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/ school starting up and teachers want to learn the correct way to pronounce their student's names.  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.educational resources

ClassroomQ

ClassroomQ is an innovative easy to use tool that acts a "digital' hand raising device.  This is all done via the web and requires very little setup.  All a teacher has to do is a create an account and then students join by typing in their name and a unique code that the teacher gives them.  From there, a student click on the assistance button and can even type a comment which then a teacher sees.  This is ideal to assess student's to learning and differentiate instruction w/out having to disrupt classroom time to do it.

Below is a demo video...



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

Otus

Otus is a all-in-one mobile learning solution for schools that combines the best features of a: learning management system, data management system, and more.  The sleek new design, 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 some of their 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.

• New Lesson Builder - makes it easier then ever to create, share, and view learning activities

• Differentiate Instruction - now easier w/ more efficient tools 

• Side by Side - new view for for rubrics w/ documents, better organization, and synced calendars

• New Student Profile

• Browser Lockdowns

• Video Feedbacks - great for leaving feedback and more personalized for students then just reading comments.

• Schedule Assessments - a nice feature to let teachers have control of when they want to assess students/assignments

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.

NBC Learn

NBC Learn is the educational division of NBC News and delivers award winning educational content for grades K-12.  This media contains, news archives, interviews, live broadcasts and more.  Best of all, NBC Learn provides detailed educational resources, lesson plans, and professional development to help integrate their technology into the classroom.

I highly recommend checking out NBC Learn by clicking here!!!

Math Attax

Math Attax is a super-fun free mobile (iOS/Google Play) Math game that helps students w/ their basic Math skills (i.e. addition, subtraction, multiplication, etc.).  This is a 2 player game where students move their player up/down a grid while trying to shoot the correct answer to a equation.  Also, they can freeze the other player and reset their score.  The first to reach the target number at the bottom of the screen wins.  Also, there is a tournament mode w/ three different games.

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

*Math Attax is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Newsela

Newsela is a fantastic instructional content platform for all subject areas.  It is a great learning tool that helps students learn content in an easy way.  This is done by curating reading material and adjusting to each student's Reading level.  For example, by a click of a button a student can adjust the reading level of the passage they are about to read so it aligns w/ their Reading level.  Finally, a Pro account lets teachers create assignments, detailed tutorials, and much much more to help grade and assess students learning.

Below is a brief demo...



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

Knoword

Knoword is a super fun Vocabulary game that I just found out about from Richard Byrne's blog.  The way this works is definitions are given w/ the starting letter of the word while a timer counts down.  The player tries to answer as many correct words by typing/spelling them correctly before the timer runs out.  Best of all, there is a teacher portal where educators can create their own "word" packs to integrate w/ their curriculum as well as track student data.

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

*Knoword is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Gimkit

Gimkit is an excellent game based learning solution that makes it easy for educators to assess learning and differentiate instruction.  This is done through fun educational games that even students can help create and use for self paced learning.  Best of all, Gimkit generates detailed reports for teachers/students and can even grade assignments in real-time.

I highly recommend checking out Gimkit 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 app that is ideal for digital storytelling 30hands Pro.  The 30hands community is a perfect cloud based solution that allows educators to: manage/track students, hand in/out assignments, schedule events, and more.  While the mobile is being used in education for project based learning, digital storytelling, and more.

More features...

• 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 

• Slide sharing with parents and students 

• Slide Transitions 

• Unlimited presentations

• Unlimited saves to Camera Roll

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.hand

Formative

Formative is a great standards-aligned way to go paperless in your classroom for all your assessments.  You can easily and quickly transform your current files onto Formative and start getting live results from students.  Students can show their work and receive your feedback in real-time. 

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

EDpuzzle

Edpuzzle the world's leading digital tool for taking a video and making it your "own" has released a bunch of new updates for the upcoming school year.

New Features

• Live Mode - project Edpuzzle videos up on a screen and have student answer questions in real-time on their won devices
• easily assess and differentiate instruction
• Open Class - student's can join an existing class w/out having to create an account
• ideal for PD or El Ed students
• LMS Integration - Edpuzzle synce w/ most popular LMS such as: Google, Moodle, Blackboard, etc.

Below is a brief demo on their latest features...

