TeachersFirst Collection: 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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ChordU - Bitan Sardar

Grades
4 to 12
1 Favorites 1  Comments
 
ChordU uses the latest technology to recognize and share chords from favorite music tracks. Search for a song, or browse through trending tracks and other popular favorites by genre....more
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ChordU uses the latest technology to recognize and share chords from favorite music tracks. Search for a song, or browse through trending tracks and other popular favorites by genre. Select a song to view on YouTube and play along using the visual chord display. Choose from a variety of instruments, including guitar, piano, and ukulele. Other options allow users to select from simple and advanced chords, tune chords to personal preferences, and view them by the chord slider or chord sheet. Registration isn't required; however, it allows you to save favorites for later use. Videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable. Be sure to look for alternatives for sharing the videos on classroom computers.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (133), music theory (49), musical notation (33)

In the Classroom

This site is perfect for use in any music classroom. Demonstrate how Chordify works on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use this site for teaching any piece of music. Share a link with students for practice at home. If your school blocks YouTube, you can share the link with your music students on your class website for them to try at home.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

Comments

Thanks for sharing. I have been using Chordu for the last few years Super, , Grades: 10 - 12

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Duolingo - Duolingo

Grades
1 to 12
2 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Duolingo is a free, online language learning class. Sign up with your email. Make a selection from Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, and many others. Earn points...more
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Duolingo is a free, online language learning class. Sign up with your email. Make a selection from Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, and many others. Earn points on different levels as you work towards mastery. Practice provides both seeing and hearing the words. Your responses require choosing the English translation and also spelling the words in the "new" language. Put your knowledge to work in the immersion section and translate a document or even upload a document of your own. Check the vocabulary you have learned and your progress toward mastery. Track your weekly progress. The discussion section answers individual questions. Duolingo is free for schools. There are free iOS and Android apps for Duolingo.

tag(s): arabic (12), chinese (40), DAT device agnostic tool (133), french (74), game based learning (326), german (51), hebrew (18), italian (33), japanese (54), multilingual (83), OER (53), Online Learning (35), portuguese (22), russian (27), spanish (114)

In the Classroom

Use Duolingo in your world language classes as another form of practice and enrichment. Have students sign up to compete against each other in a fun game of language mastery. Have world language students use the immersion tool to help read and translate authentic text. For an ENL/ELL classroom, provide extra, specific practice in beginning English. ENL/ELL students can also use the immersion section to check their own written documents and connect with other ENL/ELL students. Offer this site as a supplement when you study cultures from around the world. Gifted students are sure to enjoy the challenge of learning some language phrases. Is your class remote learning? Duolingo has a guide just for that! Scroll down the home page and find Duolingo for Schools, then click Bring Duolingo to Your Classroom. Find the Guide for using Duolingo at home at the top right of the page.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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Google Keep - Google, Inc.

Grades
4 to 12
4 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Use Google Keep to save notes directly to your Google Drive account. This tool requires that you have a Google account. Unlike some similar services, such as Evernote,...more
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Use Google Keep to save notes directly to your Google Drive account. This tool requires that you have a Google account. Unlike some similar services, such as Evernote, reviewed here, notes kept in Google Keep are saved to your Google Drive account. Use Google Keep for notes, voice notes, lists, and photos. Access these on any web enabled mobile device. Keep works best with Chrome browsers (there is an extension for Chrome, also) and Android phones, but our editors had no issues using other browsers as well. Google Keep can also be also used with any school's Google Apps account. Keep is colorful, which is part of the design. Be sure to use the colors as an organizational tool. Keep has a low learning curve and is very simple to use. The quick note feature is invaluable: just type your notes in the text box without logging in or switching screens. To leave a voice note, tap the microphone icon and speak. Archive items easily when you are done. Though Keep is a more generic, basic tool, its value is in its simplicity and ease of use.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (133), note taking (36), organizational skills (91), study aid (177)

In the Classroom

Take pictures of things to do, buy, or finish. Create checklists of steps in a project. Place all of your notes in one place so you do not forget. Use this tool easily in your Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) classroom since all students will be able to access it for free, no matter what device they have. They could "keep" assignment information, reminders, and more. Consider creating a class account that can be used by all students. Spell out the use of the site and what is allowed and not allowed -- and the penalties. Even though all students have the same login, create different notebooks for different tasks that students can use to upload information to be shared by all. Create separate accounts for student groups who can then share their notebook with other groups. Use Keep to snapshot and share links, documents, files, and pictures for any group project or class work. Whole class accounts can be used by a class scribe during class and accessed from home for review, by absentees, etc.

