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Technology Tutorial

Tuesday, 03 June 2014 13:43
Technology Tutorial

Using technology to teach is great, but the options are vast—and it can be overwhelming to sift through and find the best websites and apps to use in your classroom. Luckily, Leigh Anne Frazier and Cindy Curry have done some of the sifting for you!

In their 2014 NAA Annual Convention presentation "Using Technology to Reach Your Students," Frazier and Curry identify free apps and websites for a variety of purposes.

 

ORGANIZATION

  • Dropbox.com allows you to store files in a "cloud," so you can access them even if you forget your flash drive, or the school server is down. It is also a great way to share resources with students.
  • Keeper is a free app that provides secure storage for your passwords.

READING MATERIAL

  • Storia, by Scholastic, is a free app that includes five free Scholastic titles, with more available for purchase.
  • Storylineonline.net provides free narrated storybooks, which young readers can listen to and read along with in digital format.
  • Wegivebooks.org is free, but requires registration to access its video collection of picture books being read.
  • Zite is a free app that provides access to magazine and newspaper articles, blogs, and videos, analyzing past "likes" to suggest items you'll find interesting.

 FUNDRAISING

  • Donorschoose.org provides a platform for teachers to describe their projects and funding needs, allowing donors to select their favorites.
  • Teacherspayteachers.com allows teachers to buy, sell, and share their original teaching materials.

ACADEMIC RESOURCES

  • IXL is a website and a free app with interactive K-12 math and language arts skills practice.
  • Brainpop and Brainpop Jr. are free apps and websites with a variety of interactive games and other resources for academic subjects and other topics.

LOOK LIKE A TECH WIZARD ... EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT!

  • Animoto.com provides "shockingly easy" software to turn your photos into video slideshows with a soundtrack.
  • Bitstrips is a free app and a website that allows you and your students to create cartoons, building original characters that can be shared across digital platforms.
  • Flipagram is a free app that will create a video with soundtrack using pictures from your Facebook or Instagram accounts, or from your phone, and can be shared in a variety of platforms, including e-mail.
  • Best Apps for Kids provides information on new apps as well as old favorites, and also features a "Free App Friday."
  • Smarttech.com is an online community for sharing Smart Board compatible presentations and activities.
  • Surveymonkey.com allows teachers to set up quick digital surveys to check understanding, collect feedback, get to know students, and practice test-taking skills.

Download full presentation slides here.

 

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