Sketch Nation V 4.0

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 4.0...

"The new "Arena" (multiplayer Platformer) genre allows you to create multiplayer games to play with your friends and other Sketchers -- simply draw extra players and all the other items for a Platformer game and Voila! You have a game which you can play in real-time with other gamers. We believe this multiplayer game creation capability is the first robust tool of its kind and, as always, is available on iOS, Android and the Web. Version 4.0 also includes the option of adding sound effects or music to games (for iOS and Web currently; Android coming soon). You can now enhance your games by recording your own sounds and music to be heard during key game actions, such as acquiring a power-up or overcoming an obstacle." 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.

BoomWriter Virtual Summer Camps

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 this week 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!

*BoomWriter is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Owl Eyes

Owl Eyes is an innovative site that lets teachers create "classrooms" where their students can read and interact w/ texts.  Student's are able to select through a wide variety of literature and then annotate the text.  This is helpful as they can take notes and pickup right where they left off when reading.  Best of all, the teacher tools allows educators to create quizzes to assess how students are doing and they can even track/manage their student accounts.  Educators are using Owl Eyes in a number of different ways such as: differentiating instruction or flipping a classroom.

I highly recommend checking out Owl Eyes by clicking here!!!

Below is a brief demo...



*Owl Eyes is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

QuizPedia

QuizPedia is a free new site or app (iOS/Android) for creating quizzes.  QuizPedia takes a unique spin on quiz creation making students the creator of the quiz.  This helps increase their learning knowing that their content will be viewed by others, as well as help their competency w/ technology.

However, this does not mean that teachers can't use QuizPedia, as the educational portal allows teachers to create quizzes them and share w/ students as well as track their progress and accounts.  Also, they can share their quizzes w/ other educators, copy/paste already created quizzes to save time or use as a template, and partake in the QuizPedia forum.

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

Click here if you want to see a QuizPedia example.

Animatron

Animatron is a new free online animation creator (i.e. reminds me of PowToon) that makes it easy for students/educators to create stunning presentations.  Educators are using this to introduce subjects/topics or for explanation videos for professional development.  While students are using it for digital storytelling, to create presentations, and much much more.  Also, Animatron makes it easy to work in groups by allowing students to collaborate/create in real-time on multiple devices.

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

Below is a brief demo...



Check out their education page w/ examples by clicking here.

*Animatron is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Spiral

Spiral is a new suite of educational tools for the classroom. Below is a summary of their press release...

"Spiral is a suite of free collaborative classroom tools for 1:1 devices and can be accessed anywhere, anytime with just a browser and internet connection. There are 3 apps - each designed for different types of activities.

Quickfire is great for quizzes, class warm-ups and getting rapid responses from students. The students just need to log in on their personal devices to answer questions or use the canvas feature to annotate or draw their responses.

Discuss works well for encouraging class discussions, collaboration, and engaging the whole class. Teachers can either upload a presentation or make one from scratch before adding questions to generate relevant conversation.

Team Up is best for facilitating group work and getting students to work together. Teachers can assign students to groups, appoint a team leader, and set a problem for each group to solve. The students can then research and contribute their ideas to the team leader, who will assemble the team’s ideas in the form of a presentation. Students can go on to present their ideas on the whiteboard and critique each other’s work.

Finally, Spiral allows you to access your lesson data from your interactions which makes it much easier to carry out formative assessment and monitor student progress accurately!"

Below is a demo...



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

Answer Pad

The Answer Pad is an awesome teacher tool that has two powerful functionalities: it is both a student response system with a focus on drawing and "show what you know", and a grading solution for your teacher created quizzes.  It is browser based for teachers, and works on any device (BYOD), browser or on free apps for iOS or Android for students.  It is an ideal tool for engaging students for any grade/subject area, and turning a classroom paperless.

New Features

Interactive 

• Quick Connect - no student registration required or prep time for teachers (login via a code).
• quick checks for understanding by just asking questions and sending a response type make it super simple.
• draw tool can easily be sent out for students to work through a problem etc.
• Feedback - color and text feedback w/ the unlock so that students can retry their answer.
• Broadcast - teachers can send out one of the students responses to the entire class.  This is great way for classroom discussion w/ the names hidden.
• Hide names, send out a multi-step problem.  Students complete the first step and classroom discusses the anonymous responses.  As a group decide which answer is best and broadcast response to entire class.
• Yes or No, students discuss response and incorrect response can be sent to group to correct.
• Send a Web Page - Teacher can send a web page, video, etc to students so they can view w/out having to leave the interactive session.

Answer Sheet

• Essay question and multiple correct multiple choice question types now available.  These work in conduction w/ the built-in scratch pad that allows a teacher to see and give partial credit for work.
• Live Monitor - watch live as students work through an assessment

More resources

• Overview presentation 
• Interactive step by step guide

I highly recommend checking out Answer Pad by clicking here!!!!

  

Below is a demo video...



*The Answer Pad is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.