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Newsela - Matthew Gross

Grades
2 to 12
19 Favorites 2  Comments
Newsela offers four leveled news articles at five reading levels for teachers to choose from. The articles will be available for four weeks; Newsela Lite is free for any teacher ...more
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Newsela offers four leveled news articles at five reading levels for teachers to choose from. The articles will be available for four weeks; Newsela Lite is free for any teacher to access four pre-selected news articles, select and lock reading levels for students, see alignment to state standards, schedule assignments and set due dates, access students' quiz scores, and respond to students' writing prompt submissions and annotations. Many of these features were on the "premium" account until the 2023-2024 school year.

In case you're wondering - Newsela features current events stories tailor-made for classroom use. Click "Products" on the top menu and slide down to browse content in subject areas (social studies, science, etc.). Stories are student-friendly and can be accessed in various formats tailored to different reading levels. Use Newsela to differentiate nonfiction reading. Newspaper writers rewrite a story four times, resulting in a total of five Lexile levels per story. All articles feature embedded Common Core-aligned quizzes that align with reading levels, allowing for checking comprehension, customizable assignments, writing prompts, and annotations. An account is required to use Newsela, both for teachers and students. However, students sign up using a teacher- or parent-provided code rather than an email address. Click the Resources tab at the top to find guides and short webinars. Teachers can create classes and assign reading-level-specific articles to individual students or download printable PDF copies of the article in any of its reading-level versions. There is no outside advertising.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (133), differentiation (102), guided reading (31), independent reading (85), news (223), reading comprehension (146), remote learning (32)

In the Classroom

Achieve two goals here: help students improve their reading comprehension and keep them current with what is happening in our nation and the world. When assigning articles, choose to have the class read at one reading level, or select individuals and set the reading level for them. There are five categories from which to choose. You may want to set up different articles at different learning stations on the computers in your room. Have the students rotate daily through the stations, completing one or two a day until they have completed all five articles. Since Newsela is cloud-based, even students absent from class can easily complete the missed work. If you and your students are teaching and learning remotely, or you have a blended classroom, Newsela will work perfectly for those! Teachers of gifted students can utilize this site to accelerate or enrich their students' reading skills. Find each student's individual levels for reading nonfiction. Teachers of Learning Support and ENL//ESL students will love this alternate way for their students to meet nonfiction/current events requirements.

Comments

This is an excellent article. Thanks for sharing this information. Please keep sharing content like this. Cassandra, IL, Grades: 0 - 12
This is an excellent site and allows differentiation while everyone is reading the same text. Renee, NC, Grades: 0 - 5

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Google Docs/Drive Templates - Google Docs/Drive

Grades
K to 12
5 Favorites 0  Comments
Find hundreds of templates and documents -- for all sorts of needs, not just education -- ready to use at Google Docs (now known as Drive). The best part, the ...more
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Find hundreds of templates and documents -- for all sorts of needs, not just education -- ready to use at Google Docs (now known as Drive). The best part, the documents are available from any computer with Internet access. This is a device-agnostic tool, available on the web but also available for free as both an Android and iOS app. Important note: To OPEN this link and see the templates, you must have a Google Drive account and be logged in! Use it from any device or move between several devices and still access your work. App and web versions vary slightly. No need to create a new document. Simply search for the template you need and modify it to your specifications. Choose from many categories including resumes, presentations, calendars, budgets, and more. Once you find a document to use, preview to view the full document. Viewed documents will then be available under a link called "Templates I've Used." You can also "save a copy" to change it at will. This makes them easy to find in the future. Upload your own documents for use anywhere and anytime.

tag(s): classroom management (150), DAT device agnostic tool (133), organizational skills (91), rubrics (40), spreadsheets (23)

In the Classroom

Find specialized templates for teachers and students by clicking that category in the left sidebar. You can find templates for all sorts of "real world" tasks in the broader collection, including authentic writing tasks such as press releases, project proposals, and resumes. Upload commonly used classroom documents and share with students to retrieve at home. Search for templates for outlines, rubrics for reports, or guidelines for classroom projects. Share this site with students to use for their own projects. Use this tool easily in your Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) classroom since all students will be able to access it for free, no matter what device they have.

