ipad apps for science - feb 2013

7/29/2019 iPad Apps for Science - Feb 2013

1/20

Science News, General Information, Research

iOS Apps Sampler for Science EducationGabe Kraljevic, Manitoba Education February 13, 2013 Page 1 of20

Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Description Possible uses Cost Rating - Comments*All (almost)

EVERYTHING

Science 360

National Science

Foundation

This is a documentary and

science news app.

You get a warning that thisneeds high speed internet

connection.

Intro to activities

Activation

Inquiry

Inspiration

Research

Free Fabulous collection of

short science and

engineering videos

and images. A musthave.

3-12 (almost)Everything

Best Science Facts

Michael Quach

Potpourri of science facts

presented on a colourful

cartoon page with annoying ads

at the bottom.

(Stay away from Weird Facts bysame producer.)

Activation

Discussion

Free

($3.99 for

ad free

version)

Not sure if I would use

this in upper grades,

even if the content

fits.

Not sure if its worth$3.99 to remove the

ads.

3-8 (almost)Everything

Brain Pop Cute animations that cover a

wide range of topics. The free

version has a few science

animations.

Activation

Discussion

Research (limited)

Free

(Limited

movies)

Full access

- $6.99/

mo;

$1.99/ mo

for a few

addedmovies

Although there are

over 700 videos (in all

subjects) I cant see

this being a practical

investment.

K-4 (almost)Everything

Brain Pop, Jr Even cuter animations. Just like

the more middle-years

appropriate Brain Pop, you only

get a few free movies and a

new one each week on a range

of subjects.

Activation

Discussion

Research (limited)

Free

(Limited

movies)Full access -

$5.99/

month;

$1.99/

month for a

few more

movies

Although it might be

something to check

out every once in a

while, I cant see this

being very useful or

cost effective.


2/20


iOS Apps Sampler for Science Education

Gabe Kraljevic, Manitoba Education February 13, 2013 Page 2 of20

Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Description Possible uses Cost Rating - CommentsAll

*6

*9

Astronomy

Earth-Space

Meteorology

Technology

NASA App

NASA

Connect to all the information

produced by NASA videos,

news, images, etc.

Activation

Discussion

Research

Free

All

*6

*9

Astronomy

Earth-Space

Meteorology

Technology

NASA Viz Multimedia stories on a wide

variety of topics related to

NASA research.

Activation

Discussion

Research

Free

K-12 AstronomyTechnology

Mars-Images

PowellwareThis app displays every imagetaken by the Curiosity and

Opportunity Rovers currently

on Mars day by day!

ActivationDiscussion

Free I just think this is socool that any school

kid can see images

coming from another

planet in their

classrooms! The same

day they are taken!

K-12 AstronomyEarth-Space

MeteorologyTechnology

NASA TV

Free feed to NASA TV

broadcast.

Activation

Discussion

Free


3/20




Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Description Possible uses Cost Rating - Comments6-12 Gr. 6 and 9

AstronomyExoplanet Database of all known

exoplanets. Selecting one will

call up all the data known

about it, a graphic showing thetype of star it is orbiting and an

image that shows the size of

the planet relative to those in

the solar system.

Activation

Discussion

9-12 Gr. 9Reproduction

Biology 30S

Human Body

Biology 40S

Genetics

Evolution

Click & Learn

HHMI

High-level videos, news,

slideshows on a variety of

subjects and research activities

at the Howard Hughes Medical

Institute.

Activation

Discussion

Research

Free Like all HHMI

materials top quality

resources.

Some of the topics,

however, are

university level and

may be beyond the

comprehension of

most high school

students.


4/20

Simulations and Interactive Apps



Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Comments Possible uses Cost RatingK-12 Kindergarten

Colour

Gr. 1

Senses

Gr. 4

Light

Physics 30S

Light

Color Uncovered

The Exploratorium

A series of optical

illusions, information and

explanations of thephenomenon of colour.

Check their website:

www.exploratorium.edu

Demonstration

Activation

Discussion

Free Although this is very

much a grown up app,

there are some cooldemonstrations and

ideas for activities that

could be used for

Kindergarten students.

I really liked the section

that people described

what they thought of

when thinking of

colours.

