Technology Resources for your Classroom Update March 2019
If you would like information about presenting at your school or district, please email me [email protected]
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Link to the Slide presentation
Link to Pre-filled Note Taking Doc
Here is my link to the the tried and true resources
Randy's Tried and True Resources (such as Google Apps, Evernote, Twitter, Youtube, Wordle, Livebinder, Polleverywhere, Remind, Prezi,Ted Talks, Khan Academy, Dropbox, Google Earth,Wolfram Alpha, Audacity
The following are what I think are some of the best/newest out there, ones that I find many people do not realize are there or that you may find interesting or helpful broken down into categories
TN- Signifies a Special and not to overlook Tech Nugget
Major Tip Control-F in any browser or any app!
Personal Computing/Management etc.
Google Keep - Easy Note Management (Great for students for easy notes) keep.google.com (once you are logged in)
Lastpass- Great Password manager Free for desktop $12 a year to add mobile - A great Deal
Search Everything - Instantly search for file on your computer
Launchy - (a little geeky)- Quick application launcher
Ninte - A one click super place to download the best software with NO Spyware
Pocket - Great way to keep websites for reading later
Google Save Similar to pocket but saved with your Google Account. (Thumbnailed Bookmarks)
Google Docs now does Dictation
GT#1 - Use your phone to voice dictate while you are in Gmail by going to the draft folder in on your computer)
GT#2 - Type Timer and get a Timer in Google Search
GT#3 - Type in metronome to have Google provide a Metronome
GT#4 - Type What is my IP in Google and it will show you your public IP
GT#4 32 Genius Search Tips
GT#5 You Can create shortcuts to your favorite search engines
GT#6 Put in a mathematical equation to have Google do the math
GT#7 - Need to share something but want to force a copy - Here's How
GT#8- You can change the speed of a Youtube Video by clicking on the settings
GT#9 - To have a video start at a certain spot right click on the Time Line select Copy Video URL at current Time
Google Docs Tools
Search Tricks:
Filetype:pptx -searchtearm only get back PowerPoints
In advanced Search put the in domain docs.google.com and only get Google Docs in results (add docs.google.com/presentation to get only presentations, etc.)
Force a Copy - Google Docs
800+ Fonts for Google Projects
Chrome Extensions
CraftyText - Very Cool Chrome extension that allows you to easily place large text while in front of a class (great for showing URLs, etc)
Edit Office Doc in Google Docs - Work with MS Office Docs in Google Docs
Document Studio - Add mail merge to your Google spreadsheets and Docs
Alice Keeler Webcam Recording Extension
Microsoft Education Community - Many, many resources on how to use Microsoft products in the Classroom
Google's Applied Digital Skills - Teach and learn practical digital skills using Google’s free project-based video curriculum
Be Internet Awesome - Digital Safety Resources Tools for the classroom and home
Working and Interacting with Others
A web whiteboard - An Online Whiteboard
Stoodle- another online whiteboard provided by the C-k12 Organization with online chat
Scratchwork - online whiteboard with Math teachers and students in Mind- Dadgum!
Classroomscreen - A online screen tool with timers, text box, sound monitor, etc.
TN - Kahoot - Play has individuals or as a team, Great for BYOD
Quizizz - Great Way to Gamify your Classroom
Strawpoll.me - Very Simple polling tool that can be used with any device that is connected to the web
TN - Testmoz - An extremely easy test creator that is perfect for Student created tests (note my example)
SymbalooEDU - A easy way to create bookmarks for you are others to use (think iPhone home screen)
Google Forms- Flubaroo - For those that give tests, this script allows you to create self grading tests. Link goes to easy to follow instructions.
Pear Deck Make your slides more interactive - Free version includes Multiple Choice Number and Text Slides
TN - Plickers - (Paper Clickers) Use the app and sheets of papers for a clicker system. Very Cool.
Quizlet- Great to make study Flash Cards and games
TN - CK-12- Once known for free Online Texts Books- Now there are exercises, videos and more
Google Hangouts - Click here to get ideas how you can use Google Hangouts
Webroom.net- A free virtual room for up to 8 People
Jitsi.org - A free open source video chat. This would be great for use with students and parents (homebound for instance) No accounts needed
Google Sites - A Great Resource Now the NEW Google Sites.
