Oncore

Oncore is a free iPad app that acts as a learning management system for teachers.  This simple to use app allows educators to track student behavior as well as assess students in real-time.  The way this works is by uses color-coded data, to help educators visualize student's performance and help assess data.

"By using the seating chart as the classroom interface, Oncore helps teachers collect color-coded, one-touch data on student learning, integrating formative assessment and feedback into their daily practice.

Oncore focuses any K-12 classroom on mastery learning by helping teachers engage all students, check for understanding, create collaborative groups and communicate learning and behavior progress to parents. 

Unique to Oncore is its integration of Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. Teachers can tie a standard to classroom activities, groups, assignments, or individual participations with students."

I highly recommend checking out Oncore Classroom Productivity app by clicking here!!!

*Oncore is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Geo Tombs

Geo Tombs is a excellent new game from RoomRecess, that helps students learn about Geometry (perimeter/area).  This game works like a standard platform game where a user has to run and jump collecting keys and different items, while solving equations and unlocking chests.  This is a great way to integrate Game Based Learning into the classroom and has high replay value.

I highly recommend checking out Geo Tombs by clicking here!!!

Sketch Nation v. 3.0

Sketch Nation is a wonderful free app (iOS/Android) and website for creating games.  Sketch Nation reminds me of Pixel Press Floors but w/out the paper.  All a student has to do is select their category of game (i.e. platform, jumping, etc) then draw their backgrounds/characters/items and let Sketch Nation do the rest.  The advanced level editor will help students create more complex games and work on their STEM skills.  Sketch Nation even has a nice section for education w/ a collection of games created by students.

Here is what is new in Version 3.0...

- Version 3.0 is an exciting update for Sketch Nation Create. Lot's of new stuff to challenge and entertain you, including:

- Custom movement / coding - You can now learn the basics of coding by setting custom movement for enemies. You can specify exactly how enemies move by setting each step of movement, such as “Go left”, “Go right”, “Start over”, etc.. We will add more customization like this in upcoming releases.

- Comments - You can now comment on online games created by other users. See what other users think of your games and give feedback to other game creators. All the comments will be checked by an admin before they are viewable to others.

-  News feed - You can now see what users are doing in your games. You’ll see news feed items for new high scores, new comments, when your games have been favorited or featured. You’ll also be able to see when games and comments you have submitted have been approved or rejected. 

- Art gallery - You can now re-use art you have previously drawn when creating a new object. Local games will be limited to art stored locally, while online games will be able to access all the art you have created for your online games.

- Pushable blocks - You can now create obstacles that can be pushed by the player. This opens up a whole new way to design levels by requiring the user to push obstacles in order to solve puzzles.

- New ammo settings - You can now create non-moving ammo that appears directly in front of the player. This can be used to let the player wield a weapon such as a sword. 

- New dying animations - New dying animations for enemies like “Cut”, “Flatten” and “Fall over”.

I highly recommend checking out Sketch Nation by clicking here!!!

Below is a brief demo...



For my Pinterest board on Programing/Coding click here.

*Sketch Nation is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

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...

Spellspire

Spellspire is a new free iOS word game that I can't stop playing.  This is a fun game that is like a combination of Boggle meets a RPG, where in a user can earn money and then buy different items to equip their player.  As a user advanced up the tower, monsters get harder and harder, and a player has to spell words faster and faster.  This can be a fun way to introduce Game Based Learning into the classroom, is great for centers, and has high replay value.  I just wish they add the ability to have future players per device, as it seems only one person can play at a time.

Below is a brief demo...



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

For more information check out Edshelf by clicking here.

30hands Learning

30hands Learning is the excellent company for creating an innovative LMS (Learning Management System) as well as the popular mobile iOS apps that are ideal for digital storytelling (30hands Starter (free), 30hands Pro (paid)).  The 30hands community is a perfect cloud based solution that allows educators to: manage/track students, hand in/out assignments, sched
ule events, and more.  While the mobile apps are being used in education for project based learning, digital storytelling, and more.

