TeachersFirst BYOD Dream Tools: Free Tools that Work on ANY device!
This collection of reviewed resources and tools from TeachersFirst includes web tools and apps that are available for FREE on iOS (iPad, iPhone), Android, and web devices. Come here to find tools that your students can use as they do instructional activities in your BYOD or 1-1 classroom. In this collection, you will find tools and resources that include calculators, quiz creators, game makers, curation tools, interactive lessons, Venn-diagram creators, literacy accessibility tools, online time trackers, meme creators, podcast makers, translator tools, task list creators, and many other free tools that will work on any device.
Even the best device-agnostic resources have slight differences in capabilities on different devices. Encourage your students to share what they discover about additional or missing features on each type of device. Your class will quickly appoint experts for each resource or tool. TeachersFirst encourages our members (membership is FREE) to add comments and ratings to help other teachers and students who are trying these tools. Free resources and tools change quickly, so we welcome your comments on any changes that may occur to these tools and their free status.
(image credit: Jeremy Keith)
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Simplenote - automattic.com
Grades
K to 12
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (124), organizational skills (80)
In the Classroom
Use Simplenote for all notes and ideas in all aspects of your busy life. Keep your file system with you all of the time! Instruct students in the use of Simplenote for notetaking needs. Share outlines and study guides with students. All members can collaborate and add thoughts. Offer as a way to improve organizational skills.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Libib - Javod Khalaj
Grades
K to 12tag(s): book lists (154), DAT device agnostic tool (124), preK (289)
In the Classroom
Libib is perfect for organizing and cataloging your classroom book collection. Use the tag features to organize your collection by genres, subject, authors, or any way you need. Tag books for specific students or reading levels. Post a link on your web page and share Libib with your students as a way for them to give opinions on current books and movies.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Epic! For Educators - Suren Markosian and Kevin Donahue
Grades
K to 6This site includes advertising.
tag(s): classroom management (107), DAT device agnostic tool (124), ebooks (47), movies (50), reading lists (75)
In the Classroom
Create your free educator account and share with students as part of your reading activities. Adjust reading preferences and profiles as students increase skills or change interest in reading materials. Be sure to share with parents to use at home. What a fantastic, engaging way to keep students accountable for reading at home and for remote learning.Comments
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The Stock Market Game - Securities Industry and Financial Markets Assoc Foundation
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): business (46), DAT device agnostic tool (124), game based learning (244), investing (6), money (107), stock market (13)
In the Classroom
Participants who register as "Teachers with Classes" receive extensive teacher support, including a searchable library of standards, curriculum materials, and assessments. While providing real-world practice, SMG engages students in core academic subjects, including math, English, and economics. Lesson plans include Teacher Background and materials to implement the lesson with students. Find more information by perusing additional publications, links, and other resources. Contact a local SMG Coordinator for additional assistance. Use the game in individual classes, school-wide, in after-school clubs, or with home-schoolers. Encourage families to play at home together or collaborate with others. Additional benefits include higher math and financial literacy scores on tests by students who play SMG. Also, teachers report that the program even taught them about financial planning, research, and investing wisely. Because this is an ongoing activity, enhance learning by utilizing technology throughout. Have students share financial resource sites using a bookmarking tool like Wakelet, reviewed here. In addition to curating and sharing bookmarks, Papaly allows you the opportunity to add notes and comments to sites shared. Have students use a video creation tool like Powtoon, reviewed here, to make explainer videos of financial concepts. Ask groups of students to produce and share podcasts (perhaps weekly or bi-weekly) to discuss their learning and progress within the Stock Market Game. Buzzsprout, reviewed here, is a free tool for creating and sharing podcasts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Airtable - Emmett Nicholas, Howie Liu, Andrew Ofstad
Grades
K to 12tag(s): bookmarks (32), collaboration (87), curation (23), DAT device agnostic tool (124)
In the Classroom
Use Airtable to collaborate on lessons with other teachers, both local and across the world. Share with students to use when collaborating on projects or to create study guides. Use the provided templates to catalog your books or share study guides with students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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PicFont - Picfont.com
