EdTech Resources

Tools for Discussion and Learning

Many apps allow you to leave comments for students, from Microsoft Word to Google Slides...use it! Additionally, most Learning Management Systems (see above) allow you to leave comments.

Others to try:

Kahoot Free, game based learning...students love it.

Formative Free, lots of tutorials available, easy to use. Ask a question, see all students answering...they may type or draw answers, as well as answer multiple choice.

FloopEdu allows students to take a photo of anything they are working on, send it within the app and ask for help on certain parts of their work. You can comment back, and give students pointed feedback. Additionally students can comment on each others' work anonymously.

Padlet Create a digital wall with student comments. No longer free.

Flipgrid Use video for discussion, free. I have seen it used in a 4th grade classroom for explanation of how a student arrived at an answer to a math problem (therefore you can assess how a student is thinking). It can be used in any way you can imagine, discussion, booktalks...see the links below for more ideas.

15+ Ways to Use Flipgrid in your Classroom (Article talks about different levels of price, but it is now free to educators as of June 2018).

15 Ways to Use Flipgrid in Social Studies

EdPuzzle Easily make watching videos interactive, and track students' understanding, free

Teaching Students to Produce their own Podcasts (or teachers!)

Leave your students verbal comments on Google Docs with the Kaizena add-on

25 Good G Suite (Google) Add-Ons & Chrome Extensions

Tools to help students demonstrate their learning

PBL Tools enable students to show you what they know. AND they work great in any language!

For example, you may tell students: “In addition to your paragraph, I want you to show me what you know by making a poster, a ______ (one of the tools below), or a speech.”

It’s always a good idea (unless your students are all masters of the technology universe) to introduce these tools, allow them to play with them (but connect it to content). Then later they become part of students’ repertoire. Most are for Any age. All are free at the time I added them to the list!

Squorl - collect links in one place for your students

10 Good Options for Creating Digital Portfolios (a .pdf you can download)

Canva for Education for creating graphics, text, etc. A fantastic way to demonstrate visually student learning. Canva also features tutorials on graphic design, and students LOVE learning the tricks that professionals use. Free registration, and registering your school unlocks all the prime features. See this post from Alice Keeler about using Canva in the classroom (one example): Create Posters to Clearly Communicate Ideas.

Loopy - Create simple animations, simulations, etc. Good for cycles, systems, timelines. Embeddable on websites or create a link.

AR Makr (App for iPads) From their site: AR Makr is a creative toolbox for augmented reality. Sketch, scan, and snap the world around you. Transform your creations from 2D to 3D virtual objects. Place your creations anywhere in your environment. Record, save, and share your scenes with friends.

Voki - Create an avatar...in addition students can record their voice, or type in text and the avatar will say it. Embeddable on websites or create a link.

Animoto- Create a short video - get an educator’s free account at: https://animoto.com/education/classroom

Adobe Spark-(all platforms) Classy looking slideshows, videos or webpages, you can use your own photos, add music, record narration, free

Educreations- “Teach anything to anyone” Create videos - great for flipped learning

Flipgrid Use video for discussion, free. I have seen it used in a 4th grade classroom for explanation of how a student arrived at an answer to a math problem (therefore you can assess how a student is thinking). It can be used in any way you can imagine, discussion, booktalks...see the links below for more ideas.

15+ Ways to Use Flipgrid in your Classroom (Article talks about different levels of price, but it is now free to educators as of June 2018).

15 Ways to Use Flipgrid in Social Studies

Storybird-Visual storytelling

This is just a start, keep your eyes open for more. Your students may suggest some!!

Common Sense Media's Monthly Tools to Know--example from June 2017’s Must Know Tools

Free Music Downloadable free-to-use music to use in student presentations, videos, etc.

Tablet apps:

Chatterpix Kids -(iPads) Students can make anything in a photo talk (and it’s free!) “Chatterpix Kids can make anything talk -- pets, friends, doodles, and more.”

Shadow Puppet Edu -(iPad/Android) Create slideshows, videos, presentations, tons of ideas on their website, free

Three Free iPad Apps for Creating Talking Animations

Draw and Tell- (iPad) “Draw or color, then talk about your drawing.” More info here.

Superhero Comicbook Maker- (iPads) Yes, create a comic book!

PBS Kids Apps A variety of apps, free, for reading, science & coding, from preschool to age 9.

Apps in Education

Chromebook App Hub "...showing off the best of their [app developers] tools and apps for the classroom. And although apps are great, ideas from fellow educators on how to use them in the classroom are even better inspiration." Searchable by age range, learning goal & subject.