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The Top 14 Educational Technology Resources
Here's a list of resources that I believe will make a big difference for both student and educator learning in 2014.
14. Get rid of website clutter with Evernote Clearly (a Chrome extension that strips a web page of all ads and images, providing a distraction-free reading experience)
13. Create just-in-time tech tutorials with LightShot (screen shot tool for Mac, Windows, Firefox, and Chrome)
12. Help navigate through information overload with TLDR Reader (Too Long, Didn't Read; creates a short summary of whatever text you highlight; great for beginning readers or ELL students; available for Chrome, iOS, and Android)
11. Keep everyone on the same page with Remind101 (free and safe text messaging from teachers to students and parents; available online, for iOS, and for Android)
10. Use an iOS device as a center for learning with Guided Access (sets the device so that students can't leave an app and controls which features of the app they can access)
9. Eliminate embarrassing mistakes on social media posts with Ginger (a spelling and grammar checker for any online site, including email, Facebook, and Twitter; available for Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Office)
8. Engage students with QR codes created with QRExplore (create up to 100 QR codes at a time)
7. Flip learning with VideoNot.es (allows you to have a video playing on one side of the screen with notes on the other side explaining what is being shown or asking questions about the video; works with Khan Academy, YouTube, and Google Drive videos)
6. Showcase what's been learned with Little Bird Tales (upload your own art, record your voice, add text, and create amazing books; suitable for all ages)
5. Host video discussions with experts and peers using Google+ Hangouts (so much easier to use than video conferencing systems from years ago; connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime, at no cost)
4. Express our thoughts and opinions quickly with Quozio (great for creating quotes, signs, vocabulary lists, and more for the classroom)
3. Create and share more videos with tools like WeVideo (create and edit video on the fly; available online, for Chrome, and for Android)
2. Read electronic books and share what you've read with the Kindle Cloud Reader (read millions of books on any device wherever you go; available for Windows, Macintosh, iOS, Android, and Chrome)
And the number one trend we see for 2014:
1. Assess what students and adults know to better individualize learning with Socrative (a response system that works with any device; perfect for both formative and summative assessment)
13. Create just-in-time tech tutorials with LightShot (screen shot tool for Mac, Windows, Firefox, and Chrome)
12. Help navigate through information overload with TLDR Reader (Too Long, Didn't Read; creates a short summary of whatever text you highlight; great for beginning readers or ELL students; available for Chrome, iOS, and Android)
11. Keep everyone on the same page with Remind101 (free and safe text messaging from teachers to students and parents; available online, for iOS, and for Android)
10. Use an iOS device as a center for learning with Guided Access (sets the device so that students can't leave an app and controls which features of the app they can access)
9. Eliminate embarrassing mistakes on social media posts with Ginger (a spelling and grammar checker for any online site, including email, Facebook, and Twitter; available for Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Office)
8. Engage students with QR codes created with QRExplore (create up to 100 QR codes at a time)
7. Flip learning with VideoNot.es (allows you to have a video playing on one side of the screen with notes on the other side explaining what is being shown or asking questions about the video; works with Khan Academy, YouTube, and Google Drive videos)
6. Showcase what's been learned with Little Bird Tales (upload your own art, record your voice, add text, and create amazing books; suitable for all ages)
5. Host video discussions with experts and peers using Google+ Hangouts (so much easier to use than video conferencing systems from years ago; connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime, at no cost)
4. Express our thoughts and opinions quickly with Quozio (great for creating quotes, signs, vocabulary lists, and more for the classroom)
3. Create and share more videos with tools like WeVideo (create and edit video on the fly; available online, for Chrome, and for Android)
2. Read electronic books and share what you've read with the Kindle Cloud Reader (read millions of books on any device wherever you go; available for Windows, Macintosh, iOS, Android, and Chrome)
And the number one trend we see for 2014:
1. Assess what students and adults know to better individualize learning with Socrative (a response system that works with any device; perfect for both formative and summative assessment)