Starwalk: I teach Earth and Space Science and this app is incredible. Students can point their phone at the night sky and the app will tell them what they are looking at. This is a great way to get kids excited about Space Science and give them a real-world application. I have used this with my students this year and students kept nightly journals of what stars they found, where they were located, and what type of star it was.

SimpleMind/MindMash: These are great tools that students can use for brainstorming, organizing their thoughts, and processing information. If they think of an idea while they are on the go, at home, or at school, they can easily record the idea into the mindmap. This could be a great alternative to note-taking or traditional study methods. It enables students to study or learn from anywhere, so, for example, if they are at the doctor’s office waiting for an appointment, they can pull out the app and brainstorm.

BlogBooster: This app allows for blogging on the go. I really like using blogs in my classroom as a way for students to keep a personal learning portfolio. Students can post assignments and ideas for me, their parents, and their classmates to see. It minimizes the paper trail, allows everyone to stay connected, and allows students to be able to keep track of their journey throughout the year.

Molecules: This is a great app for Physical Science or Chemistry. It is an alternative to the traditional molecule kit models where students physically build molecules. The app allows students to look at molecules or build molecules three-dimensionally and they can move them and manipulate them with their fingers. Understanding molecules can be a very difficult concept for students to grasp unless they have a visual representation and this app does just that plus it is mobile, so they can use it at home while they are doing their homework or anywhere. It is more accessible and enticing than lugging around a molecule building kit.

Gems and Minerals: This is a great app for a unit I teach in my Earth and Space Science class on rocks and minerals. Students observe and classify various unknown rocks and minerals and then compare their data to field guides to try and correctly identify them. This app is a great alternative to the students using traditional paperback field guides or online field guides. It also gives them a great way to access information at home to complete homework, study, or finish a lab.

Science Glossary: I love this app because I get approached on average 2-5 times per day with a student asking me what a word means or how to spell a certain word. Rather than refer them to a hard copy dictionary, students can download this free app and have definition and spelling answers at their finger tips.

FlashCards Deluxe: I like this app because I can really see students using this as a study tool on the go. My students love to make flashcards to study, but there is something about the traditional method of writing them all out and toting them around that makes it less accessible and less enticing. I can really see kids quick studying on their phone right before they go to bed or pulling out their phone while they are driving in the car home using this app.

AIM: I like the idea of students chatting in class or outside of class to get homework help, discuss content, and stay connected. This app allows for them to talk from anywhere. They can create discussion groups as well. It is a great alternative to traditional group work where they meet after school. It makes it easier to collaborate with each other and with me and they can do it from anywhere.