Most Used Productivity Apps

We have some new "iPad Using Educators" on our staff and I quickly typed up the apps I would suggest for any teacher with a new iPad. Here is the list of my favorite productivity apps; most of these I use daily. Let me know if any should be added to this list...am I missing out on something better!!??!!

App	Cost	Use
App Shopper	Free	Download 1st! This is not like the App Store already on the iPad. You can view the history of any app… price and updates. If the price fluctuates often and you don’t need the app immediately…wait…the price might drop and you will save a few dollars. Also, how often have there been updates? Is the developer making the app better? Are new features being added? Or, did the developer release it and never look back? This might not be a deciding factor for a kid’s game, but if it is an app you will utilize frequently and you are trying to decide which app is the best, this could be a deciding factor.
Good Reader	$4.99 (price has changed a few times)	I use this one all the time! You can save, view, annotate, and organize .Pdf, Office, iWork, .html, audio, and video files using Good Reader. I frequently find files online that I would like to save for later…all I do is open in Good Reader and I have it on my iPad for good. The files are easily organized and you can connect to DropBox, MobileMe, and other cloud services.
Dragon Dictation	Free	Very easy for you AND students. Convert your speech to text…then email, save it as a .txt file, or copy and paste to another app (you can even post the text as a comment on Facebook or Twitter). I have found Dragon Dication to be very accurate everytime I have used the app…rarely do I edit to the text produced by the app. One thing I like to do with this app is “take notes” as I read articles on my iPad. While reading I will switch to Dragon Dictation, then say a summary of the article or points I want to remember, then say the website where I found the info.
Dropbox	Free	I use this all the time! It’s like an online jump drive. Save any file from any computer, iPhone, or iPad to be viewed on any other computer, iPhone, or iPad. Easy, easy, easy and free, free, free! Highly recommended! When I am “out and about” my most accessed files are always available.
Noteshelf	$4.99 (price has changed a few times)	Also used very frequently. This is an app to write notes with your finger or stylus…no typing required. There are different color pens, different widths, an eraser, a ton of emoticons, and pictures can be imported to write or draw on. Any of the notes can be emailed or saved to Dropbox (and other cloud services) as a .Pdf or an image. Easy, Easy, Easy! I have tried a few handwriting apps and this is the one I like best.
Planbook	$9.99	Lesson Plan app! Create lesson plans that can be emailed or printed. One reason I promote this app is the developer is very responsive to suggestions and requests. I “liked” his Planbook page on Facebook where I have found he answers all questions. The app is not perfect yet, but it’s close. There are 6 customizable text fields which I have named: Overview, Standards, Objectives, Opening/Explicit Instruction/Modeling, Guided Practice, Close/Review/Reflections.
Read It Later & Read It Later Pro	Free & $.99	Any article or website can be saved for viewing later. This is cool because when I come across an article or website I want to read but don’t have time, Read It Later allows me to save it on my iPad. Then when I am sitting at a practice, or doc office, or slow drive through, or wherever, those articles are waiting to be read.
Sticky Notes	$.99	Must have! Too Cute! This app uses the Bump API to allow users to pass sticky notes between iPads. Oh…imagine the possibilities with collaboration between small groups!
Grade Pad (iPod/iPhone app)	$2.99	Create rubrics for quick and easy formative assessment during class or small groups. Quickly rate a student using the chosen rubric and add a comment when needed. Use the data for small group formation, behavior history, etc. Reports can be emailed or exported to an online account. Also, share rubrics with the online account or download rubrics created by others. My co-teacher is using this app to track progress of special ed students in RTI.
Bump (iPhone app)	Free	“Bump” iPads and iPhones to exchange contact info, photos, and free apps.
HP iPrint	Free	Print to any HP printer on the same network as the iPad. NOT AirPrint! Yes, that’s right, you read it right, no need to buy a new printer just to print with your iPad. HP iPrint will print .pdf, .txt, .jpg, .png, .tiff, and .bmp files on any HP printer. I print to a 7 year old HP LaserJet 1320 with this app! It is ssslllloooowww…but it gets the job done.
Photo Pal	$2.99 (price has changed a few times)	Out of all the photo editing apps I have tried…so far, this is my fave. Any photo on the iPad can be edited, even ones taken with your phone or another digital camera, just open them from DropBox. Fix red eye, resize, reduce shadows, add frames, crop, etc. Easy, easy, easy!