TeachersFirst's BYOD Dream Tools: Free Tools that Work on ANY device!
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This collection of reviewed tools from TeachersFirst includes apps that are available for FREE on iOS (iPad, iPhone), Android, and web devices. Ideal for BYOD classrooms or 1:1 computer/tablet programs, these reviewed tools allow users to create and access projects using the same app, no matter what kind of device they have.
This collection includes only "DATs" (device agnostic tools) that are FREE on all devices and offer free access with sufficient features to be useful without upgrading to a paid account. Whether you call it an "app" or a "web tool," a DAT allows you to access your projects from almost any device.
Be sure to read the "Edge Features" list at the end of each review to know whether you need to create individual accounts, how products can be shared, and other tips on using these DATs safely and within school policies.
Even the best DAT has slight differences in capabilities on different devices. Encourage your students to share what they discover about additional or missing features on each type of device. your class will quickly appoint tool experts for each app!
TeachersFirst encourages our members (membership is FREE) to add comments and ratings to help other teachers and students trying these tools. Apps change quickly, so we welcome your comments on any changes that may occur to these tools and their free status.
(image credit: Jeremy Keith)
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RooClick - David Bard
Grades
6 to 12
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (174), digital storytelling (143), questioning (38), video (263)
In the Classroom
Create short review videos for flipped lessons. Annotate by highlighting the significant features of videos through the addition of documents with supporting information. Consider the power of students using this site to annotate videos to explain the material in their own words. Students can also create questions to play with each video. Also, as a final project for any unit, students can share research findings in a video with discussion questions to go with the research and with links to outside resources. Be sure students create a script to read from before beginning to produce their own video.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Bitmoji - Bitstrips Inc
Grades
K to 12tag(s): creativity (116), DAT device agnostic tool (174), emotions (40), faces (4), images (269)
In the Classroom
Create a Bitmoji to use as your avatar on your class website or blog. Update your avatar to reflect current lessons, holidays, or events. Use emojis to appeal to students and draw their attention to important information. For example, choose the bitmoji with praying hands and "please" as a reminder to read all of the directions before beginning work. Choose a Bitmoji with an interesting background or phrase to use as a writing prompt. Insert a bitmoji into a Google form as feedback for student responses. Have older students (13+) take a picture of a portion of text and add a Bitmoji to share a connection or response to the text (also known as BookSnaps).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Microsoft Translator for Education - Microsoft
Grades
K to 12tag(s): chinese (48), DAT device agnostic tool (174), french (84), german (60), greek (41), hebrew (18), italian (34), japanese (44), Microsoft (66), russian (25), spanish (105)
In the Classroom
Use Translator to greet "other language" speaking students and make them feel welcome in your classroom; encourage conversations between them and your class. Take advantage of Translator to widen your classroom's global viewpoint by sharing conversations with others around the world. Use this site in world language classrooms to have students copy their text to convert into the language being studied (or the reverse). Have students create presentations about other countries in the native language of the nation using a presentation tool like Canva, reviewed here. Take your presentations a step further to include multimedia. Use a tool such as Genial.ly, reviewed here, to incorporate multimedia like maps, surveys, video, audio, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wakelet - Jamil Khalil
Grades
K to 12tag(s): bookmarks (53), collaboration (54), DAT device agnostic tool (174), news (257), social media (37), social networking (92)
In the Classroom
The possibilities for using Wakelet in the classroom are endless! Create collections with tips for writing in different genres, current events, information about specific countries or cities, math games, and much more. Have students set up their own wakes as part of a research project. Put together a wake scavenger hunt to introduce a new unit or as a review at the end of a unit. Share wakes on your class web page for student use at home to review and practice class content. Having the ability to have a cover image and background for your wakes makes them much more interesting and easily identifiable, especially for young or visual students!Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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MathGames - TeachMe, Inc.
