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Website/ Online Tools |
Website Building / Blogging
Weebly is a website creation tool that has an education side and will allow teachers to create an account that has as unlimited student websites. All websites are free and controlled under the teacher's account. Students can be "editors" on individual pages instead of an entire website. If an educator wishes to create a paid account for more features, still select to stay within the EDU platform, this will then carry the "paid" features to all the websites under that account without additional fees automatically. There are no upload limits per website. The interface is "drag and drop" to add widgets or components to the webpage such as text, images, links, buttons, slideshows, media, etc.
twiducate is a social media platform for schools and classrooms that educators can control who has access to see and post information. Only teachers and students may view classroom posts, thus creating a private network for users and a safer online learning environment. This is a way to help students understand how to practice safe digital citizenship.
Classtell is a simple website building tool that allows educators to create a communications platform to connect with families easily. There are built-in templates that include calendars and assignment styles. Students and parents can find your website by searching for their teacher's name or even the school.
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Wordpress.com is a website creation tool. Free accounts can have multiple websites. All websites on the free account have ".wordpress.com" as part of the web address. The website is more "text" based, but can include graphics, photo, media tools. There is no specific educational platform. Very workable as a blog posting tool.
Kidblog is an online blogging platform where educators can control what students share within the class or with the world. There is only a 30 day free trial before the need to subscribe to a paid account, but this could be used for a single unit activity. The yearly cost is currently $36/educator and allows for unlimited students. Kidblog integrates with GAFE and Google accounts to make it easier for students to connect with their documents. Educators can control comments and posts by other students to blogging posts by classmates. The website includes lesson plans and ideas on how in integrate and align the platform to standards.
edublogs allows for educators to create a class account and control the postings of the students. Students are also not required to have email accounts. *****UPDATE 2/2/2017 EduBlogs is now complete FREE**** All accounts now have complete access to all resources including more space, templates, teacher controls, privacy controls...etc. This makes EduBlogs a GOTO platform for classroom blogging sites for early elementary through high school!
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Note Taking - Collaborative Work Online
Amazon Story Builder is an online collaborative "CORK BOARD" style script/story-builder. The user places note cards and post it style notes on a cork board, that can be any size, to develop a story. Cards can resorted and rearranged at anytime. Boards can be shared with collaborators from any location. Boards can be accessed from the web via many devices including chromebooks, phones or tablets.
Lino is a sticky note bulletin board interface for collaboration. The free account allows for a collaborative session of posts on several boards in realtime. The limits are on uploads, 10mb per item and 50mb per board. The boards are limited on how long they are active and can be searchable. This is a good platform for a simple brainstorming activity.Multiple users can be on a board from different devices at the same time. The premium subscription offers more options and more permanent solutions.
OneNote online is offered by Microsoft and is free online. Notebook now offers class notebooks that allow teachers to create a shared notebook for the class. Each student can be assigned a section or a group of students can have a section for a project and save all of their project work in that section. New tools will be added in June and July of 2016. See the MICROSOFT section of this website for more detailed information on the OneNote Notebook.
NoteBookCast is a website that is currently in Beta (This means they are testing the platform so changes happen often.)and is a free platform that allows up to 10 users to collaborate / share an online whiteboard on any web browser platform, (IE10, Chrome, Safari, FireFox, iOS, Andriod and Windows Mobile). This is real-time shared online whiteboard in all computer browsers supporting up to ten users simultaneously. There is no need to install any software.Write and Sketch with all tablets and touch screens. Draw shapes or add pictures to the board. Save the boards for later use. There is no account needed unless users want to save boards.
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Padlet is a simple way to create and collaborate. It works like a sheet of paper where users can put anything (images, videos, documents, text) anywhere, from any device (pcs, tablets, phones), together with anyone. ***UPDATE- the FREE version now only includes 3 BOARDS. If you had an account before you will have the board numbers plus 3 more.***
Google Keep has several features including color coding notes, inserting images, creating lists, shareable notes, Google Keep allows users to convert text notes into checklists.
