Here are some of my favorite tech tools that I use in my classroom with descriptions on how I use them. Click on the image icon to explore!
Desmos Graphing Calculator . Not only is this a tool that students who do not have graphing calculators can use , the teacher platform allows you to build unique lessons and activities that approach learning in a more visual and collaborative format. Teachers can quickly determine which student or student group are struggling by viewing their progress on the teacher screen. You can also browse many of their already created classroom activities if you don't have time to create your own! I especially like their quick demos, that can easily be shown to students for better understanding. This integrates well with google classroom.
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Educreations. Educreations is a digital white board recording application. I used this application periodically to record my backwards lesson videos. The application can be used with a PC tablet but it tends to work best with the apple products such as an iPad. There is a free version and a paid version. I opted for the paid version as it is able to hosts all my lessons in their cloud on my personal account. You can export lessons as an MP4, or use a direct link to the platform for students to view. (Students do not need an account to view the videos). You can also make a classroom within the application to track student participation This is a video hosting site that is great for backwards teaching opportunities.
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Deltamath. This cool and FREE application is aligned with the common core math standards and is a great way to assess student understanding. I use it as homework for my Algebra II and AP Calculus classes. The site offers a different modality of learning. One student professed that they enjoy the direct feedback and explanations/examples that are offered for each problem. With a little tinkering, this tool can become the ultimate savior when you don't want to make copies of a worksheet, or when students need extra supplemental practice.
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Stapplet. This free online application helps students in statistics to showcase their data in a myriad of ways. From visual displays, simulations, and hypothesis testing, this application does everything a student would need through college and AP level statistics. I have my students work with this site alongside other software programs, so they can be exposed to different platforms and recognize their various outputs. Students have agreed that this one tends to be the simplest and most user friendly! They recently added collaborative graphs as well!
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Padlet. We happen to do a lot of projects in my class and thus, a lot of presentations. Sometimes students have questions during the presentation, and Padlet allows for students to jot down their questions without interrupting the flow of the presenters. We then show the presenter the questions and they have an impromptu Q & A session. Other ways I've used this is as a 'ticket out the door' for a lesson, or even a storyboard when students answer the Essential questions from our units.
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Google Classroom. I use google classroom as platform to communicate with my students. The google classroom is able to house a variety of media that students can access at any given moment. Students enroll in the beginning of the year, and I regularly post digital keys to homework, project rubrics, essential questions, lesson videos, and digital quizzes, etc to help aid in their understanding of content learned in the classroom. It helps quicken feedback on digital assignments all all resources for the class can be found organized by unit in one specific place.
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Daum Equation Editor. This equation editor allows for teachers and students to write equations online that visibly use the correct math symbols for representation. The application has the ability to write equations without students or teacher knowing latex. It saves the equation as an image and students and teacher can then embed in their platform of choice. This tool comes in handy when students are required to give presentations of their work or write reports of their mathematical findings in their assigned projects.
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Notability . This application allows for annotation on all types of documents. I mainly use this application with my iPad Pro and apple pencil. I use this to annotate keys for tests and homework for my students. I also use this application to record some of my newer flipped lessons. The color choices in the ink and the precision of the lines allow for a very clean look for my answer keys. You can also annotate by recording your voice by using the voice feature. It conveniently links with your google drive or dropbox accounts to upload files to annotate!
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GoFormative. This application is a must have! It allows you to digitize your formative assessments. You can build an assessment in the app itself, or you can upload and add media elements to an assessment that you have already created! I enjoy the ease of grading and tracking student responses in this application. The metrics for student engagement, and progress are what makes this application worth taking a look at.
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Teachermade. Teachermade is a fairly newer application that has debuted due to the need to digitize worksheets in times of covid. I have a feeling that they will surely come up in the ranks to be one of my favorite applications. Similar to GoFormative, you can take an already created worksheet and add elements to digitize the responses. I especially like that students can draw anywhere on the worksheet. This bodes well for showing work for a math class. I look forward to their improvements and additions over the next coming months!
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Kami Extension. This extension is a must have if you plan to go paperless in your classroom. This app allows for annotations on documents. The dictionary tool on the teacher plan is a great tool for students who need extra language support. This extension ranks high on my list when it comes to feedback as well. The option to leave text, voice or video commentary on student work is a plus for student engagement with their feedback.
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