Cueprompter - free online teleprompter
Easyprompter - free online teleprompter
teleprompt.me - An online teleprompter that uses voice recognition to follow along as you speak
TweetDeck - If you use twitter you must use this! Make columns based on users or search terms (hashtags)
TwitterSearch - No account or login needed
Google Gooru Some very useful tutorials and info on using Google Drive
bit.ly - Url Shortner
Random Name Selector - A very easy and fun way to pick names at random
Neat and Cool Web Resources (all sites listed have a free component some may have a paid subscription option as well)
Google Cultural Institute (includes Art Project, Historic Moments, World Wonders) One can spend hours using these resources
Google Expeditions - Experiecne teacher lead virtual tours
TN - Geogusser- One of my favorite sites - Be dropped in anyplace in the world and guess where you are- it is a great game for full class instructions or a party at your house
AirPano - Wonderful site to view 360 degree view and tours and notable places on earth. Links to information resources right there in the tour!
duolingo - Learn a new language for free (Apps and Web resources)
TN - 360 cities - A great site to use with your Google Carboard or browser that has panoramic places to visit - No passport needed
Edpuzzle - Create or use videos for instruction and monitor their use
TN - Storynory - A site that has stories (in text and audio forms) that are great for the younger students. Need something to listen to for a lunch break?
brainrush- An educational game website where teachers can create classes and add games to a playlist for the class to participate in.
Newsla - A site that uses current events stories and allows users to pick up to 5 different reading levels
TN - newsmap- A site that takes current news stories and places them in a grid based on their popularity. The twist is that you can pick different parts of the world and Newsmap will adjust the grid to show what stories are important in that region. Great for language classes as well as any of the history and related classes.
Classcraft - Gamify your classroom
Prodigy - Curriculum-aligned math games for grades 1-8
TimeGraphics - Create online interactive timelines
TN - NeoK12- This site is has a wealth of resources for K-12 with Educational Vidoes, Lessons and Games - should be part of every teacher's tool book.
Wikipedia -Link to create a book - Just a little note - did you know you can make a book (or a PDF like a book) from Wikipedia Jeff Utecht's Why Wikipedia is better than your texbook (scroll down page just a bit)
Interesting Ways - A great site to share with your staff when they are looking for a way to use a certain technology
Google Newspapers - Google has scanned all sorts of Newspapers around the world - Great resource
Desmos- Free online Graphing Calculator (link to guide)
LearnZillion - Online open cloud based curriculum created by teachers for teachers
edWeb.net -A free professional learning network that hosts online communities and engaging edWebinars for educators – anytime, anywhere.
TN - Bouncy Balls - A fun site to watch music or monitor classroom noise (must have a microphone)
Presenting Content (and Getting Content) and Student Creation
TN - Zoomit - Great app for Windows that lets you draw on the desktop and or zoom in.
Blockposters - Need a big wall poster but only have 8.5x11 paper - this is for you.
Photopin - free photos to use in presentations or websites
The Noun Project - Free Icons
Photos for Class - Creative Common photos for the classroom
More Free Photos - Web resource that lists 30 places to get top quality Free images to use
Eric Curts listing of more free photo sites- 18 more resources
Dig CC Mixter - Free music for your student Projects
Free Video Footage - what it says - free stock video- great for student projects
Adobe Spark - Create impactful graphics, web pages and video stories in minutes with Spark’s free graphic design app
Book Creator - Book Creator is a simple tool for creating awesome digital books. Create your own teaching resources or have your students take the reins.
TN - LICEcap - a great utility to capture your sceen but does it in animated gifs so you can place it in any presentation
Screencastify - Great tool to use for creating screen casts on a Chromebook
Canva - Online Desktop Publishing (create flyers, newsletters, business cards, etc)
Links that point to other links (Many great resources)
Richard Byrne Free Technology for Teachers - Many, many resources for education. Should be one of your Go to sites!
For the Admins
TN - GAM - Google Apps Manager Youtube Video that explains it all
Miscellaneous Resources (neat and for fun)
Youtube Time Machine - Pick a year and a search term and Youtube will take you back in time with that topic- or use the slider to see what they have- Pretty Neat
Distraction Free - Chrome extension to hide everything but the video when watching Youtube
TubeChop - Great for choping up a youtube video just so the students only see what you want
ClassDojo - help to motivate students to behave better
Bit-moji - Create a personalized Avatar - Every thought about using a bit-moji when grading a paper!
