Free websites help boost student engagement, teacher productivity. By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor Read more by Laura Devaney February 24th, 2012 Teachers can use free sites to help boost student interest in lessons.
Cash-strapped schools can’t stop giving students the resources they need to learn and develop 21st century skills simply because budgets are tight. Luckily, educators can turn to free online resources to help them find and organize lesson plans, give students extra help in various subjects, and more. During a webinar on EdWeb.net, an educational social networking site for teachers and administrators, presenter Shannon Holden, a former teacher and assistant principal, and adjunct instructor at Lindenwood University and Missouri State University, shared a number of free online resources to help educators take advantage of what the internet has to offer.
Many educators “don’t know where to start” when it comes to finding, learning about, and really using free online resources, Holden said. Here is a round-up of Holden’s web recommendations: The New Platform for Learning. I have to confess my wife and two children think it's pretty funny that I have been invited to talk about technology at a cutting-edge conference for innovators and entrepreneurs.
It's an understatement to say that I grew up in a technologically-challenged household. We didn't even have a TV when I was a kid. We were not what you would call "early-adopters. " But I've changed—we all know what happens to dinosaurs—and the reason I've changed is that I've seen the tremendous transformational potential of technology in education.
I really believe that technology is a game-changer in the field of education—a game-changer we desperately need to both improve achievement for all and increase equity for children and communities who have been historically underserved. Technology is making us so much more efficient. Technology enables working adults to learn on their own schedule.
Technology is replacing the paper and pencil, the textbook, the chalk board and the globe in the corner of the room. Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) 12 Tech Tools That Will Transform The Way You Teach! In a Simple K12 blog post titled “17 Signs Your Classroom is Behind the Times” they provide a list of things that characterize a classroom that has fallen behind.
Number 16 lists a variety of technology tools that every educator should know about. As I read the list, I realized that although many teachers are interested in and excited about technology integration, they are too busy to explore all the new technology tools available online. This blog post is dedicated to all of the overworked teachers who just don’t have the time to seek out this information.
I have provided brief explanations, links to and pictures of the tools mentioned by Simple K12 (and a couple of my favorites). I hope this makes it more manageable for teachers to pick and choose which tools they want to use. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. [Note: StoryJumper is another online digital storybook maker worth checking out!] 8. 9.