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Math Nation - Lastinger Center for Learning, University of Florida

Grades
6 to 12
5 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Math Nation is an intensive, interactive Algebra site. Although specifically created for Florida students, the material applies to any Algebra students. This program was designed for...more
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Math Nation is an intensive, interactive Algebra site. Although specifically created for Florida students, the material applies to any Algebra students. This program was designed for students to use at home after school and on weekends. Interesting fact: you access all materials through a Facebook account! Enter Math Nation through the link provided to connect with a Facebook account. If you are not associated with a Florida High School, type "other" when prompted to enter a school name. Once logged in, choose any topic from the extensive list of videos explaining and breaking down featured problems. Use the study guides to follow along and practice independently. Choose the Teacher Resources link and register to access the section created for teachers. This includes videos and other classroom resources. If your school does not allow students to access individual Facebook accounts, why not create a class account under your name (or class number)? All students can use the same login information for Facebook.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (133), equations (128), exponents (38), factoring (28), fractions (174), order of operations (30), polynomials (21), venn diagrams (13)

In the Classroom

Share this site with students and demonstrate how to enter and access Math Nation using their Florida High School name or by entering "other." Share this resource with parents as an excellent tool for review and study of Algebra topics. Create a teacher account and share videos on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) as an additional learning tool to use along with current classroom materials. Provide this link for students to use at home to hone their algebra skills.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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IFTTT - IFTTT

Grades
9 to 12
0 Favorites 0  Comments
IFTTT is a service that connects and consolidates social media tools. With this service, you can browse "recipes" for having social tools interact with each other. Some examples are:...more
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IFTTT is a service that connects and consolidates social media tools. With this service, you can browse "recipes" for having social tools interact with each other. Some examples are: text the morning weather, send free nook books from Barnes and Noble to your Gmail account, send the iTunes app of the week to your email, or download videos you like to your Dropbox. Create your own recipes to help you make life easier by having one social media communicate with another.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): communication (125), DAT device agnostic tool (133), organizational skills (91), social media (64)

In the Classroom

IFTTT can make recipes for students and teachers alike. Teachers can drop photos into Dropbox and automatically send them to a place they have chosen. This will help save time with classroom photos, field trips, and other events. Be reminded of birthdays for students and friends. Send amazing professional website bookmarks to your Gmail. Older students can receive emails or text messages about classes, tests, quizzes. Students can receive immediate feedback when they turn in assignments. Add tweeting to students' own personal learning networks. Have technology classes find unique and creative ways to create recipes to save time and improve productivity. What kind of recipes can you create? Hold an IFTTT "potluck" where you and your savvy colleagues (and students) swap "recipes" to save time and effort. Invite more savvy students to share a recipe a week with fellow students. The better-organized ones can perhaps teach others how to become more organized!

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Anki - Flashcard creator - ankisrs.net

Grades
2 to 12
2 Favorites 0  Comments
   
Anki is a flashcard creator with a twist. The program is used every day, and each response is rated as Easy, Very easy, Good, or Again. Very easy questions won't ...more
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Anki is a flashcard creator with a twist. The program is used every day, and each response is rated as Easy, Very easy, Good, or Again. Very easy questions won't be shown again for 7 days. Again, responses will be shown during the same session. Choose the number of flashcards to use for each session, the time to spend, and the number of questions to be offered. Search by topic to find ready-made flashcards or create your own. This program needs to be downloaded to your computer following the on-site directions. Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux versions are available.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (133), flash cards (45), study aid (177), test prep (67)

In the Classroom

Create flashcards for your classes using Anki -- or have them make their own. Try using them as an introduction to a concept, then again in the practice of the idea, and again as a final review. It is a nice three-for-one creation deal! This would be great for teaching Latin prefixes and suffixes of words to students. Use this site to learn science terms or for standardized test preparation. Have students create flashcards and share them to quiz themselves within their own groups. Teach students in higher grades how to create flash cards with multiple blanks to challenge their brain to remember more pieces of the puzzle (even counterexamples). Show them how to carefully read through their classroom notes and underline the most important word or words in a sentence. Then have them leave out the most important words for their flashcards. Learning support teachers might want to have small groups create cards together to review before tests. Have students create flashcard sets to "test" classmates on what they "teach" in oral reports. Since this program is a download, sharing flashcards may be challenging. One suggestion is to download the program onto a USB stick to be shared as needed. Students can also create flashcards for classmates to try after watching peers' presentations.

