iPads

The Dictionary application would be a useful tool for any student who is having difficulty with a word they do not recognize. I have this application on my blackberry phone. It has several interesting features that I enjoy looking into like the word of the day. It also allows for users to create favorites, it remembers past searches, gives examples of different usages for words, and examples from works of literature. A dictionary is an indispensable asset for any student in a Language Arts classroom.

The Shakespeare app would benefit either a student reading a play or a scholar doing research for an article. Shakespeare's entire work is cataloged and searchable. Brief summaries of characters in each play are given. There are also scene breakdowns that could be used to find a specific passage. This app is like a portable version of Sparknotes. You can also run searches by key terms that will generate passages where the term was found. This is an amazing application that really helps to keep track of an assortment of information that is difficult to manage when dealing with Shakespearean language. This application could easily be used as a reference for students who are reading a play and need help keeping up with the characters. It also is a great resource for finding passages that could be quoted in an essay.

I tried to use the Wikihood app which looked like a great way to learn about the world. Users can use this app to search for places throughout the world and it will gather, sort, and present data on the geographic location. Unfortunately, whatever city I tried to search for would attempt to gather the information and then shut the program down. It may have been down for maintenance or this may have been just a preview version. From the looks of it, the app would be a great asset to a social studies course or a nice way to introduce students to other parts of the world through cultural studies.

I also tried out both virtuoso and Piano Free and enjoyed the programs. I could see both of these apps help teach a learning student the fundamentals of chords and different keys. I wanted to see how these programs functioned as I took piano lessons at a young age. I think these applications would be a good way for a new student to practice when they were not able to sit in front of an actual piano.