Now Tech That!: Appy Friday 11/6/15

Appy Friday everybody!

Finally I didn't have to run and do something right after work today so I had time to do some reviews!

There aren't a lot of exciting apps this week, but at least there is a little bit of everything.

Have a great weekend and happy downloading!

Betsy

Reviews

Early Childhood

Fireworks Lab by Cowly Owl Ltd

https://appsto.re/us/xtJf8.i

Normally $1.99

When I work summer school as an OT, we always do firework apps to work on fine motor skills whilst getting kids ready and excited for Independence Day. However, most of these apps are just simply cause and effect. I like this one because you can create your own type of display. You pick rockets and colors and then arrange them in a row to shoot off. This would be a great app for Occupational Therapists to work on visual discrimination and finger isolation or Special Education and SLPs work on color identification and categorization.

*Also free on Android, see Android section for link

Elementary

FLEX - Math Tools by Leripa AB

https://appsto.re/us/yKzp6.i

Normally $0.99

This app doesn't work on drilling math skills, its a set of math manipulatives and tools to work on math problems. It has fraction bars, number lines, animals images to count, and math symbols. This is great for students who can tap and drag things, but struggle with the fine motor skills to draw out math models to support their math learning.

*Also free on Android, see Android section for link

Middle-High

From Here To There: Full Edition by Hilbert Spaces, LLC

https://appsto.re/us/L9hN6.i

Normally $1.99

This is a math app for Alegbra. Don't ask me what grade. I'm an OT not a math teacher but based on what I see around classrooms, I guessed that this was 6th grade. The way curriculums work today kids learn math in a spiral, so I'm guessing you could use this with younger grades too. Anyway, the app is cool. Most math apps for the iPad are drill and kill. This is interactive and you learn by messing around. It starts with arthmetic and once you start to get how the puzzles are working, it moves onto algebra and logic. Users drag numbers around to learn order of operations, etc. There is also a lite version if you miss downloading it today.

Always Free, Always Awesome!

Bitsboard by Innovative Investment

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bitsboard-education-games/id516842210?mt=8

(Pro version is $19.99)

This is a customizable flash card app that allows you to add photos and recordings that also takes data. Once you make your flashcards (bits), then you turn it into the games that it will take data on: matching, receptive identification, spelling, word finds, etc. I can't live without this app. Really, I'm not kidding. It is great for all ages and cognitive levels (it doesn't look too babyish), you can download activities from other teachers and make classrooms to share activities between iPads. You can do a lot with the free version, the full version has some additional features worth it for a hard core user. (The full version allows you to add multiple users, use dropbox, have a web image search and better tech support and updates.)

Also free today!

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Toca Hair Salon by Toca Boca AB

https://appsto.re/us/zmHAz.i

Normally $2.99

*Also on Android, but not free today ($2.99)

Tiggly Story Maker: Build Words and Record Your Own Tales by Tiggly

https://appsto.re/us/03AX5.i

Normally $2.99

*Also free on Android, see Android section for link

Tiggly Submarine: Preschool ABC Game by Tiggly

https://appsto.re/us/hXuN5.i