10 Tools for the Classroom
Free Technology for K-12 Teachers and Administrators
Evernote is a web-based tool that allows you to keep all of your notes, images, and ideas in one “searchable” environment. Evernote allows you to gather clippings from various websites without having to bookmark the entire site. Users can clip text and photos and "store" them in Evernote. Free software is available for both PC and MAC and it allows users to work offline and sync to the web version when online access is available. It is great tool for creating eportfolios that students can share with teachers or with other students.
Evernote integrates with a variety of programs and devices including:
Evernote integrates with a variety of programs and devices including:
- Skitch - manipulate images, add text or digital ink and upload to Evernote
- Penultimate - send notes directly from the Penultimate app to Evernote
- Twitter - send information from Twitter directly to your Evernote account
- Most SMART phones (cameras can email pictures directly to Evernote)
- iPads and other tablets
Prezi is a web based zooming presentation/storytelling tool.
Prezi uses a single large "work space" instead of individual slides. The infinite work space allows users to create non-linear presentations, where users can zoom in and out.
Prezi allows the incorporation of a variety of types of media "objects" including:
These objects are placed on the infinite work space and grouped together using circular or rectangular frames. A path between objects or frames is created and this determines the sequence/order of the information to be presented.
The Prezi presentation can be created online and then downloaded so that the presentation can be viewed/presented offline. A prezi can also be embedded in a wiki or blog.
Prezi uses a single large "work space" instead of individual slides. The infinite work space allows users to create non-linear presentations, where users can zoom in and out.
Prezi allows the incorporation of a variety of types of media "objects" including:
- Text
- Images
- Video clips
- Documents (pdf)
These objects are placed on the infinite work space and grouped together using circular or rectangular frames. A path between objects or frames is created and this determines the sequence/order of the information to be presented.
The Prezi presentation can be created online and then downloaded so that the presentation can be viewed/presented offline. A prezi can also be embedded in a wiki or blog.
Animoto is a FREE web tool that allows users to create 30 second videos that incorporate:
Teachers may apply for a free PLUS education account that allows users to create videos up to 20 minutes in length. With the education account teachers can monitor student work and limit access to the videos produced. After registering, teachers receive a code to share with their students. This access code will expire after 6 months and teachers will need to request a new code. This all access account is usually $60 per year for each non-education user.
- images
- short video clips
- text
- music
Animoto for Education
Teachers may apply for a free PLUS education account that allows users to create videos up to 20 minutes in length. With the education account teachers can monitor student work and limit access to the videos produced. After registering, teachers receive a code to share with their students. This access code will expire after 6 months and teachers will need to request a new code. This all access account is usually $60 per year for each non-education user.
Socrative is a smart student response system that empowers teachers to engage their classrooms through a series of educational exercises and games via smartphones, laptops, and tablets.
Teachers login through their device and select an activity which controls the flow of questions and games. Students simply login with their device and interact real time with the content.
Student responses are visually represented for multiple choice, true/false and short answer questions. For pre-planned activities a teacher can view reports online as a Google spreadsheet or as an emailed Excel file.
Teachers login through their device and select an activity which controls the flow of questions and games. Students simply login with their device and interact real time with the content.
Student responses are visually represented for multiple choice, true/false and short answer questions. For pre-planned activities a teacher can view reports online as a Google spreadsheet or as an emailed Excel file.
SlideShare is a FREE application for sharing slide presentations online. Besides presentations, SlideShare also supports documents, PDFs, videos and webinars. Currently Slideshare is one of the most visited websites on the Internet. A Education group on Slideshare organizes content that is especially useful for educators.
LiveBinders are your FREE 3 ring binder for the web.
- Collect your resources
- Organize them quickly and easily
- Present them to the world, share with a designated audience or keep them private
PDFs, images, videos and websites can be combined with active links within a binder. Links and documents can be organized into tabs and subtabs. LiveBinders are easy to share from the LiveBinder website, on desktops, or embedded in blogs or other websites.
Scoop.it is a free publishing-by-curation platform. By incorporating information curation and social media, Scoop.it provides a platform to organize information about a specific topic and share the information curated by other educators.
Scoop.it addresses both Common Core and NETS-S standards across the curriculum. Students can use critical thinking skills to collect, evaluate and analyze content and they develop writing skills in original expression as they communicate and publish for a global audience.
Scoop.it addresses both Common Core and NETS-S standards across the curriculum. Students can use critical thinking skills to collect, evaluate and analyze content and they develop writing skills in original expression as they communicate and publish for a global audience.
Glogster EDU is a web based application that allows users to create a digital poster about themselves or topics of interest. These posters can incorporate interactive text, images, video clips, audio and music files, and attached documents.
Glogster EDU:
Glogster EDU:
- provides 1 free basic account for educators
- protects the privacy of students
- provides teachers with a dashboard to manage student accounts
Student accounts are no longer free in the education version of Glogster but teachers can purchase a low cost plan that provides 50 student accounts or schools can purchase a more extensive plan.
Google Apps for Education is a service from Google that provides customizable versions of several Google products under a custom domain name. It features several web applications with similar functionality to the Microsoft Office and iWorks suite, including email (Gmail), Google calendar, Google Docs, Google presentations, Google sites, and Google drive.
Individual users can create a free Google account and have full access to all of the tools available with Google Apps for Education but without the supervised environment provided in the education version. Google Overview for Administrators
Individual users can create a free Google account and have full access to all of the tools available with Google Apps for Education but without the supervised environment provided in the education version. Google Overview for Administrators
Remind 101 is a free and safe way for teachers and administrators to text message students or stay in touch with parents.
Teachers never see their students' phone numbers. Students never see the phone number of their teacher or administrator. Students and parents sign up by sending a text message or email to the teacher using a code provided when the account is created.
Teachers and administrators can send a message to every student or parent in an entire class (up to 10 classes per account). They will receive it by text or email.
Teachers never see their students' phone numbers. Students never see the phone number of their teacher or administrator. Students and parents sign up by sending a text message or email to the teacher using a code provided when the account is created.
Teachers and administrators can send a message to every student or parent in an entire class (up to 10 classes per account). They will receive it by text or email.