BetterLesson
BetterLesson is a lesson plan and curriculum resource site where teachers can upload their own unit and lesson plans, or download materials created by teachers from across the country. In partnership with the National Education Association (NEA), BetterLesson now features hundreds of common-core aligned lessons for both math and ELA, organized by grade level and standard. Each of these lessons include detailed lesson plans created by master teachers, as well as guided notes, PowerPoints, videos, rubrics, or any other materials that would be necessary to effectively execute the lesson.
BetterLesson is a lesson plan and curriculum resource site where teachers can upload their own unit and lesson plans, or download materials created by teachers from across the country. In partnership with the National Education Association (NEA), BetterLesson now features hundreds of common-core aligned lessons for both math and ELA, organized by grade level and standard. Each of these lessons include detailed lesson plans created by master teachers, as well as guided notes, PowerPoints, videos, rubrics, or any other materials that would be necessary to effectively execute the lesson.
Blendspace
Blendspace is an all-purpose classroom instruction tool. This platform allows a teacher to create a lesson for online access, assess a student's understanding of the lesson, and review analytics of the assessment. Blendspace can also be used by students to create and collaborate on curation projects. Teachers can organize instruction for a flipped classroom and solicit student responses to material, guide project-based learning and differentiate content for the unique needs of all the learners in the classroom. As the name suggests, Blendspace is a tool that was created especially for the blended classroom.
Blendspace is an all-purpose classroom instruction tool. This platform allows a teacher to create a lesson for online access, assess a student's understanding of the lesson, and review analytics of the assessment. Blendspace can also be used by students to create and collaborate on curation projects. Teachers can organize instruction for a flipped classroom and solicit student responses to material, guide project-based learning and differentiate content for the unique needs of all the learners in the classroom. As the name suggests, Blendspace is a tool that was created especially for the blended classroom.
Checkthis
Checkthis is an online tool that both students and teachers can use to create interactive “social posters”. The platform combines features of both Tumblr and Facebook, allowing users to add any combination of text, images, web links, and more, while offering real-time feedback through a public timeline that can be a useful space for reflection and feedback. Checkthis is also available through a free iPhone app, that students can use to develop social posters anytime, anywhere.
Checkthis is an online tool that both students and teachers can use to create interactive “social posters”. The platform combines features of both Tumblr and Facebook, allowing users to add any combination of text, images, web links, and more, while offering real-time feedback through a public timeline that can be a useful space for reflection and feedback. Checkthis is also available through a free iPhone app, that students can use to develop social posters anytime, anywhere.
Citelighter
Citelighter is a research and writing tool that allows students to highlight and capture information from online sources. Each time students capture information, a new digital note card is created, which includes not only the quotation from the source, but also the source’s bibliographic information. For a fee, Citelighter can be upgraded to include a very helpful teacher dashboard, that adds considerable transparency to the research and writing process. Through the dashboard, teachers have access to all of their students’ note cards and source cards, and can also monitor how much time students spend collecting notes and organizing their research. As part of this upgrade, users are given access to millions of credible articles through Cengage Learning, and can integrate their Citelighter note cards directly into Google Docs merely by dragging and dropping their quotations into their paper.
Citelighter is a research and writing tool that allows students to highlight and capture information from online sources. Each time students capture information, a new digital note card is created, which includes not only the quotation from the source, but also the source’s bibliographic information. For a fee, Citelighter can be upgraded to include a very helpful teacher dashboard, that adds considerable transparency to the research and writing process. Through the dashboard, teachers have access to all of their students’ note cards and source cards, and can also monitor how much time students spend collecting notes and organizing their research. As part of this upgrade, users are given access to millions of credible articles through Cengage Learning, and can integrate their Citelighter note cards directly into Google Docs merely by dragging and dropping their quotations into their paper.
Easel.ly
Easel.ly is an easy-to-use web-based platform that allows students to create and share infographics, or what the website describes as “visual ideas”. Students, who can register by using their email address or Google account, can either begin with a blank canvas or a template created and shared by one of easel.ly’s users. Students can then add text, as well as drag and drop images, shapes, and objects onto their canvas to create their infographic. Once done, the infographic can be shared with a teacher, printed in full color, and/or embedded within a PowerPoint, Prezi, or other presentation platform.
