Top 10 Teacher Tools List

Here’s my top ten tools list and how I use them.  They’re in no particular order.

1. Google Documents – The ultimate collaboration tool for your PLN and your learners
2. Twitter – Widen and enhance your PLN circle with this micro-blogging tool.  Superb tool for connecting with fellow educators.
3. Diigo – Social bookmarking, highlighting, annotating, and research tool.  Use with learners or use with your PLN
4. Bit.ly – Powerful URL shortener
5. VoiceThread – Use it to enhanced/develop oral language skills, practice foreign languages, and useful for students with limited written output or LA students
6. Skype – Connect your learners with professionals from around the globe, collaborate with classrooms across the nation, and interact with authors
7. Wallwisher – Virtual sticky-note tool.  Use it as a formative assessment tool during a break
8. Podomatic – Powerful and free podcast hosting tool
9. WordPress – Powerful blogging tool which can be used as a reflection tool. Excellent for math journals
10. Google Reader – Fantastic RSS feed-reader.  Let Google Reader do the work for you.  No longer need to spend time visiting all your favourite websites and blogs.  Google Reader brings them to you to read

Think a tool should have made the top 10?  Let me know your thoughts.

Tech Integration Post # 2 of 10: Using Google Documents As A Collaborative Classroom Tool

Use a Google Document spreadsheet to facilitate a collaborative class assignment.

Example: Social Studies

Learning Outcome example : B2 – compare Canadian society with the society of another country

• Design a spreadsheet which compares Canadian society/culture against other societies/country throughout the world.  See template example Canadian SS template PLO B2
• This example compares Canadian culture to other countries throughout the world
• Once the spreadsheet is created, publish the document as a web page.  See image below

• Google returns a very long link to the published document.  Use a URL shortener to shorten the link.  See instructions for Bit.ly below
• Students then enter the (shortened) link into the URL window at the top of their browser.  They will be directed to the spreadsheet
• Students are now able to access, create, and edit the document.
• Your students are able to access and interact with the document at one time making it a truly collaborative effort.  Sit back and watch the document create itself.
• Once the document is complete it can be used as a revision tool or may be used again in another subject such as math when covering data analysis and graphing.

Bit.ly
Copy and paste the link Google gives, to publish the website, into the Bit.ly website.  Click shorten.  Bit.ly will return a short, and more manageable, URL such as http://bit.ly/9pQV.  I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s much easier to remember the shortened URL.

For those looking for an introductory lesson for the their new class next school year, a great way to get to know your class is to have them fill in this spreadsheet together: Class introduction spreadsheet.