tapStory

tapStory is a new free iPad app for young learners that is ideal for digital storytelling.  The way this works is a student reads a storybook on the iPad while animating the characters/objects by moving them across the screen w/ their finger while it records.  Then they can play back the story for others and even add text for a caption.  Students can even create their very own stories from scratch using existing clipart.


Below is a demo video...



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

Flying Superstars

Flying Superstars is the educational Math game from Skidos.  This is a fun yet challenging mobile (iOS/Android) app for grades 1st-5th practicing basic Math skills (i.e. subtraction, word problems, fractions, etc.).  Flying Superstars is easy to play but hard to master as a student tries to guide his player through levels while collecting gems and avoiding lava.  Sounds easy?  It's not.

What makes Flying Superstars fun to play is that a user answers Math questions to unlock secret characters and power ups to help add replay value.  Best of all, Flying Superstars tracks all student data and can generate detailed reports that can be emailed to parents/teachers.

I highly recommend checking out Flying Superstars by clicking here!!!

Below is a demo video...



For more educational games by Skidos click here.

Buncee for Halloween

Buncee is a fantastic and simple tool to use for education.  Educators are using it for project based learning, digital storytelling, announcements, digital cards, and much much more.  A great way to use it is for holiday projects such as Halloween.  Buncee, has lots of free resources for educators (lesson plans), as well as state of the art clip-art, animations, backgrounds, etc.

Below is a buncee I created for Halloween...



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

*Buncee is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Musicshake EDU

Musicshake EDU is a site I've blogged about in the past but wanted to revisit due to it's ease of use for education.  This is a site designed to bring music to every student in a school via web browser for a very low price.  These audio files/music are created by students in the browser and turned into WAV or MP3's and are very easy to create.

Below is a demo video...



I recommend checking out Musicshake by clicking here!!!

Radly the Readbot

Radly the Readbot is the wonderful new online game from RoomRecess.  This game is designed for grades 3rd-6th and focuses on different Reading skills such as: vocabulary, cause & effect, making inferences, and more.  Radly, is a fun platform style game where a student controls the robot and shoots the correct barrel/answer while trying to avoid enemies.  As they progress through the level they can collect gems to help power-up Radly.

I highly recommend checking out Radly the Readbot by clicking here!!!

 

Also, check out RoomRecess Halloween games by clicking here!!!

*RoomRecess is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

I Know It

I Know It is the excellent new (beta) site from Super Teacher Worksheets for interactive Math lessons grades K-5th.  This is a super fun easy to use site for practice on a wide range of topics, such as: place value, multiplication, counting coins, time, and more.  Best of all, I Know It, allows a user to use a certain number of "hints" to help solve a problem and it gives the correct response w/ reason for the wrong answers.

I highly recommend checking out I Know It by clicking here!!!

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.

EDpuzzle - School Channel

EDpuzzle the excellent free tool that educators everywhere are using to flip their classroom/lessons and assess student learning, just released their "School Channel".  This channel allows teachers to share/
copy other video lessons from their colleagues.

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

Below is a brief demo...



*EDpuzzle is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

iCivics

iCivics is a fantastic site for learning about Civics through Game Based Learning.  Best of all, iCivics has an educational portal that allows educators to create and manage student accounts.  Also, teachers can create assignments such as games/webquests and track student performance w/ detailed reports.  Finally, a educator can create a forum or message board to engage students in online discussions and send out class announcements.

Here is a bit more on iCivics features...

• Lessons: Print-and-go lesson plans make civic learning fun, relevant, and easy. Lessons may include PowerPoints, and ALL are aligned to state standards. 
•  Webquests: Our webquests help students connect civics concepts to the real world with readings and questions that link to specific web resources. Webquests can be used on individual computers or by the whole class using a projector or a smart board 
• Games: Expand the learning experience for your students by putting them in the action. Each game is accompanied by a teacher guide with tips for game play, pre– and post-game discussion questions and ideas for additional activities. 
•  Drafting Board: Guide your students through the process of producing a clear and polished argumentative essay. This blended learning tool brings the skills of writing persuasively together with civic topics that matter to your students. 

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

For a more detailed review check out Graphite.

