TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of Feb 11, 2024

Here are this week's features. Clicking the tags in the description area of each listing will present a list of other resources with this topic. | Click here to return to the Featured Sites Archive

 

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SchoolAI - SchoolAI, Inc.

Grades
K to 12
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SchoolAI provides a suite of artificial intelligence (AI)- based tools and resources for K-12 classrooms. In addition, AI features provide feedback and allow educators to moderate and...more
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SchoolAI provides a suite of artificial intelligence (AI)- based tools and resources for K-12 classrooms. In addition, AI features provide feedback and allow educators to moderate and manage student use of resources such as the Sidekick assistant. SchoolAI offers many easy-to-create student activities, such as the Historic Figure Chatbot, Book Explorer, Choose Your Own Adventure, and chat-based Tutoring Sessions for any subject. Use the discover feature to choose an activity, then provide the requested information. Most activities include an option to view a preview or try the activity out before being added to Spaces. After adding an activity to your Spaces, it is shared with students using the URL or QR code provided.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (104), assessment (146), chat (42), churchill (7), darwin (13), Formative Assessment (70), leonardo davinci (3), lincoln (60), martin luther king (43), newton (21), shakespeare (93), Special Needs (53), Teacher Utilities (148), washington (25)

In the Classroom

Use SchoolAI to create and share engaging activities with all students and for all subjects. For example, differentiate text easily to fit the abilities of all students, generate a list of engaging activities for any topic, or quickly create a worksheet or multiple choice quiz as a formative assessment. As students engage in chats with historical figures or choose your own adventure activities, ask them to use the information learned as a starting point for additional research. Use Symbaloo, reviewed here or another curation tool to collect and share additional resources with students, such as videos, online articles, and book suggestions. As a final extended learning activity, ask students to share their learning using Sway, reviewed here, Genially, reviewed here, or Adobe Creative Cloud Express, reviewed here to create multimedia presentations. This tool would also be great to share with gifted students. As always, use best practices when sharing AI tools with students.

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Image Creator by Designer - Microsoft Designer

Grades
K to 12
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Bing Image Creator uses artificial intelligence (AI) to produce images from your text. If you don't have a Microsoft account, you will be prompted to create one. Add your text ...more
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Bing Image Creator uses artificial intelligence (AI) to produce images from your text. If you don't have a Microsoft account, you will be prompted to create one. Add your text to the chat box using as much descriptive language as possible. After selecting enter, Bing produces four images to match your request. Select any image, edit your prompt, or regenerate based on the original text to view more options. After selecting an image, download it to your device, save it to Bing, or use the option to customize the image in Microsoft Design Studio.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (104), images (264), Microsoft (84)

In the Classroom

AI-generated images are an excellent tool for use with many classroom purposes. The image creator supports over 100 languages, so it is accessible for use by almost all students. Teach students how to write descriptive sentences by creating AI-generated images; students quickly learn how to add specific details to create a desired output. Use Bing Image Creator to engage students in creative writing projects by generating images based on anything their imaginations share. Include AI-generated images in your classroom newsletter, website, or worksheets as an easy resource for adding pictures without spending much time searching for the right photograph. Share this site with students to include images in multimedia projects, such as those created using Sway, reviewed here or Google Sites, reviewed here. When using any AI resource, be sure to provide guidance on using AI tools ethically, creatively, and responsibly

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Soundraw - Soundraw Inc.

Grades
K to 12
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Soundraw uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate music based on your choices of mood, genre, and length. Select "Create Music" to begin, and choose the length of your creation,...more
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Soundraw uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate music based on your choices of mood, genre, and length. Select "Create Music" to begin, and choose the length of your creation, tempo, genre, and mood. Soundraw generates a playlist of tunes based on your selected options; continue creating music by choosing a song you like and developing a similar piece. Share your track by copying the URL, downloading it to your device, or creating an account to add tunes to your favorites.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (104), blues (22), jazz (17), rhythm (20)

In the Classroom

Use Soundraw to create music in different genres/styles like classical, pop, jazz, and more. Then, compare and discuss how the AI interprets different styles. Generate music in historical styles like Baroque, Romantic era, 1890s ragtime, and others to include with lessons in social studies class or as an extension activity with novels set in different times. Use the songs during creative writing times. Share Soundraw with students to use when creating multimedia projects such as podcasts created with Buzzsprout, reviewed here or as a background for a video presentation created using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here.