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (124), digital storytelling (147), editing (82), images (250), noregistration (81)
In the Classroom
Use this easy tool to replace paper posters and add captions to images, create memes, or posters for your bulletin boards. Use this easy tool with students during back-to-school time as a way for them to get to know each other. Have students upload a picture of themselves doing their favorite activity and label it with amusing text or a favorite quote (or song lyrics?). Have them upload images that represent their interests and character traits. Print the images with text for a back-to-school bulletin board. Use after a field trip for students to write captions on the photos they took. Be sure to share the photos on your class web page, blog, or wiki. Haven't started blogging yet? Check out TeachersFirst's Blog Basics. For other uses, have students practice new words in a world language class by labeling and identifying images in that language. Create writing prompts using several annotated images. Have students create annotated images to explain key terms in science class. In ELA class, make homophone or vocabulary images to show the correct word along with a picture that explains it.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wattpad - Allen Lau & Ivan Yuen
Grades
10 to 12tag(s): creative writing (123), DAT device agnostic tool (124), ebooks (47), independent reading (81)
In the Classroom
Share Wattpad with students as a resource for free, online reading material. Caution is necessary with this site because it is entirely open to the public. Be aware of what your district's restrictions are regarding this kind of activity. Depending on your circumstances and school district policies, this site might best be used under a teacher login. You can display models on your interactive whiteboard for students to respond to, either individually or as a class. You might have reactions to some of the stories or have students write their own critiques of the spotlighted work before sharing what others on the site have posted. Using Wattpad in class may also encourage students to seek out writing on their own and may motivate them to share their work with classmates for feedback. This site may also be a suitable venue for students who collaborate on a high school literary magazine or for gifted high school students seeking writing mentors outside of the school community (with parental permission, of course).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Quizlet Live - Quizlet
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): collaboration (87), DAT device agnostic tool (124), game based learning (244), quizzes (85), spelling (94), vocabulary (243), word study (57)
In the Classroom
Use Quizlet Live to introduce new topics or content, or as a review before testing. Quizlet Live would be an excellent tool for the start of the year to help students get to know each other, or use throughout the year to have students work with different students in cooperative learning activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Goosechase edu - Andrew Cross
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): creativity (82), DAT device agnostic tool (124), game based learning (244), gamification (90)
In the Classroom
Use GooseChase in your classroom as part of your project based learning activities. Assign a series of activities to groups for completion. Differentiate projects based on student interest and ability. Use one of the many educational games already in the library to see great examples of how to use GooseChase for any subject area. GooseChase would be an excellent addition to staff meetings. Have participants locate information on websites, textbooks, or throughout your school as part of professional development. Create a GooseChase for students as part of a nature walk outside of your school, ask younger students to find different geometric shapes, or have students draw pictures of main characters in books as part of a GooseChase mission.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
Requires download/installation of software
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TinyTap - Yogev Shelly
Grades
K to 12tag(s): assessment (129), DAT device agnostic tool (124), game based learning (244), quiz (63), quizzes (85), Teacher Utilities (175)
In the Classroom
Use the embed code provided with activities to embed activities on your class website for play at home. Create a link to activities on classroom computers. Create your own activities (or have older students create review materials) to include with lessons. Be sure to watch the demo video for information about making your own games.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
Requires download/installation of software
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Zoom - Eric Yuan
Grades
K to 12tag(s): chat (36), communication (115), DAT device agnostic tool (124), parent conferences (20)
In the Classroom
