TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Oct 13, 2019
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
Social Media Test Drive - Cornell University and the Cornell Research Foundation, Inc
Grades
4 to 12
Social Media Test Drive provides a series of interactive modules offering practice in digital citizenship skills through a social media simulation. Each module includes tutorials, guided...more
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Social Media Test Drive provides a series of interactive modules offering practice in digital citizenship skills through a social media simulation. Each module includes tutorials, guided activities, and opportunities for reflection. Topics include how to shape your digital footprint, online privacy, addressing cyberbullies, and how to recognize and identify "fake news." The Teacher's Guide provides ideas on using the site along with key terms and information found within the modules.
tag(s): character education (81), cyberbullying (42), digital citizenship (90), social media (50)
In the Classroom
Share these modules for students to complete during any lessons on Internet safety. Ask students to contribute to a collaborative document sharing examples they have seen of cyberbullying or deceptive news practice. Replace pencil and paper notetaking by sharing an online tool such as Webnote, reviewed here, for students to use to take notes on any website. When finished, have them share their notes using the URL created for use in classroom discussions. Reinforce online safety concepts through gameplay using Baamboozle, reviewed here. Enhance student learning by asking students to create a game in Baamboozle for their peers to play to identify best practices in creating a safe online presence. After completing your digital safety unit, modify classroom technology use and extend learning by asking students to create explainer videos using FlexClip, reviewed here, with suggestions on how to identify fake news, how to create a positive digital footprint or ways to support peers when faced with cyberbullying. Share student videos on your class website and with younger students.TWiki - Peter Theony
Grades
K to 12TWiki is an open-source application for creating and using wikis. Easily add and share information without any coding or programming skills. Think of it as an easily editable page....more
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TWiki is an open-source application for creating and using wikis. Easily add and share information without any coding or programming skills. Think of it as an easily editable page. Download the application to create your wiki. Add text, links, and documents to your wiki pages. Additional features include the ability to view the history of any topic and receive email notifications of changes to any topic. Enhance your wiki with the site's available plugins including a calendar, chart visualizer, slide show module, and others.
tag(s): collaboration (94), social media (50), wikis (14)
In the Classroom
In language arts or history classrooms use a wiki to create a favorite historical figures page, have students share their favorite person from history along with supporting evidence. Use a wiki to set up a debate between students. For example, create a wiki and ask students to debate the use of homework in schools, the effect of social media on society, or year-round school vs. traditional school calendars. As your class builds and adds to the wiki, extend student learning by having small groups of students select a topic to research further. A nice feature of TWiki is that it allows you to set up collaborative groups where students can share information and ideas about their research. Culminate the research by having students use a multimedia creation tool like Sway, reviewed here, transforming classroom technology by sharing information including text, images, videos, and more. As a last step have the small groups load their Sway creation to their collaborative page on TWiki. For more ideas and information on how to use wikis, visit the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through for a detailed, step-by-step explanation and starter help, including dozens of ideas for ways to use a wiki in your classroom.Brush Ninja - Ben Gillbanks
Grades
4 to 12Create animated gifs using Brush Ninja's paint tools and online editor. Use the paintbrushes to draw and color each frame. The toolbox contains a variety of features, including pencils,...more
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Create animated gifs using Brush Ninja's paint tools and online editor. Use the paintbrushes to draw and color each frame. The toolbox contains a variety of features, including pencils, text, shapes, and more. Use the control panel to adjust and play the animation. The timeline allows you to see the frames making up an animation, then drag and drop any frame to change the order. When finished, export your gif as an image for each frame, animated gif, or as an animated GIF adjusted for X (formerly Twitter). Clicking the Resources tab at the top you'll find Lesson Plans, Videos, Free Downloads (i.e. educational clipart), and more.
In the Classroom
Use Brush Ninja in a variety of ways. Share this site with students and give them time to explore and experiment. When working with troubled students, use this site to let students share their thoughts and emotions through an animation. This is an excellent site to use with students who love art and enjoy sharing their learning through creative expressions. Take a look at the images created by other users in the gallery as inspiration for how to use animations. Ask students to create animations demonstrating science concepts like erosion, weathering, or chemical reactions. Use this site to have students create animations demonstrating events from stories, share their thought process in math, or animate an event from history. Have students include their animations when creating multimedia projects in an online tool like Sway, reviewed here.Glide - David Siegel
Grades
7 to 12Create apps from Google Sheets with Glide without writing code. Choose any of your Google Sheet documents, and import it into the app. Use the features to customize information, add...more
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Create apps from Google Sheets with Glide without writing code. Choose any of your Google Sheet documents, and import it into the app. Use the features to customize information, add icons, and more. Another option is to use Glide's templates to start creating apps for city guides, track learning goals, or a directory of members of an organization. When finished, share the URL for your app through the social media links provided, or copy and share the URL.