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Adobe Firefly - Adobe

Grades
K to 12
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Adobe Firefly uses generative AI (artificial intelligence) and simple prompts to create images, text effects, and color palettes fueled by your imagination. Visit Firefly's Gallery...more
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Adobe Firefly uses generative AI (artificial intelligence) and simple prompts to create images, text effects, and color palettes fueled by your imagination. Visit Firefly's Gallery for inspiration, or begin your journey by selecting from several options. Options include text-to-image, generative fill, text effects, regenerative color, 3D-to-image, and text-to-vector. Additional options are in Beta. After choosing an option and signing in to your account, follow the directions to add a prompt with what you wish to create. Use Firefly's filters and editing options to select one of the generated images and fine-tune it to your desired appearance. When satisfied with your creation, select the "more options" icon to download, copy, or copy the link to your image or save images to your library for later access.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (104), creativity (91), editing (90), graphic design (51), images (264)

In the Classroom

Use Firefly to create images for many different classroom uses to engage students and extend learning. Use the text effects feature to create text to teach letters or words. An example would be making the word "apple" and filling it with apples to teach beginning letter sounds to students using imagery. Use the text-to-image feature to create images for students to use with creative writing projects or to visualize a scene in a story. Edit images using the Generative Fill option to remove unwanted items or add new items. Edit an image to demonstrate different art styles when teaching students about artists. Download your edited images for students to use when making ebooks with Book Creator, reviewed here or to use when publishing writing using a simple website creator such as Telegra.ph, reviewed here.

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Character.AI - Character Technologies Inc.

Grades
9 to 12
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Imagine conversing with George Washington, Sigmund Freud, Thomas Edison, or any other historical character. Character.AI provides the tools to engage in fictional chats with any character...more
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Imagine conversing with George Washington, Sigmund Freud, Thomas Edison, or any other historical character. Character.AI provides the tools to engage in fictional chats with any character or group of characters, real or made-up. Search for the name of a character, and a chat window opens with a conversation starter. Use the arrows in each character response to view additional options. Registration isn't required to create conversations but is necessary to save conversations.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (104), chat (42)

In the Classroom

Always tell students that these chats are made up, not conversations. Use Character.AI in many ways to encourage student discussion and critical thinking activities. For example, choose Thomas Jefferson as a character and ask questions about his thoughts on today's Federalist Society. Scroll through the different responses provided and ask students to select one of the responses to research further. As another option, ask for responses from several characters, such as James Madison and Benjamin Franklin, and then compare them. Use Padlet, reviewed here to share resources and information for students to use when conducting their research. Include links to primary source documents, videos, and articles. Extend learning by asking students to create multimedia presentations using Canva Edu, reviewed here to share their findings. Check out the Books section to see if there is an author or character your students are interested in.

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Pear Deck Flashcard Factory - Pear Deck

Grades
K to 12
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Pear Deck, reviewed here, offers an innovative option for creating flashcards through their integration with Google, Merriam-Webster, and Gimkit....more
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Pear Deck, reviewed here, offers an innovative option for creating flashcards through their integration with Google, Merriam-Webster, and Gimkit. Begin by creating a vocabulary list using your list or adding words and definitions from the dictionary. Select "Play Flashcard Factory" to share with students when your list is complete. After logging in with a Google account, students use the provided link and access code to enter Flashcard Factory. After joining, the site assigns students a partner to work with to create example sentences and illustrations using the vocabulary terms. As a final product, the teacher selects from the flashcards created by students to create a class flashcard set. Print or share the completed set to Gimkit, reviewed here.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): flash cards (42), grammar review (31), test prep (65), vocabulary (237), vocabulary development (90)

In the Classroom

Flashcard Factory is an excellent tool for both in-person and remote learning. Use this feature to create vocabulary lists for spelling, science terms, social studies events, etc. Differentiate learning by creating lists for different student abilities or interests. Because students are the creators, they are engaged and more motivated in the learning process. Extend learning by asking students to write short stories or create writing journals using the vocabulary words used in the flashcards. For example, search for vocabulary at Read Write Think, reviewed here, to find the lesson plan for My World of Lists: Building Vocabulary Lists. This lesson culminates with students creating a "My World of Words Journal."

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Timeline Infographic Templates - Canva

Grades
K to 12
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Create and share timeline infographics using the intuitive tools and templates available from Canva or start from scratch to create a unique design. Make your selection easier by opening...more
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Create and share timeline infographics using the intuitive tools and templates available from Canva or start from scratch to create a unique design. Make your selection easier by opening the dropbox on the left menu to narrow options to the free templates. Another option allows you to choose the color of the design. After selecting a template, add or change text, images, backgrounds, and other design elements. Next, upload your images or choose from Canva's image library. Canva's drag and drop features make it easy to personalize any design quickly. When finished, share the link for others to view or download as an image or PDF file.

tag(s): graphic design (51), images (264), infographics (57), timelines (50)

In the Classroom

Timelines aren't just for dates and events! Use the templates found at Canva to create timelines showing the different stages of the growth of flowers, lay out the step-by-step process of lab experiments, and more. Create a timeline to share with your students that includes deadlines and a time frame for long-term projects or defines the semester's syllabus. Ask students to create timelines as part of a book report that creates a visual look at important events in the story. Include student-created timelines as part of larger multimedia projects created using Sway, reviewed here, or in video presentations made with Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here, with audio and templates.

