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QR Code Generator - Make your own QR codes
What is a QR code? QR is an abbreviation for quick response. A QR code allows you to connect to, and gain information from the online world by scanning the black box image with your smart phone, iphone or ipad equipped with a QR code reader app. The QR code to the left, when scanned, will take you to Mepham's Twitter page. There are a ton of free QR code generators on the Web; here is a link to my favorite one. For ways to use QR codes in your classroom, click here. |
Socrative - Fun formative assessments
"Socrative lets teachers engage and assess their students with educational activities on tablets, laptops and smartphones. Through the use of real time questioning, instant result aggregation and visualization, teachers can gauge the whole class’ current level of understanding. Socrative saves teachers time so the class can further collaborate, discuss, extend and grow as a community of learners." |
PowToon - Create animated videos and presentations
According to the PowToon website, their mission is to "create the world’s most minimalist, user friendly and intuitive presentation software that allows someone with no technical or design skills to create engaging professional “look and feel” animated presentations." Currently, PowToon is giving away 50,000 classroom accounts for free. Each account gives one teacher + 60 students access (normally $96/yr per account). Neeru Partap and Shari Stack have already have signed up for classroom accounts. Sign up today!
Link: http://www.powtoon.com/lp/toonup/
Promo Code: Promo code: ToonUp5M
According to the PowToon website, their mission is to "create the world’s most minimalist, user friendly and intuitive presentation software that allows someone with no technical or design skills to create engaging professional “look and feel” animated presentations." Currently, PowToon is giving away 50,000 classroom accounts for free. Each account gives one teacher + 60 students access (normally $96/yr per account). Neeru Partap and Shari Stack have already have signed up for classroom accounts. Sign up today!
Link: http://www.powtoon.com/lp/toonup/
Promo Code: Promo code: ToonUp5M
Kahoot - Game-based classroom response system
Kahoot is a FREE game-based classroom response system. Users can "create and play quizzes, discussions or even surveys using any device with a web browser, including a laptop, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Android, Chromebook, Windows Phone or PC and more. Through a simple 'drag & drop' creator tool (using any device), build quizzes with embedded imagery and video, based on educational content. Or, find public content to play. It’s fast, intuitive and fun! Engage the room and focus attention by projecting the quiz onto the screen at the front. Without needing an account, everyone in the room quickly joins through their personal device, seeing their name appear at the front. Join using any device with a web browser! Answering questions in real time through an easy-to-use interface, they play against each other aiming to top the on-screen leaderboard, whilst you facilitate and discuss the content.Formatively assess individual knowledge and adapt learning to suit!"
Kahoot is a FREE game-based classroom response system. Users can "create and play quizzes, discussions or even surveys using any device with a web browser, including a laptop, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Android, Chromebook, Windows Phone or PC and more. Through a simple 'drag & drop' creator tool (using any device), build quizzes with embedded imagery and video, based on educational content. Or, find public content to play. It’s fast, intuitive and fun! Engage the room and focus attention by projecting the quiz onto the screen at the front. Without needing an account, everyone in the room quickly joins through their personal device, seeing their name appear at the front. Join using any device with a web browser! Answering questions in real time through an easy-to-use interface, they play against each other aiming to top the on-screen leaderboard, whilst you facilitate and discuss the content.Formatively assess individual knowledge and adapt learning to suit!"
Citelighter - Cite internet sources
Citelighter allows you to easily save, organize, and automatically cite Internet resources. How it Works: Once you register, you download the Citelighter toolbar. It can be added to multiple browsers like Chrome, Firefox and Safari. At the time this article was written, it was not available yet on Internet Explorer. You then create a new project and enter the title of your paper. Next you begin your research by going to trusted sites on the Web. When you find a fact or quote that you want to include in your paper, you highlight it using your mouse and press the capture button. This will automatically be stored in your Citelighter cloud for later reference. When you capture information from a Webpage, Citelighter will grab most of the bibliographic information. Click the "See Citation" button to verify or change the information. You can also add offline sources (books, journals, etc.) manually.
Citelighter allows you to easily save, organize, and automatically cite Internet resources. How it Works: Once you register, you download the Citelighter toolbar. It can be added to multiple browsers like Chrome, Firefox and Safari. At the time this article was written, it was not available yet on Internet Explorer. You then create a new project and enter the title of your paper. Next you begin your research by going to trusted sites on the Web. When you find a fact or quote that you want to include in your paper, you highlight it using your mouse and press the capture button. This will automatically be stored in your Citelighter cloud for later reference. When you capture information from a Webpage, Citelighter will grab most of the bibliographic information. Click the "See Citation" button to verify or change the information. You can also add offline sources (books, journals, etc.) manually.
Newsela - Non-fiction news articles by Lexile
This website is still in beta form, but looks promising. The non-fiction readings provided on Newsela can be given to your students based on lexile level. "Newsela builds close reading and critical thinking skills. Articles are accompanied by Common Core-aligned quizzes to provide quick and powerful feedback." Topics include: War & Peace, Science, Kids, Money, Law, Health and Arts. Registration is currently free for unlimited access.