tag(s): organizational skills (88), spreadsheets (23)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the video tutorials to learn about how to create and customize apps with Glide. Consider sharing this tool with one or more of your tech-savvy students and let them become the expert at how to use the different features. Ask them to create screencasts using Awesome ScreenShot, reviewed here, to demonstrate how to begin creating an app, how to customize an app, or any other features of this tool. Use Glide as a unique teaching tool to engage and capture student interest in a variety of ways. For example, have students create a directory of characters found in a Shakespeare play and include pertinent information including their relationship to other characters, the character's important moments within the play, and more. Another example of how to use Glide is to create an app for students to use when working on long-term projects. Use the objectives template to set up goals and timelines for students to follow.Checkology - The News Literacy Project
Grades
5 to 12Checkology offers interactive lessons to teach students how to evaluate and judge news and news sources. Lessons include real-world examples; many feature journalism experts as the...more
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Checkology offers interactive lessons to teach students how to evaluate and judge news and news sources. Lessons include real-world examples; many feature journalism experts as the digital guide. Participants view videos, take polls, and respond to quizzes within the lessons. The free account includes access to four news literacy lessons along with access to a limited amount of teacher resources.
tag(s): journalism (74), news (226), newspapers (93), social media (50)
In the Classroom
Integrate these free lessons with your other activities when teaching students how to evaluate and judge online information and other news sources. Consider assigning lessons for students to complete on their own, then come together as a class to discuss the content. Add a link to a lesson on a Padlet, reviewed here, and share with students. Ask them to add comments onto the Padlet including links to additional examples of the featured topic. Ask students to compare and contrast information from two sources using a Venn Diagram. Create a Venn Diagram using resources found at Class Tools, reviewed here. Challenge students to become the reporter and enhance their learning by writing their own news article to post as a blog at Edublog, reviewed here. Ask them to include some misinformation within their blog, and then have other class members find and respond to the shared content. Extend learning by having students become the teacher and share their tips and tricks for evaluating news and creating a digital book for other students using Book Creator, reviewed here. Ask them to include videos sharing their tips, written examples of misinformation, and add their Venn diagram to demonstrate different ways facts are used in articles to mislead readers.In Pictures - In Pictures, Inc.
Grades
K to 12Do you need help learning how to use Microsoft and Google Suite Products? In Pictures provides a variety of tutorials using color accented screenshots. Choose a product to begin, go...more
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Do you need help learning how to use Microsoft and Google Suite Products? In Pictures provides a variety of tutorials using color accented screenshots. Choose a product to begin, go step by step through the tutorial, or select a task from the included list. Each tutorial shares complete directions to walk you through the steps to create, edit, and share documents. In addition to Word and Google documents, In Pictures provides tutorials for basic web coding skills and working with Virtual Private Network (VPN) software.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): editing (93), Google (48), Microsoft (79), tutorials (52)
In the Classroom
In Pictures is an excellent site to bookmark on classroom computers and share with students. Use this site to help students (and you) understand how to complete various tasks when working with a variety of documents. Use In Pictures as a model to demonstrate how to present how-to guides, then enhance student learning by having students create their own how-to presentation based on your classroom needs. Ask students to create their guides using an easy website creation tool like Carrd, reviewed here, and augment classroom technology. For example, in science class have students create a step-by-step guide using screenshots and images to demonstrate the scientific process, or for a reading project have students demonstrate skills for reading non-fiction by previewing chapter titles, images, and captions.Digital Civics Toolkit - MacArthur Research Network
Grades
8 to 12The Digital Civics Toolkit contains five high-quality modules and resources for teaching civic potentials of digital life. Topics include Participate, Investigate, Dialogue, Voice,...more
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The Digital Civics Toolkit contains five high-quality modules and resources for teaching civic potentials of digital life. Topics include Participate, Investigate, Dialogue, Voice, and Action. Each module consists of a conversation starter with ideas for discussion questions, activity ideas, extension activities, some have a video, and closing reflections. Each module provides background resources for educators. If your school blocks YouTube be sure to look at alternatives for sharing the conversation starters and other videos on classroom computers.
tag(s): communities (38), cross cultural understanding (176), digital citizenship (90), journalism (74)
In the Classroom
Save yourself some time, and use these excellent free modules on this site during online safety lessons. Share this site with your school's counselor for use during digital awareness activities. Instead of using paper and pencil to record ideas during brainstorming sessions, use an online bulletin board like Padlet, reviewed here, to organize and record student responses. Padlet offers tools for participants to share links and add comments to posts. As students develop responses to prompts, replace paper and pencil and ask them to create simple web pages to share their ideas and include support for their position using a simple webpage creation tool like Jimdo, reviewed here. Add a link to each student or group's web pages onto your class website to share the variety of ideas and resources shared by the class. Enhance learning and use Acast, reviewed here, to create podcasts featuring student's sharing tips for being digitally aware and share with your school community.Kid's Search - Kids Search
Grades
K to 12Kid's Search is an ad-free, kid-friendly search engine and website. This platform uses Google Safe Search filters and other partners to manage search results by blocking out inappropriate...more
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Kid's Search is an ad-free, kid-friendly search engine and website. This platform uses Google Safe Search filters and other partners to manage search results by blocking out inappropriate content. In addition to web search features, use this site to find popular images, videos, and games for kids. Other features include quick links to calculators, translation tools, and homework helper sites.
