10 Excellent iPad Applications for Teachers

With the iPad2 on the launching pad, it's a great time to share this list of useful iPad apps for teachers from guest writer Paula Dierkens.

There’s no doubt that the iPad is an excellent device, and if you own this gadget, it makes sense to pick up the applications best suited to your lifestyle and profession. So if you’re a teacher, here are ten great iPad apps that you must try out:

[Note to readers of this article! I conducted a survey in March of 2012 to update this list of iPad apps that educators like to use in their professional roles, so it is based on actual teacher input. The results are available in this post. I hope you'll click through and check it out! – KW 3/25/12]

1. QuickVoice Recorder: This is the perfect recording tool to record your classes and get feedback on your performance; you can see what you’re doing right and what you’re going about wrong and learn how you can improve your lectures.

2. Dropbox: If you’ve used Dropbox on your computer, you already know this is a must-have tool on your iPad. If not, it’s a file storage application that allows you to say goodbye to flash drives and portable hard disks for good. Just sign up to store your files online and then access them from any other computer, your iPad or your smartphone. Ideal for files you use at school and at home.   

3. Things for iPad: If you’re looking for the perfect task manager to keep track of all your appointments and prepare ahead, then Things it is.

4. Discover: There’s no need for encyclopedias today with Wikipedia and other instant sources of information. Discover joins this list as the go-to app for the iPad when you need information on just about anything in the world.

5. Evernote: There’s no need to carry around a notebook or diary in which to jot down your lesson plans or reminders – just use Evernote to enter your notes in text or voice format.

6. Pages for iPad: Use this nifty app to type out all your documents and include any kind of formatting you may need.

7. Numbers for iPad: For all your spreadsheet needs on your iPad, turn to Numbers. It’s easy to use, easy to access, and easy to import all your information from your Excel worksheets.

8. Goodreader for iPad: Use this app to access all your documents, PDF files, video and audio files, spreadsheets and many other kinds of files over a wireless network or via USB cable – it makes it dead easy to retrieve files from other systems.

9. Mobile Air Mouse: This is the perfect tool for hosting presentations and conducting lectures using an interactive whiteboard. It turns your iPad into an all-in-one remote control that you can use to manipulate the board without having to resort to using a wireless keyboard and a mouse.

10. WritePad: If you prefer to write rather than type, then this app converts your handwriting on the iPad into readable text – use your finger or a stylus to get your point across.

By-line: This guest post is contributed by Paula Dierkins, who writes on the topic of PhD Online Degree . Paula can be reached at her email id: paula.dierkins@gmail.com.

As always, comments and questions are encouraged and welcomed. If you know of any other great iPad apps for teachers, or have anything else to share, please click here and contribute!

Related Posts (if the above topic is of interest, you might want to check these out):
Using The iPad As A Digital Whiteboard (Plus 4 Cool Free Apps To Try It Out)
Five Fun Free iPad Apps for Elementary School Teachers And Students
Do You Know About The Many Free Resources For Education Available from Apple?