing, practical work in Maths and progress in PE lessons. Photos and audio clips can be easily inserted, annotated and presented.

In this blog post, I wrote about how Book Creator can be used as a flashcard maker, in language learning, but also across the curriculum. Making flashcards is a highly effective way of children learning new ideas and taking ownership of their learning.

One of the best uses of Book Creator is making flashcards. By making flashcards, children take ownership of their learning and learn knowledge effectively.

Book Creator is a great precursor to a full virtual learning environment (VLE) like Google Classroom. Children can use Book Creator to save their digital work, take photos of their learning and annotate their photos. Teaches can open children's e-books and leave types, written or voice feedback.

Comic strips are a great way for children to show their learning about a wide range of topics. In their comics, children can combine text, photos and drawings, as well as traditional comic strip tools like speech bubbles and actions. Children can make comic strips to show their understanding in Science, History, PSHE and English. Choosing which words and phrases to use is a valuable challenge that makes children think carefully about the key ideas they wish to convey.

A simple, but effective tool in Book Creator that is easy to overlook is the emoji tool! Opening the drawing tools gives access to emojis which can be used as illustrations or even artwork across the curriculum.

Concluding thoughts

In the Top of the Apps post, we will look at subject-specific apps in more detail. examining how iPad apps can support leaning across the curriculum.

In the mean time, try out the above, highly effective, cross-curricular apps!