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full disclosure: classmate Alex Schoenfeld first shared this with the us in the TIE facebook group :). But it brings an interesting trend in the adoption and pricing of mobile apps: Article outlining what lots of us know when it comes to moblie apps and pricing - free, $1, and $2 are the price-points that sell, and allow us to try out an app with minimal regret. But with the rise of more and more high-quailty, high-profile, and high-budget educatioanl apps, will the pricing structure change? Will parents and educators be willing to spend the prices of traditional computer software ($50 or more?) for really great mobile apps? The article brings up an interesting model that seems to already be coming to life looking at how apps are being sold and updated lately: "Donahoo and Russell propose there's a better way: subscriptions and content expansion packs.  Launchpad Toys follows the latter tact. The initial price the Toontastic app for $3 (though it's currently free). Users can use that fully functioning app, or choose to add additional characters and themes with $.99 expansion packs. This way, they contend, costs are controlled; it's cheap for parents and children to evaluate an app, and the model encourages regular updates."

Top Ten Back-to-School iPhone apps. Check out the new free Kindle app.

As more and more educational apps hit the market, will schools reconsider allowing hand-held devices in schools?

A child as young as 9 months can set goals when playing the apps in iphone. More and more parents let children play with their iphones. I-phones, which consist of many interesting apps and colorful designs, are easy to catch children's attention. Easy apps which can help children develop their basic skills (such as counting skills), do have great market and should be developed and improved.

A new iPad app uses immersive technology to convey a richer video experience.

Looks like a great app. I can imagine it being applied in a lot of ways. I see that "The app turns specially encoded video into a virtual reality experience", which means that you need specially recorded video. This may limit the absorption of the app.

If you have any experience using or teaching Scratch (a visual IDE for teaching basic programming), along comes App Inventor from Google to allow anyone to program apps for the Android operating system. Includes a simulator. I have put in my request for App Inventor but, alas, I am still waiting - can't wait to try it! Put in your request!

A discussion on the NYT Learning blog asking whether apps are streamlining our online reading or wasting our time. It's an interesting discussion that has no one right answer. How efficient an app is likely depends on what it is for and how you are using it, but can often be effective tools.

This article describes a new iPad app that turns reading into an interactive learning experience by interjecting activities related to the book such as games and interludes where the reader plays songs on the iPad piano. The child can be read to by the app or read the story on their own. 

The Daily Show takes on iPads educational games and the 'freemium' pay model (free to get a game, costs $ to get desired add-ons and content). They specifically look at the game Tapfish.  Pretty funny - but I think hits the dangers of this model head on

Battu!!! You stole my thunder. I wanted to post this but I'm glad you did because I think it is one of the real hazards of education fronting for the products of private companies. We need to be ahead of the curve.

agreed - I think awareness of this growing model is crucial. But with the increasing occurrence of the pay-for-more mantra in mobile apps (especially those made by big publishers & developers-- even educational apps)--- will small-time efforts (solo developers, non-profits) be able to compete? Is this model reflecting the true nature of app development? It's already hard for small/independent efforts to match the polish and amount of content of stuff made by the 'pros' (big publishers & devs). Is it the constant revenue the big apps are getting from in-app purchases that allows their stuff to rise and stay steps ahead? I wonder if there'll be an obvious and real difference in the quality of free vs paid/pay-to-play apps down the road, enough that certain apps won't even be available in one category or the other.

Top Educational Apps of the past month. Would love breakdown of educational objectives of some of these apps

The demand for apps is for the mass-market even though apps are more suited to niche markets because of the increasing cost of development and lack of adaptability across different phone brands.

How can mobile apps help students select colleges and universities? Two Spelman College students designed a phone app to educate others about historically black colleges and universities.

Augmented Reality continues to seep into reality: "Layar, the first camera-based AR app to really blow us (or anyone) away, has quietly slipped into the App Store. As with the Android version, the app overlays all kinds of information onto a live view of the world around you."

Layar, the first phone-based AR web browser on the market, has come to the iPhone 3GS.

Layar, the first phone-based AR web browser on the market, has come to the iPhone 3GS ... expect me to be wandering the Harvard campus seeing what this app can do ...

It's tough to make a living creating apps

What struck me most about this article was that the couple had no marketing plan and even less understanding of financial management (specifically cash flow, assets, and liabilities). Sobering. Thanks for sharing, Danna.

The NYC Department of Education is challenging software developers to submit apps and games that enhance teaching, learning, and engagement for NYC middle schools. I thought this might interest folks working on app or startup ideas.

Amazing and completely overwhelming at the same time. How do we curate and manage quality control?

Staggering numbers indeed! But that might explain why I've downloaded a few really disappointing apps too :) Thanks for sharing those stats!

That's why good app search engines and recommendations are important!

How teachers use Nearpod, and iPad app similar to PowerPoint to engage students and do formative assessment.

How can you leverage the power of the future using just your smartphone or tablet? Grab any of these apps and prepare to take your students on an adventure where they never look at their surroundings the same way again.

Kind of building on Jason's post about the Slow Web movement, this article talks about some apps that help you stay focused on coursework!

This article outlines various augmented reality apps that are being used in classes. I've actually used Google Sketchup when teaching, giving students an opportunity to design their own buildings and use it to study geometric properties. It was very cool.

This app is designed to help students with Asperger's in a variety of ways. I'd be curious to hear from anyone who has worked with students with Asperger's if they think this kind of thing is helpful.