A recent article on ABC News points out the first app, which is called Any.Do. Instead of hauling around a cumbersome planner in their backpacks, students can utilize this app to track their activities. Any.Do works off of a smartphone's contact list and calendar to organize important events. Students can track their clubs, activities, and other tasks in a secure digital database. These events can be customized by adding alarms or sharing events with contacts.

The next app technology involves alarms. Jerry Hunkapiller realizes that students sometimes need help getting up in the morning. Traditional alarm clocks have that one fatal flaw where someone can hit the snooze button and fall right back asleep. But some smartphone apps are taking wake-ups one step further. For example, the Dance Alarm Clock forces the user to get out of bed and perform some type of activity before it shuts off. Students will not have to worry about missing their school bus or rushing into class late with these handy alarm apps.

iHomework is a helpful tool that works similarly to Any.Do. Instead of tracking events and calendars, this app organizes homework and assignments. Students can write down detailed notes about the homework including due dates and helpful sources of information. The app syncs with the phone's contact list so users can add partners to group projects and share information through a digital network.

Next, notebooks will become a thing of the past once people start embracing Evernote. Jerry Hunkapiller notes how this app is available across virtually any platform, making it a universal tool for students. Users can sync their notes from their tablet to their computer and then share it with fellow students. Evernote takes digital note-taking even further and allows users to sketch ideas and outlines for essays.

The last app that Jerry Hunkapiller points out is called Kno. This app's developers have teamed up with major textbook manufacturers to digitize vast catalogs of information. Kno allows students to interact with their textbooks by delving into 3-D models and diagrams along with videos. It also utilizes digital flashcard technology, condensing resources down into a pocket-sized device.

"More schools should start embracing technology," says Jerry Hunkapiller. "Newer, tech-savvy generations are being introduced into the school system so we, as educators, need to start accommodating their abilities. These smartphone apps are just the foundation of a large-scale technological revolution. Back-to-school shopping anxiety will be a thing of the past once people find out the benefit behind these apps."

Jerry Hunkapiller recommends that students and parents look through the app store to find other useful utilities.

ABOUT:

Dr. Jerry Hunkapiller currently serves as Chief Operations Officer for an urban school district in Texas. He has also served as a Spanish teacher, Principal, Director and Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Hunkapiller received his Bachelor's degree in Spanish from Texas Tech University. He then attended Sul Ross State University to acquire his Masters of Education in Mid-Management. He completed his Doctorate Degree in Education at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Jerry and his wife Wendy are the proud parents of five young men ages 3 to 14 that attend public school in Texas.