This document provides an overview of easy technology tools that can be used with students throughout the school year. It introduces Padlet for online sticky notes, Blendspace for compiling different media into lessons, Tagxedo and Tagul as word cloud creators, Socrative for interactive quizzing, and LessonPaths for structuring online learning. Teachers are encouraged to use these tools to help students collaborate, provide feedback, and demonstrate their mastery of concepts in a medium familiar to them. Specific ideas are given for how each tool can be used, such as Padlet for brainstorming, reflections or exit tickets, and Socrative for brainstorming, exit tickets or quick checks of information.

1. Easy Technology Tools
You Can Use All Year
Rachel Grover
Librarian, Rocky Run MS
Fairfax County Public Schools

2. AGENDA
• Tech & Today’s Students
• Why’s and Ways to Use Tech
• Looking at Some Sites & a Bonus!
• Independent Investigation/Planning
• Sharing

3. Tech & Today’s Students
• Next Year’s 6th graders: Born in 2006/2007
• 2006: “Year of the Social Network” – readwrite.com
• Kindergarteners in 2011
• How do we use tech in education for meaning, and
not just for the sake of tech?

4. Why’s and Ways to Use Tech
• Need to use the medium they are most
familiar with in order to:
• Collaborate with each other
• Provide feedback to you & their classmates
• Demonstrate mastery of concepts taught

5. PADLET.com (+app)
• Online version of sticky notes
• Can upload videos, documents,
images, or just write text
• Student examples: Project
• Good to use for brainstorming,
reflections, or exit tickets,
too!
Demonstrate Mastery Collaborate with Others
Provide Feedback

6. • Compiles many kinds of media
into one lesson
• Monitor student progress
through class organization
• Students create a project
• Catch up students on skills
• Has a quiz module
• Students can comment on
your presentations & their
classmates
• Searchable lesson library
Demonstrate Mastery Provide Feedback
blendspace.com

7. TAGXEDO.com & TAGUL.com
• Word Cloud Creators
• Alternate to Wordle
• Choice of color & shape
• Easy to save & share work
• Tagxedo: No login
• Tagul: Login
• TT : Use to activate
knowledge, asking questions,
review
• Only works on desktops and
laptops
Demonstrate Mastery

8. SOCRATIVE.com (+app)
• Interactive quizzing site
• Teacher facilitated
• Create quizzes in advance or
spontaneously
• Multiple Choice, True/False,
Short Answer
• Connect to standards & view
reports
• Can use ALL devices!
• TT : Use for brainstorming, exit
tickets, and quick checks of info
you just taught
Demonstrate Mastery

9. BONUS: LESSONPATHS.com
• Great for structuring online
learning & differentiation
• Include videos, websites,
documents, and screencasts
• Search for other lesson
paths that are relevant
• Not tested for student
creators
http://bit.ly/1bshzfC

10. With the Remaining Time:
• Investigate at least 3 of these sites
• Create something that you could use with your
classes as a project example or at the beginning
of the year.
• Post at least 1 idea on our Padlet
• Be prepared to share!