Web 2.0 Tools: Mobile Apps By Logan Grab

1. Publishing

1.1. Scribble Press: Scribble Press is a tool that allows administrators, teachers, and students to create and share stories. Students are able to create stories that can later be turned into a book. Teachers can us this app to model the process of creating stories that can become books. Administrators might want to model this for their teachers as well if they are just introducing a tool like this to their staff. It will provide their staff with a visual to learn and draw ideas from. Scribble Press was made with all ages in mind as young adults and adults continue to write even after graduating from high school or college. This app can give anyone the opportunity to publish their work and allow the world to see it.

1.2. Mindmeister: Mindmeister is a free mind mapping tool. I used Mindmeister to create this mobile mind map and last week's mind map. It is useful for both administrators and teachers. Teachers can have students use this tool to brainstorm, organize, and publish a classroom project. Administrators can also use this tool for brainstorming ideas that their school district is currently working on. By using a mind map, an administrator can publish and present information to staff in a creative, organized manner. Mindmeister is a tool that I thoroughly enjoy using. I find that this app has many similarities to Trello, mentioned in the collaboration section of this mind map, as it also posts information in a board style.

1.3. Evernote: Evernote is a publishing tool that allows users to share notes, webpages, photographs, audio clips, and even file attachments. Teachers may have students use this tool to publish their work in order to share it with their class. Since this tool allows nearly any type of file to be published, it is especially student friendly. Administrators also find this tool useful by publishing files that can be shared with staff. An example of this would be the notes or minutes from a staff meeting that also included an audio clip of the meeting. Dropbox would work well with this app as it is one of the most simple methods of attaching an audio file to any document.

1.4. EduBlogs: EduBlogs is a tool specifically created for educational purposes. Administrators, teachers, and students can find ways to incorporate EduBlogs into their daily routine. Teachers and students can read or create blogs in order to pulish information. Administrators have the ability to subscribe to the blogs created within their school. This keeps them in touch with what is going on in their school. Administrators can also publish their own blog for the school to subscribe to in order to stay up to date on the latest information in their school district. EduBlogs is similar to Evernote as it allows users to publish and share information. An app that EduBlogs is somewhat different than is Scribble Press. Scribble Press is directed toward story writing specifically, while EduBlogs is meant for a variety of writing.

1.5. Glogster: Glogster is a tool that allows individuals to create virtual posters. It serves as a more creative variation of a blog that most people are used to seeing. These virtual posters can include audio, text, videos, images, and hyperlinks just as the Evernote app does. Once this is done, the Glogster page can be published and shared electronically. Administrators will find this useful as they can put together a creative poster for their staff and share it with them. This could be something that they send out to staff after a meeting or in preparation for an important event. People enjoy viewing documents that contain some excitement rather than always viewing a plain Word document. Teachers will find that their students will love using this tool just as much as they do. It will provide teachers with another tool for their students to organize, publish and present information with.

2. Educational Games and Tools

2.1. StudyBlue: StudyBlue is a tool that allows users to upload class materials, study materials, create flashcards, and create practice quizzes. Teachers are able to upload class materials in order for students to study at their own pace or outside of the classroom. Teachers may also create flashcards, but can give students the freedom to create their own flashcards or practice quizzes. Administrators may use this tool when presenting new information to staff and students. If staff and students are able to access information via an app, then it is much more accessible and convenient than a paper form of it. A tool like Evernote is quite similar to StudyBlue when looking at the ability to share information with others.

2.2. MathBoard: MathBoard is an educational math tool for all ages. It includes games and exercises centered on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Teachers could use this tool in their classroom for students needing remediation or supplemental exercises. This means this tool works well for all levels of students as well. MathBoard is a tool that students can access at school or home in order to advance their skills in mathematics.

2.3. Dr. Frankenstein's Body Lab: Dr. Frankenstein's Body Lab is a unique, interactive game for students to play while learning. Students are able to learn the basic parts of the human body while building Frankenstein-like figures and taking quizzes about how the body parts fit together. This is a tool that teachers and students would implement in their classroom, but Dr. Frankenstein's Body Lab probably is not a tool that administrators would use much if at all. I believe that most administrators would be in support of a tool like this. It will definitely keep the students' attention and interest.

2.4. What's the Difference?: What's the Difference is a tool that allows students to examine two images that are nearly identical. Students are then able to pick out the differences between the two pictures using a high definition, digital magnifying glass. There are time limits set on students when attempting to spot these differences. Five differences can be found in each set of images. Teachers can have students use this tool when working on a high school anatomy lesson or in kindergarten shapes lesson. This proves the versatility of this app. What's the Difference and Dr. Frankenstein's Body Lab have similarities in examining images and parts to various beings. The difference is Dr. Frankstein's Body Lab deals only with body parts, while What's the Difference deals with any image. Administrators might also use this app when presenting to contrasting images, such as a blue print for a new school, or even how a display at the front of the school will look. It allows staff to see options instead of only hearing about ideas.

2.5. Hangman: Hangman is a tool that allows students to learn vocabulary in a creative way. This app pulls vocabulary words from daily headlines. That is an important aspect of the app as it makes it relevant to the world outside of the classroom and makes a real world connection for the students. Teachers can incorporate this tool with every subject. Administrators could even use this tool to pull out higher level vocabulary for staff to broaden their vocabulary with. It is important for all members within a school district to always be concerned with obtaining a more rich, broad vocabulary. This app is much different that any other app that I have listed in this Mind Map.

