Featured Sites Week of: Sep 23, 2018 -

Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive

 

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Microsoft Translator for Education - Microsoft

Grades
K to 12
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Microsoft Translator provides translation between languages in two ways. Use this tool to converse with individual participants or groups on iOS or Android devices or on a computer....more
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Microsoft Translator provides translation between languages in two ways. Use this tool to converse with individual participants or groups on iOS or Android devices or on a computer. Begin by choosing "start conversation" and enter your name and language choice. Microsoft Translator provides a code that participants can share to log in to the conversation on their device via the Translator website or app. There are two options: click on the conversation option to start a conversation, and then speak or type your words. Participants on the other end hear and view the text in their desired language. Option 2 is to click the text option to translate. Copy and paste text or a webpage URL into the first box and choose "Translate." The translator converts the text into your choice of many different languages. At the time of this review, Translator supports 10 languages, and up to 100 people can participate in a single conversation.

tag(s): chinese (40), DAT device agnostic tool (134), french (74), german (51), greek (46), hebrew (18), italian (33), japanese (54), Microsoft (47), russian (27), spanish (113)

In the Classroom

Use Translator to greet "other language" speaking students and make them feel welcome in your classroom; encourage conversations between them and your class. Take advantage of Translator to broaden your classroom's global perspective by engaging in conversations with others worldwide. Use this site in world language classrooms to have students copy their text to convert it into the language being studied (or vice versa). Enhance student learning by having students create presentations about other countries in the native language of the nation using a presentation tool like Canva, reviewed here. Enhance your technology presentations by incorporating multimedia elements. Use a tool such as Genially, reviewed here, to incorporate multimedia like maps, surveys, video, audio, and more.

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Text to Speech Reader - WellSource Ltd

Grades
K to 12
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Drag, upload, or paste text files to convert your text to speech instantly. Choose from many voice and language options for replay. Other options allow control over the speed of ...more
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Drag, upload, or paste text files to convert your text to speech instantly. Choose from many voice and language options for replay. Other options allow control over the speed of your speech replay, combining multiple voices and languages in a single document to create dialogs and for language learners - students create a combo - English - and the translation in the language they're learning, and edit while playing the audio. Use the upload icon to save to your computer.
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tag(s): chinese (40), french (74), german (51), multilingual (83), spanish (113), text to speech (24)

In the Classroom

Share with world language learners to hear text spoken in the native language. Use this site with ENL/ELL students to convert small pieces of text to their native language. Use the speed options to slow down speech for students who are language learners. Use this site with students who have difficulty reading, especially when working with more challenging passages and text. Include a link to this site on your class website for students to use when learning new vocabulary in a different language and for your ENL/ELL students to hear something read or pronounced both in and outside of class.

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SMMRY - smmry.com

Grades
6 to 12
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Did you ever wish for a website that would summarize long articles of text? SMMRY grants your wish! Copy and paste text, PDF's, websites, or online articles into the text ...more
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Did you ever wish for a website that would summarize long articles of text? SMMRY grants your wish! Copy and paste text, PDF's, websites, or online articles into the text box, upload a PDF file or paste a URL to begin. Choose the number of sentences for the summary, then click the summarize box and view your summary. Some documents and PDF's may be too long and you may need to upload them rather than using the URL. Or, you could do a copy and paste into the summary box if necessary.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (358), learning disability (20), Special Needs (46), summarizing (30)

In the Classroom

Introduce SMMRY to students working on research projects as a way to quickly determine content and viability of using websites. Use to differentiate instruction with students. Use with learning support students as a resource to make content easier to understand (and shorter to read). Use SMMRY summaries when teaching how to summarize in an ENL class. Compare the summary you create as a class or in small groups with the "automated" one. Are there subtleties or important distinctions that this tool misses? As a challenge for your more critical thinkers, have them try to figure out what signals the tool uses to create its summary.

