20 Types of Tablet Tools for Teaching

UPDATE: September 17, 2015. Tablet sales are drooping worldwide. I’m not sure if higher education faculty are part of the trend, but it was time to update this post (again) in any case.

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In May 2011, after a year of experimentation, I became sold on the idea of using a tablet instead of a laptop as a mobile computer. It was my turn for a workstation update, so I bought a tablet and replaced my laptop with a desktop. I know this is not the path for everyone, but I’ve been happy with the decision ever since. My laptop used to remain on the desk when I left the office; now I take the tablet everywhere.

What kinds of tablet apps are most likely to be useful to a college teacher? A complete answer depends on your subject area — there are apps for music, maps, the periodic table, star charts, frog dissection, and much more. I’ve tried to be generic on the list below, describing categories of apps that will be broadly useful.

The programs are NOT presented as “best of breed.” Under each category I name specific iPad and Android apps to explore as examples. Scan the reviews and try out a variety of them. If no price is given, the app should be free – but I may have missed one or two.

Full disclosure: subjective factors figured into my choices, including personal interests and outright whims. My tablet does not have a data plan (I have a phone that acts as a hotspot when necessary) and my Logitech case has an integrated keyboard.

Teaching

This first group of tools is the one most directly connected to the act of teaching.

1. Grading – iPad: Gradekeeper ($5),  Gradebook Pro ($4),  Android: Grade Book for Professors Pro ($5),  Teacher Gradebook. There are even rubric apps: Rubric Scorer for Android looks interesting.
2. Annotation – mark up student-submitted PDF files with highlights, text and drawings. Both: Adobe Reader, iAnnotate PDF, and Skitch.
3. Attendance  – some apps offer seating charts & photos – iPad: Attendance2 ($5),  Android: Attendance,  Both: TeacherKit. A pricier iPad app called iDoceo ($10) looks very interesting.
4. Course Management System – there are mobile options for Blackboard,  Brightspace,  and Canvas.  Sakai is increasingly tablet-friendly.
5. Polling – use tablets and smartphones like clickers in the classroom – Both: Socrative and Poll Everywhere

Content

Use your tablet as a tool for course readings or to create materials for class.

1. Reading – CourseSmart for textbooks, Kindle for books, and Pocket for articles (you gather them with a browser extension).
2. Recording – there are built-in apps for capturing images, video and sound. Explore others, though, like Voice Record Pro on the iPad.
3. Collaboration – share document editing in real-time with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Draw for iPad or Android.
4. Productivity – use “Docs to Go Free” on iPad or Android. Microsoft Word and its companion apps require Office 365; a University license is $79.95 for 4 years.
5. More – there are many opportunities, including …
   • Vector Drawing – Both: TouchDraw ($9),  Android: Infinite Design ($5)
   • Concept Mapping – iPad: iThoughts ($10),  Both: Mindomo.
   • Screencasting – Explain Everything ($4)
   • Graphing (and much more) – Wolfram Alpha ($3)

Presentation

Plug your tablet into the classroom projector and off you go!

1. Slideshow viewer – lots of apps play PowerPoint files and you can get Prezi for iPad or Android. I like to plug an iPad into a projector and control it with an iPhone, using Keynote ($10) on each device.
2. Air mouse / remote – Splashtop ($) has apps that let a tablet control a desktop connected to a projector. Reflector ($7-17) is an alternative you install on the desktop. Here’s a useful article with 10 ways to project your iPad.
3. Stopwatch and Timer – use the standard clock app or a specially designed timer to track time for a presentation or sound a buzzer after a five-minute writing period. I like Big Presentation Timer ($1) on the iPad.
4. Media players are included for photos, video, & sound. There are also apps for YouTube, SoundCloud and Flickr (iPad, Android).
5. Chalkboard/whiteboard – project onto the screen whatever you paint, draw, graph on your tablet – iPad: BaiBoard,  Android: LiveBoard.

Generic

These tools are less specific, but you will probably use them a great deal.

1. Calendar – use the apps on your device to track dates and to-do lists. They should sync with your cloud-based calendar. I use Calendars 5 with Google Calendar.
2. Notes – simple, quick text entry and note management. I use Evernote for this (either platform).
3. Browser – it can be very useful to have more than one – Both: Mercury,  iPad: Chrome,  Android: Firefox.
4. Document storage – save and organize files
   • On the device – iPad: GoodReader,  Android: Astro File Manager.
   • In the cloud – Google Drive (iPad, Android),  Dropbox,  or Box.
   • File transfer – I use FileBrowser to move files among devices and online storage spaces.
5. News – receive up-to-the-second info, images, and video: USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, NPR, and so on

I’d love to hear from readers who have identified other teaching functions where tablets are helpful. I’m also sure I have left out some of your favorites. Please share apps that you think many college teachers could benefit from.

More tablet app posts on NspireD2

• Quizlet – electronic flash cards
• TouchCast – create videos with dynamic content
• PostIt Plus – virtual sticky notes