TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of May 28, 2017
Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive
Taskade - John Xie & Stan ChangKhin Boon
Grades
K to 12
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Taskade is an easy to use to-do list creator and manager. Just start typing to create a list, no registration required. As soon as you start the list, a link ...more
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Taskade is an easy to use to-do list creator and manager. Just start typing to create a list, no registration required. As soon as you start the list, a link appears for sharing and collaborating. To save, create a free account with a username, email, and password to find and manage previous items. Taskade is not just an easy list creator; it is a very powerful tool with video conferencing, an activity feed, and recent projects. Taskade is the answer for remote teams to work together. Change the theme when you click to share a list on Facebook or Twitter (but you don't have to share; just open one of them and go back to your list to change the theme). You can even add Taskade to your Chrome browser for easy access or when you open a new tab your current list will appear as the opening page!
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (137), note taking (34), organizational skills (89), video (251)
In the Classroom
Create checklists of steps in a project. Place all notes in one place, so you do not forget. Use this tool easily in your Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) classroom since all students will be able to access it for free, no matter what device they have. They could use Taskade for assignment information, reminders, and more. Consider setting up a class account that can be used by all students. Spell out the use of the site and what is allowed and not allowed -- and the penalties. Set up separate accounts for student groups who can then share their notebook with other groups.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Name Picker Ninja - Zack Vogel
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Randomly select a name for any activity with Name Picker Ninja. Add your list of names, and Go! The Name Picker Ninja will scroll through the list and stop on ...more
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Randomly select a name for any activity with Name Picker Ninja. Add your list of names, and Go! The Name Picker Ninja will scroll through the list and stop on a random name. Delete that name and continue. Alternatively, if you want to keep all names active, click Go! again.
tag(s): classroom management (128), gamification (75), preK (247)
In the Classroom
The obvious use for this tool is for selecting students to answer a question or do an activity. Other uses could include forming groups/pairs or creating seating charts. Allow students to use it when it's time to choose the next student. Instead of names, enter activities for P.E., rainy day recess activities, the next book your class will read together, or anything where you need to make a choice. Save your lists as a template with a Word doc or PDF so you can copy and paste them for reuse later.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Podcast Generator - Alberto Betella
Grades
1 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
Podcast Generator is a free download for uploading and publishing audio and video podcasts. Install the software using the three-step setup wizard to begin. The generator also includes...more
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Podcast Generator is a free download for uploading and publishing audio and video podcasts. Install the software using the three-step setup wizard to begin. The generator also includes options for customizing the appearance of podcasts using themes. Podcast Generator works on most desktops, laptops and web browsers, AND this download seamlessly integrates with the Apple store for uploading podcasts to iTunes.
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tag(s): communication (132), podcasts (65), video (251)
In the Classroom
Create regular or special podcasts to share on your class web page or wiki. Create a mini gallery of images taken during a lab or a portfolio of images from photography, art, or any other class. Add music and share as part of a digital portfolio. Looking for even more ideas? Use this tool in your blended or flipped classroom to record class assignments or directions. Record story time or a reading excerpt for younger ones to listen to at a computer center AND from home, adding a touch of blended learning to your classroom! Have readers (perhaps older buddies) build fluency by recording selected passages for your non-readers. Launch a service project for your fifth or sixth graders to record stories for the kindergarten to use in their reading and listening center. Challenge students to create "you are there" recordings as "eyewitnesses" to historical or current events. Make a weekly class podcast, with students taking turns writing and sharing the "Class News," encourage students to create radio advertisements for concepts studied in class (Buy Dynamic DNA!). Invite students to write and record their own stories or poetry in dramatic readings. Language students or beginning readers could record their fluency by reading passages. Allow parents to hear their child's progress reading aloud, etc. Compare world language, speech articulation, or reading fluency at two points during the year. Challenge your Shakespeare students to record a soliloquy. Write and record a poem for Father's or Mother's Day (or other special events) and send the URL as a gift to that special person.If you have gifted students who lean toward the dramatic, this tool is simple enough for them to create dramatic mini casts without needing a video camera. Have students upload their own images and write a drama to accompany them, showing what they have learned in independent learning beyond the regular curriculum.
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asymetrica - Aysmetrica Labs, Inc.
Grades
2 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
aysmetrica is an interesting web browser extension designed to adjust the spaces in text to create an easier reading experience. View the examples on the How it Works page to ...more
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aysmetrica is an interesting web browser extension designed to adjust the spaces in text to create an easier reading experience. View the examples on the How it Works page to understand what aysmetrica offers and why it makes reading easier in many instances. Reduce cognitive load by creating chunks of text instead of one space between each word; this makes content easier to read and understand. Use the slider to adjust the amount of formatting provided. Be sure to follow the links, found in the top menu under More, to download the free browser extension for aysmetrica for personal use. This site requires email registration.
