EdTech Tools I Love
There are a million tools out there and 2020 really hammered home the amount of educational tools that are available. Some of the tools I love are digital, and some are not. Here are a few:
Google Workspace (Formerly G Suite or GAFE)
EdTech Swiss Army Knife
These tools are really the Swiss Army Knife of digital tools. The individual applications can be adapted to fit almost any classroom need. Google Drive cloud storage makes files accessible anywhere on any device. Google Classroom makes managing assignments incredibly easy.
Go To Google Workspace!FlipGrid
Let Students Speak!
FlipGrid is also a tool that is easily adapted to almost every classroom need. I like using FlipGrid in association with Guided Reading and journaling. Classroom discussions can open up to more voices with FlipGrid.
Go To FlipGrid!Anchor.fm
Podcasting Made Easy
Anchor.fm is a podcast hosting and publishing service. I always want students to know that they can be content creators, not just content consumers. If they have thoughts about a book they read, get it out there! Start the conversation. Parents also love to hear about what is happening in the classroom. Podcasts are a great way to get them connected. Anchor.fm makes it easy.
Go To Anchor.fm!Area Model for Multiplication and Division
Using Place Value to Multiply and Divide
This is not a digital tool. Nor is it a new tool. I taught 3rd and 4th-grade math for 10 years and there is no better tool to help students conceptualize multiplication and division. It teaches students why multiplication and division work the way they do using place value and algebraic thinking.
See the area model in action!Animations
Use Google Slides to Animate Concepts
It doesn't matter what tool you use, animating concepts promotes higher order thinking skills. I like to use Google Slides to animate concepts but there hundreds of other tools. Students must fully understand a concept before they can translate that knowledge to a different medium. Learning the vocabulary to describe the Water Cycle takes on a new importance when creating a cartoon for Kindergarten students.
Go to Google Slides!Dictation
Turn Speech Into Text
Another tool that can be found in major productivity applications but it is used far too infrequently. Dictation allows reluctanct writers and English Language Learners to get their thoughts down on paper without worrying as much about writing/typing. It can be as simple as clicking the microphone button and speaking. I have come to love this tool that is embedded in Office 365 and Google Docs.
Go to Google Docs!