App+Evaluation

Evaluation of iPad Apps With the thousands of education apps available, choosing ones that will be beneficial and successful in your classroom can seem overwhelming and time consuming. We don't want this to stop you from exploring and beginning to find apps that will increase student learning. Below are some tips on how to choose the apps that will best meet your needs and the needs of your students.

1. Read the entire description of the app. Oftentimes this will answer many of your questions about the features and uses of the app.

2. Take some time to browse through some of the reviews. Keep in mind that not every app is for everyone so a few negative reviews should not dissuade you from trying an app but if the majority of the reviews are not favorable you may not want to invest your time or money.

3. If provided, check out the developers website to determine if they have a "niche". For example, a developer whose primary focus is Science apps __may__ produce better science apps than one which has apps that range from science, to communication, art, to social networking to gaming.

4. Try out the free version of the app if one is available. Oftentimes the developer will offer a "lite" version that allows you to utilize the majority of the features of the full version app. If you like the free version, chances are the full version will be even better!

5. Review these to help determine if the app is one that will be beneficial in your classroom.

6. Utilize the, developed by Harry Walker from John Hopkins University. Although this rubric was originally developed for iPod apps, it is just as easily used for iPad apps.

7. Play with the app yourself before rolling it out in your classroom! Try to think like your students and make errors, click icons, etc. to see what happens.