technology

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August 13, 2015

Best Apps for Teaching: Mainly free

Posted by carfamily under education, educators, student teacher, teachers, teaching, technology | Tags: app.teaching, education, technology |
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Apps for teachers: Mostly free
by National Hall of Fame Teacher Alan Haskvitz
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/profiles/h/alan-haskvitz.html

Using Android or iPod cell phone applications in the classroom is easy to do, but finding good ones is very difficult and time consuming. Since there are apparently new ones coming out daily my recommendation is to check through these large collections using your “find” feature to locate those that have the ingredients you need most. Most of the apps listed are free, but some carry a charge. Use the Internet to harvest opinions about what others say about a particular application before purchasing.

Another good one is a listing of 20 good ones for teachers.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-apps-for-teachers-education/

Using applications in the classroom is very challenging, especially with nearly 40 students in some rooms. I suggest that you only use one and hook that up to an overhead for sharing. It would be nice to build learning centers around them, but the monitoring of them would be a huge challenge.

The future is clearly in your hands, pun intended, and the creation of applications is just beginning to show some maturity. For the most part they are silly games or material you could easily live without. But in some cases they offer a change for you to add depth to lessons, make individualizing lesson much easier, and save on the cost of supplementary materials.

One of the most useful apps is from Awesome Stories and it is called the Story Builder. It enables students to use primary and secondary resources to create stories, reach conclusions, and it is applicable to various subject matter.
https://www.awesomestories.com/search/full/app

Best Free apps
Wide variety of topics
https://play.google.com/store/apps/category/EDUCATION/collection/topselling_free

Top Free 50 from Apple

Best Free Education Apps

Best Free Educational Software
An interesting array of all levels
http://www.techsupportalert.com/view/educational

Free application list site
http://www.ifreeware.net/tag-education.html

Android applications for teachers
http://www.mguhlin.org/2010/07/free-education-apps-for-android-os.html

Free phonics app
http://www.bestappsforkids.com/category/apps-for-education/language-arts-english/phonics-apps/

Curriki
Great site that enables teachers to share ideas, resources, and lessons. Exceptionally useful.
http://www.curriki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Main/WebHome.

Edmodo
An improvement over Twitter for teachers and students to share information. Private. Must register.
http://www.edmodo.com/

DOC Cop
Send work to be checked for plagiarism. Takes a while to master.
http://www.doccop.com/index.html?nc=41078331
Also
Plagiarism Detect. May have charges to use.
http://www.plagiarismdetect.com
Footnote
Millions of copies of original historical documents located in the Library of Congress and other government resources.
https://www.loc.gov/apps/
Note taking app
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.demo.notepad3

GlogsterEDU
An interesting sharing site for most curriculum areas. This is a fun site to see what other teachers are doing and share yours. You can make your own multimedia presentations online. Check for costs.
edu.glogster.com

Brain Tuner
Challenges your brain. Great for early finishers.
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-brain-training-apps,review-2267.html

Cliff Notes on the Go
Read quick/simplified versions of classic literature.
http://www.appsafari.com/productivity/9292/cliffnotes-to-go/

History
Mainly encyclopedic type facts related to history.
(http://www.appsafari.com/productivity/8557/ihistory/)

QuickVoice :
Quick Voice
Enables you to record your thoughts.
http://gizmodo.com/5029348/iphone-apps-we-like-quickvoice-voice-recorder-is-great-for-field-journos

BookShelf
Turns an iPhone into a book reader. Charge
http://iphone.iusethis.com/app/bookshelf

iPresident
Information on all US presidents.
http://iphoneteacher.wordpress.com/2008/09/25/ipresident-app-review/

Words of the World
Learn new word every day.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/world-words/id505156684?mt=8

Best free apps for Language Arts
http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/62720.aspx

Best free apps for Mathematical

About The Car Family

Best apps for science and social studies
http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/64593.aspx

Best apps for working with autistic students
http://www.parents.com/kids/development/intellectual/best-apps-for-kids-with-autism/

May 30, 2011

Technology Help Sites for Teachers

Posted by carfamily under computers, educators, new teacher, school, software, teachers, teaching, technology
1 Comment

Technology Help Sites

by Alan Haskvitz

Author of Sorry I Am a Teacher

http://teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/alan-haskvitz/im-sorry-i-am-a-teacher/

These sites include everything from tutorials to copyright laws to grants. Each one has its own personality so you may want to take your time with them.

