EdTech Tools to Get You Started With Your Online Teaching! Start Now!

As classrooms in K-12 schools and university’s move online, there a many Edtech tools available to use. My district is beginning to implement online learning this week so I wanted to share some of the Edtech tools I have some expertise in teaching at the secondary level in English, Social Sciences, and Math. Here is the list of EdTech Tools I use often in my face to face classroom that can be also used in an online fashion for remote learning. Within this list, I define the Edtech tool and its uses in an online and face to face classroom. Additionally, I provide links to a resource that further discusses each Edtech tool discussed on this list. Lastly, I am developing videos right now for each of these tools on my YouTube Channel.

My hope is to continue creating content on YouTube to help facilitate this learning as we all continue to move towards online learning. Right now, try to find at least THREE Edtech tools you would like to check out and integrate into your lessons. Do not go overboard. Start simply and then expand over time. Each of these tools has many uses; think about all of the instructional strategies you use in your classroom! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me and we can further discuss each of these tools you can use in your own online classroom.

EdTech ToolApplication/Uses

Google Classroom: An online learning management system, allows the instructor to post and grade assignments, organizes student work, online grade book, and student/family communication tool. Assessments can be posted and graded, writing rubrics can be developed on the platform, videos can be linked to assignments, etc.

Google Forms: Formative and summative assessments creation, climate surveys (i.e., student, parent, teachers, etc.), and student metacognition (i.e., self-assessment) surveys. There is a multitude of different question types that range from multiple-choice, Likert scale, to free-response that Google Forms can utilize. Images and videos can also be attached to each question or to various areas of the survey or assessment. Google Forms can be posted on any learning management system as it only needs student email addresses to track the data entered on the survey or teacher-created assessment.

Google Drive: Online data storage cloud that allows you to save G-Suite files, videos, images, PDF’s and more as well as organize your files in various folders. Files can be uploaded and downloaded from Google Drive. Additionally, Google Drive can be integrated with your Google Classroom or any other learning management software. Be aware to modify your sharing settings when this occurs as you will want to determine who has access to the online folders.

Google Slides: Google Slides is the PowerPoint of G-Suite. It allows users to build slideshows with information and resources embedded within them. Teachers can use Google Slides for oral/visual presentations, poster boards, online gallery walk, a-z vocabulary, and can be used to create individual and collaborative projects. Google Slides can be posted on Google Classroom, Canvas, Blackboard, and Schoology for students to either view or interact with directly for an individual or collaborative assignment.

Google Docs: Google Docs is the Microsoft Word of Google. For classroom or online use, Docs can be used to create digital reading passages where students can read/annotate, graphic organizers, essays, poems, and short works. Google Docs can be collaborative where multiple students can work on it at once by modifying the sharing options of the document. Also, Google Docs can be commented on by different users who do not have privileges to edit the document, which can be used for editing/revising pieces of writing. Teachers can use Google Docs as the main EdTech Tool for reading/writing assignments that can be added to either Google Classroom or any other online learning management system (i.e., Canvas, blackboard, and Schoology).

Google Draw: Google Draw allows users to develop pictures and graphics that can be placed on Google Docs, Slides, Sites, etc. Teachers can utilize Google Draw to have students develop graphic organizers, digital poster boards, infographics, and more. Google Draw can be posted on any learning management system.

Google Sheets: Google Sheets is the Microsoft Excel of G-Suite. Data can be recorded in an organized manner (this includes both text and numeric data). Teachers can use Google Sheets in Math and Science classes to help students learn how to analyze data, develop graphs, and conduct statistical analysis.

Google Sites: Google Sites is a platform where users can build an entire functioning website. It provides a platform for users to place text, audio, video, graphics, and more. Teachers can use Google Sites as a platform for students to obtain resources/assignments, an assignment where students develop their own website/blog, and much more.

Pear Deck: Pear Deck is an add-on to Google Slides which allows for students to actively participate during a Google Slides presentation. Multiple choice, free response, word webs/mind maps, formative assessment multiple-choice questions, and more can be used to facilitate student active participation. Further, Pear Deck allows the teacher to see overall student participation and responses to make data-driven decisions regarding the focus of the presentation/content based on student responses.

