Add-Ons and Other Support Tools
Materials Generators
- Materials Generators “Help teachers and students produce instructional materials on paper and online”(Roblyer, 2016, p. 141). LucidChart is a materials generator for good docs that allows users to easily create flowcharts and diagrams. This add-on is a great asset for students and teachers alike to help visually portray the relationship between ideas or concepts. https://www.lucidchart.com/
- Another great example for a materials generator is Lesson Plan Maker, http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/lesson_plan/ , this allows teachers to use a template to help oranize their thought and ideas in a orderly fashion and take some time away from preparing to make your plan and actually get right to it.
Data Collection and Analysis Tools
- Data collection and analysis tools “help teachers collect and organize information to provide feedback and support decision making”(Roblyer, 2016, p.141). Flubaroo, www.flubaroo.com , is an analytics tool add-on for google sheets that allows teachers to grade and analyze assignments and tests and even email scores to students. This type of add-on would significantly reduce the time spent grading and open up more time for planning and preparation for class.
- Save As Doc https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/save-as-doc/iekpcmcpnbgoldpmhfbioecljjjjnpap?utm_source=permalink is another useful add-on for google sheets that allows the user to convert any sheets document into a google doc to make the legibility of lengthy cell text entries easier.
Testing and Grading Tools
- Testing and grading tools “help teachers collect and track assessment information to measure student progress”(Roblyer, 2016, p.141). Add-ons such as Super Quiz https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/super-quiz/pjbiflobnndcecpflbbldjhiplcobiim?utm_source=permalink allows for teachers not only to grade and measure student progress but create quizzes and assessments all in one place.
- Another tool for grading and assessment is Online Rubric https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/online-rubric/fiiglmgmcodoglllnbfebbhkfidikfbo?utm_source=permalink which allows teachers to create and email customizable rubrics and scores to students for any assignment. I believe this combined with add-ons such as mail merge could greatly improve the productivity of teachers in regards to issuing and grading assignments.
Graphics Tools
- Graphics tools “allow manipulation of images to illustrate documents and web pages”(Roblyer, 2016, p.141). PixLr Editor, https://pixlr.com , is such a tool, allowing users to edit and manipulate images. This tool is useful primarily because it’s free and allows for some of the same functions as photoshop
- Personally for a graphics tool I will always prefer Adobe Photoshop, www.photoshop.com . For a graphics editor, I believe this to be the most powerful and comprehensive. Though costly and very extensive, I have yet to come across another program that I prefer more.
Planning and Organizing Tools
- Planning and organizing tools “help teachers and students conceptualize, organize, and communicate their ideas”(Roblyer, 2016, p.141). Add-ons such as Doctopus https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/doctopus/ffhegaddkjpkfiemhhnphmnadfbkdhbf?utm_source=permalink help teachers to organize, manage, scaffold and assess student projects and work.
- Event-O-Matic https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/event-o-matic/dhghafhnlbfjlifbdhggnijgpfnjfmlo?utm_source=permalink is another add-on that can help teachers to organize and track events and projects by merging schedules they have created in google sheets with a calendar to help them to better see whats coming up and also provide students with an accurate time table for assignments and projects.
Research and Reference Tools
- Research and reference tools “let students look up information in electronic versions of encyclopedias, atlases and dictionaries”(Roblyer, 2016, p.141). Paperpile, https://paperpile.com , allows users to add citations and bibliographies to research papers. Like most google apps this add on is also fully collaborative so that users can contribute or correct each other.
- Sorc’d for Docs, https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/sorcd-for-docs/johghabpnkofnnignckidciklbodffac?utm_source=permalink , is also another useful add-on for google docs as it allows user to collect and recall pieces of relevant content for use on their research papers.
- A noteworthy mention is TextHelp Highlighting Tools for google docs. This allows users to highlight important information and then compile everything they highlighted into one place.
Content-Area Tools
- Content-area tools “support teaching and learning activities in various subject matter areas”(Roblyer, 2016, p.141). The Google add-on Translate https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/translate/nejfnokhglmkjgpkjooijcddfecjggan?utm_source=permalink allows users to convert text to any language of their choosing. This is not only helpful in foreign language studies but helps when communicating to others around the world.
- On the more science and math side of things, Calculator.net http://www.calculator.net/conversion-calculator.html offers a conversion calculator for just about every form of measurement from distance to weight to temperature, ect.
Roblyer, M.D. (2016). Integrating educational technology into teaching
(7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Hello John. It amazes me how times changes and how well people adapt to the change. Especially when it comes to technology in the classroom. I believe that using the different forms of software programs help keep the students active in class and they are more willing to learn."Handheld devices such as tablets and cell phones have made software tools even more portable and accessible to teachers and students, and this more portable format has made software tools even more popular"(Robyler p. 1410. Who would have ever imagined that students would be able to use cell phones in classrooms when they was at one point not allowed in many schools?
ReplyDeleteJohn, I throughly enjoyed all the tools that you suggested in this blog and think that they all play a part in the 21st century classroom. I agree with San's comment about who would have ever thought that technology, such as mobile devices, could be embraced in the classroom so quickly after trying to fight it for the longest time. I really liked the Pixlr Graphic Tool because it allows for the "creation of illustrations for use in documents and web pages and create visual data summaries" (Roblyer, 2016, p.142), which I think is important for keeping students engaged visually.
ReplyDeleteI thought all your picks were great ones. Organization in the class room is very important for students and teachers alike, it helps them execute their ideas (Robyler, 2016, p.141). I thought the organization tool you picked was a good one that would allow teachers to help their students manage their time with projects which is a very valuable skill.
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