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videoask - Typeform

Grades
6 to 12
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videoask is an asynchronous video conversation tool. Use videoask to create authentic dialogue within a video format. First, create an account to begin a conversation using the templates...more
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videoask is an asynchronous video conversation tool. Use videoask to create authentic dialogue within a video format. First, create an account to begin a conversation using the templates found on the dashboard or start from a blank project. After providing a name for your project, use the options to choose a language and toggle contact details on or off. Turning contact details on adds a contact form to your conversation to identify those who respond and offer the ability to reply. When ready, record from your webcam, desktop or upload a video file from your device. Follow each step to prepare your recording, then access the video's URL to share with others. Respondents can answer using video, audio, or text. Free accounts offer up to 20 minutes per month of video or audio processing, three steps per videoask, 3 collaborators to help with organization, and appointment scheduling. Learn more about videoask by watching this video.

tag(s): collaboration (87), Online Learning (41), remote learning (61), video (259)

In the Classroom

Engage and support student learning through interactive conversations created with videoask. This is a great tool for student support if you use Blended Learning or your school is on remote learning. Use videoask at the beginning of the school year for students to introduce themselves. Then, use the provided code to add a widget to your class website to build community and comradery among peers. Consider creating a question of the week or month for students to share what they have learned, ask questions, or discuss topics they would like to learn more about. For group projects, ask students to create a videoask to include with their final presentation that includes discussions of items considered for inclusion or a conversation about the group's collaborative process.

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Vmaker - Animaker

Grades
K to 12
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Vmaker is an all-in-one screen recorder, video recorder, webcam recorder, and video editor. Use Vmaker to create, edit and schedule recordings without time limits or watermarks. Create...more
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Vmaker is an all-in-one screen recorder, video recorder, webcam recorder, and video editor. Use Vmaker to create, edit and schedule recordings without time limits or watermarks. Create a free account to record unlimited videos for free. Download Vmaker to your computer or install it as a browser extension following the directions upon signup. Once the extension or download is complete, access the included features to choose settings and begin recording. When finished, your video is available to edit or share. When ready to share, download the video to your device, copy the link for your video, or share by email.

tag(s): Online Learning (41), remote learning (61), tutorials (52), video (259)

In the Classroom

Use this handy screen recording tool in a variety of ways in your classroom. Record tutorials for students to demonstrate how to access and use online sites; create recordings for substitutes to explain how to find and use the software on your computer, or make a how-to demo to find information on your class website to share with students and parents. Help students understand how to use the different features of documents, such as creating a tutorial showing students how to format cells in Excel, adding comments to a Google document, or finding and inserting images in slides. Share this tool with students to use when analyzing websites as part of your ongoing digital safety lessons. Ask them to include a video as part of a larger multimedia presentation. After exporting their video, ask students to include it within a presentation created using Sway, reviewed here, or Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here.

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Whiteboard.chat - whiteboard.chat

Grades
K to 12
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Collaborate, share, teach, and interact with students using Whiteboard.chat. Use the teaching mode to create, assign, and teach live lessons. The teaching mode also includes uploading...more
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Collaborate, share, teach, and interact with students using Whiteboard.chat. Use the teaching mode to create, assign, and teach live lessons. The teaching mode also includes uploading a multipage PDF document and assigning multiple pages as workbooks to individual students. Use the collaborative method to work within a collaborative workspace with other users. After entering the teaching mode, use the toolbar to access drawing tools, upload images and documents, and manage the look and content of your board. Once students enter a whiteboard session using a shared code or link through Canvas or Google Classroom, they can download any shared workbook pages. Student tools include an area to raise their hand to receive help, request a break, indicate work is finished, or request to speed up or slow down the lesson. Observe students using the grid view that provides a thumbnail view of individual student whiteboards. Additional features include a timer, a list of participants, options to create breakout rooms, and settings to lock students from updating boards prematurely. Registration isn't required; however, it allows you to manage and save boards for later use.

tag(s): collaboration (87), differentiation (84), iwb (32)

