Creation Apps
Explain Everything is a fantastic screencasting app that lets you import pictures, videos, or draw on a blank canvas. It's perfect for creating short instructional videos for flipping classroom lessons, as well as for student proof of learning. I've even worked with students to front load learning and had them create the instructional video. It's very empowering for the creator and it's a nice change of pace to watch video lessons by fellow classmates. Here is a helpful tutorial. You can also move clips crated in Explain Everything into your camera roll for use in iMovie videos. It's also useful for making recording of student reading fluency. ($2.99)
|
Educreations is similar to Explain Everything but with fewer perks. However, it does have it's own website where created videos are collected. It is a great place to find resources and ideas, and to follow other educators whose screencasts you find useful. You might be able to save yourself some time if a video already exists, or teaches the same content from a different perspective. (free)
|
TouchCast is an app that lets you create videos with vapps (video apps) that you can insert into the video. Add a live Twitter feed, webpage, or photo to the video that will show in real time whenever the video is played. There are also screencasting, green screen, and video within video options. The apps are then published to your TouchCast channel. Here is a video that explains the app with examples. Under the "Watch" tab you can find tutorials and channels to follow. Though this app has a host of amazing capabilities, it is rather simple to use with an intuitive interface. (free)
|
iMovie is a simple video creation tool. There are templates for movie trailers or you can create you own video from scratch. Import clips created in other apps, such as Explain Everything, Stop Frame, or iMotion HD to add other effects. Videos can be uploaded directly to YouTube or sent to the camera roll for upload to Google Drive. ($4.99)
|
Toontastic is for creating cartoons but the best part is that it walks the creator through a story arc which includes setup, conflict, challenge, climax, and resolution. You are also able to add mood music for each scene. You can use the provided backgrounds and characters or draw your own. The makers of the app have a great website with lesson plan ideas and other teacher support. To give a perspective of an historical character in their community, have students illustrate characters and backgrounds, then add voices and the documentary is ready. (free with available in app upgrades)
|
Puppet Pals is a virtual puppet show. The free version comes with a few puppets that you can animate as well as scenery. There are in-app purchases for more sets of puppets and backgrounds. I like the Director's Pass for $2.99 because it allows you to create your own puppets from photos. The students like to be able to place themselves in the middle of the action. (free)
|
Animoto is a simplistic drag-n-drop movie making app that makes videos from still photos. Choose the video style, select the photos, choose the music, and that's it. You can add captions as well. It's a simple way to make a memoir from a few photos. (free: one month upgrade $4.99, one year upgrade $29.99)
|
Tellegami is for creating 30 second videos with an avatar. It is similar to Voki or Xtranormal. Create your avatar, choose or upload a background, then record the voice. Leave it on its own or upload to camera roll for use in other apps. (free)
|
iMotion HD is a stop motion time-lapse video creator. Take the shots, then have them all put together into a video. It is great for recording processes or short stop motion films using media such as claymation or paper. (free)
|
Stop Frame lets you create stop motion films easily without uploading photos. Set the time lapse frame interval rate and let the device take the photos. They are then compiled into a video which is exported to your camera roll. From there is can stand on its own or be used with other apps such as iMovie. As with iMotion HD it is great for documenting a process. (free)
|
Garage Band is an audio creation app for use with instruments and voice. Great for use with poetry or creating audio tracks to import into other video creation apps. It can also be used for fluency practice while reading and then adding music tracks. ($4.99)
|
Book Creator is exactly what its name implies. Create your own e-pub books which you can export to iBooks and share. This is ideal for spicing up writing, whether it's journal entries, research presentations, fiction, or essays. Choose the style, type or import the text, add photos, and viola! Make sure to go through the in-app tutorial because there is a lot there to learn. ($4.99)
|
Creative Book Builder is much like Book Creator but with a few more functions. Use it with students who are more tech savvy or older and so can handle the increased sophistication. ($3.99)
|
Kids Journal is a digital journal with some great features. The journal cover can be personalized with color, picture, and name. Pictures or photos can be added to each entry to augment the writing. There is a daily mood check-in for students to assess their own feelings. And here's the best part... the journals can be exported as a PDF or into iBooks making them easy to share with parents and to store in a digital portfolio. ($1.99)
|
Evernote brings note taking to a whole new level. Create notebooks that include pictures, audio, locations, reminders and hyperlinked tables of contents. One of the best features is the search tool which will even search text in pictures. If you sync a notebook with your Twitter account you can have tweets get recorded directly to the notebook. Notebooks created like flash cards can be used with the Evernote Peek app for study practice. (free)
|
Pages is your basic word processor for the iPad, but it has some great templates. One of my students used the poster template to add pictures and to break up his paragraph answering a comprehension question. It was so much more fun to create, and grade, than just the run-of-the-mill paragraph. Syncs beautifully with your other Apple devices for easy access. ($9.99)
|
Keynote is for creating presentations and has basic features. All presentations sync with your other Apple devices so something created on your MacBook can be accessed from your iPad or iPhone. ($9.99)
|
Drive lets you access you Google Drive files on your iPad. You can create and edit documents easily. Spreadsheets are still a bit wonky to work with from the iPad but are easier than they were originally. You can't create presentations but you can access them for viewing and presenting. (free)
|