Materials Generators
Google Docs is a very useful material generator. It allows you to create documents without having to worry about pressing the ‘save’ button. Teachers could use it to make lesson plans and worksheets. Here is more information about Google Docs: https://www.google.com/docs/about/
Discovery Education made a puzzle generator that includes: “practice for lower level skills (such as math facts), cloze exercises (comprehension exercises with certain words removed and students fill in the blanks), and exercises to review words and definitions” (Roblyer, 2016, p. 147). It is a free puzzlemaker. For more information about the puzzle generator and to use it, click the following link: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/free-puzzlemaker/
Testing and Grading Tools
Testing and grading tools “help teachers collect and track assessment information to measure student progress” (Roblyer, 2016, p. 142). The Google Add-on, OrangeSlice: Teacher Rubric, is a great tool that allows teachers to create holistic and analysis rubrics. If you would like to know more about this add-on, click on the following link: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/orangeslice-teacher-rubri/hfbffoacepkeklpippgijnoemfmiondo?hl=en-US
Another useful tool for measuring student progress is ThinkWave Gradebook. It is a free online gradebook that “allows a teacher to enter student names, test/assignment names, data from tests, and weighting information for specific test scores. The program then analyzes the data and prints reports based on this information” (Roblyer, 2016, p. 155). If you would like to learn more about ThinkWave Gradebook, watch the embedded video.
Graphics Tools
A word cloud generator can be a useful tool for students. One I like to use is the Google Add-On, Word Cloud Generator. This add-on can be of use when students are writing papers. It takes words that are used frequently throughout the student’s paper and makes a word cloud. To learn more about this add-on, click the following link: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/word-cloud-generator/alhnlhbhnklajhmccemipdbaifocepab?hl=en
Another useful tool is Sketchpad 4.1 by Sketch.IO. Students could use this free application to do a wide variety of things such as take notes and even create art that represents math facts. If you would like to learn more about this application, click the following link: https://sketch.io/sketchpad/guide/
Planning and Organizing Tools
The Google Add-On, Lesson Plan Tools for Docs, seems like it would be very helpful for teachers to have. It allows teachers to find games and other things to enhance their lessons by standard alignment. To learn more about this Google Add-On, please watch the embedded video made by a fellow teacher.
Assign-A-Day is a free online calendar tool that could be very useful for teachers. It allows teachers to create assignment due dates and share it with students. This tool could be used to help keep students and parents informed. Here is a link to more information about this tool: http://assignaday.4teachers.org/index.php
Research and Reference Tools
A Google Add-On that could help students when they are writing papers is Merriam-Webster Dictionary Sidebar. It is free to install. Here is a link to more information about this add-on: https://gsuite.google.com/marketplace/app/merriamwebster_dictionary_sidebar/402834073521
Another great reference tool is, http://kids.britannica.com is also a great tool for students to use when researching topics. It is an online encyclopedia that is specifically designed to be age appropriate for students. Click the following link to learn more about this site: http://kids.britannica.com/about
References
Roblyer, M. D. (2016). Integrating educational technology into teaching.
Word cloud generators are a very handy tool to have in the classroom because it can help students learn about any subject. "Instructors recognized they could exploit word clouds for any topic where word frequency is used" (Roblyer, 2016, 159). By enlarging the more common occurring words in a text the teacher can use visual imagery to emphasize the more important concepts.
ReplyDeleteI am big into planning and organizing so I especially loved your planning and organizing tools! I also chose the Lesson Plan tools for Docs because I was interested in the fact that it aligned to standards! According to the textbook, Integrating Educational Technology Into Teaching, "time management tools are especially popular applications on handheld computers" (Roblyer, 2016, p. 161). Students could easily access this software from their phone and view their schedules. Great tools!
ReplyDeleteI just checked out the sketch app that you mentioned and I absolutely love it! It will be an awesome way to keep the students interested and allow them to take notes/solve problems in their own way while also incorporating technology! This is a definite app that I will use in my classroom! I am also super excited to use word cloud! How do you see yourself using word cloud in your classroom?
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