List Headline Image
Updated by logan-gardner on Nov 17, 2018
 REPORT
10 items   4 followers   0 votes   16 views

My Top-Ten Tech Tips

The various tools I learned about in my Educational Technology class that I would like to use in my future classroom(s).

1

Class Dojo

Class Dojo

Class Dojo is a website/app used in classrooms as a common means for attendance, reinforcement systems using points, and communications columns for parents to interact with. This classroom system is very important in allowing for parents to monitor their children's hours in the classroom, they can even turn on notifications to hear from the app. One of the many benefits of the system includes pushing and reminding the children to strive for positive actions resulting in points added to their unique monster. One of the barriers of using this program would be that it may cause harsh competition between the students throughout your classroom causing a more negative environment. Overall, I would still recommend the use of this app in the classroom because I believe it is a fantastic way to take attendance and help communicate appropriately with your student's parents.

2

Kahoot!

Kahoot!

Kahoot is a newly invented app/website that is free of use, but requires the correct technology to access it. This is an interactive tool that is used as a review generator in a fun and creative way. Kahoot can be used in a team-based setting or in a 1 versus 1 option. Student's often times look forward to the use of this activity as it can be anonymous, or you can use your true name to show on the main screen. This tool is a great way to gauge where your students are with certain subject areas; for example, their strengths and weaknesses.

3

Quizlet

Quizlet

Quizlet is a free app/ website that can be used once you create your own personalized account, that way the information you create can be saved and kept until deletion. This tool is used to create various study sets in order to help you study. Within the app, there are a variety of ways to study the sets you've previously created; for example, in the form of memory games or typing in the word once the definition is shown on the screen. Another perk of this app is that it is free and does not need wifi; as long as you have the appropriate technology.

4

Story Jumper

Story Jumper

StoryJumper is a website that allows for someone to create their very own "virtualized" storybook. Along with the website some benefits included are the ability for students to go at their own pace, multiple different options for creative minds, and you can pay for extra tools. Some downfalls to using this program is that it may appear confusing to the younger age groups attempting to make their books. Within the classroom, using StoryJumper can promote the use of all 4 C's while allowing the flow of imagination to enter the classroom.

5

Desmos

Desmos

Desmos is an easy-to-use app that can be described as a virtual large-scale graphing calculator. Instead of spending money on the super expensive graphing calculators needed in every-day school work, why not download the free Desmos app!? Some benefits of this app is that it can save your work, you do not have WiFi, and it has attracting features. Teachers will have the ability to offer a free alternative to expensive graphing calculators which will allow for students to have success in their classrooms.

6

BrainPop

BrainPop

BrainPop has been around for a number of years; even I had the ability to grow up with the use of BrainPop to help teach me lessons along the way! This is a learning mechanism that instills the use of videos and quiz interactions to help students learn different subjects. The website provides numerous topics and subtopics to learn from in a fun way. The website is very appealing and easy to navigate and also offers closed captioning options for their users. Although, with all ever-growing technology, you have to pay to use the website on a larger scale which includes a "school code." But... they do provide one free daily lesson!

7

Buncee

Buncee

Buncee is a unique presentation creator in which you can find in website form or app form. With the use of Buncee, students and educators have the capability to create fun interactive presentations to share and learn from. Buncee's appealing features and simple to use set up is a very common compliment of the app. Some benefits include the built in tool of saving work automatically, its options to share are simple to use, and there are also abilities to make quizzes. Some barriers within this application is that it requires some form of payment and not every payment level allows for the same use of tools.

8

FunBrain

FunBrain

FunBrain has been said to be the, "#1 educational gaming website" used on the wide-web today! FunBrain is a website that has millions of games for all age groups including a variety of categories and skill sets. This website provides some benefits like an appealing set up, most everything is free, and some free book options are included. Some barriers presented are the ads that popup, no search bar to aid in finding a certain game/category, and some things might cost money. Although, FunBrain does touch on all of the SAMR levels and all 4 C's.

9

Raz-Kids

Raz-Kids

Raz-Kids is an online tool used for endless use of reading. This website can be used in the comfort of a home, or in a classroom setting. Some benefits include the wide selection of books provided, homework options available, and it caters to all different age groups. Some barriers that come along with this tool are that you need to be connected to wifi in order to fully use the website, it costs a certain amount of money, and you have to have access to the correct type of technology. Raz-Kids on the other hand, does hit all of the 4 C's and hints at augmentation for SAMR levels.

10

Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Khan Academy is an online tool that comes free to access and provides the ability to tutor yourself in any school subject provided. Instilled to the website are millions of lessons; almost anything you can think of, including topics like arts and science, coding, math and many more! Khan Academy can also be found on YouTube to access their videos. Some benefits are that there are no ads to get in the way, it can be used for various ages, and it shows you the errors you make during each lesson. Some barriers included are that the donation tab may be confused as a payment to use the website, the lesson videos may be lengthy, and that some topics may not be found.