iPads in Education
Define: Since its creation in 2010, iPads have been used increasingly more often in the school setting. Numerous educational apps for the iPad are available that cover many subjects and can be incorporated into class lessons. The iPad is a useful addition to the classroom because it can meet the needs of students with a variety of learning styles (e.g., tactile, visual, and auditory). There are also a number of features on the iPad that make this device a beneficial tool for children with special needs.
Math: 1) Math Drills --> an app created by Instant Interactive that provides a fun way for up to 50 students to practice the foundational math
skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. This app also includes visual supports for each of the activities. Math Drills costs
$1.99 from the App Store, and the Lite version is free.
2) Motion Math Zoom --> an app created by Motion Math, Inc. which helps teach students about using a number line , comparing
numbers, and understanding the concept of place value. The app uses graphics of animals to engage students and assist them in
visualizing these concepts. Motion Math Zoom is free from the App Store.
3) Sketchpad Explorer --> created by KCP Technologies, this app provides interactive math activities for grades 1 through 10 that cover
elementary math, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and more. The interactive nature of the graphics was designed to help
students better conceptualize these topics. Sketchpad Explorer is free from the App Store.
Math: 1) Math Drills --> an app created by Instant Interactive that provides a fun way for up to 50 students to practice the foundational math
skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. This app also includes visual supports for each of the activities. Math Drills costs
$1.99 from the App Store, and the Lite version is free.
2) Motion Math Zoom --> an app created by Motion Math, Inc. which helps teach students about using a number line , comparing
numbers, and understanding the concept of place value. The app uses graphics of animals to engage students and assist them in
visualizing these concepts. Motion Math Zoom is free from the App Store.
3) Sketchpad Explorer --> created by KCP Technologies, this app provides interactive math activities for grades 1 through 10 that cover
elementary math, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and more. The interactive nature of the graphics was designed to help
students better conceptualize these topics. Sketchpad Explorer is free from the App Store.
Reading: 1) MeeGenius --> an app created by MeeGenius that provides a large selection of classic and new children’s stories for children ages
birth to 8 years. The app features read-along word highlighting, illustrations, and the option to have the story narrated. MeeGenius is
free from the App Store, although many of the books available have to be purchased.
2) vBookz Free Audiobooks --> created by Mindex International Ltd, this app provides older studetnts with access to more than
30,000 classic stories that can be read using a text-to-speech feature. This app uses a magnifying glass that shows students their
location in the story and also follows along with the text as the story is being narrated. This app costs $4.99 from the App Store, but
once purchased, the book downloads are free.
3) Barnes & Noble Nook Kids --> an app created by Barnes & Noble Kids that provides students with access to the largest available
collection of interactive children’s stories. Students can choose to have these books read to them with the “Read to Me narration”
feature and can enjoy interactive animations. This app is free from the Barnes and Noble Nook Kids website or from the App Store.
birth to 8 years. The app features read-along word highlighting, illustrations, and the option to have the story narrated. MeeGenius is
free from the App Store, although many of the books available have to be purchased.
2) vBookz Free Audiobooks --> created by Mindex International Ltd, this app provides older studetnts with access to more than
30,000 classic stories that can be read using a text-to-speech feature. This app uses a magnifying glass that shows students their
location in the story and also follows along with the text as the story is being narrated. This app costs $4.99 from the App Store, but
once purchased, the book downloads are free.
3) Barnes & Noble Nook Kids --> an app created by Barnes & Noble Kids that provides students with access to the largest available
collection of interactive children’s stories. Students can choose to have these books read to them with the “Read to Me narration”
feature and can enjoy interactive animations. This app is free from the Barnes and Noble Nook Kids website or from the App Store.
Writing: 1) Typ-O-HD --> created by SecondGuess Aps, this app uses word prediction and spell correction to assist students when writing. Typ-
O-HD also comes with a text-to-speech feature if students want to have their work read back to them. The cost of this app is $14.99
from the App Store.
2) Speak It! --> high-quality text-to-speech app created by Future Apps, Inc. This app can read documents out loud giving students
auditory feedback on work they write. Students just need to copy their documents into the Speak It! App for the words to be read
aloud. Speak It! Costs $1.99 from the App Store.
3) Pages --> this app, created by Apple, is a word processor that functions just as a word processor on a computer would. Students
can export their completed documents into a variety of formats, print wirelessly, and access documents from their computer using
iTunes File Sharing. Pages costs $9.99 from the App Store.
