My Favorite Technology Tools...
1. Kidblog (kidblog.org) This tool is a great way to allow students to interact with one another and share their ideas in a lesson, while providing them with a blog-like experience. Only the teacher needs to create an account, and the students in a class are able to sign in through a code provided by the teacher. A great aspect of Kidblog is that it is safe for the teacher and the students, as the posts are private and viewing them is limited only to those with the classroom code. Students are able to create a post, include tagging for their post, view their peers' posts, and comment on these other posts. The basic plan is free, but there is a limit of 50 students per class (though this is quite a large number for one class period). There are two other plans, one of which is $5 per month and the other is $2 per year for each student. If money is an issue for the educator or the school system, the basic plan is most certainly a good option, while still providing the teacher and students with a beneficial classroom experience. Kidblog can be best used as a discussion tool, perhaps to introduce a topic and get the students thinking about it, or perhaps after a lesson or unit to act as a reflection tool. 2. Bubbl (Bubbl.us) Bubbl allows users to create "mind maps," or diagrams to organize thoughts and ideas into bubbles that can connect to one another. The sizes, placements, and fonts of the bubbles can be adjusted based on the user's preferences. A useful feature is that contacts, or other users, can be added and mind maps can be easily shared so that they can be edited and viewed by others. Therefore, such a tool is useful for collaborative projects, and also a good way for an educator to view his or her students' work. In addition, the map can then be exported as an image, a download to your computer, or as a "webpage outline," which outlines the mind map with the use of colors. A login is required to use Bubbl, but it is free. Bubbl can best be used for brainstorming and organization. In a classroom, a teacher can use Bubble to scaffold a project for students. Before the students start the project, they can outline it using Bubbl. 3. Word Reference (Wordreference.com) Word Reference provides language assistance for about 15 different languages, including English, Italian, Arabic, Spanish, and more. It contains definitions and examples of the terms in sentences to help users understand how it can be used. It even provides common phrases (i.e. "every other day"), as well as shows different definitions if they vary from country to country. The website also includes verb conjugations for a wide variety of verbs in every tense, as well as games for users to practice language vocabulary. There is also a forum section, where users can ask and answer questions. Such questions can range from "What is the difference between these two verbs?" to "How do you sign a letter in this language?" This site can be used by any person learning and studying a language. A login is not required to access these features, but if you would like to ask a question or answer a question in the forums, a username and password would need to be created. This tool is quite useful, and though there are no major disadvantages, it is important to note that, of course, the site does not have unlimited information. For example, it may not have terms found in older literature. However, Word Reference is great for a learner of a language to look up vocabulary, conjugations, and questions while reading or completing an assignment, as well as play games to further their understanding of a concept. It is free, and also available as an app. 4. Readlang (readlang.com) Readlang can be added to your toolbar and used for whatever site you would like. With Readlang, users can click on an unfamiliar word in a foreign language and they are provided with the definition. There is also an optional bar that is available that opens up Word Reference's definitions and uses of the term. The website itself also provides various texts for students to read. A useful aspect of this site is that it takes the words that the user needed translations for and creates flashcards that the user can then study from and learn. There is a "For Teachers" feature, which is a great way for teachers to formatively assess their students' reading. With this feature, an educator can monitor his or her students' reading and be able to see how far the students have read, what words they clicked on most, and how students are doing with their flashcards. A disadvantage is that the website in general is a bit informal, and still currently in the progress of improving and establishing itself. For example, in order to sign up for the teachers' feature, one must send an email to the creator of the website to express interest in it. However, the creator responds quickly to such requests, as well as any comments, questions, or concerns. This site is beneficial for both the educator and the students when providing students with reading assignments. It makes the process much easier for the student, while also showing the teacher what to emphasize in class. It also allows for more in-depth discussions on vocabulary in class (based upon what students struggled with the most while independently reading) and also can add expand students' vocabulary. 5. Quizlet (Quizlet.com) This tool helps students to study and further their understanding of specific vocabulary. Users can type up the words they would like to work on, and Quizlet automatically provides online flashcards (which can also be printed). The "Learn" aspect of the website provides the user with either a term or a definition and the student must type the corresponding words/phrases. For example, if Quizlet shows a term, the student must correctly type its definition. If the student gets it wrong, it is temporarily put aside along with other incorrectly typed words and at the end, the student must re-try the incorrect terms until he/she has gotten them all correct. It is very similar to the way one studies with physical flashcards. Along with the "Learn" part, Quizlet also provides games involving the various vocabulary words, as well as a quiz with multiple choice, true/false, matching, and writing questions. A very helpful feature is that there is a speech button so that the user can hear the terms and definitions out loud. These various components provide students with various ways to learn the content. Quizlet is a free website, though for the updated feature, it is $15 a year or $25 for two years. The update allows the user to add images to the flashcards, his/her own voice recording, and not have advertisements on the page. There are advertisements on the site, but they are limited and completely appropriate. It is important to note that it is available as a free app, so that students can study anywhere with their mobile device. One disadvantage to Quizlet is that it does require a login. The website asks for an email address during the sign-up process, though users do not receive emails. However, if the students are under the age of 13, or if the teacher prefers not to have the students create a username, the teacher can simply make one username and set up flashcards so that the class can use this one username to study. This tool is great to provide students with before a test so that they can study in various ways. It is also good for the teacher to use to formatively assess students' learning in the classroom by observing their practice on the site (perhaps during class time). Teachers can also use the generated tests to give students extra practice before the unit's quiz or test. |
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