Easel.ly is an easy-to-use web-based platform that allows students to create and share infographics, or what the website describes as “visual ideas”. Students, who can register by using their email address or Google account, can either begin with a blank canvas or a template created and shared by one of easel.ly’s users. Students can then add text, as well as drag and drop images, shapes, and objects onto their canvas to create their infographic. Once done, the infographic can be shared with a teacher, printed in full color, and/or embedded within a PowerPoint, Prezi, or other presentation platform.
EDpuzzle
EDpuzzle is the perfect tool for those interested in flipping their classroom, or using video as an instructional tool. This cloud-based platform allows teachers to embed multiple choice and open-ended questions within video from YouTube, Kahn Academy, LearnZillion, and Crash Course, or within videos that are uploaded by the teacher. Through its teacher dashboard, teachers receive real-time feedback at the classroom and student level, and can quickly identify trends in student performance and content-knowledge gaps in need of remediation.
EDpuzzle is the perfect tool for those interested in flipping their classroom, or using video as an instructional tool. This cloud-based platform allows teachers to embed multiple choice and open-ended questions within video from YouTube, Kahn Academy, LearnZillion, and Crash Course, or within videos that are uploaded by the teacher. Through its teacher dashboard, teachers receive real-time feedback at the classroom and student level, and can quickly identify trends in student performance and content-knowledge gaps in need of remediation.
Google Apps for Education
Google Apps for Education includes the powerful suite of Docs, Slides, and Sheets, backed up by Google's cloud-based Drive. Docs, Slides, and Sheets are roughly equivalent to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, but are web-based and free! When using any of the Google apps, students no longer have to worry about forgetting to save or losing files, as the Drive constantly saves student work. Students can collaborate in real time while working with any of the apps. The teacher can also collaborate with students in real time and provide ongoing feedback in the form of comments. Google apps also eliminate the need to turn in assignments as students can simply share their work with their teacher digitally.
Google Apps for Education includes the powerful suite of Docs, Slides, and Sheets, backed up by Google's cloud-based Drive. Docs, Slides, and Sheets are roughly equivalent to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, but are web-based and free! When using any of the Google apps, students no longer have to worry about forgetting to save or losing files, as the Drive constantly saves student work. Students can collaborate in real time while working with any of the apps. The teacher can also collaborate with students in real time and provide ongoing feedback in the form of comments. Google apps also eliminate the need to turn in assignments as students can simply share their work with their teacher digitally.
LearnZillion
LearnZillion is a website that provides lesson plans and content targeting the Common Core State Standards. LearnZillion has a library of Common Core-based instructional materials created by teachers. In truly blended fashion, the website provides material for online and offline consumption. A teacher can create a class on LearnZillion, assign material for the class to review online, reinforce the lesson with offline material, and assess students using LearnZillion's assessment tools.
LearnZillion is a website that provides lesson plans and content targeting the Common Core State Standards. LearnZillion has a library of Common Core-based instructional materials created by teachers. In truly blended fashion, the website provides material for online and offline consumption. A teacher can create a class on LearnZillion, assign material for the class to review online, reinforce the lesson with offline material, and assess students using LearnZillion's assessment tools.
Nearpod
Nearpod is a web app that capitalizes on students' connectedness to their devices. A teacher can choose to create a presentation or find a presentation from Nearpod's lesson library. In real time, the class can share the presentation with each student viewing the slides on his or her own device. Slides can be interactive with built-in tools for formative assessment and polling. In a Nearpod lecture, the teacher can instantly see who is engaged with the material and who may need to view the material again.
Nearpod is a web app that capitalizes on students' connectedness to their devices. A teacher can choose to create a presentation or find a presentation from Nearpod's lesson library. In real time, the class can share the presentation with each student viewing the slides on his or her own device. Slides can be interactive with built-in tools for formative assessment and polling. In a Nearpod lecture, the teacher can instantly see who is engaged with the material and who may need to view the material again.
