Web Tools for Secondary Teachers
Shawn Brandt
The Internet is full of resources for teachers… many are free! Learn how to organize content on the web, find searchable databases of lesson plans, improve school-to-home communication, create a webquest, develop a mind map, and make a rubric. These tools help teachers become more efficient and effective in the areas of productivity, instruction, and assessment.
Productivity
Technology to help organize, manage, and communicate routine preparation activities.
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Surfing efficiently
- iGoogle: Customized homepage (TIP Sheet)
- Social Bookmarking
- Online Notebook
- Search "visually"
- PageBull.com (search results return thumbnail pictures of each web page)
- Speed Reading online
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Quality lesson plans on the Internet
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Looking for technology integration ideas?
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Need help on a specific software/web program?
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School-to-Home Communication
- Course syllabus
- Newsletters created with...
- MS Word
- MS Publisher
- Email (group contact list)
- Online gradebook (Family & Student Access)
- Class website
- TeacherWeb
- Pre-made forms
- Designed for the classroom
- News Flash (best feature)
- Blog? (edublogs is my favorite for teachers)
- Think.com (free... application process to verify that you represent a school system)
- Interactive tools (Message Board, Ask Me, Debate, Vote, and Brainstorm)
- Calendars.net (NPMS uses as a homework calendar)
Instruction
Technology to support the development and delivery of instruction.
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Computer lab monitoring system
- There is a wide variety of programs available... most are very expensive
- AB Tutor Control (most cost-effective program in this category) (TIP Sheet)
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Managing classroom activites with an LCD projector
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Class website as a "portal"
- List pre-approved websites for research
- WebQuest
- TrackStar (my favorite)
- QuestGarden (good, but not free... $20 for 2 year subscription)
- PowerQuest: Create a webquest with PowerPoint (
Sample)
- WordQuest: Create a webquest with Word (
Sample)
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The Power of PowerPoint
- Using PowerPoint Effectively
- Embed PowrePoint presnetations on TeacherWeb with SlideShare.net (Sample)
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- It is a multi-media tool
- Images
- Hyperlinks
- Music... sound... audio
- Video
- Discovery Education Streaming (expensive, but one of the best resources for teachers on the Internet)
- Professionally produced videos... short clips/segments
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Digital Storytelling
- Website resources
- Planning guides
- Photo/Video programs
- PowerPoint Photo Album (included in PowerPoint)
- PC/Windows
- Online programs
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Online Video Services
- YouTube: The one that started them all (blocked in most schools)
- "I found a YouTube video I want to show in class. Can I download it and insert it in PowerPoint?" (Yes)
- TeacherTube: Educational alternative to YouTube (can be slow at times)
- Blip.tv: Many "YouTubers" upload their videos here as well.
- Vimeo: Safe way to upload student content.
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Interactive Whiteboards (SMARTboards)
- The SMARTboard is the "Kleenex" of interactive whiteboards
- Great tool and user-friendly software
- Drawback... very expensive
- Mimio Interactive
Assessment
Technology to help make assessments more efficient and help teachers collect data that can truly improve student achievement.
- Review Games
- Jeopardy/Baseball PowerPoint/Excel (TIP Sheet)
- Online Quizzes/Tests
- QuizStar (recently changed to a paid service... about $30 per year)
- Quiz Builder: Discovery Education Streaming (PDF)
- Quizlet: "The end of flashcards."
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