Top 10 technology tools for educators

 

No matter if it's summer break, the first day of school or the last, teachers are always looking for ways to enhance the student experience. There are so many sites competing for your attention it is hard to sift through them all. We have put together a list of some of the best websites and apps for teachers today. 

Organizing and sharing information

1. Google for Education

Run by the most powerful search engine in the world, the Google for Education website provides amazing apps and software for free. You can organize, share documents in real time, keep your calendar up to date, and because it is cloud based it can be used across multiple platforms and devices. In addition there are plenty of free training opportunities to enhance your professional skills.

2. Evernote

The company goal of Evernote is to help the world remember everything, communicate effectively and get things done. It has been around for a while and is a great way to save information you come across on the web, upload handwritten notes and save all of your stuff in one spot. Its tag feature allows you to share and easily sort information. In addition to utilizing this for your classroom it is a great way to sort through content that you would like to save for later.

3. PaperPort Pro By Kofax ®

Designed for the mobile iPad user, PaperPort Notes is a tool that allows you to organize and save documents, web content, typed text, and audio into a single document. This is great for the busy educator who would like to provide audio answers to questions and comments and attach them to documents.

Student engagement tools

4. BiblioNasium

This online site provides a secure location for students aged 6-13 to engage socially with teachers and peers about reading. Through BiblioNasium teachers can create reading lists, hold challenges and track students’ progress. The gamification approach provides extra incentive and fun!

5. Participate 

Participate, formally named Edu Clipper, allows students to create their own content, and use online resources and put it all together to feature projects all in a secure environment that educators can monitor. It fosters confidence and serves as an early portfolio tool for kids to feature their best work.

6. WhatWasThere

As an interactive app, WhatWasThere tells users the history of the spot where they are standing. It also ties historical photos to Google maps. Great tool for students and educators and amazing time machine to experience field trips from a different view.

#OnThisDay in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. http://t.co/wItJfc8cam

— WhatWasThere (@WhatWasThere) May 30, 2014

7. Kahoot

Students play a fast-paced, multiple-choice game using their devices. The app generates a detailed report of wrong and right answers from each student, providing an instant, easy-to-use assessment tool. You can create your own “Kahoot,” or choose a ready-to-use template.

Social Media

8. Pinterest

This visual network can help serve as an outlet for creating digital inspiration boards. It is the perfect go-to site for educators looking for lesson plans, classroom aides, and all around good ideas. It is also a great place to post additional information, homework assignments and aides for parents. This site can bridge home, community, and school connections.

9. Instagram

Instagram is a wildly popular photo sharing site that educators can use to enhance the student experience. Most schools have their own accounts to showcase events, campus life and community engagement. Teachers can also use it in the classroom by creating a separate private account that their students and parents can follow. They can share things like student work, special learning moments and use it to teach students the importance of digital citizenship. 

10. Instructure

Instructure Canvas is the foundation of the company's services for K12 classrooms. The LMS provides a hub for your digital content. The company also offers higher level tools that include assessment technology and analytics to pull everything together. The system integrates to all your favorite apps for a custom experience. Teachers can create a "Free-for-Teacher" account which allows you to create content, personalize learning with master paths, use the mobile app suite and integrate third party applications.