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MoocNote - MoocNote.com

Grades
6 to 12
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Add comments, links, and questions to online videos with MoocNote. Create a free account, then import any YouTube video or playlist by pasting the URL. Other options include adding...more
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Add comments, links, and questions to online videos with MoocNote. Create a free account, then import any YouTube video or playlist by pasting the URL. Other options include adding videos from DropBox or Google Drive. Return to unfinished videos from where you left off. Notes link back to the appropriate spot in the video and collect in one central spot for easy viewing. Options on the site allow you to create groups to share videos and adjust privacy settings.

tag(s): note taking (36), organizational skills (92), study aid (175)

In the Classroom

Be sure to view the Help link the bottom of the page for directions about how to use MoocNote. Share YouTube playlists with students using MoocNotes, add questions or additional information for student viewing. Only registered members can access your videos so that each student will need his own account. Another option is to set up a single teacher account and have all the students use the class login to avoid safety concerns. They could add their own information by including their code-name on notes. This tool would be perfect for adding student accountability to the flipped or blended classroom!

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NicerTube - NicerTube.com

Grades
6 to 12
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NicerTube lets you share YouTube videos in a clean, uncluttered format that is easier for students to view and focus on. It transforms a standard YouTube link into an attractive, ...more
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NicerTube lets you share YouTube videos in a clean, uncluttered format that is easier for students to view and focus on. It transforms a standard YouTube link into an attractive, distraction-free page. To use it, paste in any YouTube video URL, choose a design style, and select a background such as a solid color or webpage layout. Once your design is complete, copy the new link and share it with students. The free version lets you create up to 3 lessons, making it best for occasional use or testing before committing to more. If your district blocks YouTube, this tool may or may not work with your school filters, so it is recommended to test a sample link first.
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tag(s): safety (64)

In the Classroom

Use NicerTube anytime you wish to share YouTube without all of the "clutter" or just spice up a presentation! This is great to use for your more easily distracted students! Share the link with your students for sharing their videos in presentations. Use your NicerTube created links within your classroom presentations to spice up video presentation at any time!

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Online Voice Recorder - 123apps

Grades
K to 12
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Just as the name says, Online Voice Recorder allows you to record your voice from your computer and save the file. With no membership required, this is a free and ...more
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Just as the name says, Online Voice Recorder allows you to record your voice from your computer and save the file. With no membership required, this is a free and simple recording treasure! Simply push the record button and follow screen prompts to ALLOW the application access to your computer's microphone. Talk as long as desired. Then listen to the recorded playback. Trim and edit the length using easy sliders as desired. Save your finished version in MP3 format using the link.
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tag(s): blended learning (30), communication (126), fluency (33), noregistration (74), preK (351), speech (64), spelling (96), study aid (175)

In the Classroom

Have students practice spelling words orally, record speeches, practice reading fluency, and much more using Online Voice Recorder. After recording, allow students to listen to the playback and reflect upon the quality of their work. Do before and after recordings of students to share with parents during conferences to demonstrate reading progress. Have students record weekly summaries for what has happened in your class to share on your class website or blog (you will have to upload the files). Record weekly or daily homework assignments and share as a voice recording on your website. Save file space by replacing old files with new ones. Online Voice Recorder would be an excellent resource for recording and sharing more complicated directions for projects and assignments (adding you voice intonation and cues!). Your weaker readers and ENL/ESL students may do better with a combination of written AND auditory directions. Provide the link on your class website for students to use at home for additional practice in spelling, reading, practicing reports, and more. Share this site with parents at Back to School Night. Have students write and record audio book reviews others can play on iPads in the school library. If you have gifted students in your classroom, this tool is simple enough for even the youngest to be able to record audio mini-dramas portraying a historic figure, poetry readings, and more. Be sure to show them how to NAME and download the files to the local computer! Anything they can say out loud can become a creative project recording. Don't forget about recording musical performances or practices.

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Top Ten Tips for Working With ENL/ESL Students - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
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Teaching ESL./ELL students in your regular classroom can be a challenge. You feel great empathy for the children who enter your room, bewildered, but you have the rest of the ...more
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Teaching ESL./ELL students in your regular classroom can be a challenge. You feel great empathy for the children who enter your room, bewildered, but you have the rest of the class to think of, too. TeachersFirst offers these Top Ten Tips for Teachers working with ENL/ESL students to help you find appropriate ways to differentiate instruction and make minor adjustments for the individual student and maximize the benefit of having these new students in the class.

tag(s): teaching strategies (88)

In the Classroom

From TeacherFirst, this site is a helpful resource for new ENL/ESL teachers, or to pass along to general education teachers who are eager to know how to best assimilate a new ENL/ESL student into their classroom. Save the site as a favorite on your desktop to allow easy reference whenever, and pass it along to interested peers!

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