Ask any teacher and they will tell you that it’s essential to keep up on skills in order to be at the top of profession.\u00a0 Students these days have lived their entire lives online.\u00a0 It’s as natural to communicate digitally as face-to-face.<\/p>\n
(I think for some, it’s MORE NATURAL to communicate on a screen than using eye contact, but that’s for a different article.)<\/p>\n
As we approach the begining of the 2019-2020 school year, here is a list with some helpful resources to help you keep your technology skills sharp.<\/p>\n
Leverage audio resources to create audio clips to communicate with students, give feedback to parents or use in the classroom projects. No need to download software or to store clips on the desktop with web-based tools.<\/p>\n
Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.kaizena.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/twistedwave.com\/online<\/a><\/p>\n Social bookmarking sites make it easy to collaborate with web content with students. Curate and save data at a central point that is easily accessible to share with students.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/edshelf.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.diigo.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.livebinders.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.scoop.it\/<\/a><\/p>\n Create video presentations or video the lectures in real time. Creating videos is a means student can express themselves and inspire creativity in classroom presentations and assignments.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.wevideo.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.powtoon.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/wideo.co\/<\/a><\/p>\n Use online platforms like blogs, websites, and wikis to create a virtual space. Use the website or blog to improve students writing skills and for homework assignments. Showcase students\u2019 work and post classroom news to keep parents informed.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/wordpress.com<\/a> and https:\/\/wordpress.org<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/edublogs.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/kidblog.org<\/a><\/p>\n Plagiarism tools may help students to check if they\u2019ve written original content and haven\u2019t copied the resources researched. Teachers may compare a student\u2019s written assignments online to detect if it is original or plagiarized content.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.turnitin.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.duplichecker.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.plagiarismchecker.com\/help-teachers.php<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.plagium.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Capture screenshots of web pages to visually illustrate a process from beginning to end or zoom in on a specific step within the process. Use screen images as a visual tool to explain something to students. Screen images can also be used in manuals and tutorials.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.awesomescreenshot.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/app.prntscr.com\/en\/index.html<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.techsmith.com\/jing-tool.html<\/a><\/p>\n Crop, resize and edit photos and images online without having to install any software. Use online resources to personalize photos with frames and text.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.picmonkey.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.befunky.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/pixlr.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.fotor.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Create an animated face from a photo or change the expressions to teach or illustrate emotions. Cartoons and caricatures make people laugh. It\u2019s a clever way to demonstrate, even sad and unhappy, emotions in a less formal manner.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/cartoon.pho.to\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/picjoke.org\/en\/tag\/Sketch<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.cartoonize.net\/<\/a><\/p>\n Use user-friendly tools online to visualize and simplify intricate information with engaging infographics and posters. Infographic templates save time and help teachers create a beautiful infographic to explain complex and elaborate topics.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/piktochart.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.easel.ly\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.canva.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Online tools can help to quickly assess students, create surveys, and allow interactive responses from students in real time. A quick poll during class may keep students engaged and liven up a \u2018boring\u2019 or difficult topic.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.polleverywhere.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/answergarden.ch\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/crowdsignal.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Formative assessments guide teachers in what the students understand and how to proceed and plan the next set of instructions. A survey or poll in real time will help determine to what extent the students understood the lesson and if they are ready for the next step.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.mentimeter.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/socrative.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/get.plickers.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n A quiz is a fun way of testing a student\u2019s knowledge on a given topic in an informal manner that doesn\u2019t feel like a test to the students. Students can even compare their knowledge prior to the lesson with what they\u2019ve learned during class.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n http:\/\/equizshow.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/quizslides.co.uk\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.quibblo.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Teachers have too much to do in the time available to them; they can\u2019t afford to waste time. Knowing how time was spent will help to control time better. Track and manage time with tools and apps to see how much time you spend on productive tasks and where you are wasting time.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.rescuetime.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.rememberthemilk.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.toggl.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Task and project management tools assist busy teachers in organizing, planning, remembering and completing tasks within deadlines. Project management software enables them to manage work and personal tasks in an orderly manner.