K-12 Gr. 1Senses

Gr. 4

Light

Gr. 6

Diversity of Living

Things

Physics 30S

Light

Chemistry 40S

Aqueous Solutions

Biology 40SBiodiversity

Creatures of Light An exploration of the

many living things on our

planet that produce their

own light. Firefl ies, fungi,

Activation

Demonstration

Discussion

Research

Free Excellent and very

informative.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/http://www.exploratorium.edu/http://www.exploratorium.edu/


5/20




Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Comments Possible uses Cost RatingK-12 Kindergarten

Trees

Gr. 3

Growth and Changes

in Plants

Gr. 6

Diversity of Living

Things

Gr. 7

Ecosystems

Biology 40S

Biodiversity

Leafsnap HD

Columbia and

Maryland University

Use the camera on the

iPad to take a snapshot

of a tree leaf. The

program will attempt toidentify what kind of tree

it is, give you information

on the species and even

put the location of the

tree on a map for

everyone to see.

Exploration

Observation

Identifying

Classifying

Free The database is of trees

from eastern North

America but they are

expanding.

K-12 Gr. 1Needs of Living Things

Gr. 2

Growth and Changes

in Animals

Gr. 3

Growth and Changes

in Plants (option)

Gr. 4

Habitats and

Communities

Gr. 6Diversity of Living

Things

Gr. 7 and 10

Ecosystems

Biology 40S

Biodiversity

Nature TapGreen Mountain

Digital

This is a pretty good fieldguide app in which you

are presented with a

screen of sorted

thumbnails and you just

touch one to get

information. Narrow

your search by colour or

shape. Bird entries come

with audio clips of their

calls.

Memory matching game

(buggy on my iPad),

sliding puzzles and photo

quizzes included.

ResearchActivation

Classifying

Identifying

Free(For insects

and a good-

sized sample

of birds)

$0.99 each for

more birds,

reptiles and

amphibians or

wild flowers.

Beautiful photos. Easyto use.

I couldnt help myself

I bought more birds

and wildflowers.


6/20




Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Comments Possible uses Cost RatingK-10 Gr. 1

Needs of Living Things

Gr. 2

Growth and Changes

in Animals

Gr. 4

Habitats and

Communities

Gr. 6

Diversity of Living

Things

Gr. 7

Ecosystems

WWF Together

World Wildlife Fund

Stunningly beautiful app

that highlights

endangered species

around the planet.

Activation

Discussion

Research

MotivationEnvironmental

citizenship

Free Get it. Even just for

yourself.

It seems very wellsuited for younger

students which would

make me hesitate to

use this with senior

students.

K-12 Gr. 6 and 9

Astronomy

Spacecraft 3D

NASA

Augmented Reality

allows you to look at aselection of NASA

vehicles in 3D

superimposed on

whatever is in the view of

your camera.

Demonstration

ActivationDiscovery

Research

Exploration

Free This makes it worth

buying an iPad.

K-12 Gr. 6 and 9Astronomy

SkyView

Terminal Eleven LLC

Pretty good astronomy

software. Augmented

reality: Superimposes

celestial objects onto the

cameras view. Move it

around to see the

different parts of the sky.

You can save or send

photos. Will even

highlight satellites and

space debris!

Demonstration

Discovery

Research

Exploration

Free Cant scroll to any part

of the map. You are

stuck at what you are

pointing the iPad at.


7/20




Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Comments Possible uses Cost RatingK-12 Gr. 6 and 9

AstronomyClassic Sky Map

XO4

Excellent star map that

moves with your iPad,

but you can drag the

screen around with yourfingers as well.

Activation

Observation

$0.99 Comes in French,

according to their

information, but it

looks like you have topurchase a French-only

version instead of just

switching the app.


Planet Finder This is augmented reality

astronomy software

where you pick an object

you want to see and the

iPad will put cross hairs

over top of the view from

your camera. You moveyour iPad until the cross

hairs and the object meet

up. The free version

allows you to only look

for planets.

Activation

Observation

Free

(constellations,

stars and

satellites $0.99

ea)

Im happy with just the

planets for now,

Constellations would

be my first add-on.


Solar Walk Superb graphics and cool

movement as you

investigate the solar

system and beyond.

Animations with voice

overs explain lunar

phases, eclipses, and

more.

Activation

Research

Demonstration

$4.99 Worth every penny.


