iPad Apps for School

The Best iOS Apps for Students and Teachers

Middle School

How to Make Green Screen Videos on an iPad

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The latest update to the iPad version of iMovie added a green screen capability. The new green screen capability in iMovie is easy to use if you know where to find the feature. In the video below I demonstrate how to use the green screen function in iMovie for iPad.

How to create a green screen video on an iPad. Blog post cover image.

Before you try to use the green screen function in iMovie for iPad there are a couple of things that you should do. First, you’ll want to record some video of yourself or your students in front of a physical green screen. You can purchase a green screen made specifically for recording videos, but if you’re just getting started a simple green bed sheet will work too. After recording in front of your green screen you’ll need to get some pictures to use as backgrounds. Pixabay and Pexels are good places to find pictures for those purposes. Once you’ve done these two things you’re ready to start using the green screen function in iMovie for iPad.

How to Use the Flipgrid iPad app

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Flipgrid is a great service for gathering video responses from your students. One of the best things about Flipgrid is that students can use it on any computer, phone, or tablet including iPads. And the iPad app is completely free to install and use.

Flipgrid does require that teachers use the Flipgrid website to post topics and prompts for students to reply to. Students can use any device including iPads to respond to those prompts. In the following video I demonstrate how students can use the free Flipgrid iPad app.

Over on my Practical Ed Tech site I recently published a comprehensive guide to using Flipgrid. If you have never used Flipgrid or you’re looking to help get colleagues started on Flipgrid, share the guide with them.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive external microphone to use with an iPad, take a look at these that you can get in a three-pack for $7.

Three VR iPad Apps for Social Studies Lessons

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Ever since Google launched Expeditions a few years ago every educational technology conference that I’ve been to has included sessions about virtual reality in the classroom. I’ve even given a few of those presentations. Often those presentations focus on using virtual reality apps within a VR viewer like these Google Cardboard viewers. But if your students use iPads in your classroom then you won’t be able to use those viewers and will instead have to find apps that can provide a VR experience without a viewer headset. 

Three VR iPad Apps for Social Studies Lessons

Sites in VR is a free iPad app that provides a 1700 virtual reality views of significant landmarks around the world. Sites in VR provides imagery that you can navigate through by moving your phone or tablet in a manner similar to that of using a virtual reality viewer headset.  To use the app simply open it then select a country, city, or landmark type. Then on the next screen select from a menu of landmarks to view. Once you’ve made a selection you will be able to view the imagery and navigate through it by moving iPad. You can also pinch and zoom to navigate the imagery.

VR Hangar is a free app produced by the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. The app contains three virtual reality tours that feature landmark moments in aviation history. Those moments are the Wright Brothers’ first flight, Chuck Yeager’s record-breaking flight in the Bell X-1, and the Apollo 11 mission. Each of these tours incorporates artifacts from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Google Expeditions can be used on an iPad. The iPad version lets students explore on their own or follow along as you guide them through one of the tours. Students can navigate the tours by touching their iPad screens or by moving their iPads. Watch this short video that I made to learn how to use Google Expeditions. 

Fun Apps for Designing and Printing Characters to Tell Stories

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Years ago I learned about the Foldify iPad app from one of my students who had used to create characters and buildings that he printed on thick paper then folded into shape. He positioned those characters and buildings on a flat background and made a stopmotion video in which the characters moved to match the narration of his story. 

Foldify is an iPad in which students can design foldable paper people, buildings, and vehicles. Students can design characters and buildings by modifying the many templates available in the Foldify app. Students can make freehand drawings, use block coloring tools, shading and highlighting tools, and erasers. And if students want to include pictures of themselves in their Foldify characters, they can do that by enabling the cameras on their iPads.

When students are happy with the design of their Foldify characters they can save them and print them in three sizes. Once printed students simply follow the Foldify folding lines to make the characters stand up. 

In addition to the classic Foldify app there are two related apps that students will enjoy. Foldify Zoo has animal templates. Foldify Dinosaurs has dinosaur templates. 

A Great Deal on a New iPad and a Cool Augmented Reality App for Kids

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Last week I upgraded my iPad at what I thought was a great price of $289. It was a great price. However, I wish I had known that Amazon was going to discount them even further to $249! I just checked on Amazon and this deal is still available on the gold colored, current generation iPads. Earlier in the week the deal was available on the silver and gray colored models, but it appears the deal is only available on the gold model now (2pm ET on December 11th).

Should You Upgrade Your iPad?

In my case, I upgraded my iPad because my old one was made in 2014 and doesn’t run the latest virtual reality and augmented reality that seem to be popping-up on a weekly basis. A secondary motivation was to get an iPad that has more storage space. My old one has half the storage of the new one that I just purchased. If either of those things appeal to you, then this is a great time to get the latest iPad at a great price. I’ve never seen new iPads available at this price.

If you don’t have a desire to try the latest AR and VR apps or don’t feel the need for more storage space on your iPad then there is no compelling reason that I can give you to replace a working iPad unless you’re still using the first generation that doesn’t have a camera.

Cool Augmented Reality App to Use on a New iPad!

Wonderscope is a cool AR app that brings children’s stories to life and enables kids to interact with those stories. Watch this video to see Wonderscope in action.