3. Travel

3.1. Google Earth: Google Earth is a 3D virtual globe, map, and geographical information program. Students are able to use this tool to research and view different countries around the world. They are also able to view locations close to them. This allows students to have a deeper connection with their surrounding community and provides for a real world connection. Teachers can also use Google Earth to point out different locations on the globe that are relevant to the information being learned in class. Administrators can use Google Earth when showing students and teachers locations of future building sites or functions occurring outside of the school district. If staff members need directions to a location, an administrator can provide directions fro them via Google Earth.

3.2. National Parks by National Geographic: National Parks by National Geographic is an app that allows students and teachers to explore national parks from around the world. Students can use interactive maps, store their favorite locations, and even receive feedback from some of National Geographic's professional photographers. Teachers can show students some of these national parks before beginning a lesson over them in order to spark the students' interest. This app is quite similar to Google Earth as it allows students to view locations from around the world. Administrators might not use this app as much as students and teachers, but may use it if presenting an opportunity for travel to staff and students.

3.3. Sphere: Sphere is an app that allows students to view different areas of the world with a 360 degree panoramic view. Students are able to document their own travels and share them with each other. By being able to upload and share these views, students can broaden their experience. Teachers are also able to upload their travels as well. Administrators can do the exact same thing and share with teachers and students. Sphere has similarities with Google Earth and National Parks by National Geographic as it allows students to view images from around the world while never leaving the classroom.

3.4. Timeline - Art Museum: Timeline - Art Museum is an app that brings artwork from the National Gallery and the Sistine Chapel to students' fingertips. This is important when students are not able to travel to these locations with ease. Teachers can also incorporate the use of this tool into their lessons. Famous artists and their work provide culture to the students and enrich their learning experience. This tool is somewhat different to the other tools in this section as it deals with artwork exclusively. Administrators might find that they can use this app when researching new materials during curriculum planning.

3.5. The Congressional Record: The Congressional Record is a tool that comes in useful for teachers as they cannot always provide real life expose to Congress to their students. Up to date and archived information in available through this app. Teachers can use this app with students when doing an American History lesson. There are even CSPAN clips available for students to view. An app like this informs students and teachers in many ways. It is important for students to be informed when they will soon be able to vote. Making an informed decision when voting is critical to success in society. Administrators can also use this app to stay up to date on what is going on at the national level with education. This app is somewhat different then Google Earth as it deals solely with congressional records, but still provides information that would be difficult to obtain otherwise.

4. Collaboration

4.1. Edmodo: Edmodo is a social networking app that allows administrators, teachers, students, and parents to collaborate with each other. This particular app is sometimes referred to as the "Facebook" for schools. A major perk to Edmodo is that it has a closed network. This makes it more safe and secure for students to be using. Teachers are able to create online class discussions for students to participate in through Edmodo. This allows for collaboration between the students and the teacher. Edmodo users are also able to share notes, links, and files. Parents can become a part of a classroom's Edmodo network as well. This allows the teacher to collaborate with the parents. Administrators could create an Edmodo page in order to share information with their staff and provide an avenue of collaboration, too.

4.2. Dropbox: Dropbox is a Web 2.0 tool that allows users to store and organize information digitally. This app also allows users to share information in order to collaborate with individuals. Teachers and students can utilize this tool in the classroom by organizing presentations or documents. Once this is done, they can share their information with classmates in order to collaborate and receive feedback on a particular project. Administrators will find this tool extremely useful as they can share information with their staff once storing it within Dropbox. Dropbox possesses a unique quality as it pairs with several other mobile app tools as well. This makes it a versatile and useful tool.

4.3. Trello: Trello is one of the most unique and advanced apps on the market. This collaborative tool allows users to organize projects in a board style. Once a project is created, Trello will let users know what is being worked on, who is working on what, and where something is in process. Teachers can easily incorporate this into their classrooms by having students create boards on Trello and continue to work on them while still being able to monitor their progress. Administrators also have the ability to create a board within Trello while staff members continue working on a project. Everyone within the board is able to view the progress of the project. This tool will come in useful like Edmodo and Dropbox as information can be shared even when people are not able to meet face to face.

4.4. Schoology: Schoology is an app that allows administrators and teachers to create, share, and collaborate on educational content of their choice. Administrators are able to share curriculum materials with their staff on a regular basis. This is especially important in education today as curriculum is constantly evolving and changing. Schoology also provides supplemental information in relation to curriculum and content, so this comes in useful for teachers. Once teachers receive this information, they are able to share it with their students through their lesson plans. This app can be integrated with other apps, such as Dropbox, which makes the process of using it seamless.

4.5. Subtext: Subtext is a free collaborative tool that allows administrators, teachers, and students to break down complex texts. Many individuals might think that this is a tool for students only, but administrators and teachers find it just as useful. Students are able to "write" in the margins of a text when reading a novel. If students are reading work done by each other, they are able to leave notes in the margin, and students are able to see that feedback in real time. Teachers also have the capability of collaborating with the students by providing them with digital feedback. Administrators will find this tool useful when providing feedback to staff on any type of document. The level of collaboration that this app provides is superior to virtually all other close reading tools. It also provides versatility as it can be used with all grades. Educators might find that Subtext will work well with an app like Dropbox as it allows files to be attached to comments in real time as well.