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Collaboration Resources Reviews | Educational Games | EdTech Videos

This page is home to tools and resources that can be used to encourage collaboration, organization, and the introduction of technology into the classroom and/or workplace environment. It is a combination of tools suggested by classmates and the current curator of this page.

Tools for Collaboration and Organization
	Stormboard: An online remote mind mapping/brainstorming application that supports illustrated thinking. This tool was given a 4/5 by the suggester. Yammer: This tool allows team members to collaborate, post, and have conversations no matter where they are in the world. This tool was given a 4/5 by the suggester.
Tools for the Classroom Environment
	Kahoot: A review game that can be played individually or in teams. Students/teams compete for points by getting questions correct. The suggester gave this tool a 5/5. Piazza: A communication tool that allows for discussion, announcements, file posting, polls and private messages. The suggester gave this tool a 5/5. Plickers: A classroom polling system where audience/students can answer by holding up Q-Code style cards and the presenter/teacher can quickly gather data by sweeping a smart phone around the room. Plickers records data including which cards answered which way so that formative data can be applied on the fly. I use this often for review games. Flubaroo: Flubaroo is an extension for Google Forms that quickly scores data. Flubaroo can even email instantaneous results if test taker emails are collected via the form. Flubaroo will also hi-light low scoring questions to allow for quick pull for reteaching. (Tip: Give essay/written responses separately and enable auto-grade for quickest turnaround results. My students love getting the results to their test/exam within minutes, especially as the form test is the bulk of their final score.) Class Dojo: Classroom management tool where students have little monster avatars and can earn/lose points based on in class behaviors. In my experience, best used with younger grades. Classcraft: Classroom management tool where students build avatars, spend powers, play review games, and more. In my experience, best used with middle school and above in a classroom where device access is prevalent. Students will likely lose interest quickly if they can not interact with the engine regularly. Jeopardy Rocks: (playfactile.com) Allows you to quickly generate a Jeopardy style game with quirky vegetable avatars.
General Resources
	Pre-Packaged Presentations: A site filled with tips and presentations that make great tools and tricks for the classroom. This site was given a 4/5 by the suggester. NetSmartz Workshop: This site is a wealth of information for that very important Internet Safety/Digital Citizenship unit. Contains information for all grade levels (K-12) and with an educator account you gain access to lesson plans, downloadable videos, and more. Has companion pages geared to students with games, comics, and more that further explore the subject matter and make great extension activities. (One of the few mailing lists that I actively follow.) Code.org: This site is home to the "Hour of Code" movement and has a ton of resources on learning to code, encouraging the use of code, as well as a gallery of projects. Canva: This site offers a wealth of templates and publication materials that with a few clicks can generate a professional looking publication. This site is great for busy people who want to quickly make something that looks impressive. ClassTools: This website houses a lot of creation and development tools, including Facebook and SMS generators, online crossword builder, name picker, timer, and many more. Smithsonian's Tween Tribune: This site offers current events articles, with discussion questions in a wide variety of topics. One of the great things with this site is that nearly every article is offered at FOUR different Lexile levels. The different Lexile levels make including news articles a snap in the classroom, especially on a computer screen. A student can easily be accommodated by clicking on a different level (higher or lower) and the entire class can participate in the same discussion as the main points of the article are the same! Articles also have discussion questions that can help generate valuable discussion for writing prompts or in class.

Current Curator:

As the current curator of this page, I feel it is necessary to explain where I am coming from. I am a middle/high school technology teacher and many of the tools I suggest I either currently use, have used, or have on my “to try” list for the next time my students and I are brave enough to explore and try something new. The tools that have been suggested by classmates are followed with a rating (s)he have supplied to help guide your exploration. To quote Miss Frizzle, it’s time to “Take chances, make mistakes, and GET MESSY!” Don’t be afraid of technology, instead learn from the mishaps that come along the way.

~Kathy M.