Ramping Up

Looking for where to start with #100percentdigital? I’m not close to 100% at this point, but I do live portions of my life digitally.

Here are the apps I use on a regular basis on my iPad.

  • Notability ($2.99) = note taking with capabilities to type/write/draw, import documents/PDFs, add photos, screen capture websites, record audio, etc. Syncs with various cloud services for backup and access off the tablet. This app seamlessly enhanced my digital life.

  • Gmail = email client. The app carries over features like the promotions tab from the web interface. That alone is worth having two apps for email (I have my SEU account set up with Mail).

  • Google Drive = viewing Drive files. Note: I’ve been working almost exclusively in Drive for creating documents, spreadsheets and forms for about five years. If you’re not into Google, this might not be so important to you.

    • Google Docs = editing/creation

    • Google Sheets = editing/creation

  • Feedly = RSS aggregator. Read your curated selection of blogs, news, etc. in a clean, well-designed layout. Set-up is simple; keeping up with continuous onslaught of material isn’t.

  • Dropbox = file transfer. Very useful for collaboration and access to a set of files from multiple devices.

  • Twitter = tweet feed. I’m not a power Twitter user, so this works just fine for me.

I’m still on the lookout for apps that will help me move up the SAMR scale. Here are a few I’m still interested in trying out in my workflow:

  • Evernote = notes, photos, links, to-do lists, etc.

  • Skitch = image annotation

  • Pocket or Instapaper ($3.99) = save articles/videos to read/watch later

  • Dragon Dictation = voice to text, faster than typing

If you want to see some of the wow factor on an iPad, I recommend the following:

  • WWF Together

  • The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore ($4.99)

The above lists don’t even touch the surface of content creation tools, games or discipline-specific apps. Go explore and have fun.

And because some of us do have kids, these are my favorite picks for the little set (my boys are 2 and 5):

  • Peekaboo Barn ($1.99)

  • Monkey Preschool Lunchbox ($1.99)

  • Lazoo ZOO

  • Don’t Let the Pigeon Run This App! ($5.99)

  • Draw a Stickman (Episode 1 & 2 are free; EPIC is $2.99)

  • Todo Math

  • any Sago Mini app: Forest Flyer ($2.99), Space Explorer ($2.99), Ocean Swimmer ($2.99), etc.

  • any TocaBoca app: Toca Hair Salon ($2.99), Toca Robot Lab ($2.99), Toca Kitchen Monsters, etc.

  • any Originator app: Endless Alphabet ($6.99), Endless Reader, Endless Numbers

  • The Three Little Pigs (Nosy Crow, $4.99)

  • A Charlie Brown Christmas (Loud Crow Interactive, $4.99)

Yes, these are worth every penny. I’d be happy to demo if you’re not sure.

One comment

  1. Rebecca Davis

    I will heartily endorse the apps for kids. No more are you faced with the challenge of what to do with kids whey you are stuck waiting at the doctor’s office, for a table at a restaurant, in Austin traffic, etc. The real challenge is fighting your kids for who gets to use the iPad.

    For those who have older kids (my son is 9), I highly recommend the Minecraft Pocket Edition. It’s like virtual legos.

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