Resources List
Educational Technology and Learning Theories
P21: Through the combined efforts of teachers, education experts, and business leaders, P21 developed a Framework for 21st Century Learning. This framework defines and illustrates the skills and knowledge students will need to succeed in work, life, and citizenship. It also identifies the support systems necessary for 21st century learning outcomes.
ISTE Standards: The International Society for Technology in Education has developed technology standards for students, teachers, administrators, coaches, and computer science educators. The ISTE standards for students are the basic skills that students and their teachers should meet. The ISTE standards for teachers focus on teaching skills that use technologies.
Learning Theories: This website lists over 80 learning theories, models, and frameworks. The learning theories are summarized and explained in a more simple format.
Software Support Tools
Weebly: This is a free, easy to use website and blog creator.
Puzzlemaker: Create and print customized word search, criss-cross, math puzzles, and more-using your own word lists.
Certificate Magic: Create your own personalized certificates.
Survey Monkey: Create any type of survey.
Ascend SMS: A hosted platform for managing attendance, grades, conduct, health, lunch, parent communication and more at no cost to private, elementary schools.
Plickers: Lets teachers collect real-time formative assessment data without the need for student devices.
RubiStar: Free tool to help teachers create quality rubrics.
QuizWorks: Online quiz creator.
ABCYA: Word clouds for kids.
Kidspiration: A visual way to understand words, numbers, and concepts.
Common Curriculum: Online lesson planning tool.
The Basic Suite
Elementary School Microsoft Office Lessons: Provides lessons using Microsoft Office or Google Drive software tools.
Family Feud PowerPoint Templates: Create your own custom Family Feud to use in the classroom as a fun game to review for a test or be introduced to a new unit.
32 Ways to Use Google Apps in Classrooms and Schools: This slide show presents meaningful ways for using various Google Apps in the classroom in order to increase efficiency, collaboration, and engagement.
Google Forms and Sheets Add-Ons: Provides a list, explanation, and application for five add-ons that can be used with Google Forms and Sheets in Education.
Using Video in the Classroom
Video Resources for Middle and High School Classrooms: Provides 4 resources for videos to use in the classroom related to global issues, the economy, and media literacy.
Customizing Videos with EdPuzzle: This tool is a video annotation tool. You can add questions and quizzes within videos to help your students become more active viewers.
Web 2.0 Applications
Best of 2.0 Applications for 2016 (so far): Blogger, Larry Ferlazzo, provides his list of best Web 2.0 applications so far for 2016. Many of the applications have to do with ELL and ESL; however, these applications could be used in any classroom. He also provides lists from prior years.
Vetting Web 2.0 Tools: Because students will be interacting on the internet when using Web 2.0 tools, Michael Gorman suggests that schools should be mindful of their Acceptable Use Policies and develop a system for vetting Web 2.0 applications in order to ensure that the applications are safe and appropriate for the students. He provides a suggested Reference Guide to use when vetting Web 2.0 applications.
Social Media in the Classroom
Nine Ways to Use Social Media in the Classroom: This article provides nine strategies for using social media in the classroom. Each strategy can be implemented or tried once a month throughout the school year which eliminates the intimidation of using social media with students. The examples provided can be used with older and elementary students.
How Should Social Media Be Taught in Schools: Because students often use social media for personal use, but rarely use it for educational purposes, it is important for educators to teach students how to appropriately use social media. This article details how educators can properly guide students in their social learning.
Digital Games in the Library
Library Games: Wayzata Plymouth Creek Elementary School Media Center provides an extensive list of digital games that can be used in the library to help students learn and improve their library skills such as ABC order, fiction and nonfiction, the parts of a book, genres, and finding books online and on the shelf.
Video Games and Reading Skills: This article discusses how Minecraft can enhance reading and writing skills. Children enhance reading skills through reading books and posts on how to play and create in the game. Games also contribute to writing skills when students post to gaming sites and discussions. Students are more motivated when they care about the task like playing the game.
Technology in the Content Areas
Technology and Literacy: A middle school language arts educator shares his favorite digital tools for text and video annotations, teacher feedback, and formative assessment.
Scribeasy: One of the challenges of teaching creative writing can be just getting students to start a story. The app Scribeasy can be helpful because it provides visual prompts that aid as story starters.
iPad Apps for Social Studies: Provides social studies teachers with a resource where they can quickly access and use digital tools to help them with the teaching of their subject matter. The resources are arranged into categories: websites, iPad apps, Android apps, and Chrome apps.
Learning Games-Social Studies: This site aggregates information on history games, interactives, and simulations. There are currently 126 shared games listed.
MathPickle: Provides math puzzles, games, and mini competitions. It can be organized by grade or subject.
EdTechTeacher: This tool provides science resources for teachers including virtual labs. It provides a wide variety of tools for integrating technology into the science curriculum.
Adaptive/Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology for Children with Learning Disabilities: Provides an overview of assistive technology for children with learning disabilities. It tells what assistive technology is for learning disabilities, the types of learning problems addressed by assistive technology, and the kinds of assistive technology tools available. The article also lists several factors to consider when evaluating assistive technology products for the learning disabled child.
Using Technology with Gifted Students: Provides four ways in which technology can meet the needs of gifted students as well as their classmates.
