Technology Tools for the 21st Century


Materials Generator--Materials generators, which include “desktop publishing software, Web page editors, whiteboard activity software, worksheet and puzzle generators,” (Roblyer, 2016, p. 143) and more, offer means for teachers and students to produce new classroom content.  Google Sites is a desktop publishing software that can be utilized to make a website, spice up a syllabus, or offer a change of pace for presenting lecture material.  Another material generator in the Google suite of software is Google Drawing, which is a graphic document maker.  Drawing can be used to create posters, presentations and more.  

Data Collection & Analysis Tool- These softwares unify classes in an online setting and offer means of compiling information concisely for everyone.  Google Forms  is an example of an online survey tool, which is useful for quickly gathering ideas in a classroom.  Surveys and classroom queries are easier to do with something like Forms.  Quizzes are also easy to set up on forms, and grading them is easy.  SurveyMonkey is one of my favorite examples of this type of technology.  This is because “it eliminates the need for postal mailings or for respondents being in any particular location to complete a survey,” (Roblyer, 2016, p. 151).

Testing & Grading Tools-A testing tool Add-On is Flubaroo, which allows teachers to grade online assignments and tests quickly.  This is a huge timesaver for teachers, and allows instant feedback for students on their grades.  Testmoz is a free test generator that allows students or teachers to quickly build a test.  This can be used for actual tests, or even for students in creating mock tests and study guides.

Graphics Tools- A graphic tool found in Add-Ons is Word Cloud Generator.  A word cloud can add visual flavor to a presentation or on a created website, and can “help students understand the importance of repetition, style, and focus in their speeches,” (Roblyer, 2016, p. 159).  Word clouds can show patterns in speech and in writing, and using them is another unique means of teaching information.  Photoshop is the most extensive graphic software, but costs $700..  Photoshop may not be necessary in a normal classroom, but great for specialized classes.

Planning & Organizing Tools- Google Calendar is a planning tool that is easily overlooked.  “Time management tools are especially popular applications on handheld computers,” (Roblyer, 2016, p. 162) which is not a surprise.  Plan board app is an online lesson planning software.  It is yet another way to save time for teachers, and allows more time for innovative thinking instead of tedious planning.

Research & Reference Tools--  Most reference tools are “online and usually available as apps,” (Roblyer, 2016, p. 162).  Rhymefinder is a Google Add-On that would be awesome in an English classroom.  This gives students an aid when working on poetry and writing stories.  Wikipedia is one of my favorite research tools.  Knowing how to find sources within Wikipedia is very valuable in research papers.

Content-area Tool

Speech Recognition is an Add-On that allows users to write documents by speaking.  It could be useful in English classes for certain students.   Spreeder is free software that teaches students how to speed read, and could help students improve with finishing their reading assignments.  




Source:

Roblyer M.D. (2016). Integrating technology into teaching (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Website Evaluation, Search Engines, and More

Websites Evaluation, Search Engines and More

Search Engines & Web Navigation

Search engines are ubiquitous, but still underutilized.  Teaching students to use them efficiently is much like teaching students how to navigate a library in the past--while the practice is different, the concept is similar.  Since “most search engines allow several kinds of ‘advanced search’ options,” (Robyler, 2016, p. 183) there is no shortage of ways to utilize the nuances of search engines.  Once students are able to distinguish between legitimate sources, they can narrow down and focus searches to find specifics in any subject.   “Digital literacy, which includes the ability to be critical and ethical producers and consumers of media,” (Robyler, 2016, p. 191) is as important as any use of search engines.  Students should be able to sift through bad websites and sources to find the truly useful ones.  

Website Evaluation

This video is not long-winded, preachy, or wordy.  It illustrates a very common problem people have with identifying sources, and quickly shows how to remedy this problem.  Many of the ideas are repeated from the module and its videos, but it is still an effective two minutes, and I would love to implement it in my classroom because examples are the best way to explain a problem, in my opinion.  It also ties in the idea of different suffixes in websites, which can mean the difference between a website for our nation’s executive branch of government and a porn site (Robyler, 2016, p.174).

Favorite Professional Websites

I really like Literature Learning Ladders (http://eduscapes.com/ladders/themes/literacy.html), primarily because “appropriate helpful links to other, related sites are provided,” (Robyler, 2016, p. 198).  There are many different tools for teaching literature, and various ideas for thinking outside of the box and collaborating between students, especially when reading novels.  

Teacher’s Domain (or PBS LearningMedia; http://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org) is also a great tool.  I always thought the PBS videos we watched in high school were of high quality and not only does this site have videos, it has videos for specific subjects that change daily/weekly, as well as other resources.  This site checks off many of the criteria from the Evaluation Checklist, but most prominently to me is that “graphics, videos and sound are included to help communicate information on the topic,” (Robyler, 2016, p. 198).  

Online Safety and Security

Phishing scams are a serious concern to me.  These are “emails that claim to be from a legitimate organization... [that]...ask for personal information but[…]actually used for identity theft,” (Robyler, 2016, p. 176).  I have almost been fooled by them myself, so it is concerning to me that students could be faced with these type of scams, especially under the guise of a school email.  It is very important that students are educated about fraud and phishing scams at a young age, because they will only become more of a problem over time.  

Source:

Roblyer M.D. (2016). Integrating technology into teaching (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.