Choose Multi-Platform Apps for Inclusive Collaboration

Jobs: 'I don't want to make Android users happy'
Yes he really said this.

JR Raphael of Computer world just published an excellent slideshow featuring 20 great productivity apps for Android, iOS, and the Web. Unsurprisingly, it reads like a list of Ted’s favorite go-to app recommendations for teachers, students, and web collaborators. Here’s why:

Use Tools that Include Everyone

When you’re preparing to work with a random assortment of people— like public school students or collaborators inside and outside your company— you want to find a collaboration platform that everyone can access easily at all times. Too many tools are Windows OR Mac, iOS OR Android, desktop OR mobile and not both. Not covering all these important bases immediately disqualifies an app from my consideration as a collaboration tool— simple as that. Especially in a world where Google Docs, Hangouts, Drive, Calendar, Evernote, and Trello are cheap or free, there’s no reason not to use multi-platform apps with your class or team.

Jobs: 'I don't want to make Android users happy'

Yes, he really said this.

Making Everybody Happy

This is why, though I love using Apple products, I really hate seeing the iPad become the de facto tablet for education, or FaceTime becoming the new standard for video chatting, because these tools automatically exclude anyone who doesn’t use Apple computers and mobiles.

To the extent that I’m a Google fanboy, it’s because their tools work in any web browser, as well as Android and iOS devices.

OK, enough soapbox-ing. Just enjoy JR’s list!

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Written by

Ted Curran is a Learning Experience Designer/Developer for Autodesk. He is committed to empowering educators and learners to create transformational change through effective pedagogy and technology integration. You can follow Ted on Mastodon, LinkedIn or learn more at my 'About" page. These thoughts are my own.

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1 Response

  1. October 28, 2016

    […] Read about my “Can’t Live Without” Apps for Mac and Windows and My Favorite Multi-platform Tools for I […]

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