Some people have the amazing ability to learn world languages and be truly fluent in them, but for the rest of us there is Word Lens. This iOS app available for free on both the iPad and iPhone can translate anything using your camera. All you have to do is select the language (e.g. English to French, French to English, Russian to English) and watch the words magically translate on your iOS device.

This is the perfect app for any language learner or Social Studies teacher looking to give students a different perspective. 

Why just talk about a famous historical person when that famous historical person can talk to us! FaceTalker is a free iOS app that allows you to import any picture and sync your talking to their mouth. The mouth movement will be familiar to anyone that is a JibJab fan. Your completed videos can be viewed on your iPad, emailed, or even uploaded to YouTube like I did above.

This could even be used for a beginning of the year classroom expectations video using your classroom mascot or other humourous pictures. Watch the tutorial below to see how quick and simple it is to create your own FaceTalker.

There are few apps that just make you say, wow! Sphere would definitely fall into this category. Sphere allows students to use an iOS device to place themselves into a far away location and use the device as their window. Using Sphere students can take tours of many locations and see them from a 1st person perspective. 

But why stop there? You can create your own 'spheres'! The embedded object above was my first attempt at creating a sphere. It may be a little rough around the edges, but the end effect is pretty amazing!

Watch the video below to get a tour of the Sphere app and how it can be integrated into your classroom.

At one time creating videos with pictures and voice overs were a tricky proposition. You would spend a good hour or two trying to find the perfect pictures. Record your voice over and over until you finally don't mumble. Then you would have to create eye catching animations that in the end just make everyone kind of dizzy.

Adobe set out to stop this vicious cycle with a app called Voice. Using Voice you can create a somewhat similar PowerPoint slide layout and add great free pre-built images or upload your own. Adding your voice is made easy since you only record in 3-10 second chunks. You now longer have to worry about ruining your five minute recording! Also, Voice will help you add animations every time you add a picture. 

Below you can see my attempt at creating a Voice video. So how about this summer, why not try making a short intro to your classroom for next year using Adobe Voice.