TeachersFirst - Featured Sites: Week of May 31, 2020

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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MakeCode Arcade - Microsoft

Grades
4 to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Modify or create your retro games with MakeCode Arcade. Resources on the site include coding tutorials, game design concepts, learning outcomes, and courses in coding. Follow the prompts...more
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Modify or create your retro games with MakeCode Arcade. Resources on the site include coding tutorials, game design concepts, learning outcomes, and courses in coding. Follow the prompts within the tutorials to create unique games using drag and drop code blocks. As you become familiar with coding, expand knowledge with Javascript or Python. Share using the links or download onto Microsoft game devices if available.

tag(s): coding (87), computers (105), game based learning (171), Microsoft (84), STEM (259)

In the Classroom

Use Microsoft Arcade to introduce coding to both new and experienced coders. Share some ideas from the site on an interactive whiteboard (or with a projector), then have students experiment on their own. Encourage students who are comfortable with coding to become classroom experts and explain ideas to other students. Enhance their learning by asking them to make recordings using ScreenPal, reviewed here, to share tips, and demonstrate different features of coding. Use this tool with gifted students for a great challenge. Set up a coding activity center for interested students when they finish classwork or for rainy days and snow days. Share this link on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom.

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Draft - Draft

Grades
6 to 12
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Think of Draft as a collaborative workspace that offers features to investigate ideas, solve problems, and draft plans to move forward with a designated workflow in place. Sign up using...more
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Think of Draft as a collaborative workspace that offers features to investigate ideas, solve problems, and draft plans to move forward with a designated workflow in place. Sign up using your email to begin, then choose from three workflow options. Use the dashboard to add notes, create drag and drop lists, upload documents and images, and add information from the web. Use the sharing options to invite others to edit the board or allow viewing only. Use the examples on your home page as inspiration using Draft in a variety of ways. Free plans allow members to use up to 500 objects in drafts, create an unlimited number of drafts, and have unlimited contributors.

tag(s): graphic organizers (48), organizational skills (90)

In the Classroom

Have students use Draft to create storylines that include links and images to tell the story of events in history or to retell novels. Ask students to use Draft to create mood boards to share the different works of artists or to demonstrate different types of architecture. Draft would be an excellent choice as a collaborative tool for large projects to brainstorm ideas, assign tasks, and document progress. Use Draft 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.

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Koji - Koji

Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Koji is an interactive content creator for use with all types of social media. Create games and quizzes by creating a template or remixing one of the thousands of available ...more
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Koji is an interactive content creator for use with all types of social media. Create games and quizzes by creating a template or remixing one of the thousands of available models found on the website. Choose an existing game and click the remix button to begin. Customize the options, including text, sound, images, and game features. Publish and share using the game link or directly into social media using the provided links.

tag(s): coding (87), game based learning (171), gamification (74)

In the Classroom

Find templates by browsing the templates found on the home page, or choose the option to see what others are remixing to find examples to use in the classroom. Modify quizzes to include on your class website for quick review and practice on any device. Choose a "tap to reveal" feature to share before introducing a new unit. For example, before starting a unit on national landmarks, quickly create several "tap to reveal" games with United States landmarks and publish one a day on the week before the start of your unit. Have students create quizzes and games to review classroom material, then share the games with all students on your class websites. Share with students interested in software and coding applications, encourage them to create games that interact with current classroom materials. Koji includes options for viewing the source code for advanced coders to use in creating and modifying their interactives.

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Snapstouch - SnapsTouch

Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Snapstouch converts your photos into images that appear to be paintings. Choose and upload your image to begin. Select from the two options of painting 1 and painting 2, each ...more
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Snapstouch converts your photos into images that appear to be paintings. Choose and upload your image to begin. Select from the two options of painting 1 and painting 2, each option provides a different look to the "painting." This site also provides a couple of options to add outlines, change the brush size, and adjust the level of painting. Click "paint" to convert your image, when finished, choose to download to save on your device as a JPG image.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): images (270)

In the Classroom

Before sharing with students, you may want to share this tool on an interactive whiteboard or projector and show students how to save images correctly. Use this tool anytime to add interest to photos for use on class blogs, wikis, or in presentation tools. Share with older students to use for converting images for projects or presentations. Have students create a painted image to use instead of a photograph to use as their image within Google Classroom or other learning tools.
 