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Trello - Fog Creek Software

Grades
2 to 12
4 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Trello organizes your projects into boards. It tells you what's being worked on, who's working on what, and where something is in a process. Updates are shown in real time, ...more
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Trello organizes your projects into boards. It tells you what's being worked on, who's working on what, and where something is in a process. Updates are shown in real time, so refreshing the site isn't necessary. The two main items used on boards are cards and lists. Cards are tasks; create a card for each task and drag it to the list. Attachments such as videos, due dates, user notes, and more can be attached to cards. Then pull each card into a list and place in any order necessary to complete the tasks. You can be identified with an @symbol and receive instant notifications.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (133), graphic organizers (60), organizational skills (91)

In the Classroom

Use this site in the classroom for organizing any long term project such as a research report or collaborative projects. Create a board for each group with a timeline and assign parts for each project. Gradually release the responsibility from one project to the next, asking students to create their own task lists so they learn time management. Teachers of learning support and gifted will love this tool as a way to teach organizational skills. Share it with parents to support their organizationally challenged students. Yearbook or school newspaper advisors may want to consider this site for organizing and assigning tasks. Share this site with your school's PTA as a resource for organizing and planning school events.

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ThingLink - Thinglink.com

Grades
2 to 12
9 Favorites 0  Comments
  
After a 30-day free teacher trial, ThingLink requires a paid plan to publish and share newly created content. During the trial, teachers can explore ThingLink's interactive creation...more
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After a 30-day free teacher trial, ThingLink requires a paid plan to publish and share newly created content. During the trial, teachers can explore ThingLink's interactive creation tools, but it doesn't include student management. After the trial ends, teachers may continue creating content but will need a paid license to share it. Consider similar tools such as Genially, reviewed here, Image Annotator, reviewed here, or Google Drawings, reviewed here. ThingLink is an interactive, immersive content creation tool that lets teachers and students add multimedia information to images, videos, 360''? environments, and other digital content. Start with an image, video, 360''? scene, or other media, then add interactive tags with text, images, audio, video, links, and other resources. Viewers select the tags to explore additional information embedded within the experience. ThingLink can also create virtual tours, virtual field trips, interactive lessons, and immersive learning environments. Newer features include tools for creating 360''? content, working with 3D models, AI-assisted media creation, and scenario-based learning. Education plans are available for individual teachers, schools, and districts, with student creation and management features available through eligible paid education plans.

tag(s): bookmarks (34), DAT device agnostic tool (133), game based learning (326), gamification (88), images (275)

In the Classroom

Use digital images of lab experiments or class activities to share on a class wiki or blog, incorporating clickable enhancements that offer additional information. Have students add links, a blog reaction, or an explanation to their project or experiment image. Use the site for making a photography or art portfolio blog. Have students annotate images to explain their work or various techniques they used. World language or ENL/ESL teachers can enhance images by adding links to sound files or other explanations to facilitate better understanding. Use in world language to label items in an image with the correct words in that language. Young students could write simple sentences to practice language skills while explaining about a favorite picture or activity. Use in Science to explain the experiment or in a Consumer Science class to explain cooking or other techniques. Consider creating a class account for student groups to use together. Teachers can create a Thinglink of an image with questions and links that students must investigate to respond as a self-directed learning activity. An image of a tree could have questions and links about types of leaves, photosynthesis, and the seasons, for example. Gifted students could create a collection of annotated images that link to sound files to add "personalities" to science objects (think of the talking trees in the Wizard of Oz) or create an annotated image of a almost anything they research to go beyond regular curriculum they have already mastered: Annotate an image of a food product to link to information about its sources and potential harms. Annotate an image of a campaign poster and "debunk" its claims with links to video clips that show the politician in action, etc. Annotate an advertisement with links to its propaganda techniques. Teens with a sophisticated sense of humor will especially enjoy linking to ironic examples that debunk or offer a satire of the original!

