Tech Tools for Teachers

It's our job as educators to ensure that all students (and adults) have the tools they need to learn. We have chatted about a few Chrome Extensions in the past, including Google Read & Write. However, with SO many extensions out there, we thought an episode focused solely on Chrome Extensions for accessibility would be helpful. We are discussing four tools today, and that doesn't even scratch...

With so many kids learning and sharing online, we need to teach them how to navigate the internet appropriately. Just like students learning to have good phone etiquette back in the day, kids now need to learn how to function appropriately online. Digital citizenship can be integrated into any classroom and should be reviewed regularly so that as students are exposed to more situations, they know...

Who is firing up some student projects and needs a way to present them? This week, we are featuring Animoto and sharing a few Prezi updates that will get your students cranking out creative videos and sharing their knowledge in a variety of ways. View the post: https://smartinwi.com/085-animoto-prezi-for-education Tech discussed in this episode: Animoto Prezi (new features) Find ALL of the tools w...

What a random kind of week! Random group generators that is! 😄 Lately, I’ve been asked a lot for tools that can help create groups of all sorts, so this week I am sharing a few of my favorites! View the post: https://smartinwi.com/084-random-group-generators-youll-love/ Tech Discussed in This Episode: • Wheel of Names • Picker Wheel Find all of the tools we've discussed in the EdTech Directo...

Are you ready for some dirt on virtual gardening? 🌸 This week we discuss resources to support students with gardening projects. It's a fun an easy way to build STEM skills right into your day. Whether you have a garden project on its own or you're combining the project to learn some other subjects like math or science, these tools will help get you growing! View the post: https://smartinwi.com/08...

Are you interested in gamifying your classroom? Where do you start? There are several ways to set up your classroom to make it more interactive. This episode shares two fun tech tools that make it easy to add interactivity to your lessons. Blooket One edtech tool to try that adds more of a gaming element […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podco...

One. Just ONE website with TONS of tools! For the first time in foreverrrrrrrr we only focused on one tool. Whiteboard.chat is the highlight of our week! There are SO many ways to use this tool, it seemed like it needed its own episode. Here are the highlights! Whiteboard.chat Whiteboard.chat is more than just a […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https...

It’s design time! We have some fun tools for our elementary kiddos today focused on STEM skills! The design process can be learned at any age and can be applied to multiple subjects. The free tech tools this week are to support elementary teachers and engage students in design thinking. Fidgit Factory Our first fabulous […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn...

Music! Music! Music! This week we are all about that base and it won’t cause any you any “treble”.😃 We are featuring easy-to-use music sites that can be used in any content area. They are fun, quick and engaging! Chrome Music Lab – Song Maker There are a variety of Chrome Experiments that feature music. This […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - htt...

Need a creative outlet? We have creative writing tools for you and your students. Do you have a poetry unit coming up or a need a daily writing prompt? There is a little bit of everything this week! Language is a Virus Language is a Virus (but not really) is a jam-packed site will all […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtr...

Yo, Teach! Time for collaboration! It’s the start of a new year and new ways to collaborate with each other. Educators have been working to adapt and change so much this school year but certain things do not change. Students and staff still need to be able to collaborate with one another so this week […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.c...

This week we are mooooving toward 2021 with Moovly and a few other presentation tools that are going to get us there! We are at the point in the school year where we are caught between longer breaks. As you all know, this means student engagement is hit or miss. Also, being 2020, it’s likely […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privac...

The goal this week was a quick mini-episode of Google tools with timesaving ideas. However, there was so much to chat about, it turned into a longer than normal episode! There was just so much to share! I know many schools use Google tools on a regular basis and I would love to hear what […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Po...

In this week's episode, we discuss four free 3D tools that you can use with your students. The first two, Figuro and SketchUp, are available as online tools that you can use from any computer. The second two tools, Blender and LeoCAD, are powerful (but free) downloads that will help you and your students explore more advanced 3D designing. This podcast uses the following third-party services for a...

Let’s head to outer space! This week’s sites are out of this world! We were trying really hard to come up with good one liners during the podcast so I am going to put them all in this week’s blog instead. 🚀 HubbleSite There has been so much space education going on in my life, […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - ht...

Who needs a break?! We all need to shake it up and have a little fun! What better way to take a little brain break than with some art. This week, we are focusing on free, easy-to-use digital art tools to take your mind off everything and allow you to create. Bomomo The first two […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - h...

I love to hear students explain their thinking. They share many neat ideas and how they understand concepts. It is so interesting to hear their point of view, and since our classrooms have changed a ton this year, you don’t always get the opportunity to hear from students in the same way you would in […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.c...

Self-care is in the air! We all need to take a break, step back and take care of ourselves. However, that is so much easier said than done. I feel like many educators are so caring and the they take care of everyone else but themselves. SO, this week we are going to work on […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https:...

We are here with some digital civics support this week! Teaching students how to find bias in articles and sift through information is a big task. There are so many sources of information, it takes a lot of time to sort through what would be best for your lesson. This week’s civics tech tools are […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/p...

Easy writing and vocab tools to the rescue! The focus sites this week require minimal setup and are engaging for your students. They support students with writing and vocabulary, plus, one has a large collection of ebooks ready to go! Vocab Ahead If you are looking to support your students with building their vocabulary, Vocab […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:...

Need a little support for your online learners? This week, we have a few Chrome Extensions up our sleeve to help you and your kiddos out. Anything to make life a little easier, right? Web Paint Web Paint is a schnazzy tool that can help you write on any web page. You have lots of […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac -...

It’s a mini-episode kind of week and we are focusing on easy ways to record your screen. Between staff and students trying to share and explain their thoughts to one another, it has become really important to be able to share your screen! This week we have a tool and a tip to support you […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Po...

Are you ready to take an adventure with your students? Are you missing your fall field trips? Try some virtual field trips! This week we are talking 360 images and tours. The sites I am sharing will hopefully help your students do a little exploring and add a little adventure into your day. 360Cities If […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcor...

We are talking all about online math tools this week! Hands-on math manipulatives are tricky to use during our current situation unless you have a different set for each student. Plus, that can turn into A LOT of cleaning. However, manipulatives are such important learning tools and we need to find a way to help […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https...

It’s digital whiteboard day! A whiteboard is such an essential tool when it comes to teaching. We use them for explaining, making notes, teaching, writing to-do lists, interacting with our students and so much more. I know I would have a hard time getting my point across without one. Especially when I am trying to […] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - htt...