Newsela
Newsela is a website that will get all of your students, no matter their reading ability, talking about the news. With new material released daily, Newsela provides current events articles, right out of the daily newspapers, scaffolded to meet the needs of the diverse learners in your room. Each article is published at five different Lexile ranges, allowing your students to read high-interest material right within their zone of proximal development. Additionally, Newsela provides annotation tools for students to use as they read the news articles, and one out of every three articles comes with a quiz anchored in the Common Core. For an additional (unfortunately, substantial) fee, the teacher can assign news articles and track student progress on quizzes.
Newsela is a website that will get all of your students, no matter their reading ability, talking about the news. With new material released daily, Newsela provides current events articles, right out of the daily newspapers, scaffolded to meet the needs of the diverse learners in your room. Each article is published at five different Lexile ranges, allowing your students to read high-interest material right within their zone of proximal development. Additionally, Newsela provides annotation tools for students to use as they read the news articles, and one out of every three articles comes with a quiz anchored in the Common Core. For an additional (unfortunately, substantial) fee, the teacher can assign news articles and track student progress on quizzes.
NoRedInk
NoRedInk is every grammarian's dream. This web tool provides a fun way for students to practice grammar, all while the teacher reviews their results. A teacher can pick a grammar skill or skills for students to practice and NoRedInk magically creates a series of grammatically incorrect sentences for students to fix. NoRedInk gives explanations for grammar rules as students work their way through a series of sentences. Additionally, students pre-select their interests and NoRedInk creates sentences that are tailored to each student's choices. Because students learn at different paces, a teacher can assign different grammar skills for individuals or groups of students.
NoRedInk is every grammarian's dream. This web tool provides a fun way for students to practice grammar, all while the teacher reviews their results. A teacher can pick a grammar skill or skills for students to practice and NoRedInk magically creates a series of grammatically incorrect sentences for students to fix. NoRedInk gives explanations for grammar rules as students work their way through a series of sentences. Additionally, students pre-select their interests and NoRedInk creates sentences that are tailored to each student's choices. Because students learn at different paces, a teacher can assign different grammar skills for individuals or groups of students.
Padlet
Padlet's simplicity is its beauty. Padlet is a web app that simply provides a digital wall for posting. Although there are myriad uses for this web tool, Padlet can be used as a collaborative and instantaneous response forum. Padlet can be used as a back channel so that while the class is reviewing material, students can make note of their struggles or responses. Or, the teacher can ask a question and the class can post their responses on Padlet, ensuring every student participates.
Padlet's simplicity is its beauty. Padlet is a web app that simply provides a digital wall for posting. Although there are myriad uses for this web tool, Padlet can be used as a collaborative and instantaneous response forum. Padlet can be used as a back channel so that while the class is reviewing material, students can make note of their struggles or responses. Or, the teacher can ask a question and the class can post their responses on Padlet, ensuring every student participates.
PowToon
PowToon allows students and teachers to create professional-looking animated videos and presentations. It can be used as an alternative to traditional video projects, or embedded within a video to enhance its quality and engage the audience. Through its user-friendly interface, which simply requires that students drag and drop objects onto PowToon’s blank canvas and then add text, students can quickly create eye-catching animated presentations. Once a PowToon is created, it can be downloaded or exported directly to YouTube.
PowToon allows students and teachers to create professional-looking animated videos and presentations. It can be used as an alternative to traditional video projects, or embedded within a video to enhance its quality and engage the audience. Through its user-friendly interface, which simply requires that students drag and drop objects onto PowToon’s blank canvas and then add text, students can quickly create eye-catching animated presentations. Once a PowToon is created, it can be downloaded or exported directly to YouTube.
Prezi
Prezi is a cloud-based presentation platform that can be used by teachers or students to create visually captivating and memorable presentations. Aesthetically, it is more interesting and dynamic than PowerPoint, in that it allows users to create presentations that move across a canvas, zooming in and out to draw the audience’s attention to particular ideas or connections. Other benefits of Prezi include the ability to access a wealth of professionally-designed templates for a presentation, a built-in Google image search to minimize the time students would spend searching for images to include in their presentation, and collaborative tools that allow multiple users to simultaneously edit the same presentation.
