Counting Kingdom

The Counting Kingdom is an excellent iOS game for kids 6-8 yrs old looking to work on their addition skills.  The game works like a "typical" defense game and has kids adding numbers together to cast spells and defeat their enemies.  This is a perfect way to integrate technology into the classroom using Game Based Learning.  There are over 30 levels, gets harder as the game progress, and has lots of replay value.

I highly recommend checking out The Counting Kingdom by clicking here!!!

For my Pinterest board on Game Based Learning click here.

Lyrics2Learn

Lyrics2learn uses Hip-hop and rock to boost K-5th grade reading fluency, and offers 4 levels of interactive comprehension practice.  Kids read along with rappers and rockers during each lesson.  Kids memorize quickly while learning about about character building, history, science, and grammar and boost reading skills.  Each fluency video is followed by 4 levels of interactive comprehension.  Lyrics2learn gives students and educators immediate feedback and tracks data.

L2L offers free, full access trials to teachers, parents and entire schools.

I highly recommend checking out Lyrics2Learn by clicking here!!!

Below is a demo video...

BoomWriter Virtual Summer Camps

Summer is almost here and BoomWriter's Virtual Summer Camps are right around the corner and a soon to be reality for educators!!! This is an excellent solution for teachers looking to make some extra money over the summer (from the comfort of their own home) using BoomWriter's innovative collaborative writing tool.

More info below...

BoomWriter is a site that I’ve written about many times because it lets elementary, middle, and high school teachers conduct engaging nonfiction, fiction, and vocabulary development group-writing activities in almost any subject area. But their new offering is not just another product- it’s a chance for teachers to completely change how they make money (and relax) over the summer!

BoomWriter announced a while back, that they are developing The BoomWriter Virtual Summer Camp to create engaging, flexible, and profitable experiences for teachers as they work to make extra money over the summer. Teachers can make upwards of $1,200 per week with their camp by facilitating online instruction and writing activities for campers in Grades 4-9 using BoomWriter’s easy to use group writing site.

At $0 cost to teachers, BoomWriter will provide the curriculum, camper sign-up web page, and everything else needed to run a camp, so all teachers have to do is recruit students from their own schools or learning communities to participate. Educators can run as many sessions as they want from wherever they want and truly become their own boss on their own schedule.

Register for their mailing list to receive more information and updates to get you ready for Summer of 2017. BoomWriter is a free site that keeps finding new and better ways to support teachers through technology, and The BoomWriter Virtual Summer Camp is no exception!

I highly recommend checking out BoomWriter Virtual Summer Camps by clicking here!!!

View a sample Virtual Summer Camp "splash page" by clicking here.

Below is a brief video...

*BoomWriter is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Tower Math

Tower Math is an excellent app for learning basic Math skills.  Tower Math uses the ultra-popular "tower defense-game" format to create a fun learning environment for kids.  Teachers can use this to integrate Game Based Learning into a classroom while students learn basic Math skills such as: addition, multiplication, subtraction, etc.

I highly recommend checking out Tower Math by clicking here!!!

For a more detailed review check out EdShelf by clicking here.

Sketch Nation

Sketch Nation the amazing free web tool or mobile app (iOS/Android) has just released their latest update to bring new exciting features to game creation.  Students can now create a multiplayer "platform" game in their new "Arena".  Also, users now have the ability to upload their own sound effects or music to add into a game,

Here are more details regarding Version 4.2...

* Side Running, Arena and Platformer now have double jump as an option. * All genres now have a powerup duration slider for changing the player. * New Background scrolling, Zero gravity, Always moving, and Player firing direction on Arena and Platformer. This lets you create RACING and ROLE PLAYING type games! * Hold down the shoot button to fire. * Match 3 can now generate a powerup when matching 3, 4 or 5 tiles at the same time. * Lots of bug fixes. Also, new tutorials (i.e. storytelling, multi-level games) and Lesson ideas for teachers can be found here. I highly recommend checking out Sketch Nation by clicking here!!! *Sketch Nation is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Answerables

*Be sure to check out their latest updates!!!
**Answerables iPad app available here!!!

Answerables is a wonderful new innovative site/game that is perfect for Game Based Learning (or more accurate Game Based Learning meets Learning Management System).  It reminds me of Second Life but geared more toward kids w/ their fantasy/SciFi environment.  The game takes place in the 3D virtual world of Answerables on a planet called Proxima, where the native Ansibles (students) encounter an alien race.

What makes this so great for education that is the safe/COPPA compliant environment that Answerables provides.  This is an ideal place for students to collaborate w/ others and develop their social learning skills.  Answerables provides windows (i.e. Second Life) to view the web, go on quests, etc.  The student dashboard allows students to track their quests, notifications, events, PODS (Personal Online Development Spaces), and more.

Educators can create a lesson/POD (manage permissions), create webquests, internet scave
nger hunts, host live events, and best of all "Gamify" their lesson.  This is great for introducing a new concept, guided/differentiated instruction, and even "Flipping" a classroom.  Also, teachers (parents too) can track/monitor student progress, share and view resources by collaborating w/ other educators, and even setup tutoring courses where they set their own rate.

I highly recommend checking out Answerables by clicking here!!!

Below is a brief demo that has to be seen to be believed...



For my Pinterest board on Game Based Learning click here.

*Answerables is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Stormboard

Stormboard is an interesting new learning tool for online brainstorming and creating mind maps.  This is done through "virtual" sticky notes where others can collaborate and publish/vote on which notes to include in their Stormboard.  Best of all, a user can export their finished board into a PDF, html file, or spreadsheet.