In the Classroom

Use Whiteboard.chat to collaborate with students to share and organize information instantly. This tool even allows educators to auto-correct all boards with a single click! Use the PDF document feature to differentiate instruction with groups of students or individuals. Use the breakout feature to conduct small group meetings or provide personalized instruction to individual students. Allow students to create collaborative drawings as responses to literature. They can map out the plot or themes, add labels, create character studies, and more. Have a group of students create a drawing so that another group can use it as a writing prompt. Use Whiteboard.com as a brainstorming or sketching space as groups (or the class) share ideas for a major project or for solving a real-world problem. Use this site in a computer lab (or on laptops) to draw the setting in a story as it is read aloud. As an assessment idea, have students draw out a simple cartoon with stick figures to explain a more complex process, such as how democracy works. If you are lucky enough to teach in a BYOD setting, have a blended classroom, or are distance teaching, use Whiteboard.chat to demonstrate and illustrate any concept while students use the chat and drawing tools to interact in real-time. If you are studying weather, have students diagram the layers of the atmosphere and what happens during a thunderstorm, for example. Introduce this tool to students who are working on group projects. Alternatively, have students use this to work as partners or as a small team within a breakout area to complete complex math problems or equations.

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Mural for Education - Tactivos, Inc.

Grades
6 to 12
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Mural for Education offers flexible tools for virtual collaboration and communication. Think of it as a virtual whiteboard workspace that includes sticky notes, shapes, and connectors...more
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Mural for Education offers flexible tools for virtual collaboration and communication. Think of it as a virtual whiteboard workspace that includes sticky notes, shapes, and connectors to create diagrams and mind maps, drawing tools, images, and more. Use Mural to create breakout rooms for group work or prepare and share study guides and classroom calendars. Apply for a free account as a student or for a classroom account. Start collaborating by following the prompts provided by Mural to begin designing your workspace using templates or from a blank board. Use the dashboard to add text, icons, images, and more. Facilitators also have options for adding contributors, setting a work timer, and setting parameters for the session chat.

tag(s): collaboration (87), graphic organizers (49), iwb (32), Online Learning (41), remote learning (61)

In the Classroom

Ask older students to create a Mural for Education account when collaborating on projects to share ideas and organize information. Have students use Mural for Education to develop storylines that include links and images to tell the story of events in history or retell novels. Ask students to use Mural to create mood boards to share the different works of artists or demonstrate different architecture types. Mural would be an excellent choice as a collaborative tool for large projects to brainstorm ideas, assign tasks, and document progress. Use Mural with students as part of your science experiments to share the steps of the experiment, document hypothesis, and add images and reflections upon the outcomes of the experiment. Mural for Education is an excellent resource for remote learning situations to engage students through the use of interactive content and chat. Use the breakout room option to allow for differentiation and group discussions.

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Adobe Express Video Maker - Adobe Spark

Grades
K to 12
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Create and share professional-looking videos with Adobe Express Video Maker (was Adobe Spark Video Maker). Follow the prompts to begin your creation using a story template or start...more
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Create and share professional-looking videos with Adobe Express Video Maker (was Adobe Spark Video Maker). Follow the prompts to begin your creation using a story template or start from scratch. Add videos, text, music, and more to your video. Easily rearrange, change themes, and add components until satisfied. When finished, publish your video to share or download it to your computer.

tag(s): communication (136), digital storytelling (142), multimedia (43), video (259)

In the Classroom

Consider using videos in your classroom in a variety of ways. Upload your slide presentations and add audio to create flipped and blended learning experiences for your students. Engage students and enhance their learning by asking students to create videos as an alternative to book reports or written presentations. Share videos on your class website for students to access when away from the classroom. As your students create videos, use a bookmarking site such as Padlet, reviewed here, to share and organize information for students to use when researching. Include Adobe Express Videos as part of a larger presentation using Book Creator, reviewed here. Embed your video along with images, text, drawings, and other media into your digital book creation.

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Flip - Charlie Miller & Brad Hosack

Grades
K to 12
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Flip (formerly Flipgrid) is a free video discussion tool with capabilities for sharing student responses through video. You can use Google, Microsoft, or your email address to create...more
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Flip (formerly Flipgrid) is a free video discussion tool with capabilities for sharing student responses through video. You can use Google, Microsoft, or your email address to create an account. Begin by clicking Getting Started from the bottom menu, then find the link to the Educator Toolkit and just follow the Toolkit simple steps to create a group. Be sure to copy the link for your group. Easy-to-follow directions guide you through the process of setting up a video response. Members will create a goup by clicking +Create from the left menu on your dashboard. When finished, use links to share the URL or embed your Flip into a website. Students access your Flip using the access code when sharing your topic, with the custom QR code, or through the unique URL created. In addition, share topics directly to Google Classroom, Remind, Microsoft Teams, or use the embed code to insert into a website. Be sure to investigate ideas from other educators in the at the Community Moments, found on the bottom menu. On the bottom menu you will also find the Help Center for Remote Learning. Flip is available in Spanish, too!

