Wonder Question Create
Teacher Toolbox
Mindmeister
Interface: Web
Platform Capability: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android
General Description: An online resource for creating mind maps that turns brainstorming, note taking, and project planning into a visual representation
Login Account: Google, Facebook, Office 365, Bigger Plate, email
Personal Use: Can be used as a collaborative tool for student projects and teacher sharing
Pros:
- Multiple users an be editing the same map simultaneously
- Images and videos can be included on maps (even has an option to generate images
based on the content of text)
Cons:
- Limited to 3 free maps before having to pay for a subscription
- Navigating the icons and features of the site will take some practice
* Acquired in EDU782: Technology in STEAM
SafeShare.tv
Interface: Web
Platform Capability: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android
General Description: Allows users to safely share videos from YouTube or Venmo by removing ads and other distractions by creating a SafeView
Login Account: Google, Facebook, email
Use: Providing videos to support student learning and research regarding specific topics
Pros:
- Provides the capability of modifying SafeViews that have already been created
- SafeView links never expire
Cons:
- Limited to 20 SafeViews before having to pay a monthly subscription
* Acquired in EDU782: Technology in STEAM
Powtoon
Interface: Web
Platform Capability: YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Slideshare, HubSpot, Wistia, Kaltura, Flicker, Storyblocks, Google Extension, G Suite Marketplace, Office 365 add-in
General Description: Create engaging videos using fun templates, photos, characters, footage, voiceovers, music, and animations
Login Account: Google, Facebook, Clever, Office 365, LinkedIn, email
Use: Can be used by administrators, teachers, and/or students to present information in a unique, professional format
Pros:
- PowerPoints can be converted and "awesomized" into videos
- Short video ads can be created
Cons:
- Free version limits videos to 3 minutes
- Classroom subscription only includes accounts for 60 students which may not be
enough for middle or high school teachers
* Acquired in EDU782: Technology in STEAM
Interface: Web, App
Platform Capability: Online Scratch community
General Description: A child friendly approach to introducing students to the basics of coding
Login Account: Email
Use: Can be used as a tool for students to create their own stories, games, or animations about content learned in the classroom
Pros:
- Completely FREE! Teacher Accounts are also FREE, which allow teachers to manage
student participation, projects, and comments.
- ScratchEd Community and Activity guides available for teachers to support the use of
Scratch with students in the classroom
- Scratch Jr. is an app that caters to younger students to teach basic coding skills
Cons:
- Coding language is not specifically taught which could make it difficult for students
to navigate at first
- Classes created in a Teacher Account can only have one teacher linked to the class,
and only student accounts created by individual teachers can be added to classes
(students would need multiple accounts if used in more than one class)
- Projects cannot be exported for viewing outside the scratch program or community
* Acquired in EDU782: Technology in STEAM
Interface: Web, App
Platform Capability: Apple, Google Play, Microsoft, Google Chrome
General Description: Provide interactive lessons with the capability of synchronizing and controlling student devices
Login Account: Google, Office 365, email
Use: Can be used to take students on virtual field trips as well as gather formative assessment data through student responses and game based learning
Pros:
- Students responses can be viewed live during to encourage whole class discussion
- Teacher can be notified when students are no longer engaged in live session lesson
through live class monitor
- Multiple modes of formative assessment including drawing, open-ended questions,
polling, quizzes, fill in the blanks, and matching
- Ready to use lessons available from popular education publishers
- Students only need a code to log into a live class session
Cons:
- On the web version, live class monitor cannot tell if students have opened another
window or tab- as long as the window for the class session is open, the student will
have a green light to indicate engagement
* Acquired in EDU782: Technology in STEAM
Interface: Web, App
Platform Capability: Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology, Moodle, Blackboard, PowerSchool, Blackbaud
General Description: Create or customize videos to support instruction that includes
Login Account: Google, email
Use: Can be used to support concepts being taught in the classroom by making video clips more meaningful through student responses
Pros:
- Can track the amount of times students watch a video and put restrictions on videos
to prevent students from skipping ahead in the video
- Editing features include cropping, voice over, or audio note (which pauses the video
and allows for audio to elaborate or explanation)
Cons:
- If teacher utilizes the classic class, students will need to set up an individual account
and will most likely need headphones to listen to videos during class
* Acquired in EDU782: Technology in STEAM
Interface: Web, App
Platform Capability: Apple, Google Chrome
General Description: Classroom management tool for creating, organizing, and submitting assignments while also providing feedback to students and sharing with parents
Login Account: Google, Microsoft, Feide, email
Use: Instantly share assignments and provide feedback to students regarding their progress using a paperless format
Pros:
- Teachers can provide written feedback by typing or drawing and verbal feedback by
recording audio
- Assignments can be created and submitted using many other apps including Explain
Everything, Dropbox, or Google Drive
- Schedule assignments and decide when assignments can be viewed or locked
Cons:
- Gradebook tools, student portfolios, and discussion features are only available with
the paid version
* Acquired in EDU782: Technology in STEAM
Interface: Web, App
Platform Capability: Apple, Google Chrome
General Description: Create and publish digital books using simple tools that include unique fonts, images, audio, and drawing options
Login Account: Google, Microsoft, QR code, Clever, email
Use: Can be used across content areas for students to present and publish their learning with an audience
Pros:
- Real-time collaboration feature allows multiple students to work on one project at the
same time
- Published books can be read aloud, printed as PDFs, or shared in multiple ways
Cons:
- "Read to Me" browser does not work on Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari on iOS 9
or below
- The web version and app are not identical in their features which can be confusing
for students who use it in both formats
* Acquired in EDU782: Technology in STEAM
Interface: Web, App
Platform Capability: Apple, Google Chrome
General Description: Classroom discussion platform that uses short video responses from ALL students and allows for classmates to respond to one another
Login Account: Google, Microsoft, email
Use: Can be used to hear the thoughts and responses of students who are reluctant to share their thoughts in front of their classmates and springboard discussions among peers
Pros:
- Gridpals can provide students with opportunities to connect with other students
across the globe
- Minimum and maximum recording times can be set for student responses
Cons:
- Students must have access to technology with a camera and internet connection
outside of school if used for assignments outside of the classroom
- Students might have some anxiety about recording their responses for their
classmates to see
* Acquired in EDU782: Technology in STEAM
Interface: Web, App
Platform Capability: Apple, Google Chrome, Amazon Kindle, Google Play
General Description: Tool for communicating with parents to share and track student work
Login Account: Google, Microsoft, email
Use: Can be used to send announcements out to families about upcoming or important events and families can easily communicate with the teacher using the app
Pros:
- Access to an Activity Library to search for different assignments related to specific
content
- Teachers can view activities from the students' perspective by utilizing the sample
student feature
Cons:
- Free version limits the amount of classes per teacher and the amount of teachers
linked to one class
* Acquired in EDU782: Technology in STEAM