Flipgrid: Flipgrid is a student video/audio recording software that allows a teacher to pose a question online that students must respond to via audio and video. Students have the ability to see the question presented by the teacher in addition to other student responses. Assessment rubrics can be built in Flipgrid to assess student responses. This can be used for an in-class and online instructional setting.

Screencasting: Screencasting is the ability to record the video and audio of a user’s computer screen and/or a video of themselves. By capturing a computer’s video and audio, viewers can watch the video as a tutorial to help them learn the directions of how to do something. Teachers can utilize screencasts as a way to frontload content, model instruction, formative/summative assessment, and provide additional resources to their students.

Kahoot /Quizizz: Kahoot and Quizizz are two online formative assessment tools. Teachers have the ability to create a wide range of questions students can answer via a Chromebook or Smartphone. Data from student answers are given to teachers thereafter to determine how students did on the assessment. Kahoot and Quizizz can be linked to any online learning management system.

Khan Academy: Khan Academy is a free online class resource and tutorial where students can watch videos and complete practice problems on major subjects ranging from World History, Algebra 2, Biology, and ACT/SAT prep. Teachers can use Khan Academy as an additional enrichment tool or even as a differentiation tool for students who may need additional reinforcement of concepts covered in class. Khanacademy can be linked to any online learning management system.

EdPuzzle: Edpuzzle is a free online resource where teachers can utilize one of its many videos and assess student comprehension of the content being presented in the video. Teachers can use Edpuzzle as a tutorial to reinforce a concept, frontloading information, and as an option to assess student progress. Edpuzzle can be easily integrated into several Learning Management Systems, including Google Classroom.

Padlet: Padlet allows users to build online poster boards, documents, and webpages. It can also allow users to collaboratively work together on projects. Teachers can use Padlet for students to create infographics, websites, and graphics relating to the content being discussed in class. Padlet can be linked to any online learning management system.

Readtheory: Readtheory is a free online reading comprehension practice tool for students of all grade levels and reading levels. Students initially take a pre-test and then Readtheory adapts its passages and questions to their Lexile level from their score on the pre-test. From there, the passages and questions increase in their difficulty as students progress in their reading ability. On the teacher interface, teachers can see student progress overtime by seeing their current Lexile level, Lexile growth, and the types of questions students do well on versus questions students need improvement in.

Common Lit: CommonLit is a free online reading passage generator for students grades 3-12. Students receive a passage where they can read/annotate. Once they are done, they must answer a variety of question types ranging from multiple choice to short answer; many of which are CAASPP like. Teachers can set the passage provided to students in relation to the content they are learning in their class. In addition, teachers can see student growth over time in terms of their reading ability. Lastly, CommonLit can be linked to any learning management system.

YoTeach!: YoTeach! is an online collaborative chatroom that is developed for your class. Once the room is developed, students will always have access to the room through a password created. Within the chatroom, it functions as a place where content can be presented visually and through audio/video. Teachers can use this to tool to deliver content, use it as a mean to have student active participation, and it can be utilized for students to work together collaboratively in class and outside of class.

b.Scorative: B.socrative is an online formative and summative assessment tool. Teachers can develop their own assessments or choose from many different types of prebuilt assessments in all subject areas to give to their students. Students can complete the assessment on a computer or mobile phone. b.socrative provides real-time data to determine where your students are at on the content in a seamless and efficient manner. Teachers can export the data onto an Excel spreadsheet to be placed in their grade book.

Wiki’s: Wiki’s are an online information resource that students can develop individually or in a collaborative matter. We all know what Wikipedia is – Wiki’s are very familiar, in terms of their format and use. Teachers can develop Wiki’s for their class; students can develop Wikis for individual and collaborative projects. Wiki’s can be linked in any online learning management system.

GroupMaker: Groupmaker is a free online program that allows teachers to randomize groups on the fly in their classes as well as randomize cold calling on students in a class.

WhiteBoard Fox: White Board Fox is an online collaborative chatroom where students can enter and teachers/students can present content. Teachers can use this tool for active participation and groups/class collaboration. The link to the Whiteboard can be posted on any learning management system.

Geoguesser: Geoguesser is an online context clue guessing game. It utilizes Google Earth and Street to place the user on a random street somewhere in the world. The student must use context clues such as language, the side of the streetcars are going, the landscape, and more to guess where in the world the street view is located. This can be linked to any learning management system.