with graphs depicting temperature and dew point data, or use the current radar and satellite data to provide an animated model of radar information for the next four hours, using complex computational models developed by atmospheric scientists. Other weather apps, such as WeatherGeek Pro, allow you to dive into the data, both live and historical, to see how the data influences the various models created by meteorologists.
Video Makes it Better
Unlike the previous examples, some areas of science involve investigating the things you can easily observe, such as principles of force and motion. Suppose you want to examine the path an object takes when thrown in the air to see how gravity changes the velocity of this object over time. Sure, you could immediately find the formula to note what is supposed
constantly) with notes, suggested lessons, activities, and other resources. For more timely information, and access to video from leading scientists around the world, check out Science360, an NSF sponsored network that features breaking news and everything from short
demonstrations to full-length hour- long productions
The periodic table hanging up in your room
never did this! EMD PTE, a free app from EMD Chemicals, lets you interact with the Periodic Table in a variety of ways to show individual qualities of elements. Here, you can dial up the temperature to see what elements are solids, liquids, or gases on a hot summer day.
from leading documentary film-makers. Studying Life on Your iPad
Vernier Video Physics lets you import a video to your iPad (or capture video on your iPad2) and assign data points to the objects in motion. Here, the blue dots mark the location of the ball every 20th of a second, and the app will let you graph and analyze these after the video plays.
to happen, but how could you make sure? An app like Vernier Video Physics is perfect for just such an event. This app allows you to record video of some event (generally involving force and motion applied to an object) and then break down the video frame by frame to track the motion of the object using an on-screen marker. These markers are added to the video, and can later be superimposed on a graph to identify the path and equation of that motion. This app basically lets you use video to slow down and analyze motion as though you had an expensive, slow-motion camera and accompanying “telestrator” software.
Sometimes, video can serve a purpose when we can’t conduct an investigation on our own – either for lack of resources or safety concerns. Sure, you can search for a YouTube video (if it isn’t blocked in your school), but there are some great options specifically designed for the iPad. That three minute video segment demonstrating light diffraction or explaining cross- linked polymers might be exactly what you need. VideoScience by Science House, and featuring NSF Einstein Fellow Dan Menelly, provides hundreds of videos (with new resources added
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So, we’ve probably all seen the ads for the iPad showing doctors using them to show images from an MRI or CAT scan. And, there are several such specialized tools that do this. But there are a few biology specific apps that are more accessible to classrooms. Brain Pro, part of the NOVA Series from 3D4Medical, is just one of several anatomy apps that allows you to see and manipulate organs and systems with several annotations and comments throughout. If you are outside trying to figure out what kind of plants are in your schoolyard, try Leafsnap, an electronic field guide that lets you see the leaves, bark, and other information that can help identify these plants. iBirdPro, one of the earlier such field guides, can help you identify our winged friends in the schoolyard or field, and includes audio calls as well as pictures, maps, and other information. Finally, no life science class would be complete without Frog Dissection, an app that replicates every aspect of that biology rite of passage except the access to scalpels and smell of formaldehyde.
Frog Dissection, from Emantras, lets you
investigate the organs and systems of a frog without the cost and odor of the real thing.
It’s not quite the same as an actual dissection, but sometimes, that can be a good thing. This is one of several medical apps that can show you the inner workings of other animals or people.
For more information about these apps, or other tools for the iPad, you can visit
TechTools4Teaching.org. This site has resources from the recent “iPads in the Classroom” conference sessions, as well as additional resources for these tools.
Stephen Best is a curriculum and professional development specialist at the University of Michigan, and leads several statewide science and technology initiatives.
Winter 2011-12
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MACULJOURNAL
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