Web Based Tools

I was recently given a list of web based tools to look at. After exploring them, these are my top 5!

1. Typing Adventure- I really thought this game was fun! It is a great way to have students learn how to type. Even while I was playing it, I was questioning my typing skills. I found myself looking at the keyboard and making sure I knew where the keys were. It made me think about if I need to take a typing class and how many fingers I use to type.

 2. Kidblog- KidBlog seems like a great way for students to have a safe blog online. I like how it’s a class page and only the teacher and students in the class can see it. I also like how it can be shared with parents with a password. It would be great to use for creative writing and journal reflections. The only downside is students would probably have to be in a computer lab or have mobile laptops/iPads and not every school has those yet. This could be used as a home assignment but not every student has access to a computer and the internet at home.

3. Animoto- Animoto reminds me of a free version of iMovie. It has the same features like using pictures and videos to make movies and you can insert music in the movie as well. I like how it can be used on a variety of computers and platforms. The downside is you do have to pay to make videos longer than 30 seconds. Depending on how you use it in class it makes me wonder if it is more cost effective than iMovie. I think making movies using pictures, videos, and music is a great way for students to be creative while sharing their point of view on any subject matter.

4. Triptico- Holy guacamole, this app is AMAZING! I only tried the free version but there is so much you can do with it!! My favorites so far are the word magnets, order sorter, student group, pin board, and find ten . These tools would work great on a SMART Board because they are so interactive! Students can come up and do the activities. If you want more tools it's $80 a year for a school subscription and $24 a year for an individual subscription. A paid subscription gives you tools like match maker, word mix, bingo, and student selector. Some of these features can be done on a SMART Board but to be honest they seem easier to use on this app. The free app is pretty basic, but it has a lot to offer!

5. MindMeister- This tool was very simple to use. It's a great way to make basic mind maps if you do not have software like Inspiration. The key word is basic. If you want to make more complex designs, you are better off paying for software like Inspiration. If you want to make a basic graphic organizer than this tool is good to use. I can see younger students using this tool. An example is student can use the main bubble to thinking of a subject such as verbs and then in each bubble branching off from it are examples of verbs that the students come up with themselves. This could even be timed and then printed off and used as an assessment tool. It can also be a way to organize thoughts and printed off and saved in a notebook or taped on the wall.


 I really enjoyed playing around with these sites and apps. I was sad that some of the sites were down. I still want to use Triptico more. All in all it's good to look at new apps and sites that are available. Some might not be applicable to use in every classroom, but it is important as a teacher in Educational Technology to read up on what's new. I hope I can keep up with everything! There has to be an app for that, right? :)