Grading with the iPad - Live Blog 11/02/12

Group Discussion on Grading Apps

Three options that have been used:

1. iAnnotate -- $9.99
2. Notetaker -- $4.99
3. DocAS Reader -- $ 5.99

1. iAnnotate has a free version as well as a $9.99 version. We are only looking at the paid version for now. iAnnotate allows you to highlight in various colors, create "stamps" of anything you want them to say and save them. Then you can place that stamp on any paper. Easy way to grade with the common problems you write on papers. Can create a handwritten looking stamp or a text based stamp.

Has more features, but does not have a zoom feature and you have go manually zoom it to write on it. You can also use voice to create voice notes.  


2. Notetaker creates an enlarged box that allows you to easily write notes directly on the paper.  Works well with dropbox. You can staple things together and connect docs. See previous blog on this one.


3. DocAs creates a zoom box to write. Has multiple color to highlight and write. You can add voice notes and merge multiple documents easily. Easy to email the students directly from their paper once it is graded. Easy to update back to dropbox.

Options for storing papers online:

Sugarsync
Dropbox
Box
Amazon
Google Drive

SME -- Storage Made Easy -- this links all of your various cloud storage into one area. This is online. The basic is free and there are add ons that cost money. The free version allows you to link two servers and then a dollar to two dollars to add any additional ones, but this is a one time fee, not a continual subscription

Keynote can be saved into SME, which allows you to save it on a particular folder where it normally does not let you save your files directly to dropbox, but through SME you can.

Benefits: 

1. Paperless, you don't have to carry a lot of papers around
2. You have an easy to access record in case students dispute grade
3. Easy to connect to dropbox or other online storage

Wants - Questions:

1. Adding links into the grading options. Can you do that with any of these?
2. How well does the voice option work for students when they get their paper back? What file does it put it in?
3. Any good free version grading apps that work well?