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App Roundup

6 New Apps to Make Better Studiers

A monthly showcase of the latest mobile apps for educators and students. This month's roundup features apps for language learners, professional development, and texting in the classroom.

By Stephen Noonoo
12/05/11

PBS Kids has launched Fetch! Lunch Rush, an app designed for students in grades 1 through 3, which uses an iPod/iPhone camera and overlaid graphics to create 3-D imagery designed to reinforce the early algebraic concepts, helping kids to make the connection between real objects and corresponding numeric symbols. The app is based on Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman, a PBS Kids Go! Series produced by member station WGBH. Free; iPod touch, iPhone.
StudyBlue launched an improved StudyBlue app allowing students to create flashcards by snapping and inserting photos from their smartphones. Students can also transcribe speech to text directly into their flashcards. Previously, the app only allowed users to study existing flashcards and notes through StudyBlue. A video demonstrating the new features is available online. Free; iPhone and Android compatible.
Super Duper Publications has released an expanded version of its Super Duper Data Tracker Mobile App, a tool for monitoring the progress of students with special needs or language delays. The new features allow users to create multiple goals for each student; choose from various response types; track correct and incorrect responses to questions; graph results for each goal; and e-mail results for individual students or all students in a group. The company warns that the new version does not support data uploaded to the previous version. $5.99; iOS compatible.
The Mobile Parent app from ParentLink allows parents to view their children’s classes, grades, assignments, and attendance in one place, and to directly communicate with teachers. Schools and districts can set up the app to include a contact directory and teacher messaging service. The company also offers a companion app, Mobile Admin, for administrators. Free; iOS compatible.
Fingerprint Digital released five "Fingerprinted" apps for adults and kids ages 3 to 8 to use together. In Big Kid Life Fire Fighter, Big Kid Life Vet, Big Kid Life Fairy Princess, and Play Maker, kids make their way through new adventures while practicing education skills. In DoReMi 1-2-3, kids play music ear training games. All apps feature the company's Mom-Comm feature, which allows adults to keep up with kids' progress and send messages. $2.99 (free for a limited time); iOS.
The new VoiceThread iOS app allows users to virtually collaborate via mobile devices by sharing pictures, videos, presentations, and documents that can be overlaid and synched with audio notes. The receiving party can interact with, build on, and annotate existing notes. The company likens the service to a "DVR for media discussions [where] people participate when, where, and however they want." A library of uses is available online. $2.99-$5.99; iOS.