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elink - Bit Tech Labs, Inc

Grades
K to 12
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Curate and bundle online content into engaging websites or newsletters using elink's easy to use templates and tools. Begin by selecting a template or start from scratch. Add website...more
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Curate and bundle online content into engaging websites or newsletters using elink's easy to use templates and tools. Begin by selecting a template or start from scratch. Add website links, customize the header text and image, select a layout, and adjust theme colors as desired. When finished, publish to access links to share as a website, use the embed code to embed into popular website platforms, or share via social media. Another option allows you to share as a newsletter using most email providers; however, not all of the templates work as a newsletter, so look for that option if that is how you plan to use this tool. The free plan offers one published post per day that includes up to 5 links.

tag(s): bookmarks (47), curation (35), digital storytelling (142), social networking (68)

In the Classroom

Use elink to curate and share information in a variety of ways with students, parents, and peers. For example, use elink to create a grouping of links to videos for student use then embed your newsletter on your class website for use at home and school. Create a monthly newsletter to share with parents that include links to websites for use at home to support your current class lessons. Ask older students to use elink to curate resources used when submitting research and multimedia projects. Have students include their elink as part of a project created with Sway, reviewed here. As an example, if students research the causes of the Revolutionary War, ask them to include a link to their elink creation to share their online project resources. Be sure to check out the Education Curation Tools templates found on elink's website for additional ideas.

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GorillaPDF - Softpile

Grades
K to 12
2 Favorites 0  Comments
 
GorillaPDF shares tools for converting images, text, Word documents, and more to PDF without the need to create an account. Download for use with files up to 50MB. Select the ...more
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GorillaPDF shares tools for converting images, text, Word documents, and more to PDF without the need to create an account. Download for use with files up to 50MB. Select the link to the type of file you are converting to PDF, then follow the prompts to upload and convert your file. When finished, download and save to your computer.

tag(s): conversions (36), digital storytelling (142), ebooks (38)

In the Classroom

GorillaPDF makes it easy to convert a variety of different file formats into PDF for easy use in a variety of ways. Use this tool to combine a variety of documents and images into one cohesive packet that is easy to share and view on any device. Ask students to use this site as a tool for combining research information into one easy to manage document. Extend learning by asking students to incorporate PDF files into ActiveTextbook, reviewed here, to create interactive learning experiences. Add images, videos, audio, and more to the documents to create a customized learning experience for other students to learn from their research.

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Knowt - Knowt

Grades
5 to 12
2 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Knowt creates quizzes from your documents and notes using artificial intelligence features. Import notes from your device or Google Drive to create a quiz. Knowt's editing features...more
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Knowt creates quizzes from your documents and notes using artificial intelligence features. Import notes from your device or Google Drive to create a quiz. Knowt's editing features allow you to highlight text, change font, add quotes, and more. When ready, select the quiz icon and Knowt creates a quiz based on information found in the document. Questions include multiple-choice, drag and drop, and fill in the blank options. Join the Beta program for teachers and create classes, add students, and share quizzes.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (99), assessment (147), DAT device agnostic tool (143), quizzes (90)

In the Classroom

Share Knowt with students as a resource for practicing for upcoming quizzes and tests. Consider this option as an alternative to flashcards or other review methods. As students become familiar with Knowt, use this tool as a starting point on lessons sharing how to find and understand important information within any piece of writing. Create a quiz together and share it on your interactive whiteboard. Ask students to analyze the questions that Knowt creates and discuss why they are included in the quiz. Once students understand how to create an effective quiz, ask them to create their own quizzes for personal study or to share with peers. Gimkit, reviewed here, offers a free quiz-creation tool for use in a variety of educational settings.

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Google Jamboard - Google

Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Google Jamboard is a collaborative, online whiteboard application. Use the tool options to access the pen, eraser, add sticky notes, and upload images. Jamboard also includes some limited...more
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Google Jamboard is a collaborative, online whiteboard application. Use the tool options to access the pen, eraser, add sticky notes, and upload images. Jamboard also includes some limited options to change the background. Add "frames" to create whiteboard displays similar to a slide show. Email the link to your board to add collaborators using the share icon. Be sure to select the drop-down box to add collaborators as editors, not just viewers. When finished, use the three dots near the top of the page to rename your Jamboard, download your work as a PDF, save as an image. All work automatically saves within your Google Drive account. In October of 2024 Google Jamboard will sunset (close down). The good news is Figjam will have a tool to convert Jamboards to Figjam.

tag(s): collaboration (85), images (270), iwb (31), Whiteboard (7)

In the Classroom

Use Jamboard on your interactive whiteboard (or with a projector) to share and highlight information for students. When finished, save and share as images for students to access in Google Classroom or on your class website. Enable the collaboration options for students to use when planning projects or as a tool for recording and sharing information. For example, ask groups working together on a science experiment to use this tool to share images and annotations throughout the experiment. Save Jamboard slides as images in digital portfolios. Seesaw, reviewed here, and Pathbrite, reviewed here, provide free online portfolio features for students at all age levels.

