Schools are exploring small, inexpensive handheld devices like IPod Touches, smartphones, and similar devices as mini-computers to support teaching and learning.

Overviews:

Learning in Hand is a very good overview of mobile learning -- excellent advice and resources.

Ilearn.org reviews multiple apps for handheld devices.

Apps

There are thousands of Apps for education - some solid, some gimmicky.

Here are some review websites:

Primary Grades

Apps4Kids

Intermediate Grades

Epsom Primary School

Cross-Grade

          Texas Teachers Recommended Apps

Mobile App Reviews from Common Sense media

Mainly for young learners.  Good reviews from an excellent organization.

Math Apps

Top Ten Math Apps from Bright Hub

Math Apps from a teacher perspective

Professional/Adult Student

Back to School Apps

          Includes a free translator, organizers, math apps, and other productivity tools

  Apps for literacy:  Check out the article beginning on p. 14.

Examples of Use

Slide Show on Ways that Teachers are using Touches (this moves quickly.  See Actions at the bottom for the pause button).

Elementary Grades

Using IPods for Fluency

Examples of using ITouches in schools from Apple

Central Elementary School

Intermediate Grades

Epsom Primary School

Teachers designed curriculum and conducted research on the effectiveness of Touches for their own and for Student Learning.

Middle Schools

Culberth Middle School

Gives every student a  Touch to carry with them throughout the day

Special Needs

iNtouch School 

Here, the district is deploying 450 Touches for special needs students. Great advice on apps and managing Ipods.

Texas Education ITunes Channel

The state of Texas is setting up an entire ITunes channel where teachers and others can upload multimedia for students and parents to access at home or in the classroom.   Thousands of teachers have signed up to share their resources with others and to extend learning beyond the classroom.