Bitmoji app-fun way for teachers or students to create personalized avatars to use in projects, presentations, or to simply send via social media.
Seesaw app/seesaw.me-great way for students to keep a digital portfolio. My students have been using this for about 6 months. I just wish more parents subscribed, commented, etc. Parents often complain to me about not getting any "papers" from school work anymore-this is the digital form of that and so much more. Students can comment on each others' work, receive feedback from parents, and now it even has the blog addition [we still use KidBlog, but I am curious to see what Seesaw's blog evolves into...]. Students can explain their work, add text or recording, etc. Great program. If you have devices where students are creating "things", you should be using Seesaw!
Hstry.co is a great website that allows teachers or students to create timelines with interactive capabilities. You can put in facts, quizzes, videos, etc. to jazz up the typical ole timelines. History teachers where are ya?!
Citethisforme.com allows a Chrome extension that automatically lists the citation of sources in whatever format you are specified to use [MLA, etc.]
Gzaas.com is a website that allows you to create messages to use FULL SCREEN. This is great for projects or simply for an intro or directions for an activity.
Cookie Caster allows you to create and design cookie cutters to print with a 3D printer-I am SO envious of teachers that have 3D printers....I want Santa to bring me one of those!
Quizzizz was a popular phrase at Neta....much like Kahoot but has a few unique features, such as allows you to have longer time limitations and allows students to work at their own pace, and also shows the question and the answer choices on the students' device.
BouncyBalls app-app that monitors students' voice level. I believe my 6th graders would purposely make random noises to see the balls bounce all over the screen, but maybe primary would handle it somewhat better?
Prodigy math app-similar to Front Row where you try to save up and buy things for your avatar but you can also challenge and play against others.
JustMath Tutorials/Mashup Math-both give students tutorial videos to watch when they don't understand a math concept. TONS of videos between these two sources.
Breakyourownnews.com allows you to put any picture on a breaking news story, where you can type the headlines that go with the screen....then download it and can use it in projects, etc.
Pixabay gives you FREE high quality videos and images that you are free to download and in any size you choose.
Storybots for pre K or K teachers....has cute rhyming videos for numbers, letters, etc.
Noredink.com allows teachers to create Grammar lessons using students' favorite artists, actors, etc as the subject in the sentence. Just a way to make typical grammar practice problems a little more exciting for your students.
Codemonkey is an app that is coding based....the difference between this one and Hopscotch or Tickle is that CodeMonkey has you actually type in the commands vs just a drag and drop program.
Nicertube is a way to share YouTube videos without ads, comments, other videos, etc. You can also customize the background that the selected video is playing on top of.
BreakoutEDU is an activity you can create for ANY subject that follows a typical escape room format. You create clues that correspond to different locks [combination locks, letter locks, etc.] and students have 40 minutes or so to "break out". AWESOME activity that I highly recommend looking into. $100 from their site OR you can create your own box and buy locks from Amazon, local hardware stores, etc.
ClassCraft is a web based way to gamily your classroom. Award students different points for different projects or assignments or pop quizzes. Students earn points so they can shop for their avatar, name another group and delete their existing name, and go to "battles".
Periodic Table Battleship-create a battleship game but instead use Periodic Table. Call out the elements instead of giving a number and letter, etc. OR ask a question, if they get it right, they get a turn to try to and sink the opponent's ship.
Ken Shelton shared a LOT of great tips on video production, creating slides, the do's and don'ts, etc. I would definitely recommend following him on Twitter @k_shelton.
Tony Vincent was a keynote presenter on the 2nd day of Neta. I have always LOVED Tony's ideas and tips for the classroom. He is very passionate about technology and education. Again, @tonyvincent if you don't follow him already. He is known for apps such as Stick Around [and Explain Everything, I believe. ] He has a great video on his website about InfoPics, which my students use almost daily by the way. His link is HERE. He elaborated on that video and told us about wonderful apps to create those beautiful info pics.....[my students love Pic Collage, but when I showed them these they are hooked]. He discussed Typorama, Pixlr, Canva, SnapSeed, and even told us about Photofunia app or website that allows you to put your picture anywhere [side of a building, football field, Mt Rushmore, etc.]. Check these apps out if you are at all doing information pictures!
My students have really enjoyed coding with Ollie and Sphero [see previous posts]. I learned of a few more robots that use the Tickle app to drag and drop commands to make the robot go. I went on eBay and was able to bid, win, and purchase these awesome "drones". My students are pumped! The first picture is the Jumping Sumo drone that has an HD camera in front....is able to JUMP and flip, spin on 90 and 180 degree angles, etc. The 2nd drone allows students to add on lego pieces and can fly. The third is the Rolling Spider drone where it can fly using the 4 propellers OR can climb walls when it detects them. The down side to the flying ones is battery life. They only have about 15 minutes of fly time on average. So I will definitely be investing in some extra batteries and a charging station. Hopefully I can find these on eBay as well :)
Google Cardboard/VR app and goggles. I LOVE THIS IDEA! I had heard of Google Cardboard but wasn't sure if it was worth my time or money. After exploring several different pairs of glasses, I purchased two separate types on eBay [do you see a theme here?]. I am going to bring in my old smartphones for students to use with the apps already downloaded on them. I may also look into using our district's set of iPods that have been collecting dust for a while now. Essentially with the phone app and these glasses, students are able to "visit" places and get 360 degree views. Last night, from the comfort of my bed, I visited: Tokyo, Paris, Pyramids of Giza, rode on a roller coaster, stood on top and above the Seattle Space Needle, flew a plane, etc. Think of all the places we can go and actually let our students EXPERIENCE places they would normally never be able to travel to!!
I received the cardboard kind in the mail yesterday. They were a bit annoying to put together, but for 4 dollars....who can beat that?
I am still waiting on these slightly nicer ones with padding and a specific slot to put your device in:
With all of these new ideas, apps, games, etc....I am almost HEARTBROKEN we only have 3 and half weeks of school left! My summer school students and future students will have TONS of different Maker Space options. With these new tools, plus the Makey Makey, Little Bits, Ollie, Sphero and accessories we already have....students are in for a FUN RIDE!
If you use any of these or are interested or have questions/comments/etc please COMMENT below or feel free to follow me on Twitter @esalie13
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