Technology for the Everyday Lesson

Looking to add more engagement? Blooket is a platform similar to Kahoot, but with added gaming features. It provides a level playing field for teachers and students, and even new learners have a chance to beat the experts. To use Blooket, create or search for a pre-made game, choose the game to play, host it, and provide the PIN number or link for students to join in. After answering each question correctly, players can fish for food, unlock crypto cash, search for fossils, create a tower defense, and more.

Crypto Hack requires participants to choose a password to start. Once chosen, they can attempt to hack other players’ passwords and steal their crypto by unlocking the ‘HACK’ option. The player with the most crypto at the end wins! Learn how to use Blooket in the classroom by signing in, creating or finding a game, selecting a time limit, and hosting. Project the main page on the board, which displays the link and PIN number. Students can use their phones or other devices to play, blending action with education for an enhanced learning experience. Blooket also comes equipped with homework options where teachers can assign certain games for engaging independent practice!

A Good Tip: Blooket is a terrific informal assessment or review for an upcoming assessment. After providing students with review material, spend some class time playing a review Blooket either in small-group or whole-group environment. Using strategic grouping when needed based on technology-needs and learning preferences.

Kahoot combines learning, reviewing, assessing, and engaging in one platform. You can create your own Kahoot or choose from a vast library of options. To use it in the classroom, project it on an interactive whiteboard, provide the pin or link to students to access via their smart devices or computers, and start playing! Students can work individually, in pairs, or in small groups to answer questions and earn points for every correct response. Teachers may group students strategically based on technology availability and learning styles. Another way to implement Kahoot easily is through station activities, where one station includes a Kahoot game. In addition to providing quality data to teachers, Kahoot is a terrific brain break.

Are you looking to create a meaningful homework assignment? Have students create their own Kahoot review assignment and choose a few to project and play with the class! Students will create their own questions as they review study material, notes, and unit concepts. You can enhance the experience by including collaboration, peer review, and family engagement. For example, ask students to play the game with their family members and report on who knew the most about the topic.

A Good Tip: During the first week of school, create a Kahoot or Blooket quiz called “Meet the Teacher” or “All About Our Class” to engage students and assess class expectations while building rapport. Be sure to include questions specific to student academic and behavioral expectations, as well as fun questions that establish positive relationships.

The pandemic has posed challenges for students and educators in social, emotional, and academic aspects. Thus, embedding social-emotional learning and support is crucial. One way to maximize student mindfulness and minimize instructional time loss is through brain breaks, which are quick video clips, mindfulness practices, dance-offs, and more, offered by exceptional resources like Go Noodle. Let’s not forget, educators benefit from brain breaks, too!

A Good Tip: A helpful classroom tip is to establish a routine by setting a schedule and incorporating brain breaks. As a reward for completing assignments, the class can participate in a fun activity like Go Noodle. This promotes active learning and creates a positive environment.

Many students nowadays have an elevated level of comfort with technology. Let’s use that to our advantage by elevating the projects and assignments we expect of them! Storyboard That is an engaging tool that promotes visual communication as a creative outlet. Ask students to design a digital storyboard using pre-made features and elements, while adding in their own concepts and text; showcasing their knowledge in a most engaging way. Storyboard That comes with three different versions; a free version that allows one to create two storyboards a week, and two paid versions.

A Good Tip: Use Storyboard That for your next group project! Assign roles depending on the needs of your students, provide an iPad, Laptop, or Computer Lab, and watch the creativity flow!

Word Wall is an excellent tool for vocabulary, word-chunking, and concept linking. With free and paid versions, teachers can create their own matching or sorting activities or use one of the 60 million pre-made resources. Teachers and students can choose how they interact with the Word Wall through either a simple matching activity, word scramble, group sort, random wheel, quiz, hangman, flashcards, and many more.

How to use in the classroom? Choose a Word Wall activity and send the link to students via technology. Alternatively, project the Word Wall on an interactive whiteboard, have students take turns dragging and dropping the vocabulary, or print the activity for a traditional classwork option.

A Good Tip: Word Walls are terrific for accessing prior knowledge during a do now, an anticipatory set before learning, or a quick, fun, and effective exit ticket!

Canva is an online platform that allows users to create professional projects, presentations, brochures, documents, posters, Zoom backgrounds, and many more. It provides templates and elements for struggling learners and allows creative students to showcase their artistic side while blending academics with innovation in an engaging way.

