CuePrompter- Presentation Badge
CuePrompter has the ability to enhance classroom learning by encouraging work on fluency and providing easy to read large text with minimal preparation for the teacher. Text from a news article, school announcements, or homework can be displayed directly with the prompter.
The site is very easy to figure out, though it does not have many options for presentation styles and colors. The features of the various speed is very helpful and would be useful to tailor to various reading levels. The CuePrompter can be used in many ways; it can present directions, a schedule, text for choral reading, lyrics, and much more. Students are forced to follow along and stay engaged as the text moves. A disadvantage is the in ability to see the information that has already been scrolled by. If you list a set of step by step instructions some students may need the previous steps while others need the final steps. Having text on the board can save a teacher from constantly having to repeat themselves.
The site is very easy to figure out, though it does not have many options for presentation styles and colors. The features of the various speed is very helpful and would be useful to tailor to various reading levels. The CuePrompter can be used in many ways; it can present directions, a schedule, text for choral reading, lyrics, and much more. Students are forced to follow along and stay engaged as the text moves. A disadvantage is the in ability to see the information that has already been scrolled by. If you list a set of step by step instructions some students may need the previous steps while others need the final steps. Having text on the board can save a teacher from constantly having to repeat themselves.
Glogster- Presentation Tool
Glogster is a tool created for teachers and students to present in a new and captivating way. Anyone can create these multimedia posters on Glgster. There are a few versions available, but the free version has a large amount of templates and options. The templates seem inviting to a younger client base, and I believe elementary students would be able to navigate to add their desired images, text, effect, sound, and video. This would be a great way to supplement a biography presentation, as opposed to reading a paper. Information in any form can be included in a Glog presentation poster.
Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of a topic by condensing information onto a single page, but this tools still allows for navigation to supplementary videos, sound clips, or images. The creative outlet benefits are plain to see but the drawbacks are fairly well concealed. Although there are a few disadvantages. The site seems fairly slow to update your added photos and links which can be frustrating. Using this way of presenting also creates a risk of students simply copying and pasting all of their information without processing the information.
Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of a topic by condensing information onto a single page, but this tools still allows for navigation to supplementary videos, sound clips, or images. The creative outlet benefits are plain to see but the drawbacks are fairly well concealed. Although there are a few disadvantages. The site seems fairly slow to update your added photos and links which can be frustrating. Using this way of presenting also creates a risk of students simply copying and pasting all of their information without processing the information.
Fotobabble- Presentation Tool
Fotobabble can give a twist on directions, the presentation of information, reading a speech, and many more opportunities. Presenting information in the same way every day become monotonous and causes students to lose interest. By using fun, new techniques of conveying a message to students will be more engaged.
Students can benefit from fotobabble by using the tool to give insight into their fluency, to memorize, or to create their own presentation to share. It takes less than five minutes to sign up and create a talking image that can be shared without limits for free. A disadvantage to fotobabble is the inability to re-record. If you make a mistake you must start the entire process of downloading the photo again. To have the video be of optimal quality you need to be in a silent environment, making it almost impossible to have an entire class simultaneously working with this tool. The length of the recording is also limited. Though this can be an advantage if you view the length as a challenge to be concise yet thorough.
I find this tool as an asset differing from the other tools I have chosen because of its quick turn around. Students can create multiple fotobabbles in the time of a single or 30hands video. Fotobabble is mentioned on numerous educational technology reviews as an exceptional and easy presentation tool.
Students can benefit from fotobabble by using the tool to give insight into their fluency, to memorize, or to create their own presentation to share. It takes less than five minutes to sign up and create a talking image that can be shared without limits for free. A disadvantage to fotobabble is the inability to re-record. If you make a mistake you must start the entire process of downloading the photo again. To have the video be of optimal quality you need to be in a silent environment, making it almost impossible to have an entire class simultaneously working with this tool. The length of the recording is also limited. Though this can be an advantage if you view the length as a challenge to be concise yet thorough.
I find this tool as an asset differing from the other tools I have chosen because of its quick turn around. Students can create multiple fotobabbles in the time of a single or 30hands video. Fotobabble is mentioned on numerous educational technology reviews as an exceptional and easy presentation tool.
Doceri- Interactive Tool
Doceri is a tool used in collaboration with a desktop and an iPad to present information on a whiteboard interactively. With the free app, an iPad becomes an elaborate remote that can insert text, graphics, draw or write and much more. I am enthusiastic about voice over abilities that allow for teachers to flip their classrooms with ease. Text, writing, drawing, sound clips, and more can be added to a powerpoint, word document or website live. Altering lessons and explanations is part of an effective teacher’s daily routine, and this tools helps make with process occur without delay for the students and their learning benefits from that.