30hands has lots of exciting news on the horizon...

After upgrading to Pro, users will have access to existing advanced features and new features in the works:

• Video clips as slides

• Google Drive + Dropbox Integration

• Importing of Google Slides and PDFs as 30hands slides

• Backgrounds and scenes

• Higher quality videos

• Advanced drag-and-drop drawing with editing (Aug 2015)

• Slide sharing with parents and students (Fall 2015)

• Slide Transitions (Fall 2015)

• Unlimited presentations

• Unlimited saves to Camera Roll

Districts that purchase 30hands Pro will get free or discounted professional development (depending on licenses purchased). The PD can be onsite or virtual and selected from our areas of expertise: Digital Storytelling, PBL, Blended Learning, Teaching Coding, and Teaching Entrepreneurship. 

For more info on how your school can participate, email info@30hands.com.

Join our newsletter here: http://30hands.com/newsletter.

*30hands Learning is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

EDpuzzle

EDpuzzle is vastly becoming one of the premiere web/iOS tools around for learning in the classroom.  This is fantastic free tool for editing a video, cropping, adding quizzes/poll
s, narration, etc. then embedding into site/blog.  It is being used to flip a classroom or lesson, Project Based Learning, grading/assessing, and even for differentiating instruction.  The educational portal allows students to sign-up w/out needing an email account and lets educators track student progress in real-time.

Due Date feature...

A while back EDpuzzle updated their fantastic site/app to integrate a "due date' by assigning it via drop down calendar to a video.  This helps students and educators organize their videos/lessons and see not only how far along an assignment is completed but when it is due as well.  An unfinished assignment can even be archived by the user.  I like how teachers can create their assignments before hand and assign it a "due date' to get a nice visual of what they class will be working on in the weeks ahead.

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

Below is a brief demo video...




For my Pinterest board on Flipping a Classroom click here.

*EDpuzzle is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Math Quest

Math Quest is a fun RPG style game for El Ed ages kids learning basic Math skills (i.e. addition, subtraction, etc.).  Like most RPGs a user can create a character and then level up by battling monsters.  As a user gains skill points, money, and items a user can level up purchase items, learn magic, equip their player, etc etc.  Also, there are fun side quests to go on and a student has the ability to save their progress.  Math Quest is a highly addictive game that is ideal for Game Based Learning that has lots of replay value.

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

Otus Worksheets

Otus Worksheets is the latest update from the innovative easy-to-use Learning Management System, Otus.  This feature allows educators to create a assessment/worksheet for students to take inside of Otus.  The questions can be T/F, multiple choice, EdPen, or short answer.  Best of all, Otus grades the assessment automatically except for short answer

Below is a brief demo...



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

*Otus is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Music Crab

Music Crab is a fun little iOS app for helping students learn how to read music in either English or French.  It has 70 levels (10 per clef) where students can practice their notes/keys (i.e. Do, Rei, Mi Fa, etc.), while trying to avoid other creatures in the sea.

I recommend checking out Music Crab by clicking here!!!

FreshGrade

FreshGrade is a wonderful new tool for educators looking to create digital portfolios of their students work.  The way this works is through an easy to use mobile app (i.e. parents, students, and teachers) that allows teachers to capture student work through, video, audio, photos, text (notes), etc.  Also, FreshGrade easily allows educators to share student's work through a tap of a button, to either the student or parent.  Finally, using the web app a user can use FreshGrade to assign activities, assess them in real-time, and even differentiate instruction.

Below is a demo video...



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

To learn how to become a FreshGrade Champion click here.

*FreshGrade is an advertiser of TechnologyTidbits.

ClassCall

ClassCall is a excellent site for creating interactive presentations that reminds me of a cross between 9Slides and a backchannel chat tool.  ClassCall allows a user to import a presentation (i.e. Prezi, Powerpoint, etc) and then stream their presentation in real-time to a mobile device.  It also has a nice feature to ask questions or "poll" an audience which allows educators to assess learning and differentiate instruction.  This is also a nice way to "flip" a classroom and create webinars.