How to use this in the classroom? Challenge your students to use Canva.com for their next presentation or project. The website has free and pro (paid) versions and is user-friendly for both educators and students! Simply tweak your current unit projects from a Google Slides or PowerPoint Presentation to a Canva presentation. Canva also allows students to provide a voice over and/or embed a video presentation for our technologically-savy individuals. Try out TGT’s AI Creations Template, too!

A Good Tip: Model using Canva in a whole-group or small-group instruction. Project the website on an interactive whiteboard and model using the features.

Gizmos from Explore Learning are virtual math and science simulations that enable students to interact, observe, experiment, and manipulate variables. These 287 simulations provide opportunities to practice science inquiry and mathematical concepts through a hands-on, yet virtual, experience. Through Gizmos, students are more than students; they are scientists and mathematicians collaborating with their peers and teachers. Each Gizmo comes equipped with a learning guide with questions and instructions in a Google Doc or Word document formats, five assessment questions, and an answer key. Many contain student task cards for alternative assessments, which promote inquiry-based learning.

Explore Learning requires a paid subscription. For a quick glimpse into the powerful technology and virtual learning experience, administrators and department heads can check out a video on the experience or start a 30-day free trial!

Labster’s simulations allow students to explore scientific concepts through virtual-reality experiences. They incorporate various lab stations and tools for experimentation and data analysis, just like in a physical lab. Similar to Gizmo, Labster promotes science inquiry but provides the visual appeal and additional manipulative features the provides a challenging, yet more realistic science lab experience.

During each simulation, students explore the given questions while manipulating lab equipment, making connections between data, answering challenging questions, and exploring scientific theories and concepts, resulting in a deeper learning experience. Most importantly, students feel like the scientists they are! Check out Labster.com for more information on their list of 350+ simulations, preview a lab here, schedule a live demo, or start a 30-day free trial!

Scribbl is an enjoyable and simple game that provides a quick brain break while also building community in the classroom. To begin playing, navigate to https://skribbl.io/, enter your name, and click "play" to start guessing the word based on the drawing. Please note, players will be playing with random individuals so be sure to check with administration and guardians.

How do you use this in the classroom? Once you have a feel of the game, “Create a Private Room”, add content-specific words, set the features you would like by utilizing the drop-down items, and send the link to your students to join in! You may use this as a whole-group, small-group, pairs, individual, or stations activity.

A Good Tip: Whenever using technology in the classroom, be sure to check your district policies and procedures.

Wiki Races are virtual scavenger hunts and a fun way to explore Wikipedia. Students start with a common word and compete to reach the end page with the fewest clicks. Whoever jumps from the starting word to the end word, in the least clicks wins!

For example, a science class may use a Wiki Race to introduce DNA. You may start by explaining that humans and bananas has roughly 40% the same DNA to create an the initial buy-in. Then, instruct the students that the starting word is “Banana” and the ending word is “DNA”. Have students navigate to the Banana page, and instruct them to specifically click the links within that page, followed by the next page, and so on, until they reach the DNA page. Whoever is able to go from Banana to DNA in the least amount of clicks wins!

A Good Tip: Be sure to screen pages from age appropriate material, as some pages may contain scientific, graphic, and/or inaccurate information.

As educators, our job is to differentiate instruction and support students with diverse learning preferences and capabilities. Visual aids are a powerful way to support visual learners and provide context to all students. Ed Puzzle is a platform that allows teachers to upload their videos and embed questions throughout the video or use a wide variety of pre-made videos and questions. Through either a free or paid subscription, students can take an active role in their learning experience, moving through the video and answering questions at their own pace, with the ability to rewatch each section if needed. Educators can assign links for homework, small groups, and independent practice, using visuals to introduce a lesson or unit. In addition to assigning individual links, educators can create classes within Ed Puzzle, which allows teachers to track students’ progress over time.

A Good Tip: Start by creating an Ed Puzzle account and search for a pre-made video to introduce a lesson. Play the video in a whole group setting, using student input to answer questions.

ReadWorks is a free online resource that offers an impressive collection of reading materials, including passages, eBooks, StepReads, Article-A-Day Sets, Collections for ELLs, and Paired Texts. The site also provides vocabulary instruction, question sets, and an optional human-voice audio feature. Donations from patrons keep this resource available to the public.

