Resources
Below, you will find a list of resources that are helpful for educators, students, and instructional designers.
Education Fundamentals (Google Suite for Education)
URL: https://edu.google.com/products/workspace-for-education/education-fundamentals/
Resource/Tool Offered: Collaborative Workspaces
Description: Education Fundamentals (Google Suite for Education) enables teachers, students, and administration to easily collaborate through Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, Google Forms, Google Sites, Google Drive, and Google Classroom. The platform is free for all users, making it very economical for schools to use. All users can create new material using the aforementioned products, as well as share them with their students, teachers, and/or peers for view or edit. Using Google Classroom or many other LMS software programs, students can also submit their assignments made using Google Suite.
Ideas for Use: The options of use are limitless. Teachers can create documents that students can respond right into for immediate feedback. Google Sites can be used for a class website or student activity. Google Drive is a great place to store all materials so that everything is easily accessible.
Pear Deck
URL: https://www.peardeck.com/googleslides
Resource/Tool Offered: Presentation add-on
Description: Pear Deck works with existing slides in either Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint. Teachers can create presentations that have interactive questions, polls, and increased graphics. If teachers are utilizing Pear Deck for remote instruction, they can view students at the same time as the presentation. Additionally, student answers are displayed in real time on the teacher screen, which he/she can choose to share with the class.
Ideas for Use: Pear Deck is great for all presentations, whether online or in-person. Teachers can ask questions related to prior knowledge, content specific, or exit tickets. All the answers are stored, and the teacher can use them to guide further instruction.
Training: Pear Deck has a training section of their website, where users can partake in webinars or custom professional development sessions depending on need. They also offer the courses at varied levels, so users with less technology experience can go at a slower pace, while more advanced users can go at an accelerated pace.
Quizizz
URL: https://quizizz.com
Resource/Tool Offered: Formative assessments
Description: Quizizz is a self-paced formative assessment; however, it differs from traditional assessments in the lessons, quizzes, and presentations take on a gamified role. This increases student engagement and provides actionable feedback for teachers. Students are also able to view the correct answers immediately and do not need to wait for individual teacher provided feedback.
Ideas for Use: The teacher can provide personalized assessments to students in order to better suit their individual needs and use the results to inform teaching.
Training Resources: Quizizz has a Help Center that provides tools for getting started with the platform. The url can be found here: https://quizizz.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000338045-Getting-Started-with-Quizizz.
Website Name: Kahoot!
URL: https://kahoot.com
Resource/Tool Offered: Game-based learning program
Description: Kahoot! is a game-based learning program that allows users, both teachers and students, to create, share, and engage in academic games or quizzes. Due to the game-based nature of the program, students are highly engaged, and their learning is more personalized and tailored to suit individual needs. Teachers can assign and view student progress and data. The teacher is then able to utilize the data to make informed decisions.
Ideas for Use: Kahoot! can be used for reviewing content and checking for student understanding. Additionally, one of the great features of Kahoot! is that students can create and share their own Kahoots, which provides students the opportunity to choose their topic and feel more invested in their learning.
Training Resources: On the Kahoot! blog, teachers can access professional development and teacher resources. There are manuals, presentations, and video tutorials that can be found here: https://kahoot.com/blog/2018/09/04/professional-development-kahoot-teacher-resources/.
EdLight
Resource/Tool Offered: Feedback tool
Description: EdLight is a unique tool that allows students to easily take a photo or photos of their work and send for feedback. While students are working remotely, there is a need for teachers to see authentic work and this usually means taking photos and uploading. Unfortunately for younger children, this typically falls on the parents. EdLight makes submitting work easy, where students open the EdLight link and the camera comes on, the student can take the picture(s), and then submit. Teachers are also able to provide feedback in video or text format, as well as include digital stickers that are built within the app.
Ideas for Use: Teachers can use this for platform for providing feedback for any assignments completed on paper.
Training Resources: EdLight provides a video tutorial on their website, as well as a free 10-minute consultation located on their website here: https://www.edlight.com/videodemo.
Padlet
URL: https://padlet.com
Resource/Tool Offered: Online information board
Description: Padlet is an online information board that allows users to create walls with a variety resources, including videos, images, links, and documents. Padlet is available from all devices and web browsers, making it accessible for all. Padlet also integrates with Google Classroom and other LMS programs.
