Technological Tools and Resources

LMS:
1. Google Classroom – Perhaps it is the most popular and widespread learning management
system. It’s also the one I have the most experience using. I appreciate how it shares
students’ grades with them and their families. It’s helpful for keeping the whole class
organized and for clearer and more frequent communication.

Access Personalized Content:

2. Newsela – This website offers reading and reading assessment for students. It allows them
to annotate within it. Best of all, it adjusts readings teachers give their whole class
according to the individual’s Lexile level. Second best of all is that it’s free at the moment.
3. YouTube – It doesn’t need much explanation if you haven’t been in a comma the last
fifteen years, but anyway it’s still one of the best educational tools online. The amount of
free educational content is staggering. It’s great for English learners and students with
special needs because it has audio, visuals, subtitles in various languages can often be
added, videos can be slowed down/sped up, fast-forwarded/rewound. Students and
teachers can also use it to post their own content to reach authentic audiences.

Formative Assessment in Blended Learning:

4. EdPuzzle – I am mentioning this site right after YouTube since it’s basically THE YouTube
enhancer. With EdPuzzle, YouTube videos can be edited. Teachers can add textual notes to
orient students’ focus towards whatever they choose. Most importantly teachers can add
questions and monitor how students engaged with the video. Questions can be open-
ended or multiple choice. The instructor can see how much of the video was seen, how
much time was spent on it, how many questions were answered correctly, and a no-skip
feature can be applied.

Practice:
5. Quizlet – This app was basically a flashcard app, but now it offers gamification of more
rote studying. The app isn’t the best flashcard app in my opinion, but the gamification is
first-rate and Quizlet-live offers feedback to instructors in real-time. Quizlet learn even
helps students plan their study sessions. The makers at Quizlet keep adding more and
more helpful tools and features.
6. Anki- This app is difficult to learn and the user interface isn’t the friendliest at first. But it’s
a flashcard app that makes the best use of Spaced Repetition Systems. There are plug-in
add-ons that allow for customization and gamification. Learning to use the app is itself a
learning experience, but it’s a great tool to help students memorize information they need
in any part of their life. It’s one of the most useful and impressive digital tools I’ve come
across. The mobile version requires payment, but the desktop version is free.

Create, Express, Assess:

7. Storyboad That – Storyboard That allows students to create anything from posters to
digital comics and storyboards. It would be a great summary tool and visual aid for many
 student projects. I can imagine it representing non-fiction as well as fiction. This site
connects with Google Classroom so that teachers and students can access assignments
with ease.
8. Soundtrap – This site allows students to edit their own podcasts, including cutting out
errors and adding in cool effects like background music. Students would need headsets or
a reliable microphone for this resource, but otherwise it’s free. What is coolest about this
app is that it students can collaborate on making podcasts as they might collaborate on a
document together. The site even allows them to video conference.
9. Padlet – This website allows students to create digital bulletin boards. It’s useful for
students to collaborate, brainstorm, and communicate creatively through. I prefer using it
for formative assessment, but it’s visually stunning enough to be an effective visual aid in a
summative assessment.
10. Flipgrid – Students can share video recordings up to five minutes long. This app is great for
accessing prior knowledge or getting students to engage with one another in discussion
after reading a text.
11. SeeSaw – Seesaw helps to create a digital portfolio for learners. They can add voice
explanations for their work or written captions. This site allows the teacher and learner to
share what students produce with families. The idea of the app is to enhance
communication between all parties involved in the learning and to help inspire more
assessment options.
12. Wix.com – This website is another way students can create portfolios or create a more
authentic platform to share their work in class. They can build their own website with a
more intuitive, user-friendly interface similar to Weebly.com.
13. Recap – I can use this free app to get individual video responses from each student, a few
students, or individual students, which I can review later for deeper analysis. The tool can
be used for both assessment and as a safely monitored communication tool for students
can teachers to ask questions and provide feedback to one another.
14. Canva – Students can enhance their projects and reports with visuals and infographics
from this online graphic design tool. The site is user friendly and available for mobile apps.