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ClassDojo - Sam Chaudhary and Liam Don

Grades
K to 8
17 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Manage behavior and boost involvement in class quickly and easily. ClassDojo allows you to recognize desirable behaviors and accomplishments in real time. Use it on any Internet-connected...more
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Manage behavior and boost involvement in class quickly and easily. ClassDojo allows you to recognize desirable behaviors and accomplishments in real time. Use it on any Internet-connected device in your classroom. Be sure to check out the Resources from the top menu for helpful, timesaving items like a Back-to-School night presentation, a Parent Introduction letter, a Student Introduction video, and Student Account Facts. You can choose an avatar for each student. Student behavior records are automatically created, updated, and reports are generated with just one click by you. You can even write comments to parents about why a student lost a point. Weekly summaries are automatically emailed to parents. Students can earn badges. On ClassDojo, students can now have their own portfolio to share photos and videos of their successes. The wording on the ClassDojo site indicates that ClassDojo "will always stay free for teachers."

Please be aware that ClassDojo falls under the FERPA laws for "directory information" and "educational records." Any school getting funds from the Department of Education (public schools) is required to disclose to parents and obtain written consent to use ClassDojo with their child.

tag(s): behavior (48), classroom management (150), DAT device agnostic tool (133), game based learning (326), gamification (88), Special Needs (45)

In the Classroom

Consider using this program to reward a group of the week. Award points for positive behaviors such as participation, helping others, creativity, hard work, or create your own categories. Using ClassDojo for group behaviors will provide students with immediate feedback if projected on your whiteboard or projector. Use this tool to help your unfocused students stay on task. Share this site with students on the first day of school as you go over class expectations and your behavior plan for your classroom. Use ClassDojo to offer both negative and positive feedback to parents and students.

Are you a regular education teacher with special education students mainstreamed into your classroom? Use Class Dojo to privately keep track of student behaviors and send a report to special education teachers or parents. This could be invaluable to a life skills, autistic support, gifted, or emotional support teacher who needs to track the behavior of each student as part of an IEP/GIEP. Alternative ed programs may find this tool very useful, as well, even up through high school.

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Pinterest - Pinterest.com

Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites 1  Comments
 
Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. Browse the site without registration. Type Edu or education in ...more
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Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. Browse the site without registration. Type Edu or education in the search bar, and find different Education results. To create/add to your pinboards, register for free. If you have an account, you can Repin the picture to a pinboard you have titled and created within your account. Click on the image again to visit the original site of the image. Often this is just what you are looking for to learn specific details. You can also search Pinterest for specific items such as Guided Reading, File Folder Activities, or other classroom needs. Pinterest members can "follow" other users and see their new items as they add them to their pinboards. Use Pinterest on any device or computer, and there is a related Facebook app.

tag(s): architecture (82), cooking (32), creativity (93), DAT device agnostic tool (133), fashion (14), guided reading (31), nutrition (137), organizational skills (91), professional development (303), social media (64), social networking (55)

In the Classroom

Use this site as a resource for finding printables and other items for classroom use. Create your own pinboards for organizing classroom resources found on the web. Create pinboards for students to view and/or add to as a whole class activity, such as "things that use energy," food groups, or groups of items for primary level vocabulary/practice (clothing items, farm animals, clock faces for telling time, etc.). Maybe even create "which one does not belong?" pinboards for PreK and early grades to view and change on an interactive whiteboard and repeat at home. In higher grades, make pinboards for different subjects or units where you collect videos, images, classroom blogs and websites, etc. Share your pinboards with students and parents by putting the link on your class website. Challenge your older students to create their own pinboards as a research project. Use Pinterest to show their hobbies/passions, wise quotes, recipes that fit a specific theme, art/lyrics, or a travel Itinerary. Follow other teachers using Pinterest to see items that they are adding and using in their classrooms. Add TeachersFirst to your pinboards! Note: Take a screenshot of something you find to upload to Pinterest!

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Sharon, OH, Grades: 0 - 6

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Socrative - Socrative.com

Grades
4 to 12
4 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Socrative is a smart student response system -- the answer to not having expensive "educational clickers" in your classroom. Socrative works on tablets, smartphones, iPod Touch, laptops,...more
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Socrative is a smart student response system -- the answer to not having expensive "educational clickers" in your classroom. Socrative works on tablets, smartphones, iPod Touch, laptops, and others. There is an introductory video demonstrating teacher and student logins and how your class will interact in real-time. You can create your own multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions. You may also choose to use one of their ready-made activities as exit tickets, thoughtful questions, or games. See your students' responses in an Excel file or view online as a Google spreadsheet. Multiple choice questions are automatically corrected.

tag(s): chat (42), DAT device agnostic tool (133), game based learning (326), gamification (88), polls and surveys (44), questioning (37), social networking (55)

In the Classroom

If you've ever wanted greater student engagement, increased student interest, and heightened discussion and interactivity in your classroom, Socrative is the answer. Students can give their input and express their views anonymously, if you wish.

