Kids

Middle and High School astronomy courses rely on visualization, particularly when it comes to seeing the “images” in constellations and orbital trajectories. This five app bunch is perfect for students who want to more clearly see the planets and stars, as well as learn the history, present and future of space programs. Gravity App ($7.99 iPad) Continue Reading →

The federal government on Wednesday said Apple has agreed to pay at least $32.5 million in refunds to parents who didn’t authorize hefty purchases racked up by their children on their iPhones and iPads. The Federal Trade Commission’s settlement with Apple is the first punishment handed to a major tech company over the handling of Continue Reading →

The most crowded area of Intel’s CES booth? Not the phone section, not tablets, not even two-in-ones. Nope, everyone’s huddled around a desk with coffee mugs. That, and a plastic baby doll lying face-up in a carrier. Just like Intel CEO Brian Krzanich hinted, the company is going all-in on wearables this year. Except the Continue Reading →

DreamWorks Animation first captivated children in movie theaters. Then it branched into TV, piping cartoons based on hits like “Madagascar” and “How to Train Your Dragon” into homes through outlets like Nickelodeon and Netflix. Now DreamWorks has partnered with a technology company, Fuhu, on an even more immediate way to reach itty-bitty eyeballs, a highly Continue Reading →

What better way to celebrate the next batch of competitors for the Scripps National Spelling Bee than with mobile applications and games designed to prepare Elementary to Middle School students for spelling quizzes and tests? These apps (most vetted by educational experts) can help students spell, expand their vocabularies and use words in the correct context. Continue Reading →

It’s never too soon for your child to play with a tablet, and if you think they’re ready for a tablet of their very own, here are some of my favorites available today. LeapFrog’s LeapPad 2 costs less than a hundred bucks and works with all cartridge apps and games from the first LeapPad, giving Continue Reading →

I’m a cool aunt. Or so I tell myself. It is this hubris that led to a $50 charge on my iTunes account, after I so willingly handed over my iPad mini to my young niece the other night. Parental controls! Don’t you know about parental controls? Well, I didn’t. (FYI, I called iTunes support Continue Reading →

One of the keys to a successful presentation is communicating ideas and information in a steady manner. These five mobile apps help students with organization, brainstorming and the delivery of speech or project presentation. Explain Everything™ (iPad, iPhone, Android Tablet) Explain Everything teaches students to better communicate ideas. Students will think more critically when they have to Continue Reading →

An introduction to photography via mobile devices, as they all come equipped with built-in cameras, is one of the most accessible forms of creative expression. Here are five apps that are suited to Elementary school students and younger. Crayola Lights, Camera, Color! (Free) Crayola Lights, Camera, Color offers kids an ever-engaging experience where they can instantly Continue Reading →

Dell said it would join a growing market of thin-and-light Chrome OS laptops with the new Chromebook 11, but the system will initially be available only to educational institutions. The company did not provide specifications for the laptop, but in an email said more Chromebooks will be announced for “budget-strapped” small-and-medium business and consumers in Continue Reading →