This tool can enhance the learning process of creating interactive presentations done in and outside the classroom. With use, I will not be limited to sitting by my computer to interact with a prepared presentation, but can roam freely and allow students the chance to interact with what is displayed on the screen as well. Doceri allows for the opportunity to impress visual and auditory learners. One drawback I encountered is the limited ability of using more than one Ipad connecting at a given point. Only one device can be linked to the desktop.
This tool can enhance the learning process of creating interactive presentations done in and outside the classroom. With use, I will not be limited to sitting by my computer to interact with a prepared presentation, but can roam freely and allow students the chance to interact with what is displayed on the screen as well. Doceri allows for the opportunity to impress visual and auditory learners. One drawback I encountered is the limited ability of using more than one Ipad connecting at a given point. Only one device can be linked to the desktop.
Studyblue- Interactive Tool
Studyblue is an online study tool that can be used interactively between teachers and students. You can create your own custom flashcards for any content area, as well as use their database of thousands of definitions and examples. Teachers can create the flashcards and share them with the whole class online. Quizzes can be created with the options of multiple choice, true/false, type the answer, and any combination of the options. This offers a simple and time efficient study guide to prepare students for a test or quiz. Observing student scores on the online quizzes is a great formative assessment strategy to determine the students’ understanding of the information.
One of the greatest assets of this tool deals with the flashcard creation process, the program automatically suggests related words of the same topic, which can introduce students to higher levels of vocabulary and information. Students can store these virtual flashcards in a “backpack” within the site. Students can also set reminders to study and teachers can monitor their activity. A setback of the program is the inability to print the cards for learners who prefer a hard copy of the information to study from when the internet or a computer is unavailable to them. Creating a hard copy with another resource is a valuable accommodation that should be incorporated for such students. A teacher also needs approval to register with the site for a class, which takes a little time in advance. Overall, I am still very eager to use this tool in a classroom setting to see the benefits of a new way for students to retain information.
One of the greatest assets of this tool deals with the flashcard creation process, the program automatically suggests related words of the same topic, which can introduce students to higher levels of vocabulary and information. Students can store these virtual flashcards in a “backpack” within the site. Students can also set reminders to study and teachers can monitor their activity. A setback of the program is the inability to print the cards for learners who prefer a hard copy of the information to study from when the internet or a computer is unavailable to them. Creating a hard copy with another resource is a valuable accommodation that should be incorporated for such students. A teacher also needs approval to register with the site for a class, which takes a little time in advance. Overall, I am still very eager to use this tool in a classroom setting to see the benefits of a new way for students to retain information.
Bubbl- Interactive Tool
Bubbl is a creative and colorful online mind-mapping tool. Starting with a single topic or word additional ideas or connections can be typed into adjoining bubbles to organize ideas. This tool can be used for studying, discussion, showing what you know, a pre-write activity, or to display. Students can work individually, with partners, in groups, or as a whole class to create a custom visual display of information. The program is easy to navigate and the proper keystrokes to create additional bubbles is displayed for each step.
I had the initial thought to use this tool to brainstorm and discuss creating a classroom social contract. If students work together under some guidance to outline the management, behavior, and action plan to produce an successful classroom. This tool is the prefect way to have students plan and share their thoughts. The mind maps can be saved and shared over the internet with the ability to edit one another’s work or it can be printed. The program could be improved to allow for multiple people to work on a single mind map simultaneously, but I was unaware if that capability exists on the free version. Regardless of this, the uses of this tool are as endless as mind-mapping with pencil and paper, but students will be much more engaged with the opportunity to use technology.
I had the initial thought to use this tool to brainstorm and discuss creating a classroom social contract. If students work together under some guidance to outline the management, behavior, and action plan to produce an successful classroom. This tool is the prefect way to have students plan and share their thoughts. The mind maps can be saved and shared over the internet with the ability to edit one another’s work or it can be printed. The program could be improved to allow for multiple people to work on a single mind map simultaneously, but I was unaware if that capability exists on the free version. Regardless of this, the uses of this tool are as endless as mind-mapping with pencil and paper, but students will be much more engaged with the opportunity to use technology.
