Embedded Files
This website is designed to support teachers as they expand and enrich learning through technology with students in the middle grades.
How do learners develop the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century? Ideally, students have access to computing devices throughout the school day, allowing them to use technologies appropriate to each of their academic content areas in a natural and seamless manner. No longer is the Internet merely a place to retrieve information. New tools allow students to explore, design, discover, model and create content. Collaboration -- with experts in the field and learners in classrooms around the world -- is now easier than ever.
This page contains links to cross-disciplinary technology tools. Use the menu on the left to explore tools specific to content areas.
If you would like to take notes during this session, Microsoft OneNote is a flexible tool for recording and organizing information. In addition to using this tool for your own work, you can use it to share notebook files with your students. Think of it as an electronic three-ring binder in which students can create rich, multimedia notes to capture what they are learning. Here's a web version of the notebook file for the June 25 session. You can also open the the attachment at the bottom of this page if you have the OneNote program installed on your computer.
Tools for Research and Investigation
A WebQuest is an excellent vehicle for guided Internet investigations. Within the WebQuest framework, students participate in web research to and create products/solutions that demonstrate their understanding. Teachers can design their own WebQuests using the framework developed by Bernie Dodge at San Diego State University. However, a wealth of WebQuest investigations have already been developed. Starting with these resources makes good sense. Two places where you can find WebQuests for students in grades 7 and 8 are Zunal and the Quest Garden.
Top 10 Research Tools for Students is a hotlist of Internet websites, compiled by Laura Bates (Cambridge) to assist students in using the Internet for research.
Boolify will help your student conduct Boolean searches using a simple tool that lets me them apply operators - AND, OR, NOT - and see safe, filtered results.
Google Scholar - In addition to using the search engine to investigate scholarly research on a topic, students can enable My Library to keep track of citations and papers.
Timeline Generators allow students to organize and annotate important events. There are several reliable and free tools in this category.
ReadWriteThink Timeline is designed specifically for school projects.
Time Toast allows students to create their own timelines and to browse the library of published timelines by category.
Time Glider enables students to collaborate on timeline projects.
Tools for Research
Notestar is designed to assist students in the preparation of research papers. Students can use Notestar to take notes, track source information and create bibliographies. Teachers can use Notestar to assign projects and monitor student progress.
Google Earth brings the world and the sky to students' fingertips. Teachers (and students) can use GE to record virtual tours to historic landmarks or explore space. By activating layers, students have access to note cards, historical and cultural information, and weather data.
Tools for Thinking and Planning
Concept mapping (or "mind mapping") tools help students to see relationships between ideas. Concept maps can be used to generate ideas, make connections, understand cause and effect, or document the steps in a process. There area number of free web-based concept mapping tools.
Popplet allows users to integrate text, video, images and Google maps into diagrams. Some teachers like to use Popplet like a bulletin board.
Bubbl.us is an easy-to-user concept map generator. Students/teachers can create projects and invite their colleagues to join in editing content. When the map is complete, it can be shared with others via a generated link.
Lucid Chart is a good tool for generating flowcharts or mind maps. It uses simple drag and drop technique to draw charts. Users can upload their images into diagrams.
Bulletin/Discussion Boards let everyone' participate by posting their ideas or responding to a prompt.
Padlet is a bulletin board tool that allows learners to post sticky notes in response to a teacher prompt. It is great for brainstorming ideas or as an exit ticket to check for understanding. Once the teacher sets up a board, students can follow the bulletin board link to add notes.
Today's Meet allows the teacher to create a room for a specific topic or discussion. Join our conversation about digital age learning.
Tools for Composing and Creating
Glogster is a virtual poster tool. Teachers can use it to facilitate group research projects. Instead of a paper poster, students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge in a multimedia format with a share-able link. Here's an example of an experiment poster.
Prezi - Students and teachers can use this tool to present information and show the relationships among ideas. Cloud storage allows authors to develop and present from any computer with an Internet connection. View Dr. Maddin's presentation, Technology, Critical Thinking and the Common Core to see an example.
Photo Peach allows students to create digital stories that combine text, images and music. Instead of a book report or an essay for social studies, consider having students show what they know with a digital story.
Animoto incorporates cool cinematic effects into videos that allow students to demonstrate their content knowledge.
Powtoon allows authors to create animated cartoons. Here's a special message for our session.
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