Google Keep allows users to categorize notes using labels, and notes are searchable based on their color, whether they have a reminder, audio, images, or are a list. Keep also allows users to create a copy (duplicate) of a note. Users can also choose between the List View or Grid View modes on the web. (Keep can be accessed from Chrome, iOS, Android, Kindle, Windows Phone and all devices sync NOTES up with the same Google account.) 
Trello is a platform for visual collaboration on a board where a team can use "cards" to show the progress of a project. On the cards can be To-Do lists, checklists of items, who those items are assigned to and due dates. When a item is finished it can be moved to another card that is finished. The platform can be accessed online via computers, or mobile devices.
Tiki-Toki is a collaborative online timeline creation tool that allows for one free timeline. Users can delete and re-create a new timeline in the account when wanting to do another one. Students will need a login to create a timeline. Options for a graphic background, pictures and videos included within the time locations as well as text. There is a paid options for educators, currently $125/year that gives full access and 50 student accounts.
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Online Tools
Online Chart Tool is a simple charting tool that allows many design elements to be adjusted. Students can design, share, or save charts without an account on the platform. IF a user want to enter data and return at a later time, then an account will be necessary, but still free! The standards charts are available in addition to bubble, polar bubble, and meter charts.
Tiny URL is used to create shortened Url links from long website addresses with one entry. No registration is needed. The website also allows for custom URL creation with an account.
Rubistar is a free online platform that helps teachers and students build rubrics. Rubrics a can help students reflect on how things went when working towards a goal. Students can identify what obstacles were faced and how they were overcome or did they prevent the goal from being reached. There are samples to help guide in the development of the rubrics, but it also allows for complete control of the rubric. Rubrics can also be built using Excel spreadsheets in the free online platform.
Draw.io is an online flowchart tool that allows users to create any type of drawing using simple to complex shapes and diagrams. The platform has built in shapes that can be dragged onto the page and aligned to build the chart. The drawing can be saved to Google drive, Dropbox or Onedrive or printed out. Users can create an account, but it is not necessary to use the tool.
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bit.ly is used to create shortened Url links from long website addresses with one entry or one Chrome extension click. No registration required, however if users have an account the creations will be saved for later retrieval. Custom Url creations are available with an account.
Quick Rubric is a simple rubric creator that allows complete control over rows and columns. Users can also remove the "calculation" feature so that each skill being assessed is independent mastery. Rubrics can be created and printed without an account or users can create an account to save a collection of rubrics.
Venn Diagram - Online interactive Venn diagram that does not require any user login or account to be used. Platform requires a name typed in only to give a title to the diagram for the purpose to be saved when finished. Diagram can be two or three circles. Users can label the circles and select the colors of each.
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Typing
Dance Mat Typing is a fun way to learn touch typing. There are four levels to play, each divided into three stages. Students start by learning the home row keys. Each stage builds on previous lessons, introducing new letters as they progress. At the end of each level users can test their typing speed.
TypeTastic is a great way to introduce keyboarding to the younger grades. Letter identification connected to the keyboard is even possible with tablets or touch screen laptops/Chromebooks. No login required to play and easy to have students start on Game 1....Some ads within the page, but not too distracting. There are timed keyboarding as the student progresses.
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Typing.com is a basic typing platform that allows educators to setup classes and student accounts. it has a screen with the keyboard and letters highlighted as students type what is shown on the screen to follow in the lessons. The letters turn red if the student types the incorrect letter. Progression follows the standard key introduction sequence and is paced well through the lessons. There are timed tests at the end of each lesson set and educators can monitor individual student progress. The free account does have ads shown on the student screens, but not advertising game sites...examples were hotels, vacations, car rentals. To remove the ads and upgrade to the paid version is needed. Typing games are available on the site as well and game be managed in class by the educator.
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