Resources to Help You Find the Right EdTech Tools
Just getting started with using technology in your classroom? Head over to EdSurge, where you will find lists and descriptions of every type of technology you could possibly need. Search by category or keyword. Filter products based on grade level, subject, pricing of the app or software, and more. Then compare products to find the one that best meets the needs of you and your students.
Another fantastic resource for educators who are looking to up their educational technology game is Tutorful's 101 Hottest EdTech Tools According to Education Experts. With a brief description of each tool, this comprehensive list was updated in 2020 and is a wealth of information compiled by educators, for educators. The list includes tools for assessments, virtual field trips, gamified lessons, interactive maps, blogs and websites, video and other media creators and editors, and so much more.
If you are considering using e-portfolios for a student showcase, a summative assessment, or both, take a look at Common Sense Education's top picks for Student Portfolio Apps and Websites. Seeing a final product of their work over the course of an entire semester allows students to see where they started and how far they have come, with a reminder of what all they learned over the past few months. Having the opportunity to share their portfolio with, at the very least, their closest loved ones gives them a chance to shine and allows their loved ones to take part in celebrating their achievements.
Another fantastic resource for educators who are looking to up their educational technology game is Tutorful's 101 Hottest EdTech Tools According to Education Experts. With a brief description of each tool, this comprehensive list was updated in 2020 and is a wealth of information compiled by educators, for educators. The list includes tools for assessments, virtual field trips, gamified lessons, interactive maps, blogs and websites, video and other media creators and editors, and so much more.
If you are considering using e-portfolios for a student showcase, a summative assessment, or both, take a look at Common Sense Education's top picks for Student Portfolio Apps and Websites. Seeing a final product of their work over the course of an entire semester allows students to see where they started and how far they have come, with a reminder of what all they learned over the past few months. Having the opportunity to share their portfolio with, at the very least, their closest loved ones gives them a chance to shine and allows their loved ones to take part in celebrating their achievements.
Technology Resources to Encourage Self-Directed Learning
Kahoot! offers teachers the ability to create quizzes and polls with both open-ended questions and objective closed-ended questions like multiple choice and true-false. Having the ability to immediately see the results of their quizzes and polls helps students know where they are versus where they need to be and allows them to reflect on and direct their own learning. Questions like "What concept did you find most challenging today," or "Did your feelings about [topic] change throughout the course of our discussion?" can really help students reflect on both their cognition and their world views.
By using an online journaling tool like Penzu, students are able to reflect on what they have learned. Was the lesson difficult or was it easy? Did they enjoy the class activities or did they find the activities tedious? How can they apply what they learned today to something in their own lives? By encouraging students to answer questions like these, teachers can foster self-directed learning in their students.
By using an online journaling tool like Penzu, students are able to reflect on what they have learned. Was the lesson difficult or was it easy? Did they enjoy the class activities or did they find the activities tedious? How can they apply what they learned today to something in their own lives? By encouraging students to answer questions like these, teachers can foster self-directed learning in their students.
Assistive Technology Resources
A great example of assistive technology that is helpful for students with a wide range of both physical and mental special needs is dictation (speech-to-text) software. Though there are a number of paid software options available, Google Docs Voice Typing through Google Docs is a free-to-use program that integrates seamlessly with other Google programs. It works on both PC and Mac using Google Chrome and allows students to transcribe text simply and quickly. Speech-to-text software assists with writing and communication.
Another fantastic example of a commonly-used assistive technology is audiobooks. For those who are visually impaired or who have a specific learning disability like dyslexia, audiobooks are wonderful for supporting students in their reading. As an English teacher, I have a special place in my heart for audiobooks and for the humans who narrate those books. (Shout out to Tom Hanks who narrates a number of books. He is a fabulous narrator!)
Another fantastic example of a commonly-used assistive technology is audiobooks. For those who are visually impaired or who have a specific learning disability like dyslexia, audiobooks are wonderful for supporting students in their reading. As an English teacher, I have a special place in my heart for audiobooks and for the humans who narrate those books. (Shout out to Tom Hanks who narrates a number of books. He is a fabulous narrator!)
