tiffany-ertle
This is my list of the top 10 tools that even the most technologically challenged teacher can use in their classroom!
Class Dojo is a wonderful tool for the teacher that wants to keep the communication open with the parents and guardians of their students. It is also a great tool for tracking good and not so good behavior. Images, notes and videos can be shared with parents by the teacher. Parents are able to respond and message the teacher privately for quick and easy communication. Each parent/student account gets their own customization monster! Available both online and via an app, this is a very useful tool for any teacher. The Four C's that Class Dojo uses are Communication, Collaboration and possibly even Creativity. The highest level of SAMR it reaches is Augmentation because it takes the place of phone calls, emails and notes home.
Popplet is a unique website that can be used by teachers and students to organize thoughts and ideas about a subject and really get their critical thinking going. Little "bubbles" are created by the user and can include font or photos. It can be used for an in class presentation, to brainstorm when preparing a report or project, or teachers and students can use in live in class to capture thoughts, ideas and information about a subject. It allows students to get creative with their thought process. It also hits the Redefinition level of SAMR as it redefines the basic outline process and allows the user to explore their subject with deep thought. Visit Popplet for a FREE account today.
Little Bird Tales helps teachers and students share stories and knowledge with their friends, family and classmates as well as people all over the world. Upload your own photographs or animate a picture right in the program. You can add the story to the slides by typing them in or narrate the tale by adding your own voice telling the story! It is an easy platform to operate and even young children can use it after instruction from an adult. Little Bird tales is a great piece in the creative puzzle of learning. For the Four C's Little Bird Tales uses Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication and if the project is a team or group project it could include collaboration. The highest level of SAMR it reaches is Redefinition because this process could inspire teachers and students to create new stories and projects.
Scratch is a great website that helps teachers and students learn all about coding! Students can create their own scratch simply by using codes to make a person or animal do something. Music, details and backgrounds can be added in to the scratch scene. It helps students use Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication and Collaboration. The highest level of SAMR that it reaches is Redefinition as it allows students to create new and exciting things with code!
Tired of the same old PowerPoints? Want to add depth and creativity to your presentations? Give Prezi a try! There are several different prezis with different levels of ability available to users. You can use a pre-made Prezi and make it your own or as your talents increase, start from scratch and design your own. The possibilities are only controlled by your imagination and creativity! They offer basic free accounts or paid accounts with all of the bells and whistles you could want. Once you go to Prezi, you'll never look at presentations the same way again. Prezi hits the Modification in SAMR because it rethinks the basic presentation to give you something that will stand out from the crowd.
Brain Pop and Brain Pop Jr. are two amazing tools that any teacher will love using in their classroom. Add a little more to your lesson about the US Constitution by showing a funny and informative video from Moby and his human pals. Your first graders will love a great video about the steps of the scientific method to really help those steps stick into their minds. These videos are not only filled with great information, but they are entertaining. The people at Brain Pop strive to make the content clear, accurate, and as up to date as possible. Don't want to pay for a subscription? Though it's totally worth the cost, they offer free videos to educators and change them up from time to time. Brain Pop and Brain Pop Jr are popular with the students as well so be sure to give it a try! BrainPop hits on Communication and Critical thinking in the Four C's and I believe it reaches Augmentation on the SAMR model because it can take the place of book reading or lecture learning.
Field Trip is a unique application for students and teachers to access information about the world around them. A free app found on Android and iPhone, helps the user with information about six different categories:
Maker Spaces are the future of technology education in the classroom. And the best part is, they are really easy to make for every grade level. All you need to do is gather all kinds of different supplies and make a designated space for your making! There are many lists of supplies that are grade/age appropriate found online. The students are only restricted by their own imagination. All for of the Four C's to Maker Spaces and the highest level of SAMR is Redefinition because student can create all new technology in their maker spaces.
Common Sense Media is a great tool to help teachers find safe, trusted, and accurate media and technology content for use in the modern day classroom. Because technology is changing so rapidly, Common Sense Media strives to be a trusted ally to teachers and parents alike. Common Sense has also created an application called Digital Compass that helps teach students about their role as good digital citizens. They play in lifelike scenarios and have to make choices and deal with consequences from those choices. Be sure to add Common Sense Media to your favorites on your home and work PC. The Four C's that apply are Communication, Collaboration and Critical Thinking. The highest level of SAMR is Augmentation as it allows the teacher to figure out what new technology they can use in the classroom that is safe for students.
Skype in the Classroom is a wonderful tool to connect the students with the outside world and all of the amazing things that happen. Students living in Michigan can talk to the Turtle Hospital in the Florida Keys about the great work they do to help save our amazing sea turtles. Students from Florida can talk with scientists from Africa studying the Gorillas of the jungle. The possibilities of Skype are amazing. The Four C's that apply to Skype are Communication, Collaboration and Critical Thinking. The highest level of SAMR is Augmentation as students are able to communicate with people all over the world!
