Free web tools for classroom educators
TCEA sessions touch on doing more with less
By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor
Read more by Laura Devaney
Free web tools help engage students of all ages.
Although the 2011 Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) conference urges educators to explore how limitless technology can transform education, presenters and attendees also acknowledge the tough budget situation that schools across the nation are facing.
Doing more with less has become a mantra among technology enthusiasts, and in turn, free resources are more popular than ever.
On Feb. 10, technology integration specialists Jenni Keith and Sarah Daugherty from Coppell Independent School District in Coppell, Texas, presented a round-up of free web tools to a packed room.
WebList is a tool that gathers different resources and aggregates them under one main URL. Users can collect different websites, images, documents, and videos in an editable list. Each resource receives its own URL, but users can send the main URL to colleagues and share all resources in one place.
TypeWith.Me lets users collaborate in real time in a chat-like format. One user creates a document and sends the URL to others, and each user types in a different color. Users can import and export text files, websites, and documents for collaborative learning, brainstorming, and editing. Students can collaborate with one another on projects or group study sessions, and revisions are saved. A time slider function lets users and teachers view the chat progression.
media4math
February 11, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Math educators looking for free and premium video and multimedia content for math should go to http://www.media4math.com. We have an impressive and growing library of math media that easily integrates into a lesson plan.
media4math
February 11, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Math educators looking for free and premium video and multimedia content for math should go to http://www.media4math.com. We have an impressive and growing library of math media that easily integrates into a lesson plan.
sujata9197
February 12, 2011 at 3:06 am
A great collection of useful tools!!!
Browsed a few , great!
It is always great to educate oneself and such updates truly help us in our classroom presentations!!
Thanks
sujata9197
February 12, 2011 at 3:06 am
A great collection of useful tools!!!
Browsed a few , great!
It is always great to educate oneself and such updates truly help us in our classroom presentations!!
Thanks
natetowne
February 14, 2011 at 11:33 am
Don’t you just hate it when vendors pitch products in comment fields without actually adding anything substantial to the conversation? I mean, I could go on and on about my client’s free web tools for classroom educators here, but I’d rather honor the intent of these responses and add something more meaningful to the conversation rather than just drop a clumsy sales pitch into the stream. I, for one, think ViewPure is a very cool concept with possibilities way beyond education. For example, many businesses like to use YouTube, but do note appreciate the seemingly random links to “similar” (and sometimes quite tasteless) videos. ViewPure could be a nice way to show a link to a YouTube video in a sales presentation without fear that the audience will be exposed to smut or heaven’s forfend – a competitor’s video. Great tips and tools, thanks for sharing!
natetowne
February 14, 2011 at 11:33 am
Don’t you just hate it when vendors pitch products in comment fields without actually adding anything substantial to the conversation? I mean, I could go on and on about my client’s free web tools for classroom educators here, but I’d rather honor the intent of these responses and add something more meaningful to the conversation rather than just drop a clumsy sales pitch into the stream. I, for one, think ViewPure is a very cool concept with possibilities way beyond education. For example, many businesses like to use YouTube, but do note appreciate the seemingly random links to “similar” (and sometimes quite tasteless) videos. ViewPure could be a nice way to show a link to a YouTube video in a sales presentation without fear that the audience will be exposed to smut or heaven’s forfend – a competitor’s video. Great tips and tools, thanks for sharing!
ppittman717
July 20, 2011 at 11:15 pm
I tried the storymaker myself to see how it would work. It seemed pretty flexible and editable, moreso than I had expected. Once I “published” the finished story, though, I was not able to find how to download a pdf file and also was not able to find the book as suggested when visiting the online Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh. There was a disclaimer included that said once published I was giving the Carnegie Library permission to use the book for promotional purposes, whatever that would entail. I’m not sure I’ll suggest the use of this tool very heavily until and unless I find out how to obtain at least a file copy of whatever story my students create. Great concept, just needs a few bugs worked out apparently. Thank you.
ppittman717
July 20, 2011 at 11:15 pm
I tried the storymaker myself to see how it would work. It seemed pretty flexible and editable, moreso than I had expected. Once I “published” the finished story, though, I was not able to find how to download a pdf file and also was not able to find the book as suggested when visiting the online Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh. There was a disclaimer included that said once published I was giving the Carnegie Library permission to use the book for promotional purposes, whatever that would entail. I’m not sure I’ll suggest the use of this tool very heavily until and unless I find out how to obtain at least a file copy of whatever story my students create. Great concept, just needs a few bugs worked out apparently. Thank you.