Fotobabble- Presentation Tool
GradeCam allows for the multiple choice or any bubble type test to be automatically graded and put directly into a gradebook of your choice. The bubble sheets are free and just need to be printed. Each sheet is printed with a student code corresponding to their name for recording purposes. The instant feedback this provides with an exciting new twist will motivate students because their reward or consequence is so prompt. Students will retain the information from test questions they answered incorrectly the sooner they are informed of the correct answer. Thus this tool is ideal for quick formative assessments to check for understanding. The tool is free online and can be adapted to fit the needs of any class. The program can compile date of the items answered wrong most frequently as well as the item that students seemed to have an easier time responding accurately. Drawbacks include the limited amount of questions you can use this with and the chance of the tool not being able to read the answers for a variety of possible reasons.
I was introduced to this tool in a course on assessment strategies. It sparked the ideas of all the future teachers in the room with its convenience and appeal to students. Any chance to increase motivation of students in an assessment situation should be taken advantage of. Students will likely be enthusiastic about seeing their score immediately and digitally without question of its accuracy.
GradeCam allows for the multiple choice or any bubble type test to be automatically graded and put directly into a gradebook of your choice. The bubble sheets are free and just need to be printed. Each sheet is printed with a student code corresponding to their name for recording purposes. The instant feedback this provides with an exciting new twist will motivate students because their reward or consequence is so prompt. Students will retain the information from test questions they answered incorrectly the sooner they are informed of the correct answer. Thus this tool is ideal for quick formative assessments to check for understanding. The tool is free online and can be adapted to fit the needs of any class. The program can compile date of the items answered wrong most frequently as well as the item that students seemed to have an easier time responding accurately. Drawbacks include the limited amount of questions you can use this with and the chance of the tool not being able to read the answers for a variety of possible reasons.
I was introduced to this tool in a course on assessment strategies. It sparked the ideas of all the future teachers in the room with its convenience and appeal to students. Any chance to increase motivation of students in an assessment situation should be taken advantage of. Students will likely be enthusiastic about seeing their score immediately and digitally without question of its accuracy.
- Survey Monkey - Assessment Tool
- Classmarker - Assessment Tool
In addition to making summative assessment less challenging for teachers, this tool can allow students can take charge of their learning by creating a test on their own. Writing a test with Classmarker is much more of a manageable task for students, rather than trying to remember all of the previous tests they have taken.
Many districts can employed this tool to enhance education in the classroom using technology. Numerous lists on technology tools boast the value in getting to know this tool to save time that can be better spent elsewhere. After creating a sample test for myself, I am confident in saying I would use this test creator in the future, even if only a select few students may benefit from an alternative testing format, rather than paper and pencil.
http://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=h3652503f737eb87
- Raz-Kids - Assessment Tool
Raz-Kids has been becoming increasingly more popular for its online capabilities and ability to print books for each student to have a copy. Adrian Public Schools, as well as home town, Hamilton, have been impressed with the implantation of Raz-Kids. Although you must purchase the system to use its full capabilities most districts will see the benefits outweigh the initial investment. Students can use this each night, on weekends, and in the summer to increase school-year gains by being able to work at their level and have their own specified differentiated instructional assignments.
- Wolframalpha - Content Area Tools
The free version of the tool fails to offer a complete breadth of step by step examples for higher levels of mathematics and science, but through eighth grade material is very extensive. I have used this site within my our college courses in addition to researching a specific problem to understand the rational beyond the methods.
2. HippoCampus - Content Area Tools
HippoCampus is another fantastic tool to use a resource either in the classroom or as a connection between the classroom and home. Having specific videos reteaching the content of a homework assignment can prevent the certain occurrence of students not finishing their homework because they did not understand and their parents were also unsure of the process for completion. HippoCampus offers a wide variety of videos, but does not have every topic you may need. Although the videos they do provide use student friendly language, examples, visuals, and enthusiasm for math in our daily lives. The site also offers connections to Khan Academy videos, which as also an effective resource in teaching mathematics.
Employing these short instructional videos take virtually no preparation, but can become a very valuable reinforcement for current content or review. Playlists can be created to ensure students are viewing the correct level of content by creating and customizing the free account. I hope that students will find it empowering to be able to take their education into their own hands and use these pre-paved paths to guide them.
HippoCampus is another fantastic tool to use a resource either in the classroom or as a connection between the classroom and home. Having specific videos reteaching the content of a homework assignment can prevent the certain occurrence of students not finishing their homework because they did not understand and their parents were also unsure of the process for completion. HippoCampus offers a wide variety of videos, but does not have every topic you may need. Although the videos they do provide use student friendly language, examples, visuals, and enthusiasm for math in our daily lives. The site also offers connections to Khan Academy videos, which as also an effective resource in teaching mathematics.