This website is still in beta form, but looks promising. The non-fiction readings provided on Newsela can be given to your students based on lexile level. "Newsela builds close reading and critical thinking skills. Articles are accompanied by Common Core-aligned quizzes to provide quick and powerful feedback." Topics include: War & Peace, Science, Kids, Money, Law, Health and Arts. Registration is currently free for unlimited access.
Smore - Online flyers (Education version allows downloads)
With Smore you can create beautiful flyers and newsletters. According to their website, it's "as easy as a marker and a piece of paper. Smore makes you look like a pro every time. Even if you have zero design experience." There are tons of elegant, customizable templates to choose from with foolproof design. Sounds good to me! Best of all, it’s free!
These flyers can be printed via Smore's handy print tool, so you can hang them on your bulletin board or have stellar handouts. Flyers can be instantly sent to your mailing list. You can also see who's read the email and who hasn't. Smore flyers work seamlessly on phones and tablets. Smore also has tools that make promoting your content easy and effective. You can share on social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more.
With Smore you can create beautiful flyers and newsletters. According to their website, it's "as easy as a marker and a piece of paper. Smore makes you look like a pro every time. Even if you have zero design experience." There are tons of elegant, customizable templates to choose from with foolproof design. Sounds good to me! Best of all, it’s free!
These flyers can be printed via Smore's handy print tool, so you can hang them on your bulletin board or have stellar handouts. Flyers can be instantly sent to your mailing list. You can also see who's read the email and who hasn't. Smore flyers work seamlessly on phones and tablets. Smore also has tools that make promoting your content easy and effective. You can share on social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more.
Classtools SMS Generator - Create your own "pretend" text message
Technology is all about giving your students another way for them to show you what they know. It's also about meeting our students where they are and they are text messaging, like all the time!
The Classtools SMS Generator is a FREE website that allows your students to generate an image that looks like a text message. Best of all, it does NOT require students to log-in. Students use the icons at the bottom to create a "chat" between two historical figures or fictional characters. Students can make the message as long as they like. They can also share the message with other students or their teacher via direct link, embed code or download a web shortcut.
This text message between Karl Marx and Adam Smith was brought to you by Stu Stein, Social Studies Teacher.
Technology is all about giving your students another way for them to show you what they know. It's also about meeting our students where they are and they are text messaging, like all the time!
The Classtools SMS Generator is a FREE website that allows your students to generate an image that looks like a text message. Best of all, it does NOT require students to log-in. Students use the icons at the bottom to create a "chat" between two historical figures or fictional characters. Students can make the message as long as they like. They can also share the message with other students or their teacher via direct link, embed code or download a web shortcut.
This text message between Karl Marx and Adam Smith was brought to you by Stu Stein, Social Studies Teacher.
Poster My Wall - Online flyers
Give students another way for them to show you what they know! Click the image above to sign up for your free account at postermywall! This website allows students to create a poster on the computer. Students can add both images and text to show you what they know about a topic. It forces students to display only the most important information and images. Students can then send you the poster via email. |
Padlet - Online collaborative bulletin board
Padlet (formally Wallwisher) is an interactive workspace for both students and teachers. This is a great way to have students brainstorm or take part in a follow-up activity. They give you a blank wall (think of it as a canvas) for FREE and then you put anything you want on it. It seems very easy to use, just drag and drop the different components. Padlet has fun, flexible layouts, with many designs and backgrounds. Everything auto saves and who doesn’t LOVE a program that auto saves? Padlet has instant collaboration, meaning that you can see everyone's activity on the wall instantly without reloading the page. And who doesn’t LOVE a program that refreshes a page automatically? Read more about it here. |
Splashtop - Display computer screen on mobile device
Splashtop allows you to display your computer screen (PC or Mac) onto any mobile device and use it as a slate. Splashtop is a paid app for your mobile device and also must be downloaded onto your computer.
From the comfort of your mobile device, you can:
Reasons to use it:
Splashtop allows you to display your computer screen (PC or Mac) onto any mobile device and use it as a slate. Splashtop is a paid app for your mobile device and also must be downloaded onto your computer.
From the comfort of your mobile device, you can:
- View and edit files remotely (no transferring or syncing)
- Use your favorite Windows and Mac apps and programs
- Give presentations with full audio and video that engage your audience
- Play graphic-intensive games from your iPad or other devices
- Watch HD movies/TV shows/Flash videos up to 30 frames p/sec with low latency
- Stream your music collection from another computer
Reasons to use it:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Optimized for new hardware (Think: Retina display)
- Supercharged network performance (3G/4G)
- Enhanced security
- Support for multiple devices
CleanPrint - Remove ads from webpages before printing
Have you ever wanted to use an article from the Internet in your classroom, but spent lots of time trying to remove the ads and pictures? Not anymore! CleanPrint® can be added to your browser to help you! Download this tool and use it to clean up the articles for you! According to their site, “CleanPrint® is an economically and ecologically friendly print tool that saves you paper and ink while making your output look great. Before printing or saving content you can add a note, eliminate images, increase or decrease font size, and eliminate text to save ink and paper.” If you have not tried this before, you must! |