Use Zoom to set up virtual parent/teacher conferences with participants located anywhere in the world. This is especially useful when multiple teachers are involved or when parents may not reside in the exact location. Share your screen as needed to provide information on assessments and student work. Connect whole classrooms across the country for book clubs. Collaborate with experts, such as authors and scientists, in classrooms with children. Create connected learning experiences with other students, especially those in older grades. Connect world language classes to classes in different countries. Teachers can hold "office hours" for homework help and to ask questions. Create a collaborative space for homework help before or after school or on snow days. Students can meet whenever help is needed, or teachers can create a session that can be accessed on any device easily by those who need it. Consider using a tool such as Remind, reviewed here, to alert parents and students when your sessions are open. Use Zoom for group work - no more excuses about not being able to meet for cooperative learning projects! Buildings can collaborate and share professional development with others in their own district and beyond!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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OneNote - Microsoft
Grades
K to 12tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (124), Microsoft (54), organizational skills (80), Storage (6)
In the Classroom
Use OneNote for all notes, ideas, and photographs in all aspects of your busy life. Keep your file system with you all of the time! Instruct students in the use of OneNote for notetaking needs. Share outlines and study guides with students. All members can collaborate and add thoughts. Offer as a way to improve organizational skills.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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PenPal Schools - Joe Troyen
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (218), collaboration (87), cross cultural understanding (175), DAT device agnostic tool (124)
In the Classroom
Help students create thoughtful responses and commentsby researching the provided topic by using the Venn Diagram Creator by Canva, reviewed here to compare and contrast information to discuss. Learn more about the countries in your group using Google My Maps, reviewed here to create a collaborative map of each country and add information about landmarks, large cities, and places of cultural importance.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Voxer - Tom Katis
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): chat (36), communication (115), DAT device agnostic tool (124), listening (95), microblogging (14), multilingual (73), social media (57), speaking (22), speech (65)
In the Classroom
Extend classroom technology use by using Voxer with early readers in your Daily 5 literacy structure for oral reading and listening to others read. Archive students' reading fluency at the beginning of the year, making comparisons throughout the year. Send the Voxer sample readings to parents via email so they can hear the progress and your comments, too. Use Voxer with any language learning students, both ENL/ESL and world languages. Students can practice speaking and listening in their new language. Connect with another class in a country speaking the language your students are learning for rich, real-world discussions. Create small groups to discuss anything from current events, to how to complete a math problem, to contributions for group research projects. Middle and high school teachers can use Voxer for communication between classes posting a question about the reading they are doing, an equation in math, or a lab in science. Collaborate with another classroom across the state or in another country allowing students to discuss with other students not in their school. Reluctant writers could use this tool to brainstorm their thoughts for a writing piece. With students under 13 consider setting up a class account using a global login. Students would need to give their first name when contributing so you will know who is speaking.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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Add Text - FlamingText.com Pty Ltd.
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creativity (82), DAT device agnostic tool (124), digital storytelling (147), editing (82), images (250), noregistration (81)
In the Classroom
Use Add Text to add captions to images to create memes or posters for your bulletin boards. Use this easy tool with students during back to school time as a way for them to get to know each other. Have students upload a picture of themselves doing their favorite activity and label it with amusing text or a favorite quote (or song lyrics?). Have them upload images that represent their interests and character traits. Print the images with text for a back to school bulletin board. Use after a field trip for students to write captions on the photos they took. Be sure to share the photos on your class webpage, blog, or wiki. Haven't started blogging yet? Check out TeachersFirst's Blog Basics. For other uses, have students practice new words in a world language class by labeling and identifying images in that language. Help ENL/ESL students learn English by labeling the images. Create writing prompts using several annotated images. Have students create annotated images to explain key terms in science class. In ELA class, make homophone or vocabulary images to show the correct word along with a picture that explains it.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Seesaw - Charles Lin, Carl Sjogreen , Adrian Graham
Grades
K to 10tag(s): blogs (63), communication (115), DAT device agnostic tool (124), digital storytelling (147), Learning Management Systems (18), portfolios (21), Teacher Utilities (175)
In the Classroom