In any curriculum area, ask open-ended questions and display student responses with your projector or interactive whiteboard. Alternatively, students could respond on a tool like Padlet, reviewed here, and also vote on the options.

Use this tool easily in your Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) classroom since all students will be able to access it for free, no matter what device they have.

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Pearltrees - pearltrees

Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Pearltrees.com is an excellent platform for organizing, sharing, and storing websites for current, future, or collaborative use. More than a standard social bookmarking website, Pearltrees...more
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Pearltrees.com is an excellent platform for organizing, sharing, and storing websites for current, future, or collaborative use. More than a standard social bookmarking website, Pearltrees allows you to create trees of sites to show relationships or even the order in which to browse websites. It is extremely simple to sign up, free, and easy to use once you have joined. To use it, you can download it to your browser extension or bookmarklet, use a bookmarklet, or use your home spot to paste in websites that you want to add to your own pearl tree. There are "big pearls" that function as folders for multiple strands of Internet pearls. This is a device-agnostic tool, available on the web but also available for free as both an Android and iOS app. Use it from any device or move between several devices and still access your work. App and web versions vary slightly.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): bookmarks (34), curation (27), DAT device agnostic tool (133), webquests (9)

In the Classroom

In the simplest form, Pearltrees could be used to store links for classes that you are teaching or taking. More creatively, however, you could use this site to create a guided online field trip from one site to another. Even try pairing Pearltrees with the use of a highlighting style website such as Twiddla, reviewed here to direct students to the information on the site that you, as their teacher, want them to see. Try turning the tables on your students and have them create a Pearltree for short research projects or as a working bibliography for their research papers. Use this tool easily in your Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) classroom since all students will be able to access it for free, no matter what device they have.

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Natural Reader - Natural Soft Limited

Grades
1 to 12
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NaturalReader is a text-to-speech program that offers many language and voice options. To access the free version, choose the personal use link to use NaturalReader online. Choose from...more
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NaturalReader is a text-to-speech program that offers many language and voice options. To access the free version, choose the personal use link to use NaturalReader online. Choose from hundreds of voice options, including the ability to clone your voice and record it in many languages (free registration is required for the cloning feature). Add documents, copy and paste text, add scanned photos or screenshots, or listen to the contents of webpages. Once your text is ready, choose a voice and select play to begin listening. Additional features allow users to highlight areas of text and add notes. Use NaturalReader's filters to personalize areas to skip, such as text in brackets or URL text. When ready to share, download it as an MP3 file to your device or share it using the link in your history.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (353), DAT device agnostic tool (133), dyslexia (11), learning disability (20), learning styles (23), listening (119), Special Needs (45), study aid (177), text to speech (24), writers workshop (30)

In the Classroom

Bring Natural Reader into any classroom to support students in many different ways. Use this resource as a helpful tool to increase reading comprehension, support English language learners, and help students with dyslexia and other special needs. Upload tests, worksheets, and other assessment documents to support students who have materials read to them. Share NaturalReader with parents and students for use at home. Clone your voice to include it as a personalization option and a means for engaging students. Ask students to clone their voices and upload presentations to rehearse for speeches.

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Books Should Be Free - Loyal Books

Grades
K to 12
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Acquaint student's with the classics (and more) with these free public domain audio books. Most of these novels are written by authors such as: Mark Twain, L. Frank Baum, Lewis ...more
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Acquaint student's with the classics (and more) with these free public domain audio books. Most of these novels are written by authors such as: Mark Twain, L. Frank Baum, Lewis Carroll, Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austin, J.M. Barrie, Hugh Lofting, and Beatrix Potter. Some audio tracks are available in different languages. The most significant collection appears to be in French and German. Download MP3 files for each chapter in one zip file (333 MB) or directly into iTunes. Search for books by genre or language. Suggest this site to students who have difficulties with reading, including ENL/ELL students. Be sure to include this site on your class web page for students to access both in and outside of class for further practice. Share this site with your teaching colleagues who work with your learning support, foreign language, or ENL/ELL students.