Grades
K to 8tag(s): addition (224), charts and graphs (203), DAT device agnostic tool (174), differentiation (54), division (157), equations (154), estimation (47), fractions (231), game based learning (147), geometric shapes (170), measurement (180), mental math (27), multiples (31), multiplication (210), patterns (88), preK (282), ratios (66), statistics (130), subtraction (186), time (138)
In the Classroom
MathGames is perfect for practice with many different math concepts. Include a link to games on your class website or classroom computers. Be sure to share games with parents for play at home. Take advantage of the free registration to register your class to follow student progress and challenge students to increase scores. Ask students to write blog entries replacing pen and paper and sharing their learning and understanding for each game using Telegra.ph, reviewed here. This blog creator requires no registration. If you are teaching younger students and looking for an easy way to integrate technology and check for understanding, challenge your students to create a blog using Edublog, reviewed here. Take this a step further enhance students' learning by to picking the game they learned the most from and make a feature video about it using Biteable, reviewed here. Biteable claims to be "the world's simplest video maker," and they may be right. If you teach using Common Core Standards, this site is excellent for finding practice activities aligned to the standards. Measure student growth for Common Core Standards using Edulastic, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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HP Reveal - Aurasma
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): augmented reality (6), DAT device agnostic tool (174), images (269)
In the Classroom
Use this tool for Word Walls, overlaying images of the words or videos showing the words in action when they are scanned. Create overlays of diagrammed pictures, revealing more information for each of the elements labeled. For example, add more information about parts of the human body, elements in the periodic table, works of various artists/musicians, or battles in a war. Create an interactive journal or newspaper with simple headlines. For example, create a headline of "School play a definite smash!" and overlay a video of the play using the app. Create a poster of school rules or laboratory safety. Consider assigning groups of students the task of acting out the rules to overlay on the interactive poster. As students work towards completing material for a class, create video words of encouragement or advice to play at key points of the assignment. Or, add additional information at various points, inspired by past or present student questions about how the information relates to life. Bring the outside world in by taking videos of professionals to play when reading stories in class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Asana - Dustin Moskovitz and Justin Rosenstein
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (174), organizational skills (106)
In the Classroom
Create an account to use with students as a tool for organizing and collaborating on group projects. Asana makes it easy for all users to view overall progress on each task. Use Asana to help students remain on track with project deadlines; encourage older students to create their own account and set up groups for projects. Use this tool to collaborate with colleagues for use with professional projects such as unit planning and long-term scheduling.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Class123 - Choong Hee Lee
Grades
K to 6tag(s): behavior (43), classroom management (147), communication (15), DAT device agnostic tool (174), parents (53), Teacher Utilities (78)
In the Classroom
Use this tool to communicate specific behaviors with parents - both positive and negative feedback. Share this site with students on the first day of school as you go over class expectations and your behavior plan for your classroom. Take advantage of the other tools to take attendance or rearrange your seating chart quickly and easily.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Intergalactic Mobile Learning Center - Intergalactic Mobile Learning Center
Grades
K to 9tag(s): collaboration (54), DAT device agnostic tool (174), mind map (24), spreadsheets (23), Teacher Utilities (78)
In the Classroom
Be sure to watch the videos on the homepage for an overview of the apps in action. Download Intergalactic Mobile Learning Center for use in your class for any collaborative project. Ask students to work in small groups to draw landforms or the water cycle in science class, gather data and create a spreadsheet for math, work together to write a story summary or share information on a KWL before the start of a new unit.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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CoSpaces - Delightex GmbH
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): creativity (116), DAT device agnostic tool (174), digital storytelling (143)
In the Classroom
Recreate scenes from books or use CoSpaces to retell any story with 3D images. Encourage creativity and ask students to develop virtual exhibitions of artwork, animal habitats, or landforms. Have older students create infographics featuring data collections, for example comparing availability of Internet in different American towns.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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ClassTag - Vlada Lotkina and Jason Olim
Grades
K to 12tag(s): chat (45), classroom management (147), communication (15), DAT device agnostic tool (174), parent conferences (22), parents (53), Teacher Utilities (78)
In the Classroom
Create a free account to use for all your classes, and even your extracurricular activities. Use this tool to send homework, project, and supply reminders. Remind parents of upcoming events, practices, or items students need to bring to class or practice. Remind parents of big tests, report cards, field trips, deadlines, back to school night, sneaker days, conferences, and more. Set up a faculty reminder group within your school for emergency closures and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Flipgrid - Charlie Miller & Brad Hosack
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): assessment (124), DAT device agnostic tool (174), Microsoft (66), video (263)
In the Classroom
Flipgrid 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?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 Flipgrid to implement a book talk on a topic of interest.
