Instructional Technology

What Are Apps?

When you hear the word apps you’ve probably heard it in the context of an iPhone/iPad. Apps is just a shortened way of saying application. You may hear about apps for Google, Apple, Microsoft, or others. 



Here are the differences for the top companies:



 

Apple

What: Apps for Apple are always on an iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod). 

Where: iTunes App Store 

How: Apps for iOS devices range in various categories such as Games, Education, Productivity, News, Social Networking, Finance, Entertainment, and More. Almost every app category can be used within the classroom depending on how they apply to your curriculum and how creative you are. 



Here are a few resources on great education apps.

 

Android

What: Apps for Google platform devices (Nexus 7, Samsung Galaxy, HTC, Kindle Fire, etc.)

Where: Google Play

How: Apps for Android devices range in a similar fashion like iTunes App Store just in with a different interface. Here you will find apps for Games, Education, Entertainment, Libraries/Demo, Media & Video, Social, Personalization, and More. Almost every app category can be used within the classroom. 



Here are a few resources on great education apps. 



Google Chrome

What: Web based apps for Google Chrome web browser.

Where: Chrome Web Store

How: Apps for Chrome ranges in the same way as Apple and Android except these apps are made for you computer. Using these apps you can do things like create documents, edit photos, and listen to music, without having to install complicated software. 



Here are a few resources on great education apps. 

Google Apps for Education (GAFE)

What: Free web based email, calendar, documents, and websites for collaborative purposes.

Where: Google Apps for Education

How: Google Apps for Ed allows you and your students to collaborate through Google applications such as Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Presentations, Drawings, free 30 GBs of cloud storage called Google Drive, etc. The term app in reference to Google Apps is the most confusing because it’s very different than the app you see on your phone. 



These apps are tools you use on the internet that are more similar to Microsoft Office. For further explanation click here to learn more about Google Apps for Education.

 

 



Microsoft Windows 8 or RT

What: Apps for Windows 8 or RT devices such as PC computer or Windows Surface.

Where: The Windows Store

How: Apps for Windows 8 or RT comes with some built-in apps to help you do things socially, share content, work on documents, view imagery, listen to music, watch movies, and do much more. 



Here are a few resources on great education apps. 


Published by

Eric Hansen