Discover helpful apps for use in the classroom.

But first, here are a few helpful tips for using the iPad in the classroom.

• Settings (get to know these settings)
• Double click to switch between Apps (or 4 finger swipe)
• Triple-click – “Guided Access” – locks you into specific app, can’t exit app without passcode (found under Settings-General-Accessibility-Guided Access)
• Make your own App Shortcut from Safari – e.g. Google News (up arrow in Safari, “Add to Homescreen”)
• Turn off Notifications (if you present from your iPad, either turn on “Do Not Disturb” or turn off Notifications)

Use an Apple TV to wirelessly display your iPad screen onto a projector or HDTV.

Now to get down to business. Here are a few favorite apps for the iPad.

Combining screencasting, desktop control, and an interactive whiteboard in one app, you’ll never have to turn your back to the class or audience again. Create a lesson or presentation, insert images, save and edit your project and record a screencast video you can easily save or share. Doceri does it all!

Control your lesson or presentation live with Airplay or through your Mac or PC. Annotate a Keynote or PowerPoint, or present your original Doceri project. Great for student projects, too.

The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Science360 for iPad provides easy access to engaging science and engineering images and video from around the globe and a news feed featuring breaking news from NSF-funded institutions. Content is either produced by NSF or gathered from scientists, colleges and universities, and NSF science and engineering centers.

Amazing photos from around the world. Conversation starters, journaling. Various categories: Daily photos, Olympics, Wildlife, Politics & Protest, Architecture, Religion/tradition, Landscapes)

Create your own unique shows with animation and audio in real time! Simply pick out your actors and backdrops, drag them on to the stage, and tap record. Your movements and audio will be recorded in real time for playback later.

This app is as fun as your own creativity. Act out a story of Pirates on the high seas, fight as scary monsters, or play the part of a Wild West bandit on the loose. You can even combine any characters however you want! Your creations are only limited by your imagination (and voice acting skills in my case).

Get directions and more. Use Hybrid or Satellite setting. Zoom in on world famous landmarks. Great for geography and History.

The free handwriting calculator for your iPhone or iPad.

Easy, simple and intuitive, just write the mathematical expression on the screen then let MyScript technology perform its magic converting symbols and numbers to digital text and delivering the result in real time.

The same experience as writing on paper with the advantages of a digital device (Scratch-outs, results in real time).

Weather forecasts presented visually. Engaging layout. Great for a science class studying the weather.

Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world. Presents talks from some of the world's most fascinating people: education radicals, tech geniuses, medical mavericks, business gurus and music legends. Find more than 1,400 TEDTalk videos (with more added each week).

The entire library is at your fingertips to browse at any time, even when you’re not online. Download full videos to your device and watch them when you’re offline.

Build better presentations with Haiku Deck. Haiku Deck is a great tool for making visually stunning presentations. It’s the principals behind Haiku Deck that make it so powerful. Learn to be creative with your themes, avoid using too many lines of texts, and don’t use bullet points. Keep things visually simple, and use pictures to draw in the audience.

For students this is especially helpful because they may not be able to articulate these design ideas on their own. However, with help from Haiku Deck they are able to put them into practice without having to understand the reasons behind it. It becomes more instinctual for them as they learn to create better presentations that help them to communicate their ideas.

Super 7 - Draw lines to combine the numbered discs and try to create 7s. Sure, it sounds simple but can you keep up once negative numbers and multipliers are thrown into the mix?

Pick-a-Path - math strategic thinking game - Help Okta reach the target (maximum, minimum, or a specific value) by choosing a path from the top of the maze to the bottom. Seven levels with seven puzzles will test your skills with powers of ten, negative numbers, fractions, decimals, and more. How many starfish can you earn?

iMovie puts everything you need to tell your story at your fingertips, with a beautifully streamlined interface and Multi-Touch gestures that let you enjoy your videos like never before. Browse your video library, quickly share favorite moments, and create beautiful HD movies and Hollywood-style trailers.

Explore the App Store to discover new apps for the iPad. When you find one you like, share it with others!