Use Flipgrid 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 into 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.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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Playbuzz - Shaul Olmert and Tom Pachys
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (174), flash cards (40), polls and surveys (48), quiz (76), trivia (21), video (263)
In the Classroom
Share Playbuzz with students to create interactive classroom content. Have students create polls for favorite characters in books, use the Video Snaps tool to share significant portions of a video, or use Flip Cards in place of traditional flash cards. Create interactive content for your classroom lessons including trivia to introduce new lessons or create a Gallery Quiz to match images to clues. The possibilities are as unlimited as your imagination and those of your students!Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Simplenote - automattic.com
Grades
K to 12tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (174), organizational skills (106)
In the Classroom
Use Simplenote for all notes and ideas in all aspects of your busy life. Keep your file system with you all of the time! Instruct students in the use of Simplenote for notetaking needs. Share outlines and study guides with students. All members can collaborate and add thoughts. Offer as a way to improve organizational skills.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Baamboozle - baamboozle.com
Grades
K to 12tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (174), flash cards (40), game based learning (147), preK (282)
In the Classroom
Save Baamboozle in your bag of tricks for a quick review of any content. Have students create games to share with the class when reviewing for quizzes and tests. Bring excitement to professional development by creating a Baamboozle with materials you are sharing. Be sure to provide a link to Baamboozle games on your class website for students to play at home.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Full Steam Ahead - Brunel's ss Great Britain
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1800s (52), DAT device agnostic tool (174), engineering (131), STEM (209)
In the Classroom
Share Full Steam Ahead with students as part of any STEM lesson on engineering or sink and float. After using the interactive several times, have students create a simple infographic sharing their ship-building observations using Easel.ly, reviewed here. The original ship was launched in 1843, have students compare the structure to other ships of the time or as a contrast to modern ships.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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MathPapa - Robert Ikeda and Priscilla Pham
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (174), equations (154), problem solving (293)
In the Classroom
MathPapa is an excellent addition to any Algebra classroom. Provide a link on classroom computers for students to use to solve problems and view the step-by-step process. Share on an interactive whiteboard as you discuss steps for solving Algebra problems. Share a link to MathPapa on your class web page for student use at home. If you are beginning the process of integrating technology, replace paper and pen by having students create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Loose Leaves, reviewed here. Take this a step further enhancing students' learning, and challenge pairs or small groups to create a screencast with audio for how they solved the "problem of the week." Use a tool like Free Screen Recorder, reviewed here. Share MathPapa with younger students who have mastered basic math facts and are ready to learn basic Algebra.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SurveyAnyplace - Stefan Debois and Mark Penson
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (174), polls and surveys (48), quizzes (92)
In the Classroom
Use SurveyAnyplace to accomplish multiple tasks. Create a quiz as a tool for checking prior knowledge or making a quick assessment. Have students answer exit questions or see what students remember from the previous day. Use for formative assessment to identify misconceptions that students may have at the start of a unit. ESL/ELL and world language teachers could use this for vocabulary practice. Have students create quizzes with characteristics of story characters for classmates to see which character they are most like. Students could also create a quiz to present to his/her peers after giving a class presentation. One warning - SurveyAnyplace only offers 20 responses per month with its free plan, be sure to keep this in mind. One workaround is to use multiple email accounts to create and share surveys and quizzes. One feature of Gmail is you can create multiple sub-accounts, explained here; this tells how to set up Gmail subaccounts to use for any online membership service.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Recap - SWIVL
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): assessment (124), classroom management (147), DAT device agnostic tool (174), portfolios (23), video (263)
In the Classroom
Use Recap 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?Use Recap as follow up for a flipped 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 and 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 into 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 performan
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