This is a guest post from David Andrade. Read more about David at the end of this post. If you’re interested in writing a guest post for Android 4 Schools please send an email to richardbyrne (at) freetech4teachers (dot) com. I’m particularly interested in the stories of educators using Android devices in their schools.

I have an Android HTC DROID INCREDIBLE 2 and have been exploring the Android Market looking for apps that I can use as an Educator. I really like Android. It’s easy to use, powerful, has tons of apps, and HTC’s Sense UI is really nice. The browser is also really great, supports multiple browser windows and has Adobe Flash and Air. Android has great notifications and multi-tasking too (although no one, not even Apple, can beat webOS’s notifications and multi-tasking – it’s too bad HP gave up on webOS and is open-sourcing it). In the past, I’ve written about educational apps for the Palm/HP smartphones running webOS. Today, I’d like to share some cool apps for Android. All of these apps allow me to use my smartphone as a mobile computer and pretty much do anything on it that I can do on my desktop or laptop.

For anyone who uses Google’s applications, Android is a dream because it comes with them all and they work great. There are also great apps for all of the other services I use.

Google – search, Gmail, Calendar, Reader, Google Plus, Docs, Google Tasks, Blogger, Maps, Google Voice, Voice Search, Translate, Music, goo.gl, YouTube, and much more. They all work great, with Docs having full editing features and Translate even translating spoken word. I use lots of Google apps so this makes my life much easier and more productive. I connect with my students and colleagues through Gmail, keep up with news and web sites with Reader, go social with Google+, stay organized with Tasks and Calendar, use Docs to do my work, contact parents through Google Voice and use Translate with parents and ELL students. I also use the Blogger app to work on my blog.

Evernote is a must have app and service for pretty much everyone – teachers, students, administrators, mom’s, dad’s, business people, etc. The Android App is excellent and you can sync your notebooks to your phone for offline access. Take notes, clip web sites, upload files, upload and search photos, search text in photos, share notebooks, and much more. I have all of my lesson plans, lesson resources, lesson schedule, notes for school, notes from meetings, and more. You can also share notes with students and colleagues.

Email – I have my Gmail account, Optimum account, and School email all set up, along with the Gmail account for my grad school.

QuickOffice - access, view, and edit Word, PowerPoint and Excel files.Free version comes with phone and can view documents. Pro version adds editing for a fee. I can access all of my documents, spreadsheets, and presentations anytime and edit or create them. This keeps me very productive.

Cloud Storage apps – Dropbox, SugarSync, and Zumodrive – access, upload, download all your files and data. I can access all of my school files and even edit them with QuickOffice, from anywhere on my smart phone.

Kindle – access my books on my phone. Great for research or relaxation. It syncs with my Amazon account so I can start off where I left off on my TouchPad.

TweetDeck – I love Twitter as a learning and sharing tool and the TweetDeck app on Android is great. Works just like the desktop/web version. This is how I connect with other teachers around the world and share resources and ideas.

Web Browser – the web browser is excellent on Android. It supports multiple web pages open at once and has Adobe Flash and Air. I have yet to meet a website that I couldn’t view in it’s entirety. It’s also very fast. I can access all kinds of web services and sites using the browser, including PowerTeacher, our district’s SIS.

I’ve used a PDA since the Palm IIIxe in 2000, moving up through a Palm T3, Palm TX, Palm Centro Smarpthone, Palm Pre+ Smartphone and now an Android smartphone. I love the ability to access information and data, and connect with others, and get work done, all with a device I carry in my pocket.

You might also like these two posts by David.
Technology I use on a Daily Basis – updated for this year
Unfettered by Stuff or “Why I Don’t Lug Stuff Home Every Night”

David Andrade is a Physics Teacher and Educational Technology Specialist in Connecticut. He is the author of the Educational Technology Guy blog, where he reviews free educational technology resources for teachers, discusses ways to use technology to improve teaching and learning, and discusses other issues in education. He is also a professional development trainer and presenter at conferences, helping educators learn new and innovative ways to educate students. The information shared here is strictly that of the author and does not reflect the opinions or endorsement of his employer.