8/20




Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Comments Possible uses Cost Rating3-12 Gr. 3

Materials and

Structures

Gr. 5

Forces and Simple

Machines

Gr. 7

Forces and Structures

Physics 30S & 40S

Motion

Dynamics

Energy

Physics Pad

Physics Pad HD

Sumoto

A blank screen and a set

of drawing and action

tools allow a student to

create structures, movingmachines and

experiment on how they

will work. Change

gravity, friction. Add

motors, ramps.

You can export data from

your labs.

Design Process

Inquiry

Experimentation

Free

(but crashes

on my iPad)

$3.99 for

HD

Although this may be

simple looking the

physics simulation is

very good. Still somelittle glitches, it takes a

bit of time to figure out

how things work. But,

a lot of fun!

4-12 Gr. 10Motion

Physics30S & 40S

Motion

Energy

Coaster Physics

Kuan Yong

Create a roller coaster.

Watch it or ride it.

Graphs velocity,

acceleration, G force,

potential and kinetic

energies as It travels.

Activation

Discussion

Demonstration

Experimentation

Investigation

Design Process

$0.99 Cant export data or

save graphs.


9/20




Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Comments Possible uses Cost Rating10-12 Physics

MotionVideo Physics

Vernier

Very easy to use video

analysis. Capture video

directly into the app or

import from your IOSdevice. Plots position

and velocity graphs. Can

import data into

Verniers Logger software

(untested). Use the

Settings in your iPad to

change the number of

frames to jump for each

mark.

Activation

Discussion

Demonstration

ExperimentationInquiry

$2.99 Cant scale the graphs.

5-12 Gr. 5 (possibly)Simple machines

Gr. 6 and 9

Electricity

Physics 30S and 40S

Electricity

Motion

Dynamics

Xperica Free version has 4

simulations: Law of

moments, Specific Heat

of water, Resistance in

series, Oscillations.

Provides background

information and links to

Wikipedia.

Experiment pack 1

($3.99) adds 6 more

experiments: Projectilemotion, pulleys,

hydrostatic pressure,

Archimedes principle,

Heat expansion of

metals, simple

pendulum.

Activation

Demonstration

Application

Discussion

Free

(Experiment

pack 1 - $3.99)

Great looking

simulations but most

of the experiments

have limited user

control and not very

conducive to real

experimentation or

inquiry.

The most useful

experiments:

Resistance in series,pulleys, Archimedes

principle, projectile

motion.


10/20




Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Comments Possible uses Cost Rating10-12 Physics 40S

Static electricity

Electrons

Urban Sedlar

When adding positive

charges to an object you

see the positive charges

moving away from eachother. However, only

electrons move...so

students may get the

impression that positive

charges can be added

(not electrons removed)

and that they distribute

like electrons.

Activation

Application

Exploration

InquiryDiscussion

$1.99 A somewhat good

simulation of adding

charges to circles or

rectangular shapes.You can recreate

capacitors and pithball

situations.

10-12 PhysicsReference

iPhysics

Mark Burkhardt

Just a reference list of

formulae and laws used

in physics organized by

topic.

Reference $1.99 Separate iPhone

version.

Not really worth $1.99.

NO

ONE!

Physics Physics!

& Physics! Pro

This app allows you to

calculate values to

physics formula. You

simply enter in the

variables you know and

press calculate. The

answer shows up.

You dont see formulae.

Pretty mindless. Dont

let your students know

about this.

Wasting your time Free

Pro - $1.00

STINKS!

& STINKS! Pro

Dont even bother. Not

even worth

downloading.


11/20





Earths Crust

Biology 40SEvolution

EarthViewer

HHMI

Watch the changes in the

Earths crust and land

formations from 4.5

billion years ago topresent. Watch the

changes in atmospheric

temperature and display

graphs of temperature,

oxygen, carbon dioxide,

day length and luminosity

over Earths lifespan.

Also see when in Earths

history major geological,

biological and impact

events occurred.

Activation

Discussion

Research

Free Awesome app from

Howard Hughes

Medical Institute

which has beenproducing incredible,

free educational

resources for years. Go

to

www.Biointeractive.org

for apps, simulations,

videos, etc.

Excellent teacher

support.

3-10 Gr. 1Senses

Gr. 5

Healthy Body

Gr. 8

Cells and Systems

HumanBio

Cog

Fairly good tour of the

human body, its organs

and a little about health.

Students can also identify

foods on the food

pyramid.

Demonstration

Activation

Discussion

Research

Exploration

Free Although a stretch

you might show the

senses section to grade

1 students.