O-HD also comes with a text-to-speech feature if students want to have their work read back to them. The cost of this app is $14.99
from the App Store.
2) Speak It! --> high-quality text-to-speech app created by Future Apps, Inc. This app can read documents out loud giving students
auditory feedback on work they write. Students just need to copy their documents into the Speak It! App for the words to be read
aloud. Speak It! Costs $1.99 from the App Store.
3) Pages --> this app, created by Apple, is a word processor that functions just as a word processor on a computer would. Students
can export their completed documents into a variety of formats, print wirelessly, and access documents from their computer using
iTunes File Sharing. Pages costs $9.99 from the App Store.
Communication: 1) TouchChat HD --> an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app created by Silver Kite. This app is for
individuals with conditions that prevent them from being able to use verbal language. TouchChat can play recorded messages
or use a voice output feature to speak words and phrases that students to program into different pages within the app.
Students can also customize their pages by linking their words and phrases to real pictures instead of just to symbol pictures.
This app costs $149.99 from the App Store.
2) AACSpeechBuddy --> Created by Don McCarty (CodeDimensions), this app gives students a login to the AACSpeech website
where they can create Speech Sets which can then be loaded onto the app. Students can create these Speech Sets using their
own pictures, pictures they find online, or they can choose from the AACSpeechBuddy collection of over 2,000 symbols. This
app costs $39.99 from the App Store.
3) Tap to Talk --> an app created by Assistyx, LLC that uses a voice output feature to speak words and phrases that come with
pre-programmed album of images. This app is free from the App Store, however users can choose to subscribe to Tap to Talk
Designer. This feature allows students to customize the app with more albums, a bigger selection of pictures/symbols, and the
ability to program words and phrases. This subscription costs $99.95 for one year and $179.95 for “forever”from the Tap to
Talk website.
individuals with conditions that prevent them from being able to use verbal language. TouchChat can play recorded messages
or use a voice output feature to speak words and phrases that students to program into different pages within the app.
Students can also customize their pages by linking their words and phrases to real pictures instead of just to symbol pictures.
This app costs $149.99 from the App Store.
2) AACSpeechBuddy --> Created by Don McCarty (CodeDimensions), this app gives students a login to the AACSpeech website
where they can create Speech Sets which can then be loaded onto the app. Students can create these Speech Sets using their
own pictures, pictures they find online, or they can choose from the AACSpeechBuddy collection of over 2,000 symbols. This
app costs $39.99 from the App Store.
3) Tap to Talk --> an app created by Assistyx, LLC that uses a voice output feature to speak words and phrases that come with
pre-programmed album of images. This app is free from the App Store, however users can choose to subscribe to Tap to Talk
Designer. This feature allows students to customize the app with more albums, a bigger selection of pictures/symbols, and the
ability to program words and phrases. This subscription costs $99.95 for one year and $179.95 for “forever”from the Tap to
Talk website.
Speech and Language: 1) Articulation Station --> an app created by Little Bee Speech that provides fun activities to help students master
problem sounds in the initial, medial, and final positions at the word, sentence, and story levels. Articulation Station has
60 or more target words for each sound (totaling to over 1,000 target words). This app is free from the App Store, but
only the /p/ sound comes with the free download. The other sounds (b, m, d, n, t, k, g, f, v, ch, j, z, sh, th, l, r, s, and
blends) have to be purchased.
2) Language Builder --> created by Mobile Education Store, LLC, this app was designed to help students formulate
sentence, produce grammatically correct sentences, and improve receptive and expressive language skills. Audio clips
can also be used to improve auditory processing. Language Builder costs $9.99 from the App Store.
3) Conversation Builder --> this app, created by Mobile Education Store, LLC, was created to help students with pragmatic
language deficits learn how to have appropriate conversations with other peers in different social settings. The auditory
pattern of conversation is presented visually so that students can learn the flow of conversation. Conversation Builder also
helps teach students when it is appropriate to interject into conversations with questions, comments, or to change the
topic. This app costs $19.99 from the App Store.
problem sounds in the initial, medial, and final positions at the word, sentence, and story levels. Articulation Station has
60 or more target words for each sound (totaling to over 1,000 target words). This app is free from the App Store, but
only the /p/ sound comes with the free download. The other sounds (b, m, d, n, t, k, g, f, v, ch, j, z, sh, th, l, r, s, and
blends) have to be purchased.