Teachers can now easily search the classroom library by topic, keyword, subject area, or grade level. They can then choose to print or assign links based on the needs of their students and class. ReadWorks provides Webinars, Social and Emotional Learning supports, holiday and events readings, as well as reading passages for all the different content areas. In addition to reading passages and question sets, ReadWorks provide a multitude of learning tools, personalizing instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners.

A Good Tip: Provide an Ed Puzzle that correlates to a ReadWorks reading to reach different learning styles and preferences.

The COVID-19 pandemic created an interesting dynamic between education and technology. While there are many negatives from the time, some positives have weaved through. One of those is the use of technology in schools. Some supports such as weekly check-ins using Google Forms and Google Classroom assignments have stuck around. Should that be the case in your classroom, Live Worksheets may be a nice addition to your current practices.

Through Live Worksheets, educators can search for pre-made interactive worksheets or create and assign their own. They can modify assignments to fit the needs of one’s students and our advancing world. To use this site, simply create a free log-in, search for a topic, and send the link to your students. You can choose from the Free, Teacher, or Busy Teacher plans depending on your needs and how you see yourself using Live Worksheets in the future.

A Good Tip: Always have a backup plan when using technology. Educators can print Live Worksheets to have physical copies on hand. This allows for easy group division if there is a glitch, without losing instructional time. Additionally, be sure all students have access to technology at home or a computer lab at school to ensure equal access.

Wizer enhances Live Worksheets with pre-made interactive worksheets and easy-to-use tools for creating custom worksheets. Teachers can create classes, assign homework, quizzes, and track progress and data for each assignment. Depending on how you plan to use Wizer, you can choose between the Free or Pro Plan. The Pro Plan unlocks additional features such as the ability to create multiple classes, duplicate and modify assignments, schedule the release of assignments, and even sell worksheets for cash!

Inevitably, students often struggle with organizing and keeping track of assignments. While it is ultimately the students’ responsibility to manage their work, classwork and homework are intended to be learning experiences that can be referenced later. Using Wizer for assignments is an excellent tool for students to stay organized and complete high-quality work without the risk of losing it. Additionally, teachers can include an answer key, allowing Wizer to automatically grade the assignment, benefiting both teachers and students.

A Good Tip: To make students comfortable with Wizer, assign one as homework. Provide instructions on how to access it, the classroom code or link, and unlock the assignments together as a class. Include a "test" assignment to ensure all students can access their work individually.

If you’re looking for a fun activity that can serve as a time-filler, icebreaker, or vocabulary practice, consider trying a Word Cloud. This creative tool is accessible on any device with the internet and there are many free sites available, such as WordArt, WordClouds, and EdWordle. Regardless of the site used, creating a Word Cloud is a fun way to apply vocabulary to unit or topic at hand.

A Good Tip: Try using and Word Cloud as an icebreaker during the first week of school. Have students put their names in the center, and list all adjectives that describe them. Be sure to create and display your own as well!

QR codes are scannable codes that provide information. They can enhance classroom lessons by replacing links with interactive codes that can be scanned by students using their smart devices. Instead of providing a link, create a QR codes leading students to a reading, video clip, Ed Puzzle, Word Cloud, etc. to boost engagement. QR code generators offer free and paid options. Try QR Code Generator to start!

A Good Tip: Whenever trying something new, it is best to start small. Create a QR Code for a YouTube video. Allow students to scan using their device camera, and watch the video clip individually.

Pear Deck is an interactive platform designed to integrate presentations, lectures, and worksheets into formal and formal assessments. It offers various ways for students to interact with the content, such as annotations via a drawing tool, multiple-choice/true-false questions, numbers-only answers, web-browsing, polls, a dragging tool, and more. Students can access the lesson or material through a class code or direct link, while teachers can create their own materials or use templates designed by other educators.

Pear Deck is perfect for homework, virtual learning, remediation, and scaffolded support with visuals. Pear Deck offers three plans; a free and basic plan, and yearly subscription, and a district plan. They also offer webinars and tutorials, free of cost, and is easily integrated into Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and many more.

Not sure where to start? Create a free log-in and go from there!

Participation in class is an effective way to increase engagement and optimize learning. However, some students may feel uncomfortable with the spotlight. Plickers is a great option to encourage participation. Plickers is a App that allows students to be polled using unique QR codes, providing teachers with valuable and quick data without causing added anxiety for students.

