Supporting Resources: 
Investigating Science Outdoors

App Recommendations

Throughout Investigating Science Outdoors, you may be using a variety of apps as part of your investigations.

We encourage you to use whichever apps best fit you and your situation. For example, if there's a notetaking or video editing app that you are familiar and comfortable with, go ahead and use it. We also encourage you to search the store. And of course, there are many free, basic, or even built-in apps.

The apps listed here are simply recommendations. Note that some of them cost money and/or have in-app purchasing options, and others may include ads. 

Journaling, Notetaking, and Drawing/Sketching Apps

There are free, basic notetaking and drawing tools, which can be used. We also encourage the use of physical pen and paper, even a bound journal.

Evernote

Penultimate

Skitch

NoteBook+ Free

Moleskine Journal

Note Taker HD (for iPad)

Notability

Notes Plus by Viet Tran 

Educreations Interactive Whiteboard

ShowMe Interactive Whiteboard

Compass Apps

Compass^o by Tim O's Studios

Free HD Compass 

Photography Apps

Built-in Camera app

Photography options within many notetaking and drawing apps, including Moleskine, Evernote, Penultimate, and Notes Plus.

Crop for Free

Audio Recording Apps

Audio recording options with many notetaking and organizing apps, including Evernote, Notes Plus, and Notability

iTalk Recorder

Smart Recorder

Video Apps

Built-in Camera app

Editing of videos should be kept to a minimum, but sometimes it is important to trim a video, clip out a section, or change the audio.

Video Edit 

Lapse It — time-elapse video 

Plant Apps

Many online sites provide useful information on identifying plants, so don't neglect the browser if you have Internet access.

Leafsnap for iPad — An app that uses the iPad's camera to help you identify a plant by its leaves

Audubon — Guides, Trees, Wildflowers, Mushrooms, etc. — Search for Audobon and check out the variety of offerings

Animal Apps

Many online sites provide useful information on identifying animals, so don't neglect the browser if you have Internet access. 

Audubon (Guides, Birds, Insects, Reptiles, Mammals, etc.) — Search for Audobon and check out the variety of offerings 

iBird — The Pro version is great, but pricey; there are somewhat less expensive ones appropriate to different regions.

National Geographic Birds

Wildlab Bird

Note: It is challenging to keep a list such as the above up-to-date with the latest and greatest apps available for the iPad. If you have problems with any of the recommended apps, or if you have other recommendations you think we should add to the list, let us know. Your help in this is appreciated.

Study Site Map Template

MapTemplate_InvestigatingScienceOutdoors.pdf (Downloadable for use in Activity 3)

Sources of Remote Imagery

There are many online sources of remote-sensing imagery. We encourage you to search the Web, but here are a few recommendations to get you started.

Google Maps 

Google Earth  — Application which requires downloading

Windows on Earth 

NASA: Earth Observatory 

NASA: Visible Earth 

NASA: Landsat Image Gallery 

NASA: Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth

Note: It is challenging to keep a list such as the above up-to-date. If you have problems with any of the links or sites, or if you have other recommendations you think we should add, let us know. Your help in this is appreciated.