For Your Consideration: 6 Top iPad Apps

After attending the ISTE convention last month, we've been reminded time and again that this year's hot piece of educational tech is the iPad. Students want it. Parents love it. Teachers use it. I wish I had it...

Best of all, it works. The iPad offers a wealth of educational opportunities, most of them geared to be flashy, fun, and rewarding. We've compiled a short list of some of the most popular educational apps being downloaded and used right now. Each of the apps below appears on the July 27 edition of appannie's Top Charts for Educational iPad apps (check out the full chart here)

FREE APPS

1. Era of Dino HD Lite

What student - or parent for that matter, don't lie - doesn't want to learn more about dinosaurs? This free app will introduce users to over 300 different dinos. Also covered are the specific eras in which these creatures lived. Slick, colorful graphics complement a wealth of interesting material. (Average rating: 4.5 stars)

2. NASA App HD

Take a tour of the galaxy - and beyond - with this fascinating app from NASA. Official video and imagery (some of which are live) enhance in-depth explorations of planets, stars, current missions, and more. Children and adults alike will lose hours in this virtual solar system. (Average rating: 4.5 stars)

3. ScreenChomp

This versatile teaching tool is like having a digital whiteboard at your fingertips. Create your own lessons with the intuitive interface. Math problems, Venn diagrams, brainstorming webs - this app can handle them all. Even cooler is the ability to record and upload your lessons to the app's website or Facebook. (Average rating: 5 stars)

PAID APPS

1. Stack the States

Students can learn about each of the United States of America with this fun app. By the time they're finished, they'll be familiar with state capitals, shapes, and locations. Bonus games, full-color pictures, and tons of questions are included. (Average rating: 5 stars)

2. Math Bingo

This popular app will make math practice much more entertaining. A balance of fun gaming and rich educational content has landed Math Bingo on several top-app lists. It's simple - students must answer math problems correctly in order to complete rows on a Bingo chart. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are included. (Average rating: 4.5 stars)

3. Alphabet Fun

Invaluable for early learners, Alphabet Fun teaches and reinforces letter and number recognition and formation. It also teaches users to recognize and identify colors. Pronunciations provide clarity and speaking practice. (Average rating: not available)

What do you think of the iPad? Are you using it with your children or students? Have you tried any of the apps above? Do you know any other must-haves? Start the discussion in the comments section below!