Below is a brief demo...



I highly recommend checking out Stormboard by clicking here!!

TowerStorm

TowerStorm is a fantastic free iOS app/broswer based game for Game Based Learning in the subjects of Math and Literacy. As w/ any game created by the award winning company DimensionU, this game takes place in a multiplayer 3D virtual world.  Players can create their avatar and unlock special power ups as they immerse themselves in a fun 3D world while solving problems in Math/Literacy aligned to Common Core Standards.  Best of all, the game tracks a players score and generates detail reports as well as lets a player customize and select what problems they want to encounter (i.e. Algebra, Vocabulary, etc.).  Also, TowerStorm has high replay value as each game lasts only 5 minutes and has students trying to answer as many questions correct as they can while trying t
o score points by changing the color of rings on the Tower.

I highly recommend checking out TowerStorm by clicking here!!!

For more DimensionU games click here.

For my Pinterest board on Game Based Learning click here.
To find TowerStorm on Edshelf click here.

* DimensionU is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

NameCoach

NameCoach is a wonderful web service that educators are using to learn student's names and pronounce them correctly.  This is especially useful w/ commencement/graduation ceremonies on the horizon.  The way this works is simple as a teacher creates a name/web page and then has the student's speak their names.  The audio gets embedded into a page and a user can access them all on one page at anytime.  Also, NameCoach makes it very easy to share recordings and keep track of student's name/email.  It's easy, accurate, and 100% safe for schools to use.

I highly recommend checking out NameCoach by clicking here!!!

Below is a brief demo...



*NameCoach is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

VidMaker

VidMaker is a new iOS app for creating 3D movies.  This is a an easy to use app that educators are using to "flip" a lesson or for digital storytelling and project based learning.  VidMaker uses a easy to use drag-n-drop interface to add setting, scenes, dialogues, backgrounds, and more.  Once a video/presentation is finished it can the be then shared or exported w/ others.

I highly recommend checking out VidMaker by clicking here!!!

For a more detailed review click here.

Buncee Summer Reading Contest

Buncee the wonderful learning tool that educators are using in a wide variety of ways (i.e. project based learning, digital storytelling, flipped classroom, etc.) recently announced that they are teaming w/ Capstone to create a Summer Reading Contest.

Frome their blog post...

"To enter, have your students journal their summer reading by creating Buncees. Students can read books and articles from Capstone’s beautiful digital library and on PebbleGo & PebbleGo Next, all of which Capstone is offering for free to schools this entire summer. The top three schools with the most Buncee reading journals will win! First place winners will receive Buncee & PebbleGo accounts for their school for one year, a Library Skills book set published by Cantata Learning and written by Shannon Miller and arranged and produced by Emily Arrow , and…"

I highly recommend checking out Buncee by clicking here!!!

More info below...



*Buncee is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Studyo

Studyo is an excellent mobile (iOS/Google) app that I just found out about from Class Tech Tips.  This is a great school planner for students who want to keep track of all their classes, tasks, assignments, and exams.  Best of all, educators and parents can track what students are doing and generate detailed reports.

I highly recommend checking out Studyo by clicking here!!!

Below is a demo video...

Storyboard That for Summer

Storyboard That the wonderful resource that educators everywhere are using for a variety of educational purposes (i.e. timelines, digital storytelling, project based learning, etc), has just released a bunch of ideas/activities on how to use Storyboard That over the summer.  These activities cover a wide range of topics from story starters, reading projects, digital storytelling, and more.  Best of all it helps prevent summer learning loss and increase a student's digital learning skills.

Storyboard That is an excellent learning tool w/ educational portal, where teachers can manage, track, and assess student accounts in a safe environment.  This easy-to-use site has an abundance of teacher guides and lesson plans, that makes it easy to integrate into any classroom or curriculum.

I highly recommend checking out Storyboard That for Summer by clicking here!!!

*Storyboard That is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

WriteReader News

I've covered WriteReader in the past as an excellent learning tool to help students grades K-4 w/ their Reading and Writing.  Recently, they have partnered w/ Sesame Street to allow students to create digital stories using their favorite characters (i.e. Big Bird, Grover, etc.).  Once a student logs in they will see up to 20 characters to choose from to create their very own digital book.

I highly recommend checking out WriterReader by clicking here!!!

EDpuzzle Curriculum

EDpuzzle the amazing simple to use site that educators everywhere are using to "flip" a classroom and differentiate instruction has recently release their "online" curriculum for teachers.  Educators can now access all video-lessons and questions for the whole school year.  This is a great way to easily gage student learning in a wide range of subjects.

I highly recommend checking out EDpuzzle's "new' curriculum by clicking here!!!

For more information on EDpuzzle click here.

*EDpuzzle is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Check123

Check123 is a new site that I just found out about from Kelly Tenkley's wonderful blog.  Check123 is a video encyclopedia that has 100's of curated videos that are safe for education and on a wide range of topics, such as: History, Sports, Arts, Science, etc.  All of Check123 videos are from 1-3 min, tagged w/ a star/grade rating, and can easily be shared w/ others.

Below is a brief demo...



I highly recommend checking out Check123 by clicking here!!!

Super Teacher Worksheets for Mother's Day

Super Teacher Worksheets is one of the best sites around for finding educational resources on a wide range of subjects.  Educators can find, worksheets, printables, puzzle generators and more.  Also, they are constantly updating their site w/ more resources all the time and recently released new crossword puzzle worksheet generator.

I highly recommend checking out Super Teacher Worksheets by clicking here!!!

Super Teacher Worksheets is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.