When I first started thinking about the blog for this week I was focusing mainly on the tech tools and apps that we have been learning about during this class. But, as I continued to figure out my top 10 list, I realized there are just some tech tools that I can't leave off this list. Some of these tools I use every day (multiple times a day in fact! ) and some of them I have just been introduced to through this class. So, here are my top 10 tech tools that I can't live without!
1. Laptop computers- it doesn't really matter what brand or make or model, as long as it is a laptop. I love the convenience of being able to take it anywhere with me. My internet is not working at home? No worries, I'll just take my laptop to Starbucks!
2. Smart phones- I am old school--it takes me forever to upgrade my phones. Most of my middle school students have much nicer and newer phones than I do-- but I can't imagine not having a smart phone now! I use my phone for everything-- calling people, checking the weather, looking things up on the internet, using the maps to figure out where I am going, keeping up with friends, texting, playing games, working out math problems on the calculator! I even have an easy grader app loaded on my phone to use when I am grading papers. How did I live without one of these for so long?
3. A projector- I use a projector in my classroom all the time. One of my biggest fears is that the bulb is going to burn out and it will take me forever to get a new one in. It is amazing to think that when I started teaching a overhead transparency was cutting edge technology!
4. Microsoft Office Programs- I love Powerpoint, Word and Publisher (and I even use excel when I have to-) they make life so much easier!
5. Document cameras- I remember the first time I saw an Elmo- I thought it was the coolest thing! I now have a ladybug in my classroom and even though I don't use it all the time, it is so nice to have one when you need it!
6. Test generators- these program save me so much time! They are such an awesome resource.
7. Wikispaces- After making a wikipage in this class I have to say I love it! I will definitely try to use one for my classes next year. They are much easier to create than I thought they would be, very user friendly.
8. Rubistar- This is a tool that I had never heard of until this class. I will definitely be using it a lot in the future. I have been using Word or Excel to create rubrics for my class. Rubistar is definitely easier and probably actually more thorough than what I've been creating!
9. Digital cameras and applications that work with digital pictures- My expensive "old" film camera hardly ever gets used anymore. It is so nice to be able to take as many pictures as you like knowing that you can always delete them if they don't turn out well. Once you save the pictures you like it also amazing how many different things you can do with your pictures. One application that I learned about through this class and I love is animoto. It is a really cool program- and my students love it!
10. Prezi- prezi is a great addition to the options that students can use to make presentations. It is relatively easy to use and the finished products look great!
I thought the same thing about Rubistar! I was dreading making a rubric. I thought I would have a hard time making it detailed enough. I thought Rubistar would help you organize the rubric. I had no idea that it would do all of the work for you! I love that it lets you edit the boxes also. There was one section that it generated that I wanted to change one word, and it let me do it! Great tool! Great post!!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't think about test generators or how digital cameras and editing programs are so useful! I like how Instagram edits them before you share them. Also I have an app on my phone called BeFunky that edits photos in fun ways. I still think the computer edit programs do the best quality work though.
ReplyDelete