Sign up for Seesaw, and after students have parental permission, generate a join code for the class from the menu at the upper right corner or by clicking your name or initials in the left corner to get a drop down menu. The join code expires in 15 minutes, so it is best to do this in your classroom or computer lab. Teachers can add photos, drawings, links, notes, and upload a file from this same menu by clicking the + symbol. You can even add a co-teacher! See Seesaw's FAQs for ways for parents to sign up and letters to send home. Use Seesaw portfolios for any subject or grade level. Once your account is set up, create a simple project or borrow one from the Activities on the Help and Teacher Resources page. Share the project on your interactive whiteboard or projector to get your students started. The teacher portal allows you to access and comment on student work. View the work of an individual or the entire class. The ability to import work from many creation apps to Seesaw makes this a perfect portfolio tool. Don't forget to watch the video about setting up blogs for your students. Remember, this is all free! Science teachers could have students write up their lab reports, take photos of their labs and label them in a portfolio. History teachers could set up portfolios for student report writing or digital storytelling projects. Seesaw is the perfect tool to use during parent conferences.Comments
I love using Seesaw with my elementary school students. It's great that parents can comment also.Katy, , Grades: 0 - 12
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FreeConferenceCall.com - freeconferencecall.com
Grades
K to 12tag(s): blended learning (27), chat (36), communication (115), DAT device agnostic tool (124), parent conferences (20), parents (53), remote learning (31)
In the Classroom
Use Free Conference Call to set up virtual parent/teacher conferences with participants located anywhere in the world. This is especially useful when multiple teachers are involved or when parents may not reside in the exact location. Share your screen as needed to provide information on assessments and student work.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Merlin Photo ID - Beta - The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Grades
K to 12tag(s): birds (42), DAT device agnostic tool (124), ecosystems (89), habitats (99)
In the Classroom
Use this app when out in the field with your students for any reason and for any subject. Encourage observation by students in identifying birds that are located in your community. Follow the identification of the bird by creating related art, music, poetry, or stories. In Biology, identify how the bird fits into the food chain. Identify the plant species that each bird uses for food or shelter. In Math, map the sightings of birds, looking at the density of various species.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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4 Numbers Game - 4nums.com
Grades
1 to 8tag(s): addition (118), DAT device agnostic tool (124), division (96), equations (114), mental math (18), multiplication (118), problem solving (240), subtraction (105)
In the Classroom
Share the 4 Numbers Game on an interactive whiteboard or projector to demonstrate how to play, and then create a link to 4 Numbers on classroom computers. Challenge students to begin playing without time limits. As they become more skilled, start using the clock and have them try to beat it. Have students take a screenshot of any game they are playing. Next, they can upload the screenshot image and add voice bubbles to explain what they learned. Use a tool such as Phrase.it, reviewed here. If you do not know how to convert a screenshot into an image file, take a picture of the screen using a digital camera, then upload the file to your computer. Be sure to share a link to the 4 Numbers Game on your class website or blog for play at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Plickers - Nolan Amy
Grades
1 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): assessment (129), DAT device agnostic tool (124), game based learning (244), gamification (90), qr codes (15), questioning (34), quiz (63)
In the Classroom
Create greater student engagement and increased student interest in your classroom with Plickers. Students give their input anonymously. Print out Plickers' cards and hand out to students. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to explain how the Plickers cards work. Create questions, with or without images, and add multiple choice answers. Project your questions and possible answers. Have students hold up their card in the position that reflects their answer. Use your mobile device and Plickers mobile app to scan the cards. You will see a bar graph with student responses on your mobile device. These can be saved to your Plickers account. Use Plickers to answer exit questions or to see what students remember from the previous day. Use for formative assessment to identify misconceptions that students may have at the start of a unit. There are cards with larger fonts for young students or the visually impaired. ENL/ESL teachers could use this for vocabulary or sentence structure practice. Unless your school or district has access to a matte-finish for laminating or matte-plastic pockets, you may want to collect the cards at the end of class.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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