First, the teacher poses a question. Students hold their specific QR-code in a particular orientation; the orientation correlates to the answer. For example, if the answer is option “B”, the student will hold their symbol with “B” at the top. The teacher scans the class with their smart device, which creates a poll of answers. The polls can be anonymous to students and viewable by the teacher, perfect for checking understanding and increasing class engagement.

Back in the days, index cards were used to practice vocabulary recall. Nowadays, Quizlet offers a virtual alternative to index cards and provides various opportunities for students to practice vocabulary through an app or the internet. Teachers can also create decks and assign them for homework or exam prep. Best of all, it is free!

Similar to Quizlet, Vocabulary.com offers new features for vocabulary practice. Vocabulary.com offers pre-made lists correlating to subject matter, textbooks, novels, etc. Moreover, Vocabulary.com offers engaging vocabulary games for whole-group and small-group instruction with boosted engagement. Sign up for a free student log-in or free teacher trial!

Nearpod enhances lectures and content through interactive features and gamification. Teachers can use it to embed engaging assessments for whole group, small groups, or individuals, using their own presentations and assignments or by searching through pre-made options. Students can learn synchronously with others or at their own pace. Nearpod supports a flipped classroom and provides visuals, checks-for-understanding, and real-time data for teachers to use to drive their instruction. Most importantly, Nearpod is engaging and interactive, ensuring that students are at the center of learning.

Classroom management ensures a class runs smoothly, optimizing academic and social-emotional learning processes. One way to promote a positive classroom environment is through positive reinforcement; praise for appropriate behavior that encourages the continuation of the behavior. While positive reinforcement comes in many forms, such as praise and incentives, Class Dojo provides an engaging platform that promotes positive reinforcement, classroom community, and family involvement through the computer. Best of all, it is a free site that is compatable with all devices!

Like Google Jamboard, Padlet provides a fun, virtual space where students (and teachers) can collaborate anonymously (using the appropriate settings) In the classroom, the teacher can provide a link to the Padlet and have students post thoughts, video clips, GIFs, pictures, drawings, etc. A Padlet activity is a versatile tool that engages students and promotes class participation, serving as terrific do now, exit slip, and check-for-understanding activities. Additionally, it allows for beautiful presentations with interactive features.

With Quizizz, teachers can easily assign quizzes, homework, and assessments to their students using customizable content or their own assignments. This online platform streamlines the process of assigning and grading work, making it a valuable tool for educators. Students can familiarize themselves with test questions and content, decreasing test anxiety. In addition to basic quiz assignments, Quizizz utilizes gamification techniques to increase enrichment and engagement. There are three different plans. Try the basic plan today for free!

Find everything you need for homework, classwork, enrichment, and remediation on CK-12 - an online database of reading, interactives, study guides, simulations, adaptive practice, and videos. The best part? It's free for teachers to use! Assign activities using the provided link or create a class and assign work with ease.

Khan Academy is a comprehensive non-profit website that offers an extensive range of educational resources, including videos, practice exercises, reading materials, and more. With over 50 content and grade levels available, it is a one-stop-shop for all your learning needs. Similar to CK-12, Khan Academy is a free resource for teachers and students!

Google Drive provides numerous opportunities for technology integration, social and emotional learning, and academic growth. Its features include Sheets, Forms, Classroom, Slides, JamBoard, and Docs.

Google Jamboard is a great tool for collecting class information. A teacher can create a Jamboard, share the link with students, and prompt them to add their thoughts anonymously as post-its. At the end of the activity, you’ll have a complete Jamboard of student inputs without paper waste.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Google Classroom was a widely used application that provided support for students and educators to create and complete assignments, view grades, and communicate.

Google Docs enable students to create collaborative, sharable documents, eliminating the need for printing, downloading, or uploading assignments.

Google Slides, like PowerPoint, simplifies creating visually appealing presentations. In the classroom, it’s helpful for students who have trouble finding saved documents or using technology.

Google Forms enables educators and students to create and collect data for various purposes, including surveys and projects. Consider using it for weekly check-ins with students.

Google Sheets, like Excel, provides an online platform to create numerical relationships and track data.

A Good Tip: At the beginning of the school year, ask students to share their Gmail with you to ensure access to Google’s applications. Check with the administration to confirm if Google is allowed.

PhEt is a non-profit site that embeds STEM resources perfect for exploration, reinforcement, application, or formal virtual lab experiences. The simulations help students visualize important science and math concepts. Best of all, they provide free workshops that introduce PhEts and explore how to use the simulations in class.