Employing these short instructional videos take virtually no preparation, but can become a very valuable reinforcement for current content or review. Playlists can be created to ensure students are viewing the correct level of content by creating and customizing the free account. I hope that students will find it empowering to be able to take their education into their own hands and use these pre-paved paths to guide them.
3. Phet Interactive Simulations - Content Area Tools
Created within the University of Colorado Boulder this site prides itself on delivering over 110 million simulations. Specifically practical with the sciences, students can conduct online labs for when resources and supplies are not available or cost effective. The online creation also eliminates the variable of error. Each simulation can set up the perfect conditions to view changes in matter, static transfer, forces, and electricity. Students can manipulate variable to see the effect. These simulations are easy to download and navigate, yet should still be previewed and tested by the teacher to confirm the simulation will correlate to the given lab directions. These tools save time, cleanup, and offer a virtual way to experiment without any of the risks, science experiments can often pose. Inevitably, some of the simulations have glitches and errors, but it is always good to be a skeptic in research and practice to increase understanding of the why, not just the what.
Simulations can be searched by topic and grade level. Giving upper elementary or middle school students the chance to explore the site on their own within the boundaries can motivate them the research what interests them. Having choice within an area of study can stimulate an increase in participation and knowledge gains.
I was introduced to this tool through a course on teaching elementary physics, where we used a tool to study static electricity and circuits. It was engaging to myself and my peers, which would easily translate to or increase in engagement for elementary or middle school students. As a teacher there are also lesson plans within the site, examples of activities, and accompanying worksheets for the simulators.
Created within the University of Colorado Boulder this site prides itself on delivering over 110 million simulations. Specifically practical with the sciences, students can conduct online labs for when resources and supplies are not available or cost effective. The online creation also eliminates the variable of error. Each simulation can set up the perfect conditions to view changes in matter, static transfer, forces, and electricity. Students can manipulate variable to see the effect. These simulations are easy to download and navigate, yet should still be previewed and tested by the teacher to confirm the simulation will correlate to the given lab directions. These tools save time, cleanup, and offer a virtual way to experiment without any of the risks, science experiments can often pose. Inevitably, some of the simulations have glitches and errors, but it is always good to be a skeptic in research and practice to increase understanding of the why, not just the what.
Simulations can be searched by topic and grade level. Giving upper elementary or middle school students the chance to explore the site on their own within the boundaries can motivate them the research what interests them. Having choice within an area of study can stimulate an increase in participation and knowledge gains.
I was introduced to this tool through a course on teaching elementary physics, where we used a tool to study static electricity and circuits. It was engaging to myself and my peers, which would easily translate to or increase in engagement for elementary or middle school students. As a teacher there are also lesson plans within the site, examples of activities, and accompanying worksheets for the simulators.
Today'sMeet - Communication Tool TodaysMeets is a live feed group of public conversation. A “chat room” is created and can be set to be available for a certain amount of time, i.e. a week and it will be deleted. Each post is limited to 140 characters, which will encourage students to be concise and informative. This tool allows for a quick formative assessment to evaluate understanding. Students will be motivated by the close relation to twitter. In this age students are comfortable with this forum.
I personally appreciate the 140 character limit, but it could be viewed as a setback. Although, students can post numerous times to increase their limit. I found this tool in many lists of classroom technology supports. It is a quick way to have students share their ideas, opinions, and answers.
I personally appreciate the 140 character limit, but it could be viewed as a setback. Although, students can post numerous times to increase their limit. I found this tool in many lists of classroom technology supports. It is a quick way to have students share their ideas, opinions, and answers.
Bibme - Productivity Tool
Bibme is a tool that I wish I had been introduced to years ago. It makes keeping up to date with the latest changes in formatting for bibliographies and works cited possible. With the ease of simply typing a title, author, isbn number, or webpage the tool does all the work of generating a citation in your desired MLA, APA, or Chicago style format. Students will be able to correctly document their resources without the stress of formatting. I believe, students will also be more willing to include a variety of resources when they do not have such a daunting task of learning how to correctly site each type of resource. I think is important to take advantage of the ability to make citation simple, where students’ limited classroom time can be spent delving deeper into a more interesting topic.