tag(s): audbk (25), DAT device agnostic tool (133), ebooks (49), fluency (31), french (74), german (51), independent reading (85), literature (215), spanish (114)

In the Classroom

Upgrade your literature circles and include e-readers that are speech enabled. Share the stories (or full text) on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Books Should Be Free - Loyal Books provides links to the free text that accompanies the audio track. Sites such as Project Gutenberg, reviewed here, contain free versions of the full text. Students can simultaneously listen and read books on either a classroom computer, iPad, Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, iPhone, Android, or other mobile or cell phone. These recordings will also boost fluency instruction by serving as an oral reading model. Audio-assisted books will encourage students to read with expression, improve reading comprehension, stimulate vocabulary development, and provide a way for students to read text beyond their reading level.

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Dropbox - Dropbox

Grades
9 to 12
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Dropbox is a cloud-based file storage and collaboration platform that allows teachers and students to save, organize, and share documents, photos, videos, and other files across devices....more
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Dropbox is a cloud-based file storage and collaboration platform that allows teachers and students to save, organize, and share documents, photos, videos, and other files across devices. It is especially useful for classroom workflows, enabling easy sharing of assignments, collaborative group work, and access to materials both at home and at school. Dropbox operates on a freemium model, meaning educators can get started with a free Basic plan that includes about 2 GB of storage, file syncing, and sharing tools, with optional paid upgrades for additional space and advanced features.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (133), Storage (7), writing (310)

In the Classroom

Use Dropbox to support student collaboration on shared documents, presentations, and projects by allowing students to easily control whether their work is public or shared with specific classmates or the teacher. It works well for continuing assignments across multiple devices, making it simple for students to start work at school and finish at home without losing progress. While not intended as a full system backup, Dropbox provides reliable cloud storage for organizing and accessing classroom materials. It can help all learners, including gifted students, learning support students, and those who benefit from additional organization, keep their work in one accessible place. Dropbox is also ideal for BYOD classrooms, as it works across devices and platforms and offers a free account, ensuring all students can participate. Teachers can quickly share files, folders, and resources with individuals or the entire class, streamlining the distribution and collection of digital work.

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podomatic - podOmatic

Grades
1 to 12
17 Favorites 1  Comments
   
Create simple audio podcasts using this online tool and the free space it provides. Simply put, this tool lets you create and host sound recordings online for people to listen ...more
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Create simple audio podcasts using this online tool and the free space it provides. Simply put, this tool lets you create and host sound recordings online for people to listen to and/or download. There are MANY free podcasts in a variety of subject areas (art, health, technology, music, business, and more). We have linked this review directly to the K-12 area within the site. The site includes social networking tools, which some schools may block. The site is a "general public" site, so the home page has links to recent podcasts that may not be appropriate for young people. Find the home page by clicking the logo "podOmatic" to find directions for creating a podOmatic podcast. Essentially, you will attach a mike or use your built-in computer mike; create the podcast by clicking the record button (you may have to tell your computer to "allow" the site to access your mike). Choose a background for your podcast page. Share it with others using one of several sharing options on the "My Podcast" tab, including copying the link. Listeners can listen to it online or download it to their MP3 player. You can also create a "minicast" by simply uploading images and audio, which converts your photos into a short video. Transitions are also available for your minicast. Share through a blog, on X (formerly Twitter), a link or directly to Facebook. There are limits to the amount of file storage for free accounts. The site will tell you how much space each podcast takes and how much you have left. PodOmatic does not allow memberships for those under 13. podOmatic has free iOS and Android apps.

tag(s): communication (125), DAT device agnostic tool (133), digital storytelling (181), podcasts (181)

In the Classroom

PodOmatic does not allow memberships for those under 13. Teachers using this tool with younger students should do so under supervision and with a teacher-controlled account. You will want to supervise or establish consequences so students do not spend time on the public areas of the site and instead proceed to creating their podcasts. This is an opportunity to teach about digital citizenship and safety, such as steering clear of interaction and avoiding sharing any identifiable information about yourself in a podcast. You may want to share the links to class podcasts only with your students and parents. If you have students recording podcasts as assignments, you may need multiple accounts because free accounts have limited storage space. An elementary teacher might have enough space for 25 students to keep a limited number of products on his/her own account, depending on the length.