tag(s): internet safety (114), preK (286), search engines (48)
In the Classroom
Consider making Kid's Search your homepage on classroom computers, or add this site as an easy to find bookmark for students to use. Share this site with students on your interactive whiteboard to demonstrate the different features and how to use them. For younger students, consider creating how-to videos using Free Screen Recorder Online, reviewed here, to demonstrate how to access different portions of the site. Be sure to share this site with parents to use at home; include a short demonstration during Open House or Meet the Teacher events to share the available features. Take advantage of the Online Safety Guide section to share Internet safety tips in your weekly newsletter or for use with student online safety lessons. Enhance student learning by having students create their own internet safety tips using a comic creation tool like ToonyTool, reviewed here, to modify their technology use, and then share their comics with other classrooms.Digital Citizenship Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This editor's choice curated list of reviewed resources focuses on digital citizenship. Explore topics such as: protecting your digital footprint, protecting your identity, "netiquette,"...more
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This editor's choice curated list of reviewed resources focuses on digital citizenship. Explore topics such as: protecting your digital footprint, protecting your identity, "netiquette," and much more. Find varying levels of information for different age groups and materials to help parents cooperate in educating their children about digital citizenship.
tag(s): digital citizenship (90), internet safety (114)
In the Classroom
Use this entire collection or simply select the best ones for YOUR students to continually model good digital citizenship. Share the links with parents and among your colleagues so you can promote positive action instead of fear about the Internet.Free Online Screen Recorder - AceThinker
Grades
K to 12Capture your entire screen, or just a part of it with this easy to use screen recorder that includes audio. Download and install the launcher required for your operating system ...more
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Capture your entire screen, or just a part of it with this easy to use screen recorder that includes audio. Download and install the launcher required for your operating system then follow prompts to set up your recording. Save in several popular video formats or directly upload your recording to YouTube, Dropbox, or Google Drive.
tag(s): communication (130), tutorials (52), video (267)
In the Classroom
Any subject area teacher can use this tool to record instructions for using websites. Share how to solve problems, step by step directions for any project, and much more. Leave a video message for a substitute teacher or even your class! Create a video message for parents about current projects, clips from field trips, and more. Put a link to your recording on your class website for students to view at home. Demonstrate how to use this tool for students with a projector or interactive whiteboard, then have them record questions they have when using websites or online programs.Coding In the Classroom Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about coding, and for use as a guide for finding the appropriate tools for use...more
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about coding, and for use as a guide for finding the appropriate tools for use with all grade and skill levels. Nurture problem solving, logic, and creativity. Find resources for just one hour of code or for use as ongoing technology lessons.
tag(s): coding (86), computational thinking (40), computers (109), critical thinking (136), design (79), makerspace (40), problem solving (234), STEM (306)
In the Classroom
Explore these resources for use with after-school computer clubs or as an excellent tool when recruiting skilled parent volunteers. Turn the intimidating content of computer programming into an exciting learning adventure for all with these helpful sites!Internet Safety Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12This collection of reviewed resources focuses on Internet safety and its many concerns: protecting your digital footprint, protecting your identity, 'netiquette, email use, and much...more
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This collection of reviewed resources focuses on Internet safety and its many concerns: protecting your digital footprint, protecting your identity, 'netiquette, email use, and much more. Find varying levels of information for different age groups and materials to help parents cooperate in educating their children for digital citizenship and safety.
tag(s): internet safety (114), safety (68)
In the Classroom
Use these resources in toto or select the best ones for YOUR students to continually model rational, safe behavior online. Share the links with parents and among your colleagues so you can promote positive action instead of fear about the Internet. Find specific projects and lesson plans to fit student/curriculum needs from this extensive collection.Copyright and Fair Use Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
1 to 12Understanding copyright is essential for students living in today's digital world. Copyright protects original creative works, allowing the creators to control how their material is...more
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Understanding copyright is essential for students living in today's digital world. Copyright protects original creative works, allowing the creators to control how their material is used and shared. In the classroom, respecting copyright shows students why intellectual property rights and using content ethically matter. By teaching copyright principles, educators prepare students with the necessary knowledge for future courses, careers, and participation in our copyright-respecting world. This collection provided valuable resources for teaching students and staff the basics of copyright. The resources allow for discussions around plagiarism, piracy, and Internet ethics. It includes guidelines on fair use, how to credit sources appropriately, and updated copyright laws and policies.
tag(s): copyright (43)