For my Pinterest board on Game Based Learning click here.

Answerables

Answerables the innovative educational tool that combines the best features of game based learning w/ a learning management system has just released their free iPad app.  Answerables is being used by educators in a variety of ways from collaborating w/ other classes, to browsing the web, all in a secure 3D virtual environment.

Answerables is used as a:

• Virtual classroom 
• Lesson planner
• Learning manager 
• Quest creator
• Resource manager 
• Web browser (managed)
• Social Network
• Student portfolio
• Presentation space

Features include:

• Multiplayer game environment
• Learning management system
• Quests and badges
• Assessment tools
• Analytics
• Resource/Content management system
• Web browser
• Secure audio/video streaming

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

*Answerables is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Animatron Updates

Animatron the excellent free online tool for creating custom animations has just released a bunch of new updates.  Teachers and students are using these updates to creating stunning digital stories, for project based learning, collaborative projects, and much much more.

New Features

• Lite Mode - Lite mode is a simplified version of the Animatron video editor.  This makes it easier for students to create video and control the length of a scene.

• Appearance Effects - A user now has the ability to add a zoom in/out effect (i.e. fly in, draw, etc.) to an object.

• Speech Bubbles - A great way to add a voice to a character by drag-n-dropping a speech bubble.

• Whiteboard Animation - Anticipate what's going to be drawn next using this innovative tool to create explainer videos and more.

• Voice Over - One of the best ways to tell a story is to record your own narration, this takes digital storytelling and presentations to the next level.

Finally, Animatron is always adding new characters, objects, scenes and more, to help make it more useful for their users.  In the future they'll have more collaboration tools, ability to import your own media, and more animation sets.

For more information on Animatron's latest update click here.

Below is a brief demo...

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

*Animatron is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Edynco

Edynco is a wonderful site for creating Learning Maps.  This site reminds me of Prezi in that it allows educators to create a multimedia presentation that is "zoomable".  These Learning Maps can contains all types of media (i.e. audio, video, images) and are ideal for "flipping" a classroom or Guided Learning.  Best of all, a finished Map can be shared via a URL or embedded into a site/blog.

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

Here's a brief demo...

Toca TV

Toca TV is one of my new favorite free iOS apps for kids.  This super fun app is kinda like YouTube Kids but w/ the ability to record your own video.  All the videos in Toca TV are curated into categories and are safe for kids to watch.  Best of all, a user can create their own video w/ fun animations/filter to show to their family and friends.

Below is a brief demo video...



I highly recommend checking out Toca TV by clicking here!!!

Otus

Otus the excellent and easy to use Learning Management System for schools has a sleek new design, that allows for easier functionality, a brighter customizable color interface, and real-time analytics and third party integration (i.e. Khan Academy), and of course Otus Worksheets.

Here is a list of their updated features...

• Cleaner Interface: A polished, streamlined functionality lets users more easily navigate existing features including polling for instant feedback, a real-time assessment center, blogging capabilities and classroom organization tools.

• Real-Time Analytics: A comprehensive analytics dashboard integrates a wide range of performance indicators into one place, including content from select third-party apps like Khan Academy. Teachers can link data to Common Core State Standards or integrate their own custom standards to report on. Otus tracks a variety of data like attendance, participation, student blogs, assessments and grades. In addition, teachers can also create and track meaningful behaviors like grit, leadership and staying on task through Otus ‘Recognitions’. Because Otus logs all student activity in real-time, teachers can quickly gauge their impact on student growth and provide timely, constructive feedback.

• Toolbox:  Otus functions as an open, interoperable educational ecosystem allowing teachers to integrate and quickly access the third party apps and content that they use everyday in their classroom. Any Otus user can access free third-party apps or content. If third-party apps and content require a subscription, the subscriber must simply link their account to Otus and they will never have to sign-in to access it again.

• Colorful Work Environments: Now teachers and students can choose from a variety of theme and background color options to create a more personalized, vibrant work environment.

Below is a brief demo...



I highly recommend checking out Otus by clicking here!!!
For more information check out Otus on Technology and Learning.

*Otus is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Storyboard That for Halloween

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 release their latest bundle for Halloween.  These activities cover a wide range of topics from story starters, holiday cards, and monsters, to safety tips.

