Teacher Tools

Teachers are very aware that education in the 21st century demands time-honored practices coupled with the innovative use of technology. The Internet and the abundance of digital tools available can help facilitate learning in a way that was unimaginable to earlier generations. This week’s picks focus on digital tools sites created by educators who are passionate about using new forms of technology creatively in the classroom. So, tap into your (virtual) inner MacGyver with the arsenal of tech tools offered through these sites, and enjoy the ride.



WSD’s eToolBox: Choosing the Right Tools
http://www.thegateway.org/browse/dcrecord.2010-02-04.5092649244/
Subjects: Teaching, Technology
Grade: Teachers

Need to punch up a presentation or introduce wikis to your classroom? This handy virtual toolkit allows teachers to consult a chart to help determine which types of tech tools or resources they can use for lessons and projects. The eToolBox presents a list of available applications and/or sites with links to those tools, plus a lot more. One of the things that I like about this site is that it’s one-stop shopping for great ideas for integrating technology into the classroom. It’s like a Swiss Army knife of technology tools right at your fingertips. eToolBox is a great example of teachers tapping into the power of wikis and similar media to promote and share creative technology ideas in the classroom. eToolBox is a project of the Wissahickon School District in suburban Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, located about 22 miles north of Philadelphia.


Web 2.0: Cool Tools for Schools
http://www.thegateway.org/browse/dcrecord.2010-02-04.5930943702/
Subjects: Teaching, Technology
Grade: Teachers

This ever-growing list offers educational Web 2.0 tools to help teachers at all grade levels locate resources and ideas for the classroom. Web 2.0 tools are listed under various categories, such as organizing tools, mapping tools, research tools, audio applications, and much more. What I like about this particular wiki is that many of the tools have tutorials or examples on how the resources work, as well as brief comments about the sites themselves. You can scan through the categories, and immediately target those apps that are appropriate for your needs. This wiki is the brainchild of Lenva Shearing, who is Deputy Principal at Bucklands Beach Intermediate School, a middle school in Auckland, New Zealand.


A-Z Internet Resources for Education
http://www.thegateway.org/browse/dcrecord.2010-02-06.7985040085/
Subjects: Teaching, Technology
Grade: Teachers

A-Z Internet Resources for Education rounds out my trio of educational tech tools picks this week because of its currency and scope. The site is continually updated, and founder Jose Picardo announces updates via his http://twitter.com/josepicardo  page. Picardo is the Head of Modern Foreign Languages at Nottingham High School in the UK, where he teaches Spanish and German, and he’s obviously passionate about using technology creatively in schools. The resources on the list are mostly free, with brief descriptions provided. There are well over 100 resources listed as of this writing, with plenty of tools to choose from for effectively using technology with your students. I do wish the resources were grouped by category and not alphabetically, but then, the resource wouldn’t be called “A-Z Internet Resources,” now, would it?