Teacher are using Edpuzzle to flip their classroom, assess student's learning, and easily differentiate instruction by assigning videos and then adding questions to gauge student's understanding.

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

*Edpuzzle is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Memrise

Memrise is a fun mobile (iOS/Android) app for learning foreign languages.  This is done through Game Based Learning as a user plays through a variety of games such as: speed review, listening skills, difficult words, and classic reviews.  Also, there are lots of resources to help learn a language such as chatbots and videos from actual foreign language speakers.

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

For a more detailed review click here.

DOGOnews

DOGOnews is an excellent site for creating Reading assignments for grades K-8 that can then be integrated into Google Classroom.  This is done through 1000s of curated educated articles in a wide variety of subjects (i.e. Science, History, Current Events, etc.) where educators can then select lesson plans, create assignments, and help students increase their Reading and Vocabulary skills.

Below is a brief demo...



I highly recommend checking out DOGOnews for teachers by clicking here!!!

ShowMe

ShowMe is an excellent free mobile (iOS, Android, Chromebook) app for creating beautiful looking screencasts, or "flipping" a lesson/classroom.  ShowMe provides an interactive whiteboard to allow educators or students to create lessons, presentations, etc. while recording and narrating their own voiceover.  Best of all, a finished product can then be shared online in ShowMe's educational community where other users can find, share, or embed, other screencasts.

Below is a brief video...



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

Socrates

Socrates is an innovate new site where educators can seamlessly differentiate instruction for each student through a unique game based learning system.  This is done through fun and engaging learning games w/ educational portal where teachers can track and monitor student progress, assign educational videos, use a digital badge system, testing, benchmarking, and much much more.

Below is a brief demo...



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

*Socrates is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

The Globe of Extremes

The Globe of Extremes is a very cool interactive globe that has "hot keys"/plots w/ interesting facts about extreme information in the world.  For example, if you wanted to learn about what the highest populated city is away from an ocean or the lowest point below sea level is on earth, this would be the place to go.

I highly recommend checking out the Globe of Extremes by clicking here!!!

Thanks to Richard Byrne's blog for the tip.

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, i.e. ideas lab), 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.

Noisy Book

Noisy Book is a wonderful new innovative iOS app for kids.  Noisy Book works by supplying sound effects to a book by processing what is read (i.e. adding a horn honking to a car).  Also, a user can create their own story and add sound effects for a fun way to incorporate digital storytelling.  Best of all, Noisy Book understands what is being read and creates an educational quiz for the main parts of a story to gauge understanding/comprehension.

I highly recommend checking out Noisy Book by clicking here!!!

For a more detailed review click here.

Super Teacher Worksheets for Fall and Halloween

Be sure to check out STW for all their Halloween ideas such as: educational games, poems, activities, and more!!!

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 for Fall and Halloween by clicking here!!!

For my Pinterest board on Educational Resources click here.

*Super Teacher Worksheets is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Evergreen Photos

Evergreen Photos is a new site for finding free stock photos that I just found out about from Larry Ferlazzo's excellent blog.  Also, a registered can bookmark photos too.

I highly recommend checking out Evergreen Photos by clicking here!!!

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, monsters, safety tips, and more.

Storyboard That is an excellent learning tool w/ educational portal, where teachers can manage, track, differentiate instruction, 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.

Top 25 Sites/Apps of 2019

It's the time of year again for my favorite annual sites and apps.  This years list seems to have a wide variety of educational tools w/ no set pattern seen in years past.  As w/ any of my previous annual top lists, all tools listed in previous end of year posts will not be eligible for this years'.

