Apps

The following list represents some apps that may be of interest to secondary teachers. This list is based on personal use of the apps and from recommendations from other educators (Greg Swanson: Senior Project Officer- eLearning, Australia; Med Kharbach: Teacher, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Canada; Beth Holland: Senior Associate at EdTech Teacher, Providence, Rhode Island Area;). The icons used are screen selections from the Apple Apps site and the summaries are from information provided on the site or from reviewers of the app. Clicking on the icon is a direct link to that particular app which then gives you the opportunity to review the app in a more indepth manner and decide whether or not to download. In many cases you will be able to find either a free or a paid version of the apps I have presented. If you would like to contribute to this site by either recommending apps or by providing a critique please contact me at jhoffman@sasktel.net.

The Apps are grouped as follows:

Helpful Hints when using your ipad:

• To use the camera function it is sometimes easier to use the volume control buttons to trip the shutter.
• In the Camera App, tap on your subject to focus and meter the light properly.
• Press the Home button twice and then Swipe the multitasking bar left to right to view all currently running or suspended apps.
• Press the Home button twice and then Swipe the multitasking bar from left to right for quick access to audio and video playback controls, a shortcut to the iTunes app and volume control.
• To create a folder tap and hold on an icon until it starts to jiggle, then drag the app over another similar icon and release. The ipad will create a folder with these apps in it and will allow you to label the folder or use the default label if you wish.
• Double tapping the SpaceBar while typing a message will type a period and then a space.
• If you need to type a whole word in capital letters turn caps lock on by double tapping on either shift key.
• You can split the iPad's on-screen keyboard in two so you can grasp the iPad with two hands and type with your thumbs. To split the keyboard just tap and hold the keyboard icon (bottom right corner) and select Split. To Merge the two halves tap and hold the keyboardicon and select Merge. The Undock/dock option also appears and this lets you move the keyboard up or down.
• Tapping the title bar at the top of the screen will scroll you back up to the top of a long page of content.
• If you wish to take a screen shot of whatever is on the screen press the Home and the sleep/wake button simultaneously. This screen shot will appear in your photos.
• If you wish make a more secure password rather than the default to a four-number simple passcode do the following:
  • Go to Settings, General, Passcode Lock, Simple Passcode and turn it off
  • Select Turn Passcode On and it will ask you to select a passcode using the keyboard. (Note another password to remember)
  • If you wish to turn Passcode Off you must use go through Settings, General, Passcode Lock and after turning it off you will be asked for your password.
• Sometimes the operating system will slow down or an application will freeze and you will need to force quit the application or reboot the device. This can be accomplished in the following manners:
  • if an app freezes touch the home button twice and then hold down the icon of the app that you need to be quit until it starts to jiggle. When a red "-"appears on the corner of the app, press the icon and it will quit the app.
  • if the ipad is frozen a reboot will be required. Hold down the Sleep/Wake button until the red slider appears and then slide it across. Then hold down the Sleep/Wake button until the device boots.
  • you can force the ipad to reboot manually by holding down both the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button simultaneously. Once the ipad starts to reboot let go of both buttons.