TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Oct 29, 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

 

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EduBirdie - KingCitation

Grades
5 to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Let's face it, creating proper citations is difficult due to the many different formats and the variety of sources cited. EduBirdie helps with this problem with its Auto Citer. Click...more
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Let's face it, creating proper citations is difficult due to the many different formats and the variety of sources cited. EduBirdie helps with this problem with its Auto Citer. Click Citation Generators from the top menu and then choose the type of format you need. The three step procedure begins at the top menu with choosing the type of work that is cited then moves on to adding requested information to the form generator. Click "Generate Citation" to complete your citation ready to copy and paste into any document.

tag(s): citations (34), plagiarism (34), Research (83)

In the Classroom

Use your interactive whiteboard and projector to show students how to use this tool for citing their sources. Share this website for all of your projects using research so students know the correct procedure for citations. Be sure to add it on your class web site as a useful reference.
 

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ChartAccent - Donghao Ren, Matthew Brehmer, and others

Grades
8 to 12
0 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Enhance classroom techology use by adding comments and annotations to your online charts with ChartAccent. Upload your CSV file to begin and follow the steps to choose the best type...more
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Enhance classroom techology use by adding comments and annotations to your online charts with ChartAccent. Upload your CSV file to begin and follow the steps to choose the best type of chart for your dataset. Options include bar, line, or scatter plots. Follow additional steps to label and annotate your chart. When finished, save your work as a PNG, SVG, or animated GIF. Be sure to watch the included video with directions for annotating and exporting charts.

tag(s): charts and graphs (169)

In the Classroom

Collect data in your classroom and quickly create a graph to represent it. Share through links or adding images to blogs, wikis, or websites. Share graphs on an interactive whiteboard or projector for better analysis of data by the class, then add comments and notes. Graph results of a test, answers from students, favorite foods, fictitious budgets, class schedules, and whatever else is applicable in your classroom. Use an informational text, and have students create a pie chart to understand how to read charts that accompany the informational texts. Have cooperative learning groups create graphs to share with the class on the class wiki. Create quick pie charts on your interactive whiteboard whenever you count class votes or encounter other data so students "see" data visualized on a regular basis; visual students will have another way to absorb the information. Keep the link handy on your web page to access it quickly in or out of class. Assess students' understanding of any chart by uploading one and having the student annotate the information.
 

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QuizWhizzer - Tim Bartrum

Grades
6 to 12
4 Favorites 0  Comments
 
QuizWhizzer is a quiz creation tool that sends players racing on a track you choose. Begin by creating your quiz from options presented within QuizWhizzer including player movement...more
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QuizWhizzer is a quiz creation tool that sends players racing on a track you choose. Begin by creating your quiz from options presented within QuizWhizzer including player movement choices and positions on the board. Add questions by selecting from options of question types, add images or videos if desired, and feedback for submitted answers. The free version allows for up to 10 players, and they enter the game on any device by entering the unique access code. When finished, teachers receive a game result spreadsheet with player names and results from each question. Making the creation of a quiz can take just a matter of seconds by copying other people's public game designs.

tag(s): assessment (147), quiz (67), quizzes (90)

In the Classroom

Add QuizWhizzer to your arsenal of quiz creation tools, especially for differentiation. Create a quiz as a tool for checking prior knowledge or making a quick assessment. Have students answer exit questions or see what students remember from the previous day using the Quiz Creator. Use for formative assessment to identify misconceptions that students may have at the start of a unit. ENL/ELL and world language teachers could use QuizWhizzer for vocabulary practice. Have students create quizzes with characteristics of story characters for classmates to see which character they resemble the most. Students could also create a quiz to present to his/her peers after giving a class presentation.

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Formilla - Tawer Gilyana and Zaia Gilyana

Grades
K to 12
0 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Formilla is a live chat widget add-on for your website. Compatible with all formats, Formilla is customizable for different languages and appearance. Free accounts include access to...more
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Formilla is a live chat widget add-on for your website. Compatible with all formats, Formilla is customizable for different languages and appearance. Free accounts include access to one website, one chat agent, and up to 30 chats/emails.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): chat (42), communication (136), multilingual (65)

In the Classroom

Offer a set time for office hours published well in advance for parents and students to drop in and ask questions about assignments, homework help, or any other matters that they may have. Set up a chat time early in the school year for "meet and greet" so parents discover your website or for those who are unable to attend back to school night! Cut down on email! Encourage students to identify the questions they (or their parents) have the most as you develop the scope for your chat. ESL/ELL teachers can use the chat to provide extra written language practice for their students in an engaging way! Use the chat with your colleagues in a Teacher Lounge format to help each other in the appropriate use of technology, content sharing, or professional development.