Link to Pre-filled Note Taking Doc
Here is my link to the the tried and true resources
Randy's Tried and True Resources (such as Google Apps, Evernote, Twitter, Youtube, Wordle, Livebinder, Polleverywhere, Remind, Prezi,Ted Talks, Khan Academy, Dropbox, Google Earth,Wolfram Alpha, Audacity
The following are what I think are some of the best/newest out there, ones that I find many people do not realize are there or that you may find interesting or helpful broken down into categories
TN- Signifies a Special and not to overlook Tech Nugget
Major Tip Control-F in any browser or any app!
Personal Computing/Management etc.
Google Keep - Easy Note Management (Great for students for easy notes) keep.google.com (once you are logged in)
Lastpass- Great Password manager Free for desktop $12 a year to add mobile - A great Deal
Search Everything - Instantly search for file on your computer
Launchy - (a little geeky)- Quick application launcher
Ninte - A one click super place to download the best software with NO Spyware
Pocket - Great way to keep websites for reading later
Google Save Similar to pocket but saved with your Google Account. (Thumbnailed Bookmarks)
Google Docs now does Dictation
GT#1 - Use your phone to voice dictate while you are in Gmail by going to the draft folder in on your computer)
GT#2 - Type Timer and get a Timer in Google Search
GT#3 - Type in metronome to have Google provide a Metronome
GT#4 - Type What is my IP in Google and it will show you your public IP
GT#4 32 Genius Search Tips
GT#5 You Can create shortcuts to your favorite search engines
GT#6 Put in a mathematical equation to have Google do the math
GT#7 - Need to share something but want to force a copy - Here's How
GT#8- You can change the speed of a Youtube Video by clicking on the settings
GT#9 - To have a video start at a certain spot right click on the Time Line select Copy Video URL at current Time
Google Docs Tools
Search Tricks:
Filetype:pptx -searchtearm only get back PowerPoints
In advanced Search put the in domain docs.google.com and only get Google Docs in results (add docs.google.com/presentation to get only presentations, etc.)
Force a Copy - Google Docs
800+ Fonts for Google Projects
Chrome Extensions
CraftyText - Very Cool Chrome extension that allows you to easily place large text while in front of a class (great for showing URLs, etc)
Edit Office Doc in Google Docs - Work with MS Office Docs in Google Docs
Document Studio - Add mail merge to your Google spreadsheets and Docs
Alice Keeler Webcam Recording Extension
Microsoft Education Community - Many, many resources on how to use Microsoft products in the Classroom
Google's Applied Digital Skills - Teach and learn practical digital skills using Google’s free project-based video curriculum
Be Internet Awesome - Digital Safety Resources Tools for the classroom and home
Working and Interacting with Others
A web whiteboard - An Online Whiteboard
Stoodle- another online whiteboard provided by the C-k12 Organization with online chat
Scratchwork - online whiteboard with Math teachers and students in Mind- Dadgum!
Classroomscreen - A online screen tool with timers, text box, sound monitor, etc.
TN - Kahoot - Play has individuals or as a team, Great for BYOD
Quizizz - Great Way to Gamify your Classroom
Strawpoll.me - Very Simple polling tool that can be used with any device that is connected to the web
TN - Testmoz - An extremely easy test creator that is perfect for Student created tests (note my example)
SymbalooEDU - A easy way to create bookmarks for you are others to use (think iPhone home screen)
Google Forms- Flubaroo - For those that give tests, this script allows you to create self grading tests. Link goes to easy to follow instructions.
Pear Deck Make your slides more interactive - Free version includes Multiple Choice Number and Text Slides
TN - Plickers - (Paper Clickers) Use the app and sheets of papers for a clicker system. Very Cool.
Quizlet- Great to make study Flash Cards and games
TN - CK-12- Once known for free Online Texts Books- Now there are exercises, videos and more
Google Hangouts - Click here to get ideas how you can use Google Hangouts
Webroom.net- A free virtual room for up to 8 People
Jitsi.org - A free open source video chat. This would be great for use with students and parents (homebound for instance) No accounts needed
Google Sites - A Great Resource Now the NEW Google Sites.