I find some fault in the tool if it is used at all times without first introducing students to at least the basics of citation rules. Students are placed at a risk of becoming too dependent on technology and its conveniences, that if it is unavailable certain students may not be able to accomplish tasks on their own. Keeping these faults in mind this online tool can be used to teach the differences between citation methods by comparing the formats of the generated bibliographies.
Bibme is a tool that I wish I had been introduced to years ago. It makes keeping up to date with the latest changes in formatting for bibliographies and works cited possible. With the ease of simply typing a title, author, isbn number, or webpage the tool does all the work of generating a citation in your desired MLA, APA, or Chicago style format. Students will be able to correctly document their resources without the stress of formatting. I believe, students will also be more willing to include a variety of resources when they do not have such a daunting task of learning how to correctly site each type of resource. I think is important to take advantage of the ability to make citation simple, where students’ limited classroom time can be spent delving deeper into a more interesting topic.
I find some fault in the tool if it is used at all times without first introducing students to at least the basics of citation rules. Students are placed at a risk of becoming too dependent on technology and its conveniences, that if it is unavailable certain students may not be able to accomplish tasks on their own. Keeping these faults in mind this online tool can be used to teach the differences between citation methods by comparing the formats of the generated bibliographies.
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Gooru- Collaboration Tool
Gooru describes itself as a free search engine for learning. The site allows for easy access to search educational resources, sites, games, and assessments. The resources can then easily be added to an organized folder system that can be shared for easy access to a class or students or for other educators to be access. This tool is perfect for a flipped classroom or even an online course. Students will be able to quickly access the most useful and relevant information previewed by the instructor and compiled for effective learning.
As the age of technology keeps climbing beyond the peak there are more and more students taking advantage of online learning. Personally, I would hope this would supplement the regular school day by expanding to nights, weekends, and summer breaks. Within this rising trend, drawbacks include the lack of student to teacher interaction and face to face group collaboration. Although entirely online collaboration could be defended to be an easier way of accomplishing assigned tasks. Web 2.0 Cool Tools for School recommends Gooru along with many other technology tools to enhance education and expanding learning of our students.
Gooru describes itself as a free search engine for learning. The site allows for easy access to search educational resources, sites, games, and assessments. The resources can then easily be added to an organized folder system that can be shared for easy access to a class or students or for other educators to be access. This tool is perfect for a flipped classroom or even an online course. Students will be able to quickly access the most useful and relevant information previewed by the instructor and compiled for effective learning.
As the age of technology keeps climbing beyond the peak there are more and more students taking advantage of online learning. Personally, I would hope this would supplement the regular school day by expanding to nights, weekends, and summer breaks. Within this rising trend, drawbacks include the lack of student to teacher interaction and face to face group collaboration. Although entirely online collaboration could be defended to be an easier way of accomplishing assigned tasks. Web 2.0 Cool Tools for School recommends Gooru along with many other technology tools to enhance education and expanding learning of our students.
Groupzap- Collaboration Tool
Groupzap is a colorful and organized way to create a board full of ideas with notes and arrows, links and photos. The site can be used to plan almost anything. The board can be made public for collaboration or kept private for personal use as well. The groupzap, hence the name, is most effectily used when a group collaborates together upon a topic. Students could use the site to create a contract for the classroom with rules and expectations for how the classroom will work cohesively throughout the year. Students could also use the collaboration process in creating a study guide or taking notes during a presentation or lesson. What one individual may add may have slipped passed another classmate until it was reinforced on the group zap board.
A drawback of the creation process is the inability to place the connector arrows easily and move or delete them if ideas change. Some features are hard to access and remain unknown to a new user. Groupzap include many of the features of other online boards where interaction and planning are key features. It is a great site to keep in mind because of its free promise and the ability to share a created project.
Groupzap is a colorful and organized way to create a board full of ideas with notes and arrows, links and photos. The site can be used to plan almost anything. The board can be made public for collaboration or kept private for personal use as well. The groupzap, hence the name, is most effectily used when a group collaborates together upon a topic. Students could use the site to create a contract for the classroom with rules and expectations for how the classroom will work cohesively throughout the year. Students could also use the collaboration process in creating a study guide or taking notes during a presentation or lesson. What one individual may add may have slipped passed another classmate until it was reinforced on the group zap board.
A drawback of the creation process is the inability to place the connector arrows easily and move or delete them if ideas change. Some features are hard to access and remain unknown to a new user. Groupzap include many of the features of other online boards where interaction and planning are key features. It is a great site to keep in mind because of its free promise and the ability to share a created project.