How Teachers Learn Technology Best

http://fno.org/mar01/howlearn.html

Technology Grants

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/grants.html

Important Laws and Ideas about Using Technology in the Classroom

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/classroom-technology.html

Massive Link site

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/tech_day.html

Technology Organizations and Companies

http://www.reacheverychild.com/computers/technology/index.html

Woopid

Free video tutorials

http://www.woopid.com/

Explania

Hundreds of animated explanations, interactive tutorials and instructional videos.

http://www.explania.com/en

Technology Tutorials

Over most najor software

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/on-line2.htm

Top 100 Technology Blogs

http://www.onlinedegrees.org/top-100-technology-blogs-for-teachers/

A website dedicated to educational technology

http://www.edtechteacher.org/

Teacher Technology Resources

http://genoaschools.net/staff/pscline/Teacher%20Technology%20Resources.htm

Free Technology for Teachers

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

August 2, 2009

Technology grants, help sites for teachers, others

Posted by carfamily under children, computers, education, educators, grants, school, teachers, teaching, technology
[2] Comments

Technology Resources and Grants

by Alan Haskvitz

http://www.reacheverychild.com

With the reduction in available technology funding this might be a good time to take a look at what is out there for free of for very little cost. For example, I found a little company that provides open source computers and servers that are used by many larger institutions and has US based customer service. The company was http://www.eracks.com, and I am sure there as others out there as well. The savings in software cost alone was significant and there wasn’t even any licensing costs.

Here is a list of resources that might be of value to educators and others:

Large link site that includes grants and lessons

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/tech_day.html

General Technology links

http://www.reacheverychild.com/computers/technology/index.html

More for knowledge techies.

The Association for Educational Communications and Technology is more for professionals interested in educational technology and its application to the learning process,

http://www.aect.org/

Ties magazine supports technology education and the integration of math, science and technology curriculum mainly in middle, junior and senior high schools.

http://www.tiesmagazine.org/

Computer Using Educators

Really great conferences.

An active group that promotes hands on technology conferences.

http://www.cue.org/

Education with New Technologies is designed to help educators integrate new technologies. You need to register

http://learnweb.harvard.edu/ent/home/index.cfm

Review of Staff Development topics and resources for technology

http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/mar99/wolinsky.htm

A Practical Guide to MultiMedia

An interesting site that provides a wide array of resources and current events.

http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/MMStocs/mar99toc.htm

Microsoft Educator site

Everything from best practices to help for parents

http://www.microsoft.com/education/

Useful Apple sites:

Applelinks

http://www.applelinks.com/

Macintosh resource with Software and hardware links and the Buyer’s

Guide make this potentially valuable.

EveryMac

http://www.everymac.com/

Questions answered about problems with Macs

http://www.macfixit.com/

Latest information about Macs

http://www.macintouch.com/

Association of Macintosh Trainers

http://www.mactrainers.com/

Federal Department of Education

Technology related articles

http://www.ed.gov/search/searchResList.jsp?st=0&colParam=ED&lk=1&qt=technology

The Center for Democracy and Technology

A site about law and the future of the Internet and other new communications media

http://www.cdt.org/

Technology software and other resources for special education

Large link site.

http://dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Educational/Special_Education/

The International Forum of Educational Technology and Society

http://ifets.ieee.org/

Technical Committee on Learning Technology

http://lttf.ieee.org/

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) works to provide professional development, knowledge generation, advocacy, and leadership in the field.

http://www.iste.org/

Sites for information on technology funding and other help

Federal list of grants

http://www.ed.gov/Technology/tec-guid.html

A compilation of web pages and books of potential interest to nonprofit organizations seeking funding opportunities related to computer technology.

http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/2comptec.htm

TechCorps

Find out what companies and individuals might be offering free technology help for your school.

http://techcorps.org/

IBM

Grants and other help from IBM

www.ibm.com/IBM/IBMGives/index.html

Directory of Technology Grants.

http://www.technologygrantnews.com

Virginia State Standards for technology

Practice tests for grades five and eight

http://education.jlab.org/solquiz/index.html

National Cristina Foundation (NCF)

“Provides computer technology and solutions to give people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons the opportunity, through training, to lead more independent and productive lives.”

http://www.cristina.org/

Good models of teaching with technology

http://knowledgeloom.org/gmott/index.jsp

World Wide Web for teachers

4Teachers works to help you integrate technology into the classroom by offering online resources.

http://www.4teachers.org/

Technology Tips

http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Technology/tips.html

Acceptable use policy

A handbook and sample from Pennsylavina and Virginia.

http://www.pen.k12.va.us/go/VDOE/Technology/AUP/home.shtml

White Papers on Technology Issues for Educators

http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/wp/

456 Search Engines listed by Country

http://members.tripod.com/~cldj33/search.html

Teacher’s Guide to International Collaboration on the Internet

Listed by subject area.

http://www.ed.gov/Technology/guide/international/index.html

Domain & Trademark issues for lawyers, consumers, and others

http://www.iplawus.com/

March 22, 2009

Twitter in the Classroom

Posted by carfamily under computers, education, educators, internet, teachers, teaching, technology, Uncategorized
1 Comment

Twitter in the Classroom

By Alan Haskvitz

http://www.reacheverychild.com

It is difficult at best to keep up with the latest in technology let alone find an acceptable use for it in the classroom. Add to that school policy on cell phones, Internet blocking software, and the epidemic of text messaging and teachers are doing well to hold their own.