Top 25 Sites/Apps of 2019

1. Wakelet - Wakelet lets educators easily bookmark any item on the web (i.e. article, blog, tweet, etc.) and then curate them in stunning visual ways to curate w/ others.  This can be used in a wide variety of ways such as for: digital storytelling, professional development, and more.
2. GooseChase - An innovative site/app (iOS/Google Play) for creating digital scavenger hunts.  Also, there are lots of templates for educators to use to create their own scavenger hunt to implement into any curriculum.
3. Educandy -  A wonderful site for creating educational games where a teacher just enters the questions and Educandy creates the game.
4. Walnut - A excellent new site/app for finding educational videos and then taking quizzes to assess learning (think BrainPop).  This is a great way for educators to assess learning and differentiate instruction.
5. Knoword - A super fun Vocabulary game w/ educational portal where teachers can create their own word lists and track/monitor students.
6. Mobile Permissions - A fantastic free new tool for educators to virtually send parents permissions slips to their phone or mobile device.  They can then electronically sign and submit payment while educators can track/monitor to it all from their teacher portal.  
7. DOGOnews - DOGOnews is an excellent site for creating Reading assignments for grades K-8 that can then be integrated into Google Classroom.  This is done through their curated safe (COPA compliant) educational database that provides assessment and language/speech features.
8. VideoClass - A great site for educators and students to find educational videos on any number of subjects.  Also, teachers can upload their own videos, create a screencast or even charge others to download their videos.
9. Parlay - Parlay is a very innovative online tool that educators are using to take classroom discussions to the next level.  Teachers can use Parlay in a number of different ways such as: browsing through a robust library of discussion prompts (w/ resources), creating a online roundtable, or by creating a "live" verbal roundtable.
10. Math Attax - A super-fun highly-addictive free mobile (iOS/Google Play) Math game that helps students w/ their basic Math skills (i.e. addition, subtraction, multiplication, etc.). 
11. Loop - An interesting new student response system where educators create an online classroom and then posting questions for students to answer making it easy to assess student learning and differentiate instruction.
12. while True: learn() -  A innovative new iOS game that educators can use to not only integrate Game Based Learning into their teachings, but introduce STEM skills such as: programming, coding, and logical thinking.
13. Backchannel Chat - An amazing site/app for creating backchannel chats that educators are using in a wide variety of ways (i.e. brainstorming, assessing learning, etc.).
14. Fishbowl - A new social network/community for educators looking to post questions, share resources, or collaborate on best teaching practices.
15. Kolibri - An interesting new site for finding interactive resources, videos, and quizzes.
16. NowComment - A great learning tool where educators can annotate on any type of document to  facilitate learning.
17. FUNecole - A wonderful digital learning solution for grades 1st-6th that focuses on topics such as digital literacy and SEL (social emotional learning).
18. ClassroomQ - An easy-to-use innovative tool that acts as a "digital" hand raising device.
19. Newlearn.io - A new social network for finding educational resources that are curated by common core standards.
20. OneClass - A fantastic all-in-one solution for students looking for homework help, study guides, tutors, and more.
21. Codelicious - Codelicious is a wonderful Computer Science curriculum designed to help educators integrate STEM into their classroom or grades 3rd-8th.
22. AdaptedMind - An excellent online curriculum for Math and Reading grades K-6 that uses game based learning to help reinforce learning.
23. Education Galaxy - An innovative learning platform for grades K-6 w/ educational portal to help students master their subjects.
24. boclips - A great place to find educational videos where YouTube is blocked by school filters.
25. Course Hero - A nice place for students to find online tutors in any number of subjects.

BoomWriter Halloween Activity

BoomWriter is a terrific site that I’ve written about many times because it lets elementary, middle, and high school teachers conduct non-fiction, fiction, and vocabulary development group-writing/collaborative activities in almost any subject area.  BoomWriter is an innovative learning tool that educators everywhere are using for project based learning and turn students into published writers.

Recently, BoomWriter has been releasing holiday/theme based writing activities for classrooms.  This lets teachers engage students w/ by providing a exciting platform where the first chapter (story starter) is provided and the students then write the next one.  After the chapter is written, the students then vote for the next chapter to be included in their story until it is done.

This Halloween activity follows the same innovative pattern where the story starter is given, the next chapter is written and voted on, and continues till the class book is completed.  From there, educators can order copies of the book to "host" a publishing party for their class.  Finally, parents can even order customized books of "their" own child that has their written entry into the story.

Below is a brief video of a publishing party...



I highly recommend checking out BoomWriter's Halloween Activity by clicking here!!!

Make Beliefs Comix

Make Beliefs Comix is a excellent site that educators around the world are using for digital storytelling, project based learning, reinforcing vocabulary, and more.  Also, Make Beliefs Comix has an abundance of lesson plans, the ability to translate comics into other languages, and recently launched story starters/writing prompts to help get the student's creative juices flowing.

I highly recommend checking out Make Beliefs Comix and their story starters by clicking here!!!