P21: Through the combined efforts of teachers, education experts, and business leaders, P21 developed a Framework for 21st Century Learning. This framework defines and illustrates the skills and knowledge students will need to succeed in work, life, and citizenship. It also identifies the support systems necessary for 21st century learning outcomes.
ISTE Standards: The International Society for Technology in Education has developed technology standards for students, teachers, administrators, coaches, and computer science educators. The ISTE standards for students are the basic skills that students and their teachers should meet. The ISTE standards for teachers focus on teaching skills that use technologies.
Learning Theories: This website lists over 80 learning theories, models, and frameworks. The learning theories are summarized and explained in a more simple format.
Software Support Tools
Weebly: This is a free, easy to use website and blog creator.
Puzzlemaker: Create and print customized word search, criss-cross, math puzzles, and more-using your own word lists.
Certificate Magic: Create your own personalized certificates.
Survey Monkey: Create any type of survey.
Ascend SMS: A hosted platform for managing attendance, grades, conduct, health, lunch, parent communication and more at no cost to private, elementary schools.
Plickers: Lets teachers collect real-time formative assessment data without the need for student devices.
RubiStar: Free tool to help teachers create quality rubrics.
QuizWorks: Online quiz creator.
ABCYA: Word clouds for kids.
Kidspiration: A visual way to understand words, numbers, and concepts.
Common Curriculum: Online lesson planning tool.
The Basic Suite
Elementary School Microsoft Office Lessons: Provides lessons using Microsoft Office or Google Drive software tools.
Family Feud PowerPoint Templates: Create your own custom Family Feud to use in the classroom as a fun game to review for a test or be introduced to a new unit.
32 Ways to Use Google Apps in Classrooms and Schools: This slide show presents meaningful ways for using various Google Apps in the classroom in order to increase efficiency, collaboration, and engagement.
Google Forms and Sheets Add-Ons: Provides a list, explanation, and application for five add-ons that can be used with Google Forms and Sheets in Education.
Using Video in the Classroom
Video Resources for Middle and High School Classrooms: Provides 4 resources for videos to use in the classroom related to global issues, the economy, and media literacy.
Customizing Videos with EdPuzzle: This tool is a video annotation tool. You can add questions and quizzes within videos to help your students become more active viewers.
Web 2.0 Applications
Best of 2.0 Applications for 2016 (so far): Blogger, Larry Ferlazzo, provides his list of best Web 2.0 applications so far for 2016. Many of the applications have to do with ELL and ESL; however, these applications could be used in any classroom. He also provides lists from prior years.
Vetting Web 2.0 Tools: Because students will be interacting on the internet when using Web 2.0 tools, Michael Gorman suggests that schools should be mindful of their Acceptable Use Policies and develop a system for vetting Web 2.0 applications in order to ensure that the applications are safe and appropriate for the students. He provides a suggested Reference Guide to use when vetting Web 2.0 applications.
Social Media in the Classroom
Nine Ways to Use Social Media in the Classroom: This article provides nine strategies for using social media in the classroom. Each strategy can be implemented or tried once a month throughout the school year which eliminates the intimidation of using social media with students. The examples provided can be used with older and elementary students.
How Should Social Media Be Taught in Schools: Because students often use social media for personal use, but rarely use it for educational purposes, it is important for educators to teach students how to appropriately use social media. This article details how educators can properly guide students in their social learning.
Digital Games in the Library
Library Games: Wayzata Plymouth Creek Elementary School Media Center provides an extensive list of digital games that can be used in the library to help students learn and improve their library skills such as ABC order, fiction and nonfiction, the parts of a book, genres, and finding books online and on the shelf.
Video Games and Reading Skills: This article discusses how Minecraft can enhance reading and writing skills. Children enhance reading skills through reading books and posts on how to play and create in the game. Games also contribute to writing skills when students post to gaming sites and discussions. Students are more motivated when they care about the task like playing the game.
Technology in the Content Areas
Technology and Literacy: A middle school language arts educator shares his favorite digital tools for text and video annotations, teacher feedback, and formative assessment.
Scribeasy: One of the challenges of teaching creative writing can be just getting students to start a story. The app Scribeasy can be helpful because it provides visual prompts that aid as story starters.
iPad Apps for Social Studies: Provides social studies teachers with a resource where they can quickly access and use digital tools to help them with the teaching of their subject matter. The resources are arranged into categories: websites, iPad apps, Android apps, and Chrome apps.
Learning Games-Social Studies: This site aggregates information on history games, interactives, and simulations. There are currently 126 shared games listed.
MathPickle: Provides math puzzles, games, and mini competitions. It can be organized by grade or subject.
EdTechTeacher: This tool provides science resources for teachers including virtual labs. It provides a wide variety of tools for integrating technology into the science curriculum.
Adaptive/Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology for Children with Learning Disabilities: Provides an overview of assistive technology for children with learning disabilities. It tells what assistive technology is for learning disabilities, the types of learning problems addressed by assistive technology, and the kinds of assistive technology tools available. The article also lists several factors to consider when evaluating assistive technology products for the learning disabled child.
Using Technology with Gifted Students: Provides four ways in which technology can meet the needs of gifted students as well as their classmates.