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Google Slides - Google

Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Google Slides is the presentation tool component of the Google document collection. Use Slides to create slide presentations that include images, animations, embedded videos, and much...more
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Google Slides is the presentation tool component of the Google document collection. Use Slides to create slide presentations that include images, animations, embedded videos, and much more. Create your Slides or choose from pre-made templates to fit your needs. Share Slides for others to view or adjust settings to allow collaborators to edit presentations in real-time. Slides automatically saves your work to your Google Drive using auto-save, making it easy to share and save all updates across any device. In addition, Slides works with PowerPoint, offering you the ease of uploading a PowerPoint file to Slides or importing any Slides presentation to PowerPoint.

tag(s): multimedia (43), Online Learning (39), remote learning (61), slides (45)

In the Classroom

Discover the many features of Google Slides to create presentations, interactive stories, and much more. Create a class poetry presentation by asking students to create individual Slides, then put them together in one slide show as a class poetry book to share on your class website. Deliver blended, flipped, or remote learning lessons using Google Slides by adding links to videos, websites, assessment information, games, and other learning activities. Find many more ideas for classroom use at the archive of a recent OK2Ask webinar: GoogleMania - Student Activities for Google Slides, reviewed here, or the OK2Ask webinar: GoogleMania - Choose Your Own Adventure with Google Slides, reviewed here.

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Data GIF Maker - Google News Lab

Grades
K to 12
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Create and share data with the different GIF formats offered by Google News Lab. Choose from the three theme options - rectangles, circles, or racetrack to begin. Follow the prompts...more
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Create and share data with the different GIF formats offered by Google News Lab. Choose from the three theme options - rectangles, circles, or racetrack to begin. Follow the prompts to add a title and data values. Add data as a percentage or numerical values then customize your GIF by selecting from different color options. When finished, save as an HQ (high quality) or LQ (low quality) GIF. Once created, save the GIF to your computer or share using the provided link.

tag(s): data (146), images (270)

In the Classroom

This tool provides you and your students an excellent resource for engagingly sharing data. Use the Data GIF Maker to create a visual display when collecting data. For example, begin using this tool by polling your class to find out their favorite type of pizza and then enter the data to create a GIF. Use the same data in all three included formats to compare and contrast how the information looks based on the type of chart used. Take this same information and have students calculate the percentages and create GIFs to compare and contrast this information with your original images. Once you and your students are familiar with how to use this site to create GIFs, use it to enhance student learning by including GIFs within your presentations for students to evaluate and to visualize any data. Create GIFs to document student reading logs, the amount of time spent on homework, or time spent on community service. Have students include GIFs when annotating images using Image Annotator, reviewed here, or within presentations created with tools such as Sway, reviewed here.

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QRickit QR Codes - Denso Wave Inc.

Grades
K to 12
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Create and share QR codes from any device using the free resources from QRickit QR Codes. Use the dropdown box to select the type of code you wish to create ...more
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Create and share QR codes from any device using the free resources from QRickit QR Codes. Use the dropdown box to select the type of code you wish to create from the many available options, including links to websites, playing a YouTube video, viewing a Google Map location, and more. Fill in the blanks to add relevant information then choose QCreate to view and download the QR Code image. When finished, QRickit provides an option for embedding the code into a flyer, select this option to personalize and create your flyer that is ready to print and use.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): gamification (74), qr codes (17)

