The Crazy Gears app for iPad and iPhone is just outstanding in its simplicity and its ability to introduce young children to simple machines and mechanical motion. Simple elements in gears, chains, connecting rods, racks, and pulleys can be pushed around [...]]]> Cost: $0.99
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Age Levels: 6-8
App Link 
   

The Crazy Gears app for iPad and iPhone is just outstanding in its simplicity and its ability to introduce young children to simple machines and mechanical motion. Simple elements in gears, chains, connecting rods, racks, and pulleys can be pushed around the screen in such a way to meet the challenge to “pull the shade” to reveal the next puzzle. You can almost feel the torque on screen as kids learn that gears need to fit together, or mesh, just right to get the most out of them. Later puzzles help the player understand that there may be multiple ways of doing the same job. Even the youngest player can use their ingenuity to realize that a train of gears can be used to bridge a gap or to get the gear at the end of the line to turn in the direction needed. 

This is great fun for all ages and even those younger than the target age range of 6-8. Don’t miss the handbook in the grown-ups corner for some good materials for teachers and parents that explain some of the concepts and vocabulary. Leaving off one star because we want more puzzles! 

The 123D Catch app developed by Autodesk demonstrates exciting new possibilities for tablets and smart phones. Use your camera to take 20-30 photos of an object from various angles and 360 degrees around and the app generates a 3D model of [...]]]> Cost: Free
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Grade Levels: 7-12
iPad App Link

The 123D Catch app developed by Autodesk demonstrates exciting new possibilities for tablets and smart phones. Use your camera to take 20-30 photos of an object from various angles and 360 degrees around and the app generates a 3D model of the object. Models can be exported and emailed as .3dp format. Although the app has a simple interface it takes some practice to take effective photos for models, so it may try the patience of younger children.

This would be greater fun with access to a 3D printer to actually print your models, but even without that it can help to provide an outstanding orientation to the exciting new world of 3D imaging and modeling. Just a few years ago software with this type of functionality cost upwards of thousands of dollars and required high end hardware. Now you can have it in your pocket and free!

The CAD Models app provides access to thousands of drawn and rendered parts from more than 300 catalogs of leading global manufacturers. The downloadable 3D CAD models are compliant with the most important international standards and are available for all current [...]]]> Cost: Free
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Grade Levels: 7-12
iPad App Link

The CAD Models app provides access to thousands of drawn and rendered parts from more than 300 catalogs of leading global manufacturers. The downloadable 3D CAD models are compliant with the most important international standards and are available for all current CAD systems, such as: CATIA®, Autodesk® Inventor®, SolidWorks®, Creo/trade; Parametric, NX™, AutoCAD®, Solid Edge®, etc. The preview within the app provides users to rotate 3D parts and zoom.

I see at least a couple of possible classroom applications. First, these files could be used as resources when introducing basic drawing techniques such as isometric and orthographic. A teacher could select a few interesting or challenging parts for students to view and try to draw using the techniques they are learning. Second, these standard parts could become a valuable library or resources for higher level design projects. Students could use a combination of this library of parts in conjunction with their CAD system to model more advanced systems.

The Wind Tunnel app allows you to draw freeform shapes on screen and observe a simulation of how particles and smoke would move over and around the shape in a wind tunnel. This could [...]]]> Cost: $1.99, Free Lite and HD Pro versions available
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Grade Levels: 4-12
iPad App Link

The Wind Tunnel app allows you to draw freeform shapes on screen and observe a simulation of how particles and smoke would move over and around the shape in a wind tunnel. This could be a great enhancement for lessons and activities that deal with flight as well as other transportation types of activities. Have students draw and test their designs and shapes in the Wind Tunnel app first before they build and test physical models. The free version will only give you a basic sense of what the app can do and how it works; it will not allow for the drawing of your own shapes.