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Loom - Vinay Hiremath

Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Loom is a Chrome browser extension for creating quick and easy video screen recordings up to five minutes long. Download and install the extension following directions on the site....more
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Loom is a Chrome browser extension for creating quick and easy video screen recordings up to five minutes long. Download and install the extension following directions on the site. Loom allows you to record the entire desktop, just an application, or use the computer camera for recording. When finished, Loom automatically saves the recording and provides the URL for sharing through Gmail or social accounts. As of March 12, 2020 Loom is offering their PRO program free to verified teachers. This is a permanent change; moving forward Loom will continue to provide Loom Pro to verified teachers and students for free.

tag(s): video (257)

In the Classroom

Download and install Loom on classroom computers using Chrome. Have students make screen recordings to share how to use websites or software with their peers. Enhance learning by asking students to create a recording to demonstrate where to find information on a website, or point out specific areas of difficulty when working on a computer. Share a link to videos you create on your website to demonstrate specific instructions on finding information on the computer or how to get started on a computer game. Although only available in Chrome at the time of this review, Loom states that it is working on making the download available for other browsers in the future.

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Classroomscreen - Laurens Koppers

Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites 0  Comments
Classroomscreen is a background utility for use with interactive whiteboards or projector screens. Choose from circles at the bottom of the screen to add 13 widgets including a random...more
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Classroomscreen is a background utility for use with interactive whiteboards or projector screens. Choose from circles at the bottom of the screen to add 13 widgets including a random name picker, text, timer, and clock. Drag items to place them on the screen as desired. You can use Classroomsceen without signing up, but will get more features, for free, if you create and account. There is also a premium version, but this review is only for the free versions.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): classroom management (128), emotions (47), functions (52), iwb (32), multilingual (65), social and emotional learning (81), Teacher Utilities (146), time (92)

In the Classroom

Use Classroomscreen on your interactive whiteboard for quick access to many commonly used tools. Add to student computers for access to a calculator and text box for notes. ENL/ESL teachers will enjoy the multi-language feature, set it up under Personalize. Use the different backgrounds as inspiration for creative writing projects.

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Duck Soup - Robert Boyett and Andrew McAfee

Grades
K to 12
6 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Is a paperless classroom your goal? Duck Soup is for you! Instead of making copies of papers to hand out and then grade, upload any PDF or Word document to ...more
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Is a paperless classroom your goal? Duck Soup is for you! Instead of making copies of papers to hand out and then grade, upload any PDF or Word document to your Duck Soup account to quickly turn it into an e-sheet gradable activity. Receive feedback in real time as students complete work. Duck Soup also offers the ability for students to "write" on documents as they would with pencil and paper. Options include setting times to submit responses, set number of retries for incorrect responses, and set values of questions. This site fully integrates with Google Drive making it a "must have" for any Google Classroom.

tag(s): classroom management (128), Google (46), Teacher Utilities (146)

In the Classroom

Save time and paper using Duck Soup. Start out slowly, perhaps with one or two papers the first week. Choose a paper that is familiar to both you and your students and explore together how to use e-sheets and settings that work best for your classroom. Once familiar with the site, the possibilities are unlimited. Use Duck Soup for homework, centers, and ongoing projects. Instead of sending paperwork home to be completed by parents, create digital versions for a quick response and compilation of information.

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Ganttology - Webalon LTD

Grades
5 to 12
0 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Ganttology is a web-based service for creating Gantt charts. Gantt charts allow you to track the progress of tasks using horizontal bars representing sub-tasks and milestones. Free...more
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Ganttology is a web-based service for creating Gantt charts. Gantt charts allow you to track the progress of tasks using horizontal bars representing sub-tasks and milestones. Free accounts allow you to create a chart with up to 50 tasks including groups and sub-groups. Other features include color coding of items and the option of assigning tasks to different people.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): charts and graphs (169), collaboration (87)

In the Classroom

Use Ganttology to create a task chart for group projects or a long-term overview of a unit. Be sure that all participants have a link to the chart, or print it out and display in a convenient location. Have students map out a chapter, story, or novel from difficult reading material. Use the events charted to discuss cause and effect.

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