The information is at a

great level for middle

years.
http://www.biointeractive.org/http://www.biointeractive.org/http://www.biointeractive.org/


12/20





Healthy Body

Gr. 8Cells and Systems

Gr. 9

Reproduction

Biology 30S

Anatomy 4D Augmented reality

software that allows you

to explore the human

body in 3D, using theiPads camera. Toggle

organ systems on and off.

Demonstration

Activation

Discussion

ResearchExploration

Free WARNING

anatomically correct

male and female body.

Even though you cantoggle reproductive

organs on and off,

putting the

integumentary system

up to 100% shows

everything and the app

sometimes refreshes

the entire body when

you move around the

iPad.

5-12 Gr. 5Healthy Body

Gr. 8

Cells and Systems

Biology 30S

3D Brain

Dolan DNA

Excellent 3D

representation of the

human brain. Highlight

and identify the different

regions, parts, etc.

Demonstration

Activation

Research

Exploration

Free Really good app.

Although we rarely

need to teach the parts

of the brain it is still a

good app to have.

5-12 Gr. 5Healthy Body

Gr. 8

Cells and Systems

Biology 30S

Living Lung

IsoForm

Excellent 3D

representation of human

lungs. Turn ribs, trachea,

lungs on and off. Spin

around. Change the

breath rate.

Demonstration

Activation

Research

Exploration

Free Really good app. I

really liked being able

to look at the lungs

from different views.


13/20




Cells and Systems

Gr. 9Reproduction

Biology 40S

Meiosis

iCell

Hudson Alpha

Nicely done 3d tour of

animal, bacteria and

plant cells. Zoom in, spin

around. Touch astructure to get either

basic, intermediate or

advanced information.

Activation

Exploration

Research

Review

Free I like it. Well worth

having. Definitely good

for teaching and

review. Exploring thecell like this is one of

the great uses of 3d

graphics. Nuclear

structures are lacking.

8-12 Gr. 8Cells and Tissues

Gr. 9

Reproduction

Biology 40S

Meiosis

3D CellStain

Life Technologies

Excellent 3d tour of an

animal cell. Zoom in and

out, spin around. The

labelled cell is a 2D

diagram that matches the

3D rendition.

Touching structures

sends you to an

information screen with

real photos of the

structures stained in

glowing dyes. Videos

show several complicated

cellular events.

Activation

Exploration

Research

Review

Free This is basically a sales

platform for the

company to sell

fluorescent stains for

biotechnology

applications. Nuclear

structures are lacking.

Nevertheless, the 3D

cell is a good tool.

The videos are

generally beyond high

school students

understanding.

11-12 Biology 30S & 40SRespiration

Protein SynthesisPhotosynthesis

VCell

NDSU

3d images and

animations of cellular

respiration,photosynthesis, protein

expression and RNA

expression at the

molecular level.

Activation

Review

Research

Free Requires a good

understanding of the

role of proteins, DNAand RNA to make good

sense of it. However, it

really does show just

how complicated and

awe-inspiring

biochemical processes

are.


14/20




Reproduction

Biology 40SMeiosis

PlantHistLite

Carolina

Simple slide show with a

small quiz on mitosis.

Review

Formative

Assessment

Free Not bad but not worth

paying anything for.

8-12 Gr. 7Particle Theory

Gr. 8

Fluids

Gr. 11

Gases

Atoms in Motion,

Student Edition

& Atoms in Motion

Good simulation with

great information on

particle movement

particularly gases.

Change the volume,

temperature on noblegases and watch the

changes. The free

version only has one gas,

you cant record graphs

and the simulations

referred to in the

information dont work.

You can save states for

later viewing.

Activation

Instruction

Demonstration

Experimentation

Inquiry

Free Student

Edition,

$2.99 for all

features.

Really nice but I

would have liked to see

more about solids,

liquids. You can sort of

simulate these.

Gr. 7

Particle Theory

Gr. 8

Fluids

Gr. 10

Chemistry

Chemistry 30S

Solutions

Salts: Atoms, Ions

and Electrons

Atoms in Motion

Made by the same

people who made Atoms

in Motion, this app

simulates interactions

between ions. Also had

great background

information included.

Activation

Instruction

Demonstration

Experimentation

Inquiry

$2.99 Really nice app I

would definitely buy it

for demonstration

purposes and

instruction.