Create regular or special podcasts to share on your class web page or wiki. Create a mini cast of images taken during a lab or a portfolio of images from a photography, art, or any other class. Add music and share as part of a digital portfolio. More ideas: record class assignments or directions, record story time or a reading excerpt for younger ones to listen to at a computer center AND from home, adding a touch of blended learning to your classroom! Have readers (perhaps older buddies) build fluency by recording selected passages for your non-readers. Launch a service project for your fifth or sixth-graders to record stories for the kindergarten to use in their reading and listening center. Have students create "you are there" recordings as "eyewitnesses" to historical or current events. Make a weekly class podcast, with students taking turns writing and sharing the "Class News." Have students create radio advertisements for concepts studied in class (e.g., "Buy Dynamic DNA!"). Have students write and record their own stories or poetry for dramatic readings; language students or beginning readers could record their fluency by reading passages aloud. Allow parents to hear their child's progress reading aloud, etc. Compare world language, speech articulation, or reading fluency at two points during the year. Have your Shakespeare students record a soliloquy. Write and record a poem for Father's Day or Mother's Day (or another special event), and send the URL as a gift to that special person.

If you have gifted students who lean toward the dramatic, this tool is simple enough for them to create dramatic mini-casts without needing a video camera. They can collect images at Vecteezy and write a drama to accompany them, showing what they have learned in independent learning beyond the regular curriculum.

Comments

I can see this resource being fun and interactive, while also offering a technology tool that does not rely on video for some of our students that struggle with that. The only thing that gives me pause is the age limit/appropriate level of other "public" pods on the site. Arielle, IN, Grades: 0 - 8

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Penzu - Alexander Mimran and Michael Lawlor

Grades
4 to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Penzu offers a FREE service to write journals or diaries online with exceptional privacy options. As an added benefit, you can add images or your own artwork as illustrations. There...more
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Penzu offers a FREE service to write journals or diaries online with exceptional privacy options. As an added benefit, you can add images or your own artwork as illustrations. There is a very short demo video on the home page. On Penzu, you can keep everything completely private or share selective posts by email or URL. Perhaps share selections on a class wiki page? Don't have a wiki? See the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through for practical management and safety tips for a class wiki. Note: Premium service is available, but this review is for the free version.

tag(s): communication (125), DAT device agnostic tool (133), journals (27), writing (310)

In the Classroom

A class journaling program has limitless possibilities. Engage students in discussions using a topic from current events, current social issues, independent reading, literature, and more. Any class using a journal can use Penzu. For example, science lab write-ups or the problem of the week in math. Penzu can even be used for homework. Just think, no more lugging heavy boxes full of notebooks around! In language arts, students journal daily and harvest from their musings and ideas to create a short story or a poem. They can even use Penzu to develop their brainstorms and rough drafts. For social studies classes, students can write posts and ideas about famous people or daily life in a time period being studied, then create a "diary" for the famous person in Bookemon, reviewed here or a poster using Genially, reviewed here about daily life. For either of these ideas, once they are ready to present their final project, have them share it with their peers and others, and consider adding other media. See more ideas for student blogging/journaling at TeachersFirst's Blogging Basics for the Classroom. Share journals with parents as appropriate by URL. Be sure to respect student privacy before sharing.

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Todoist - Todoist

Grades
4 to 12
14 Favorites 1  Comments
Todoist is a simple, task manager. With the free account you will have access to 5 personal projects, one week activity history, integration of a built in calendar and email, ...more
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Todoist is a simple, task manager. With the free account you will have access to 5 personal projects, one week activity history, integration of a built in calendar and email, and more. Set up free accounts in minutes with email. The intro and support videos reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

tag(s): calendars (37), DAT device agnostic tool (133), organizational skills (91)

In the Classroom

Your students need to know about time management skills. odoist will help you teach them and give them practice. Any student would appreciate having an online time management account, but learning support students and disorganized gifted students need one. You may want to model using this online tool to help middle and high school students learn better personal organization. Make a demo account for a mythical student and organize his/hers together so students can see how it works. Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector the first week of school to help students set-up their own accounts. Parents may appreciate learning about this site also. Use this site professionally to keep yourself organized!

Comments

What a fabulous organizational tool for teachers and students! Melissa, , Grades: 0 - 5

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