Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Arthur C. Clarke
Technology Resources for Educators Web Tools for K-12 Classrooms Renee Gammill, Ph.D. Nevada State College Henderson, NV
In the article Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, Marc Prensky (2001) wrote: “…the single biggest problem facing education today is that our Digital Immigrant instructors, who speak an outdated language (that of the pre-digital age), are struggling to teach a population that speaks an entirely new language.” Inspired by his words, I developed this resource to share discoveries with fellow Digital Immigrants who are also learning to speak the language of today’s students. It is also intended for Digital Natives who are looking for technology-based educational resources of high quality. My hope is that this sourcebook will provide K-12 educators with a starting point for using a variety of free and inexpensive instructional technologies and resources.
Technology Resources for Educators Web Tools for K-12 Classrooms Renee Gammill, Ph.D. Nevada State College Henderson, NV
Contents Learning
Management Systems: pp. 7-14 Instructional Media: pp. 15-24 Presentation Content: pp. 25-30 Web 2.0: pp. 31-36 Instructional Activities: pp. 37-44 Study Tools: pp. 45-51
Learning Management Systems ď‚› Learning
management systems provide a means for teachers to deliver online content to students, including handouts, web resources, grades, and assignments. ď‚› These systems can be used to deliver online courses or to provide blended instruction in face-to-face classrooms.
Canvas
Canvas is a learning management system that provides course content, grade book features, email, and class notifications via Facebook or text. A Canvas iPhone app is available. Canvas includes BigBlueButton conferencing software that includes a whiteboard, lecture recording, desktop sharing, VOiP, presentation sharing, and webcam sharing. Learn more: http://www.instructure.com/ Sign up: https://acme.instructure.com/register Cost: Free
Edmodo
Edmodo is a social networking site similar to Facebook. Content is shared in a secure environment. Edmodo provides easy access to projects, classwork, and school events using assignments, quizzes, a calendar, and an electronic grade book. Learn more: http://help.edmodo.com/webinars Sign up: http://www.edmodo.com/ Cost: Free
Moodle
Moodle is a learning management system that provides a means for teachers to share content, resources, and learning links. It includes a grade book, as well as tools for student self- and peer-assessment. Learn more: http://docs.moodle.org/22/en/About_Moodl e_FAQ Sign up: http://moodle.org/ Cost: Free
WizIQ
WizIQ is a learning management system that provides course content, grade book features, student notifications, live audio and video streams, file sharing, lecture recording, and virtual classroom capabilities. WizIQ sends notifications to students when new content, classes, or assessments are added. Two hours before class, WizIQ also sends email reminders so that students don’t forget to attend. After class, the teacher can check the attendance report and share the class recording for students who were absent. Learn more: http://www.wiziq.com/teaching-online/ Sign up: http://www.wiziq.com/Register.aspx Cost: Free
Instructional Media ď‚› Instructional
media includes resources that can be used to create teaching activities, tutorials, and presentations.
AuthorPoint Lite
AuthorPoint Lite allows you to share a PowerPoint presentation without attaching a file to email. File sizes are reduced so that you can easily send a presentation as an email attachment. You can quickly and easily convert PowerPoint presentations to Flash. The converted Flash presentation retains its effects, sound, animation, and rehearsed timings, plus you have all the benefits of a Flash file like reduced size, secure content, and easy distribution on the Web. Learn more: http://www.authorgen.com/authorpoint-litefree/powerpoint-to-flash-converter.aspx Download: http://www.authorgen.com/authorpoint-litefree/download-freeware-ppt-to-flash-powerpointconverter.aspx Cost: Free
EdVoiceThread
A VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows users to navigate slides and leave comments using text, audio files, or video. The doodle feature allows you to draw on top of the media as you record your comment. Share a VoiceThread for others to record comments, too. Learn more: http://ed.voicethread.com/about/features/ Sign up: https://ed.voicethread.com/login/?ReturnUrl=http%3 A%2F%2Fed.voicethread.com%2Fabout%2Ffeatures% 2F Cost: Free
Jing
Jing captures an image of what you see on your computer screen and records what you see and do on your monitor. The free version allows up to 5minutes of on-screen recording. It allows you to share videos instantly during online conversations. Use it to create video tutorials or share screen images instantly during online conversations. Website: http://www.techsmith.com/jingfeatures.html Cost: Free (additional features available for a fee)
OpenOffice
OpenOffice.org 3 is the leading opensource office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. Learn more/download: http://www.openoffice.org/
Cost: Free
ScreenCast
ScreenCast is a video hosting site that can be used to share videos or embed videos and images to your blog. Free account includes 2 GB of storage and 2 GB monthly bandwidth. Supports Flash, WMV, Quicktime. You control who views your content. Learn more/sign up: http://screencast.com/ Cost: Free
TipCam
TipCam allows you to take screenshots, record screencasts, create voiceovers, and upload recordings to YouTube. It can be used to create video tutorials, presentations, or demonstrations. Learn more: http://www.utipu.com/ Download: http://www.utipu.com/tipcamdownload/ Cost: Free
Presentation Content ď‚› Copyright
free resources for video, music, images, and other works that can be used for instructional presentations or student projects.