2) Language Builder --> created by Mobile Education Store, LLC, this app was designed to help students formulate
sentence, produce grammatically correct sentences, and improve receptive and expressive language skills. Audio clips
can also be used to improve auditory processing. Language Builder costs $9.99 from the App Store.
3) Conversation Builder --> this app, created by Mobile Education Store, LLC, was created to help students with pragmatic
language deficits learn how to have appropriate conversations with other peers in different social settings. The auditory
pattern of conversation is presented visually so that students can learn the flow of conversation. Conversation Builder also
helps teach students when it is appropriate to interject into conversations with questions, comments, or to change the
topic. This app costs $19.99 from the App Store.
Science: 1) Science 360 for iPad --> created by the National Science Foundation, this app provides science and engineering images and videos
from NSF-funded institutions around the world. These images and videos covers a wide range of topics and new content is added
weekly. Students can scroll through the content using a unique 360 degree view. This app is free from the App Store.
2) Periodic Table of the Elements --> this app, created by Kevin Neelands, provides students with access to the standard periodic table
of elements. The interactive features of this app allow students to select one of 7 chemical traits (atomic number, chemical family,
electronegativity, radioactivity, melting point, boiling point, or state). By selecting an attribute, the entire table is then color coded to
show how the various elements differ with respect to the selected attribute. This app is free from the App Store.
3) Frog Dissection --> an app created by Emantras that allows students to dissect a virtual frog using the appropriate tools and
following detailed instructions. After dissection is finished, the frog’s organs are shown with 3D images for further examination. The
app also includes information on different types of frogs, their life cycle, the anatomical differences between frogs and humans, an
interactive quiz, and detailed descriptions of the organs. Frog Dissection costs $3.99 from the App Store.
from NSF-funded institutions around the world. These images and videos covers a wide range of topics and new content is added
weekly. Students can scroll through the content using a unique 360 degree view. This app is free from the App Store.
2) Periodic Table of the Elements --> this app, created by Kevin Neelands, provides students with access to the standard periodic table
of elements. The interactive features of this app allow students to select one of 7 chemical traits (atomic number, chemical family,
electronegativity, radioactivity, melting point, boiling point, or state). By selecting an attribute, the entire table is then color coded to
show how the various elements differ with respect to the selected attribute. This app is free from the App Store.
3) Frog Dissection --> an app created by Emantras that allows students to dissect a virtual frog using the appropriate tools and
following detailed instructions. After dissection is finished, the frog’s organs are shown with 3D images for further examination. The
app also includes information on different types of frogs, their life cycle, the anatomical differences between frogs and humans, an
interactive quiz, and detailed descriptions of the organs. Frog Dissection costs $3.99 from the App Store.
Resources: 1) For full information on all of the apps and more: https://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/ios-education/id6017?mt=8
2) For full information on Motion Math Zoom: http://motionmathgames.com/motion-math-zoom/
3) For full information on Sketchpad Explorer: http://www.dynamicgeometry.com/General_Resources/Sketchpad_Explorer_for_iPad.html
4) For more information on MeeGenius: http://www.meegenius.com/store/featured
5) For more information on vBookz Free Audiobooks: http://www.vbookz.com/V1/vBookz_Voice_Readers.html
6) For more information on Barnes & Nobles’Nook for Kids: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-kids-for-ipad/379003590/
7) For more information on Typ-O-HD: http://typ-o.com/
8) For more information on Speak It!: http://www.future-apps.net/Main/Future_Apps.html
9) For more information on Touch Tap: http://touchchatapp.com/
10) For more information on AACSpeechBuddy: http://aacspeech.com/
11) For more information with Tap to Talk: http://www.taptotalk.com/index.aspx
2) For full information on Motion Math Zoom: http://motionmathgames.com/motion-math-zoom/
3) For full information on Sketchpad Explorer: http://www.dynamicgeometry.com/General_Resources/Sketchpad_Explorer_for_iPad.html
4) For more information on MeeGenius: http://www.meegenius.com/store/featured
5) For more information on vBookz Free Audiobooks: http://www.vbookz.com/V1/vBookz_Voice_Readers.html
6) For more information on Barnes & Nobles’Nook for Kids: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-kids-for-ipad/379003590/
7) For more information on Typ-O-HD: http://typ-o.com/
8) For more information on Speak It!: http://www.future-apps.net/Main/Future_Apps.html
9) For more information on Touch Tap: http://touchchatapp.com/
10) For more information on AACSpeechBuddy: http://aacspeech.com/
11) For more information with Tap to Talk: http://www.taptotalk.com/index.aspx