Now comes Twittering. This is essentially text messaging limited to 140 characters and it is can be sent as broadcast messaging and Instant Messaging to one person or several. Twittering can be limited to friends or as a subscription. However, its importance in the classroom, if allowed, is its potential to motivate students to share ideas and to even improve their note taking abilities.

First, you need to register your name. Try http://twitter.com for a video and more information. You can also practice on that site and you can follow others who can provide ideas and guidance. I suggest you make your Twitter stream private, there is no need for it to be on the Internet. This also makes it mush safer for classroom use where you can communicate with your students and answer questions in nearly real time, if you have the time.

Remembering that Twitter is like Post It Notes, quick and to the point, and not email, which is more formal and has many more functions. Twitter is fast, and if you want to get more involved there are hashtags, a Twitter search engine http://search.twitter.com/ and Retweeting.

To start to use Twitter students must sign-up for your Twitter feed and you obviously need to budget time to answer the Twits you receive. After that I recommend you start small and expand as your time and interests permit. Remember to make sure you have administrative and parental approvals.

Here are some ideas I have come up with for the public school classes. First, a quick review of what was covered and what is going to be covered in class that day or the next. Secondly, a few quick review questions and some good websites to add depth to a lesson. Thirdly, privately seeking questions from students who don’t have the moxy to ask in class. Next, the ability to quickly relate what is happening in the news to the class and make teachable moments more meaningful and more personal. http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/teachable-moments.html And, Twitter can also be used to share ideas, help absent students keep up with work, and provide homework assistance.

What may be the greatest use of Twitter is the networking possibilities with students around the world. For example, while your class is studying Japan’s involvement in World War Two students in Japan could be sending messages about their perspective. As the visionary Marshall McLuhan envisioned, Twitter makes possible an immediate Global Village.

The possibilities are vast, but remember that some students may have to pay a fee for such text messages and so check before hand and always make Twittering an elective. Of course, students can set their Twitter so all messages come as emails, which is the only way to really avoid these charges, but this does remove some of the immediacy of the Twitter concept.

There are some ideas posted here that are used by a professor in Texas that might key some ideas for the public school classroom. http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/2008/twitter-for-academia/

Obviously, there are down sides and caveats to using Twitter in the classroom and all such ideas need to be supported by the administration. But there are upsides as well. Imagine the students following President Obama’s by subscribing to his Tweets or getting Tweets from students who are under duress around the world.

As a teacher you can also use Twitter search to find other educators and learn about conferences, ideas, and even share lessons and concerns.
Other areas to explore include edmodo. This service enables teachers and students to send files, links, and even assignments to each other. Teachers sign-up for an account and create a class code. Students sign-up and the messages are held to just those in the loop. A great tool for ESL and gifted students and others who need a differentiated curriculum.

http://www.edmodo.com/faq/

Twitter in the Classroom (University)

http://academhack.outsidethetext.com/home/2008/twitter-for-academia/

And

http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/2699/a-professors-tips-for-using-twitter-in-the-classroom

Twitter in the Classroom

http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2008/01/twitter-in-the-classroom.html

Some insights into how Twitter can help you as a person.

A little vague, but stretches the reach of Twitter and helps one understand the value of such a program outside the educational realm.

http://blogs.zappos.com/blogs/ceo-and-coo-blog/2009/01/25/how-twitter-can-make-you-a-better-and-happier-person

21 Ways to use Twitter in the Classroom

http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dhn2vcv5_118cfb8msf8

Seven Things You Should Know about Twitter

http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7027.pdf

Huge listing of free technology links

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/tech_day.html

Teach with Computer Games

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/computer-games.html

Clean up your computer

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/new-year-cleanup.html

Free virus software

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/virus_protect.html

Free software for Teachers

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/software.html

Protecting your students and yourself on the Internet

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/internet_safety.html

Other technology resources

http://www.reacheverychild.com/computers/index.html

Educational Software

http://www.reacheverychild.com/computers/software/index.html

August 9, 2008

Education Games: Simulations that Teach

Posted by carfamily under computers, education, Lesson plan, new teacher, teachers, teaching, technology
[3] Comments

Computer Games that Teach

By Alan Haskvitz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Haskvitz

There is an abundance of educational games that teach specific skills and provide remediation. Unfortunately, the value of these games varies widely and some are designed more as an end in themselves rather than as a teaching tool. Another caveat is that these games can require a wide bandwidth and can have several advertisements.

As such, I have reviewed several of the ones I felt most appropriate. If you have others to suggest please email me by clicking on my name on the opening page.

Free software of all types for teachers

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/software.html

Interactive Games

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/pcfun.html