Prezi is a cloud-based presentation platform that can be used by teachers or students to create visually captivating and memorable presentations. Aesthetically, it is more interesting and dynamic than PowerPoint, in that it allows users to create presentations that move across a canvas, zooming in and out to draw the audience’s attention to particular ideas or connections. Other benefits of Prezi include the ability to access a wealth of professionally-designed templates for a presentation, a built-in Google image search to minimize the time students would spend searching for images to include in their presentation, and collaborative tools that allow multiple users to simultaneously edit the same presentation.
Quizlet
Quizlet is an outstanding study tool that transforms vocabulary flashcards into an exciting and dynamic digital experience. Teachers can either create flashcard sets and make them available to students, or have students create those sets on their own. Once done, using either a computer or a mobile device (through the Quizlet app), students can access and study the vocabulary anytime, anywhere. For a small annual fee, teachers can register for access to the Teacher Dashboard, which helps to organize Quizlet flashcard sets by class, and also enables the teacher to monitor how often students are studying, and with which terms students are demonstrating mastery or might need additional remediation.
Quizlet is an outstanding study tool that transforms vocabulary flashcards into an exciting and dynamic digital experience. Teachers can either create flashcard sets and make them available to students, or have students create those sets on their own. Once done, using either a computer or a mobile device (through the Quizlet app), students can access and study the vocabulary anytime, anywhere. For a small annual fee, teachers can register for access to the Teacher Dashboard, which helps to organize Quizlet flashcard sets by class, and also enables the teacher to monitor how often students are studying, and with which terms students are demonstrating mastery or might need additional remediation.
Socrative
Socrative is a free student response system that teachers can use to create true/false, multiple choice, and short answer formative assessments. Using either a tablet, smartphone, or personal computer, students login and interact in real time with pre-planned checks for understanding. This dynamic interface also generates visually appealing assessment data that can be displayed anonymously for all students, or exported to a Google spreadsheet or an Excel file for teachers to review in greater detail later.
Socrative is a free student response system that teachers can use to create true/false, multiple choice, and short answer formative assessments. Using either a tablet, smartphone, or personal computer, students login and interact in real time with pre-planned checks for understanding. This dynamic interface also generates visually appealing assessment data that can be displayed anonymously for all students, or exported to a Google spreadsheet or an Excel file for teachers to review in greater detail later.
Stripgenerator
Stripgenerator allows the artistically-deficient to create fun, creative, and aesthetically pleasing comic strips that can be printed or shared electronically. Through its easy-to-use interface, students begin by identifying how they want to organize their strip, selecting the number of frames and their respective size and location. Once done, they can drag and drop characters and items into each frame, edit the size, positioning, and overall look of each object, and then add text through several different speech and thought bubbles. Although registration is not required, students who wish to return to their comic strip or preserve their work over time should register with the site.
Stripgenerator allows the artistically-deficient to create fun, creative, and aesthetically pleasing comic strips that can be printed or shared electronically. Through its easy-to-use interface, students begin by identifying how they want to organize their strip, selecting the number of frames and their respective size and location. Once done, they can drag and drop characters and items into each frame, edit the size, positioning, and overall look of each object, and then add text through several different speech and thought bubbles. Although registration is not required, students who wish to return to their comic strip or preserve their work over time should register with the site.
WeVideo
WeVideo is a versatile, easy-to-use cloud-based video editing platform that is available for free on the web and through an Android and iPhone app. The platform offers many of the same features as expensive video editing software, but without the high costs or steep learning curve. For a small fee, students, teachers, or schools can subscribe to WeVideo and gain access to many additional features, including the ability to engage in collaborative video editing.
WeVideo is a versatile, easy-to-use cloud-based video editing platform that is available for free on the web and through an Android and iPhone app. The platform offers many of the same features as expensive video editing software, but without the high costs or steep learning curve. For a small fee, students, teachers, or schools can subscribe to WeVideo and gain access to many additional features, including the ability to engage in collaborative video editing.