15/20



Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Comments Possible uses Cost RatingGr. 9

Atoms and Elements

Gr. 10Chemistry

Building Atoms,

Ions and Isotopes

HD Lite

A fair app that goes over

historical development of

the atom and asks

students to give thecorrect number of

neutrons, protons and

electrons given the atom.

The free version only has

neutral atoms. Full

version has ions, isotopes

and a periodic table that

will show the Bohr

models of atoms you

touch.

Instruction

Demonstration

Review

Free

($2.99 for full

version)

A little cludgey

manipulating the

protons, neutrons and

electrons. Could havedone a better job on

that. Good review,

reinforcement.

8-12 Gr. 8Fluids

Chemistry 30S

Gas Laws Simulations of Charles

and Boyles Laws (their

website says Grahams

law is coming). You

manipulate either

pressure or temperature

and record the changes

in volume (somewhere -

but not built into the

app). The app tells you

to graph the data anddetermine the

relationship.

Activation

Experimentation

Free Not a bad simulation,

but good thing its free.

I wouldnt pay for this.

Not sure what Lite

means in this case, I

cant find a full version.

Probably a work in

progress.


16/20

Lessons, Lecture-style Apps


Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Comments Possible uses Cost RatingK-12 Life Sciences

Physical Sciences

Physics

Chemistry

Biology

Video Science

Science House

Dozens of teaching ideas

presented using short

videos. Geared toward

the teacher, not

students.

Lesson ideas

Activation

Demonstration

Experimentation

Inquiry

Design Process

Free A lot of good,

usually simple ideas

for teachers to

incorporate into

their classrooms. A

definitely good

resource for all

teachers.

9-12 PhysicsChemistry

Biology

Math

...more

Khan Academy Well known lectures that

are basically recordings

of an electronic

whiteboard with

voiceover.

Resource

Elaboration

Free Really well-done

lectures

10-12 Physics 10-12, AP Intellective PhysicsGyrovation, Inc.

Physics course with

Arcs lectures on

whiteboard with audio

like Khan academy.

Includes multiple choice

quizzes as you go through

the material and

simulations to apply your

understanding. Aligned

with AP.

Resource

Elaboration

Free(?) A little confusing.

Khan Academy is a

better choice.


17/20

Cool Apps


Grades Subject/Topic Title, Producer Comments Possible uses Cost RatingK-3 Problem Solving Clara City

(Clara and Her

Sisters in the City)

Canovia

Very cute game in which

three sisters are asked

by their father to find

objects in the city. Allcommunications are

symbolic not written or

spoken. The student gets

the girls to walk to

different shops and

buildings to find the

objects.

Activation

Team work

Problem-solving

Free There is a science

centre with a couple

of neat little science

experiments thatthe student can try

out. The same

experiments could

easily be done in the

classroom for a

hands-on

experience.

K-12 Life Sciences Please TouchMelbourne Museum

A beautifully rendered

and very imaginative

virtual tour of the

Melbourne Museum.

Lots of information,

pictures of wildlife past

and present.

Exploration

Research

Free Very cool very

unique approach to

a virtual tour. A lot

of fun and

informative.

1-12 ReviewScaffolding

Brainstorming

Concept Mapping

Popplet Lite Concept mapping app

that allows you to quickly

put down ideas, images,

etc. Can pull images

from the Camera Roll on

the iPad

Review

Formative

Evaluation

Teamwork

Planning

Design Process

Free I can see teachers

doing whole class

review or students

creating concept

maps of subject

materials or teamsbrainstorming ideas.

K-12 Collaboration Whiteboard& Whiteboard Pro

Interactive whiteboard.

With the Pro version you

can invite people with

the standard or pro

version to draw or type

on your whiteboard

Teamwork

Design Process

Brainstorming

Review

You can only draw

using brushes (with

full control over

width and colour)

but there are no

shape drawing tools.


18/20

Cool Apps


simultaneously. You can

preload a picture, or

image as a background.

The final product can be

sent via email, Facebook

or shared on the online

Whiteboard gallery.

K-12 Finding Apps HotAppFinder Lists of the most popularapps in all categories,

including Education.

Free I look at it all the

time.

K-12 Finding Apps App Hits Free This app willhighlight apps that

have dropped in

price or are now

free.


19/20

Cool Apps



20/20

Cool Apps That We Shared


Grade App Subject Notes

ipad apps for science - feb 2013

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