Cueprompter - free online teleprompter
Easyprompter - free online teleprompter
teleprompt.me - An online teleprompter that uses voice recognition to follow along as you speak
TweetDeck - If you use twitter you must use this! Make columns based on users or search terms (hashtags)
TwitterSearch - No account or login needed
Google Gooru Some very useful tutorials and info on using Google Drive
bit.ly - Url Shortner
Random Name Selector - A very easy and fun way to pick names at random
Neat and Cool Web Resources (all sites listed have a free component some may have a paid subscription option as well)
Google Cultural Institute (includes Art Project, Historic Moments, World Wonders) One can spend hours using these resources
Google Expeditions - Experiecne teacher lead virtual tours
TN - Geogusser- One of my favorite sites - Be dropped in anyplace in the world and guess where you are- it is a great game for full class instructions or a party at your house
AirPano - Wonderful site to view 360 degree view and tours and notable places on earth. Links to information resources right there in the tour!
duolingo - Learn a new language for free (Apps and Web resources)
TN - 360 cities - A great site to use with your Google Carboard or browser that has panoramic places to visit - No passport needed
Edpuzzle - Create or use videos for instruction and monitor their use
TN - Storynory - A site that has stories (in text and audio forms) that are great for the younger students. Need something to listen to for a lunch break?
brainrush- An educational game website where teachers can create classes and add games to a playlist for the class to participate in.
Newsla - A site that uses current events stories and allows users to pick up to 5 different reading levels
TN - newsmap- A site that takes current news stories and places them in a grid based on their popularity. The twist is that you can pick different parts of the world and Newsmap will adjust the grid to show what stories are important in that region. Great for language classes as well as any of the history and related classes.
Classcraft - Gamify your classroom
Prodigy - Curriculum-aligned math games for grades 1-8
TimeGraphics - Create online interactive timelines
TN - NeoK12- This site is has a wealth of resources for K-12 with Educational Vidoes, Lessons and Games - should be part of every teacher's tool book.
Wikipedia -Link to create a book - Just a little note - did you know you can make a book (or a PDF like a book) from Wikipedia Jeff Utecht's Why Wikipedia is better than your texbook (scroll down page just a bit)
Interesting Ways - A great site to share with your staff when they are looking for a way to use a certain technology
Google Newspapers - Google has scanned all sorts of Newspapers around the world - Great resource
Desmos- Free online Graphing Calculator (link to guide)
LearnZillion - Online open cloud based curriculum created by teachers for teachers
edWeb.net -A free professional learning network that hosts online communities and engaging edWebinars for educators – anytime, anywhere.
TN - Bouncy Balls - A fun site to watch music or monitor classroom noise (must have a microphone)
Presenting Content (and Getting Content) and Student Creation
TN - Zoomit - Great app for Windows that lets you draw on the desktop and or zoom in.
Blockposters - Need a big wall poster but only have 8.5x11 paper - this is for you.
Photopin - free photos to use in presentations or websites
The Noun Project - Free Icons
Photos for Class - Creative Common photos for the classroom
More Free Photos - Web resource that lists 30 places to get top quality Free images to use
Eric Curts listing of more free photo sites- 18 more resources
Dig CC Mixter - Free music for your student Projects
Free Video Footage - what it says - free stock video- great for student projects
Adobe Spark - Create impactful graphics, web pages and video stories in minutes with Spark’s free graphic design app
Book Creator - Book Creator is a simple tool for creating awesome digital books. Create your own teaching resources or have your students take the reins.
TN - LICEcap - a great utility to capture your sceen but does it in animated gifs so you can place it in any presentation
Screencastify - Great tool to use for creating screen casts on a Chromebook
Canva - Online Desktop Publishing (create flyers, newsletters, business cards, etc)
Links that point to other links (Many great resources)
Richard Byrne Free Technology for Teachers - Many, many resources for education. Should be one of your Go to sites!
For the Admins
TN - GAM - Google Apps Manager Youtube Video that explains it all
Miscellaneous Resources (neat and for fun)
Youtube Time Machine - Pick a year and a search term and Youtube will take you back in time with that topic- or use the slider to see what they have- Pretty Neat
Distraction Free - Chrome extension to hide everything but the video when watching Youtube
TubeChop - Great for choping up a youtube video just so the students only see what you want
ClassDojo - help to motivate students to behave better
Bit-moji - Create a personalized Avatar - Every thought about using a bit-moji when grading a paper!