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 Halloween by clicking here!!!

*Storyboard That is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Credo

Credo is an excellent online library resource that I just found out about from EdTech Digest.  It reminds me of Wikipedia w/ a lot more curated educational content, such as: encyclopedia, videos, dictionaries, images, and more.  All a user has to do is login w/ their online library account (that partners w/ Credo) and they are able to view and use all their learning tools available to them.

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

Help Teaching

Help Teaching is an excellent site for educators, parents, and others looking for educational resources such as quiz/test creators, online assessments, or worksheets/printables.  These printables are for K-12 and cover a wide range of subjects.  Also, there is a test/virtual room where students can take online assessment and get results in real time.

I highly recommend checking out Help Teaching by clicking here!!!
For my Printerest Board on Educational Resources click here.

*Help Teaching is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

NameCoach Directory Integration Services

NameCoach the innovative site for learning students names and how to pronounce them correctly has  just released their latest update, Directory Integration Service.  Directory Integration Service allows a district/school to embed a voice recording of your students' name pronunciation directly into your existing directory listings.

I highly recommend checking out NameCoach's Directory Integration page for schools by clicking here!!!

*NameCoach is an advertiser of TechnologyTidbits.

Math vs Zombies

Math vs Zombies is an excellent mobile (iOS/Android) app for basic Math skills grades K-4th.  This game has students solving Math equations in subtraction, multiplication, etc to turn the walking zombies back into humans.  Best of all, is the report card which tracks students progress and makes easy to assess students "problem" areas.

More info on Math vs Zombies:

• aligned to Common Core Standards
• 7 worlds w/ 21 levels each
• addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
• student tracking

Below is a brief demo...



I highly recommend checking out Math vs Zombies by clicking here!!!

For more educational games form Tap to Learn click here.

Digipuzzle for Halloween

Digipuzzle is a wonderful site for finding educational games and puzzles.  Educators are using this for centers or free time for students to introduce Game Based Learning into the classroom.  Finally, Digipuzzle is a great site to find games/puzzles for different holidays.

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

*Digipuzzle is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Projector Screen

ProjectorScreen.com is an excellent site for people or educators to find projectors and other type of equipment for their classrooms.  Not only can a person search through an immense amount of screens, but from other categories such as fixed or manual, multimedia carts, boards, chairs, and more.

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

*ProjectorScreen is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

GoConqr

GoConqr is a wonderful free tool/community for teachers and students to increase their
social learning by creating "bundles".  These tools allow users to create: mind-maps, quizzes, notes, flashcards, and slides, to create engaging content.  Also, the online community of GoConqr easily allows users to share/find resources on any given topic, join public study groups, create courses, and more.

Below is a brief demo...



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

Telling time for kids

Telling time for kids is a excellent free iOS app for kids learning to tell Time.  This is a super-fun educational app that helps kids learn how to tell time on a digital or analogue clock.  A student can watch animated movies on telling time or progress through the game and unlock all four levels.  The game starts out w/ kids building their own clock then progresses to: hours, half hours, quarters, and minutes.  Best of all is the game tracks the student's progress and users can customize a certificate to print out at any time.

I highly recommend checking out Telling time for kids by clicking here!!!

Paperscorer

Paperscorer is a fantastic new mobile (iOS/Android, or Chrome plug-in) app that allows educators and students to assess their learning in real-time.  The way this works is a teacher creates an assessment/quiz in Google Forms/Documents and then create and print out a unique answer form/bubble sheet for each student.  The student then uses those forms to answer the question and take the assessment/quiz.  Once the form is complete the user can then open the app on a mobile device and take pictures of the forms.  Paperscorer will then grade the form/assessment and generate detailed reports.  Also, Paperscorer will import student responses back to a educator's Google account.  This makes it ideal for teachers to differentiate instruction.

Features of Paperscorer:

• saves time grading and assessing learning/quizzes/projects
• generates detailed reports
• improves quality and frequency of feedback
• aids in differentiating instruction
• ideal for a self-guided feedback or exit slips for students

Below is a brief demo...

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

*Paperscorer is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.