Ideas for Use: Students can create padlets individual or group projects, as it is a collaborative space, and teachers can also use them to for lessons and reflections.
Training Resources: Padlet doesn’t offer training on its website; however, there are many videos easily accessed from YouTube.
Kids A-Z
URL: https://www.kidsa-z.com/main/Login
Resource/Tool Offered: Online portal for guided reading
Description: Kids A-Z is an app that provides students with leveled readers that match their individual reading level, as deemed by their teacher. It is game-based and has comprehension quizzes at the end. Teachers are able to view student progress and assign texts and quizzes.
Ideas for Use: Kids A-Z is a great tool for independent reading time, as well as for connecting and extending reading at home.
Training Resources: Kids A-Z has a wealth of resources, including support with determining student level and utilizing running records that can be found here: https://www.raz-kids.com/main/aboutrazkids/.
Epic! Kids
Resource/Tool Offered: Library of books, audiobooks, and videos
Description: Epic! Kids hosts a library of books, audiobooks, and videos for elementary students. Students can search by genre, interest, and reading level. They will also receive suggested books to read next based on previous reading. Teachers can also assign texts for students to read and view what books students have read and how long they spend reading.
Ideas for Use: Epic! Kids is great for students to read independently or in small groups, as well as for an extension of use at home. Teachers can also assign books related to reading level, interest, or a project.
Training Resources: Epic! Kids has an educator resources page on their website that shares bite-sized information for how to use and get the most out of the website that can be found here: https://www.getepic.com/educator-resources.
Screencastify
URL: https://www.screencastify.com
Resource/Tool Offered: Chrome extension screen recorder
Description: Screencastify is a chrome extension that is housed in the browser. With screencastify, an individual can record, edit, and share videos of their computer screen or selected portion of their screen with or without audio. Files can be downloaded or uploaded right to Google Drive for easy sharing.
Ideas for Use: Screencastify is great for sharing videos of screen and presentations by both students and teachers. It can be used for instructional videos and assignments.
Training Resources: Screencastify has brief, easy-to-follow certification courses that can be found on their website here: https://www.screencastify.com/education/courses.
Canva
URL: https://www.canva.com
Resource/Tool Offered: Online design and publishing tool
Description: Canva is an online design and publishing tool that can be used for creating presentations, storyboards, flyers, posters, infographics, and so much more.
Ideas for Use: Teachers can create presentations and other graphics for their classrooms, and students can use Canva to create group projects. It is also great tool for creating lesson plans.
Training Resources: Canva has a ‘design school’ that has courses for users of all levels located here: https://designschool.canva.com/courses/.
Poll Everywhere
URL: https://www.polleverywhere.com
Resource/Tool Offered: Audience engagement tool
Description: Poll Everywhere is a tool that can be incorporated into any presentation. The teacher asks the students questions, users respond, and the presenter views the information in real time. This enables the teacher use the information to make informed decisions on instruction.
Ideas for Use: Teachers and students can use the poll feature in presentations that are displayed in small group or whole group.
Training Resources: Poll Everywhere has training located on its website that can be located here: https://www.polleverywhere.com/webinars/instructor-led-training
BrainPOP
URL: https://www.brainpop.com
Resource/Tool Offered: Animated educational site for all disciplines
Description: BrainPOP provides curriculum-based instruction with videos, games, quizzes, and concept mapping. It provides resources across the disciplines including technology and health. It has a great app that can also be accessed.
Ideas for Use: Teachers can assign resources to their students or utilize in the classroom for small group or whole group learning.
Training Resources: BrainPOP has a whole section on its website dedicated to training resources which can be found here: https://educators.brainpop.com/training-main/.
Flipgrid
URL: https://info.flipgrid.com
Resource/Tool Offered: Video discussion tool
Description: In Flipgrid, teachers can post topics or questions either in video format or text. Students then response to the topic or question via video. It’s available from all devices that have a camera, making it easily accessible for users. Students are also able to view one another’s responses and comment on them with text or video, depending on settings. Flipgrid helps to enhance and increase student engagement.
Ideas for Use: Flipgrid can be used for introducing oneself, providing reflections, responding to a text, or any question that would spark conversation.
Training Resources: Flipgrid has many video overviews included in its blog located here: https://blog.flipgrid.com/gettingstarted.