Jamendo
Jamendo is a source for copyright-free music that can be used for projects and multimedia presentations. Website: http://www.jamendo.com/en/
Cost: Free
Creative Commons
Creative commons is a source for copyright-free images, music, videos, and other works. Website: http://creativecommons.org/
Cost: Free
Free Digital Photos
Free Digital Photos is a source for copyright-free images that can be used for projects and multimedia presentations. Website: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/
Cost: Free
Web 2.0 ď‚› Web
2.0 is a term that is used to describe technologies that allow users to share information and collaborate on the World Wide Web.
Posterous
Posterous is a blogging site that can be used to create online journals, post class-related information for parents, to write reading summaries, or to publish information related to a topic of study. More information: How can blogs be used in education? http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Review/EDU CAUSEReviewMagazineVolume39/EducationalBloggi ng/157920 Website: https://posterous.com/faq Sign up: https://posterous.com/register
Cost: Free
WikiSpaces
WikiSpaces can be used to create student portfolios, to share information among members of a class, or to showcase student work for parent access. Website: http://www.wikispaces.com/
Cost: Free
WordPress
WordPress is a blogging site that can be used to create online journals, post class-related information for parents, to write reading summaries, or to publish information related to a topic of study. More information: How can blogs be used in education? http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Review/EDU CAUSEReviewMagazineVolume39/EducationalBloggi ng/157920 Website: http://en.wordpress.com/features/ Sign up: https://en.wordpress.com/signup/
Cost: Free
Instructional Activities ď‚› Resources
for a variety of web-based instructional activities.
E-Pals
E-Pals is a collaborative community that allows K12 classes to participate in joint learning projects with other classes around the world. Website: http://www.epals.com/
Cost: Free
The Learning Network
The Learning Network, published by the New York Times, provides a wealth of lesson plans for a variety of disciplines. 12 Ways to use The Learning Network: http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/12ways-to-use-the-learning-network-this-school-year/ Website: http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/aboutthe-learning-network/ Cost: Free
Annotate News Articles Using Technology
This lesson is designed for students in Grades 6-12 and is aligned with McRel’s National Standards. It can be used in several disciplines, including History, Geography, and Language Arts and incorporates several technologies. In the lesson, students read a newspaper article and then research additional information to clarify and expand the information found in the article. They use technology to prepare annotations and add them to a class wiki.
Website:
Cost: Free
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/easyaccess-creating-annotated-versions-of-news-articles/
WebQuests
A WebQuest is an internet-based activity that guides students through a series of steps to apply information to complete a project. Well-designed WebQuests include the following components:
More information: Creating a WebQuest—It’s Easier Than You Think http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech011.shtml Examples:
New York Vacation: http://teacherweb.com/NY/CayugaHeightsElementary/NYVacationWebquest/index.html
Make Your Own Money: https://fcserver.nvnet.org/~cooper_j/money/ Websites: http://webquest.org/ and http://bestwebquests.com/ Cost: Free
The Introduction orients students and captures their interest. The Task describes the activity's end product. The Process explains strategies students should use to complete the task. The Resources are the Web sites students will use to complete the task. The Evaluation measures the results of the activity. The Conclusion sums up the activity and encourages students to reflect on its process and results.
Study Tools ď‚› Resources
to develop vocabulary puzzles, study games, concept maps, quizzes, and digital flashcards.
Eclipse Crossword
Use Eclipse Crossword to create puzzles to be printed or uploaded to a website to be completed online. Website: http://www.eclipsecrossword.com/
Cost: Free
Edraw Mind Map
Use Edraw Mind Map to create mind maps (aka concept maps or think links). Website: http://www.edrawsoft.com/freemind.php
Cost: Free
Build Your Own Jeopardy
Use BYO Jeopardy to create online Jeopardy games. Website: http://www.wolfescience.com/byojeopardy/
Cost: Free
Quiz Maker
Use Quiz Maker to create online quizzes. Website: http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/
Cost: Free (additional features available for a fee)
Quizlet
Use Quizlet to create online flashcards and study games. Website: http://quizlet.com/
Cost: Free (additional features available for a fee)
End of Publication