In the Classroom

Create a QR code that directs to your class website or blog. Include it on handouts for Back to School night. Create a QR code scavenger hunt for students or make a webquest more engaging. Add QR codes to documents for students to check their answers. Further, develop knowledge of a topic by adding a QR code to a site that expands upon what is in the textbook. Create a data chart accessible via a QR code. Students can access the data and manipulate the information. Have students create a book trailer or review and affix a QR code to the outside of the book. Students may be more apt to read a book that has been reviewed by another student. Make a display completely interactive with a QR code that describes the assignment, the process, the research, students' reactions, and more! Add extra help information to any assignment that asks students to solve problems. Create an online help tutorial accessible via a QR code, and place the code beside a similar problem. Link a QR code directly to a Google Map. Place QR code contact information for you and your school on contact cards to give to parents. Attach QR codes to physical objects around the room to provide information about the object. Instead of copying/pasting links in a newsletter, put them into QR codes for easier access by readers. Post QR codes to resource sites and new articles on your BYOD classroom bulletin boards for students to access information on their tablets or smartphones. As a time-saver, post a QR code to the class wiki or web page.
 

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Audience Connect - Create with Google

Grades
6 to 12
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Engage and connect your audience during Google Slide presentations using Audience Connect. Download the app onto your Windows or Apple computer to set up and take advantage of features...more
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Engage and connect your audience during Google Slide presentations using Audience Connect. Download the app onto your Windows or Apple computer to set up and take advantage of features that make your audience active participants in your presentation. After entering the connect code, participants connect to your session to view the slide show. During the presentation, ask participants to provide feedback, answer questions, or view preloaded videos.

tag(s): Google (44), multimedia (43), slides (45)

In the Classroom

Take lessons beyond your typical slide show presentations by using the features in Audience Connect. Insert polls within your slides to quickly gauge students' understanding of the content or ask them to respond to questions throughout the presentation. Use the embed video feature to have all students watch portions of video directly from your laptop onto their device. Have students use Audience Connect as an enhancement to any class presentation to keep their audience involved and active in the presentation topic.

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SceneVR - KnightLab Northwestern University

Grades
K to 12
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SceneVR is a virtual reality editor that turns panoramic images into a slideshow. Use the editor to upload panoramic photos from a camera or panoramic scenes from phones. To create...more
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SceneVR is a virtual reality editor that turns panoramic images into a slideshow. Use the editor to upload panoramic photos from a camera or panoramic scenes from phones. To create your slideshow, log in using your Google account to open SceneVr Creator and follow prompts to upload images. After editing your project, publish using the links to share online, embed it into a website, or share it on Twitter or Facebook. Be sure to check out the site's tips for creating projects.

tag(s): images (270), slides (45)

In the Classroom

Use SceneVR to take slide presentations to a whole new level. Quickly upload panoramic photos from class field trips, science experiments, or presentations to create a unique presentation to share with parents and families on your website. Ask students to use their photos to create a virtual reality presentation. For example, when learning about geometric shapes, have students take panoramic images of your classroom and school. Put these images into SceneVR to create a presentation and allow students to explore your "virtual world" for shapes found around them. Extend learning further by incorporating the slideshows into a multimedia presentation such as a digital book made with Book Creator, reviewed here, or Sway, reviewed here. Use your (or student-created) multimedia presentations to present a larger picture of any concept by incorporating text, images, and videos along with your slideshow.

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CleverPDF - CleverPDF

Grades
K to 12
3 Favorites 0  Comments
 
CleverPDF is your one-stop site for managing PDF documents. Choose from 27 tools to convert to and from PDF documents, reorder pages, extract images, and much more. Select the tool...more
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CleverPDF is your one-stop site for managing PDF documents. Choose from 27 tools to convert to and from PDF documents, reorder pages, extract images, and much more. Select the tool you need, upload your file, and choose from additional options based on the function selected. Scroll down within each of the tasks to find easy to follow step-by-step directions for converting and saving your file. CleverPDF also includes a downloadable application for use on Windows and Mac computers for converting files without an Internet connection.

tag(s): conversions (36), images (270), worksheets (70)

In the Classroom

Be sure to bookmark this site on all classroom and personal computers for use throughout the year. If you have a large PDF file but only need a page or two, use CleverPDF to extract it for you. Convert PDF files to Word or Pages when working with a document that needs editing. Convert student work into PDF then convert into a book using PDF to Flipbook Converter, reviewed here. PDF ro Flipbook Converter even includes a handy page-turning effect! This is a helpful utility for students entering contests or completing applications offered only in PDF form. Help students create a more organized and appealing portfolio by converting all items to one standard file type such as PDF. bulb, reviewed here, is an easy to use tool for creating and sharing portfolios, include student-created PDF documents to share any work document.
 
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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