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

Tangram Chess

Tangram Chess is an excellent iOS game from the creator of MathFileFolderGames.  This is a multiplayer game that has students trying to move shapes using: rotations, translations, and reflections across a chess board.  The player to move their shape to the other side of the board first wins.  Best of all, as w/ most MFFG this app is bluetooth enabled which means that two players can play on multiple devices.

I highly recommend checking out Tangram Chess by clicking here!!!

For more MathFileFolderGames click here.

*MathFileFolderGames is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Buncee Update

Buncee the award winning, easy-to-use Web 2.0 tool, has just released a bunch of new features.  Buncee is being used in a number of ways such as: "flipping" a classroom, digital storytelling, project based learning, creating presentations/announcements, etc.  Also, the educational portal makes it easier for educators to create and manage students accounts in a safe environment.

Check out the educational version of Buncee here!!!

New Features

• Stiching Slides - a user can now "clip" a slide from an already copyable Buncee and "stitch" them into their own Buncee.  This is a great way to show off student's work, collaborate w/ others on a project, and more.
• for more information click here
• Share to Google Classroom - this is a simple way to share work to those schools that use Google Classroom/integration.
• for more information click here

*Buncee is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Level it Books

Level it Books is the excellent mobile app (iOS/Android) that people everywhere are using to scan a book and get a Reading/Lexile Level.  Educators are using it to create a digital library of class books, as well as creating a class roster of students w/ their Read Level.  Also, a user can add a book, select a "book of the day", and manually search for any book as well.  If you're a parent, librarian, or educator this is the perfect app for you to find the appropriate type of reading material for your student/child.

I highly recommend checking out Level it Books by clicking here!!!

*Level it Books is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

ClassTag

ClassTag is an interesting new site that I just found out about from Free Technology 4 Teachers.  ClassTag allows educators to create a class directory and schedule appointments w/ parents.  The way this works is by integrating a calendar feature where educators can create "slots" where parents can then sign-up.  This helps avoid people get signed up for the same time and avoid the use of paper/handouts.  Also, this is a great way to share announcements w/ parents to help remind them of upcoming events.

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

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.

Stack the States 2

Stack the States 2 is a wonderful iOS app for learning about different facts and shapes of the 50 US states.  The game is simple in where a student tries to answer a question about a state and then stack them up to reach a "finish line" (think Tetris)  Once the line is hit the user moves on to the next board.  This game helps teach students about the: US capitals, nicknames, state shapes, Geography, and more.

Here is what is new in version 2:

• new question types
• new bonus games
• new voice mode
• new interactive map
• new 3D graphics
• 10 different 3D scenes
• 3D models over 90 US landmarks

I recommend checking out Stack the States 2 by clicking here!!!

GoClass

GoClass is a wonderful site/app for flipping a classroom.  This is a fantastic solution for educators to be able to manage their classes/students and create dynamic lessons that can be shared on mobile devices.  Students can login to a session on their mobile device and then follow the lesson following the "show-explain-ask" method.  Teachers can then get instant real-time feedback on student engagement and learning as well as attendance.

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

*GoClass is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

StoryTop

StoryTop is a fun little site for digital storytelling that I just found out about from the award winning Free Technology 4 Teachers.  StoryTop as w/ most storytelling sites uses a drag-n-drop interface and allows a user to add a background, person, building, etc.  Finally, a finished story can be shared w/ others using a unique URL.

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

Digipuzzle for Spring Games

Digipuzzle is a wonderful free site for kids to find a wide variety of educational games, activities, and puzzles.  Also, educators are using this to introduce Game Based Learning into the classroom as well as for "centers".  Finally, this is a great place to find games for holidays and seasons such as Spring.

I highly recommend checking out Digipuzzle for Spring activities by clicking here!!!

*Digipuzzle is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.