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tag(s): reading comprehension (134), reading strategies (89)
In the Classroom
Install aysmetrica on classroom computers for student use when reading text-heavy online content. aysmetrica may be especially helpful for ESL/ELL and special education students to use as an aid in reading and comprehending text. Share text on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector using aysmetrica as part of a lesson on reading skills to demonstrate "chunking" of text.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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eMargin - Birmingham City University
Grades
8 to 12
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Collaborate and annotate online using eMargin. Create an account using your email to get started. Begin annotating using text you upload from your computer, enter a URL, or copy and...more
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Collaborate and annotate online using eMargin. Create an account using your email to get started. Begin annotating using text you upload from your computer, enter a URL, or copy and paste text. Once text is available, use the dashboard to highlight with your choice of colors, add notes or tags, or search for specific words or phrases. Create groups to share and collaborate on annotations.
tag(s): collaboration (86), note taking (34), questioning (30)
In the Classroom
eMargin is a great tool for you (or your students) to annotate research and information on the Internet or from personal documents. Create teacher annotations or question and answer comments on pages. Ask comprehension questions or guiding questions for places you send students on the web. Ask questions that students can complete as homework to show that they accessed the web resource assigned. This tool would also be a powerful way for students to point out bias on a web page or for art students to comment on images and design elements. Create writing prompts by adding questions or comments to a webpage and sharing it with students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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YiNote - turbonote.co
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
YiNote is a Chrome browser extension allowing users to take notes while watching online videos. After installing the extension, click the icon in your browser bar while viewing any...more
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YiNote is a Chrome browser extension allowing users to take notes while watching online videos. After installing the extension, click the icon in your browser bar while viewing any video to bring up a box for adding notes. YiNote adds a time stamp to match the place in the video of saved notes. Return at anytime and click on your notes to go directly to that point in the video. One-click sharing allows the option to share notes via a direct URL or through links to social networking sites.
tag(s): bookmarks (47), citations (34), curation (29), flips (6), note taking (34), video (251)
In the Classroom
After installing the YiNote extension, add notes to any online video then share with students for viewing as part of your flipped classroom lessons. Use with videos that may be too long otherwise; have students go directly to relevant portions of videos and view with your guidance supplied in the note portion. Include a note for any video you ask students to watch, then have them share their answers in an online bulletin board creator, such as Padlet, reviewed here. Or flip your classroom and have students watch the video at home and ask questions or make comments using YiNote.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Text Mode - omarr.com
Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Text Mode is an easy-to-install extension for Chrome browsers that removes all information from web pages except text. Convert distracting, hard to follow web pages into clean black...more
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Text Mode is an easy-to-install extension for Chrome browsers that removes all information from web pages except text. Convert distracting, hard to follow web pages into clean black and white text with a click of a button. Once installed, click the "T" on your browser toolbar to turn Text Mode on or off when viewing any page.
tag(s): media literacy (96), reading comprehension (134)
In the Classroom
Install Text Mode on all classroom computers for use throughout the year. Turn distracting images off when sharing web pages with a projector or on an interactive whiteboard to help students focus on content. Use this tool in technology training with students to share how images, videos, and ads change the look of web content. Share how adding images helps viewers understand the content. Text Mode is excellent for use with ESL/ELL and special education students as a method for focusing. Share web pages with images to help students get the big picture, then remove images to deliver and understand the content offered.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SMMRY - smmry.com
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Did you ever wish for a website that would summarize long articles of text? SMMRY grants your wish! Copy and paste text, PDF's, websites, or online articles into the text ...more
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Did you ever wish for a website that would summarize long articles of text? SMMRY grants your wish! Copy and paste text, PDF's, websites, or online articles into the text box, upload a PDF file or paste a URL to begin. Choose the number of sentences for the summary, then click the summarize box and view your summary. Some documents and PDF's may be too long and you may need to upload them rather than using the URL. Or, you could do a copy and paste into the summary box if necessary.
tag(s): learning disability (22), Special Needs (46), summarizing (18)
In the Classroom
Introduce SMMRY to students working on research projects as a way to quickly determine content and viability of using websites. Use to differentiate instruction with students. Use with learning support students as a resource to make content easier to understand (and shorter to read). Use SMMRY summaries when teaching how to summarize in an ELA class. Compare the summary you create as a class or in small groups with the "automated" one. Are there subtleties or important distinctions that this tool misses? As a challenge for your more critical thinkers, have them try to figure out what signals the tool uses to create its summary.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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iBoske - Ana M. Martin
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Create and/or browse decision-making trees with iBoske. Browse through published trees with topics including choosing a laptop or identifying species of whales. Use the search bar to...more
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Create and/or browse decision-making trees with iBoske. Browse through published trees with topics including choosing a laptop or identifying species of whales. Use the search bar to look for a specific topic of a decision tree. Create a tree by adding a title and your topic question. Add questions as needed, leading to personalized solutions. When finished, publish your project by signing up for an account using Facebook, Google, Twitter, or LinkedIn, and share using provided links or an embed code. iBoske's video tutorials reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): concept mapping (17), debate (38), graphic organizers (48), mind map (24), persuasive writing (53)
In the Classroom
Use iBoske for many kinds of societal, political, or environmental discussions and decisions, such as paper or plastic bags, support fracking or not, etc. Use in literary discussions of alternatives faced by characters. Use in preparation for debates or persuasive writing. Generate a list of actions and alternatives and create the decision matrix. Consider using this tool for a project occurring in student neighborhoods. For example, the removal of a field and trees or the changing of the landscape for a proposed development. Use the decision-making matrix in iBoske to determine why the decision to proceed happened or should happen.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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