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/trello.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/asana.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.meistertask.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Note taking apps are powerful to jot down ideas, create lists, and to make notes for later. Apple Notes and Google Keep are the built-in note-taking apps for Apple and Android smartphones. The ability to capture notes and ideas in real-time help people stay organized.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/evernote.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/products.office.com\/onenote\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/simplenote.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n A good documentary film helps to engage students in facts and history they may have difficulty to grasp due to lack of interest. Educational documentaries sites have a selection of topics to choose from without taking time to search online for a relevant one.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n http:\/\/freedocumentaries.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/topdocumentaryfilms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/documentaryheaven.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n There are sites and apps that help with the search for specific technology tools and for free resources. These sites will guide and assist teachers in finding the right app or resource.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/alternativeto.net\/<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.freenew.net\/<\/a><\/p>\n Digital portfolios showcase students\u2019 homework, assignments and projects in various mediums in one place. Portfolio platforms allow students to upload and add relevant content as they progress until their portfolio is completed and ready for assessment.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/dropr.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/pathbrite.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.weebly.com\/za<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/sites.google.com<\/a><\/p>\n Free online magazines and journals contain the latest educational technology information and trends. Subscribing to reading material may help teachers stay up to date with the constant changes in the technology world.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.techlearning.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.edutopia.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/thejournal.com\/Home.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n Personal learning networks (PLN) online is a way to connect, share, and network with peers globally. It provides opportunities to share experiences and work and also to learn from fellow educators.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/wabisabizen.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/home.edweb.net\/<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/edupln.ning.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.classroom20.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Education is an ongoing learning experience for students and teachers. The web has wonderful sites and tools for educators to further their professional development.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.educationworld.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.edweek.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.readwritethink.org\/professional-development\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.teachervision.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Create engaging flipped classrooms by using the latest technology tools. Learn ways how to use EdTech tools separately and how to combine various tools.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/flippedlearning.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.schoology.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.techsmith.com\/video-editor.html<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.edmodo.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Online safety is vital for the teacher as well as students. Be responsible when using online technology and teach students how to stay safe. Cyberbullying is as real as traditional bullying. Students need to how to handle a cyberbully and the latter need to realize the consequences of their actions.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.athinline.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/safety.google\/<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.antibullying.net\/resourceswwwlinks.htm<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.stopbullying.gov\/<\/a><\/p>\n Creative virtual experiences that engage students in learning more about the history and geography of the world.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/geoguessr.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/nearpod.com\/nearpod-vr<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.zeemaps.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Draw, highlight, add questions and embed videos directly on relevant websites pages to teach and instruct students. It saves time and the recognition is given to the source.<\/p>\n Resources to help <\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/insertlearning.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Social bookmarking to organize and share web content<\/h3>\n
3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Produce, edit and share videos<\/h3>\n
4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Create a virtual space for your classroom<\/h3>\n
5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Check for plagiarism<\/h3>\n
6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Capture screenshots for visual explanations<\/h3>\n
7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Edit digital images online<\/h3>\n
8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Photo caricature and cartoons<\/h3>\n
9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Infographics and posters to simplify topics<\/h3>\n
10.\u00a0 Conduct quick polls in class<\/h3>\n
11.\u00a0 Use technology for formative assessments<\/h3>\n
12.\u00a0 Use or create quizzes to test knowledge<\/h3>\n
13.\u00a0 Track time to improve productivity<\/h3>\n
14.\u00a0 Manage tasks and projects with free online software<\/h3>\n
15.\u00a0 Capture notes and stay organized<\/h3>\n
16.\u00a0 Find educational documentaries<\/h3>\n
17.\u00a0 Search for free apps and resources<\/h3>\n
18.\u00a0 Showcase academic work with digital portfolios online<\/h3>\n
19.\u00a0 Stay up to date with EdTech<\/h3>\n
20.\u00a0 Connect, network and share ideas online<\/h3>\n
21.\u00a0 Continue professional development<\/h3>\n
22.\u00a0 Organize flipped classrooms<\/h3>\n
23.\u00a0 Secure usage of online technology<\/h3>\n
24.\u00a0 Explore the world<\/h3>\n
25.\u00a0 Use web page to instruct<\/h3>\n