tag(s): assessment (146), collaboration (87), communication (136), DAT device agnostic tool (143), Microsoft (84), remote learning (61), video (259)

In the Classroom

Flip is a versatile tool for use in any subject. Create prompts for students to respond to about anything and everything. Challenge students to reflect on their learning at the end of a unit, research project, or literature circle. Here are just a few example questions to ask: What are some things you did well on this assignment? What mistakes did you make on your last assignment that you did not make on today's assignment? What would you do differently? What would you like to learn more about? Ask students to use the many camera features to make conversations more meaningful. For example, use the whiteboard tool to demonstrate math problems, add emojis to convey emotions, or upload images to use for explanations.

For professional use, create a topic for peers to discuss. Ideas might include discussing concerns with implementing new technology or curriculum. Have fellow teachers share articles of interest from professional journals. Use Flip to implement a book talk on a topic of interest.

Use Flip as a follow-up for a flipped or blended learning assignment. Ask students to explain what they understand and/or still don't understand about a concept. You can review the responses before class the next day. Use it as an exit "slip" before students leave class or as a warm up at the beginning of class (what do they remember about the lesson taught yesterday). World language students can practice speaking in their new language and choose the best video to turn in to their teacher. Student or teacher can explain a series of steps in an assignment or concept, one at a time (great for differentiation). Math students can explain the steps they took to solve a problem and why. Art students can explain a creation, either theirs or a famous artists - talking about techniques. Music students can perform and explain their learning, or reflect on their performance.

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Nearpod - Nearpod

Grades
5 to 12
15 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Use this free slide-based multimedia app to put lessons and other material on any web browser OR iOs and Android devices. Build your presentations using pre-made templates. The site...more
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Use this free slide-based multimedia app to put lessons and other material on any web browser OR iOs and Android devices. Build your presentations using pre-made templates. The site does offer ready-made presentations (some free). The interactive, pre-made videos and text presentations are from Ted-Ed, Khan Academy, Nearpod, and others. Some include questions to answer as you work through the presentations. What is the best part of Nearpod? There are now three different presentation modes.

When in the "live presentation" mode (in person or remote web conferencing), teachers control the lesson's pace, and students do not move to the next screen until advanced by the teacher. With the "student pace" mode, students progress through independently, whether at home or in class. The third mode is "front of the class;" you project your presentation, and the students do not use their devices. Use the teacher version of the app to push out the presentation to your students. For the first two modes, every student uses their own student app to follow the screens and answer the questions. This provides immediate feedback about every student. The feedback can be emailed to the teacher for later review. This formative assessment tool is invaluable and a unique part of the app. The tool also includes drawing for students to work out problems. Teachers can identify students who are not "on task" and not working within the app when a little red light pops up. Absent students can complete the assignment at home.

The free version of Nearpod for Educators is called Silver; you get 100 MB of storage, 40 students per session/lesson, access to 20+ formative assessments, 7,500 pre-made interactive lessons, 1,000 pre-made interactive videos, 40 students can sign up per lesson, and more. How many lessons and videos will depend on your storage.

tag(s): assessment (146), classroom management (128), DAT device agnostic tool (143), differentiation (84), Formative Assessment (70), gamification (72), Learning Management Systems (22), multimedia (43), Online Learning (41), personalized learning (9), playlists (10), remote learning (61), slides (45), Teacher Utilities (148), teaching strategies (41)

In the Classroom

This is an exciting way to begin iPad (or BYOD), blended learning, or remote learning integration into the classroom. Initially it may be difficult to determine the best pacing of the lesson, the ability to slow down the advancement of the next screen allows more time to digest the information. Be aware that students needing more time may be very frustrated as the screen may advance before they are able to finish. Start small by uploading presentations and using JPEG and other images. Add interactive elements such as polls and videos. Grab students attention by using the first slide to deliver a piece of humorous information. Create guided learning stations and push out several presentations to different devices as students move through the various lessons to be learned. This technique can be helpful for struggling learners. Use this tool to help reinforce the most difficult parts of the lesson. Use the app to create schedules for training, clubs, and more. For English, learn about grammar rules, sentence structure, and other elements necessary for good writing. For ENL/ESL classes and world languages, practice various vocabulary words and learn tenses of verbs. Learn vocabulary and basic scientific concepts in any science class or facts about historical periods in history classes. This app is a valuable tool in any classroom.

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