5 Tech Tools for Teachers to Use in 2016
The future is now, and it’s a whole lot more advanced than we expected. Internet connected everything and there is an alarm clock that will wake you up with the smell of bacon. And this year, edtech is seeing a whole lot of very unexpected tech tools and resources, from hashtags that can teach you shortcuts when using Google, and emjois allowing us to transcend our classroom lessons.
While we may still be waiting for our teleportation devices and invisible coats, technology has brought us some pretty awesome innovations to make classroom education easier. So, we’ve rounded up our eleven genius edtech secret weapons on the web. You won’t believe you went this long without these tools — seriously.
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Emoji’s have entered the classroom. Before you throw your iPad out the window, take a second and check out emoji’s for yourself. Emojis can help ignite creativity, challenge visual thinking, and improve processing skills in the classroom. For example, if you’re teaching a younger class, ask them to review a book or movie using only emojis. Emoji’s are also great way to introduce children to word problems.
There’s something immensely satisfying about being able to sync notes across multiple devices. And, our favorite Evernote add-on, the Scansnap scanner, always makes the day easier — not having to rewrite paper notes is more amazing than anyone will understand. We were super excited when we learned about the addition of the ability to sketch notes on the iPhone and iPad.
One of the biggest trends we’re seeing thus far in 2016 is the continuation of something we saw last year: Twitter. Twitter-makers have given us the ability to launch polls, engage in real-time conversations with hashtag chats, and now, a potential new character limit.
Google Apps for Education is one of the most transformative features in the edtech space. Google Apps for Education helps you establish a connected classroom so you can easily collaborate with students in entirely new ways. And, the best part? It’s free. From apps that can track homework logs, to student portfolios, to ones that help us video chat, these apps have a solid spot in our classrooms.
Millions of people use Voxer each day to talk to their friends or family. While Voxer offers an ah-mazing push-to-talk feature, it also offers a lot of other tools for the classroom. Like creating study groups to ask questions about the homework assignment. Or, use it as a staff connection to take place on Voxer versus sitting in another meeting. (Super cool feature: You can also use it as a walkie-talkie!).
2015 was a big year for education technology, whether you consider yourself a tech fan or not. Video chatting and being able to find a college with the best quality of life became mainstream. And even your friend who swore off social media has an Instagram account now.
We’ve taken a look at some of the biggest trends in edtech, what do think will take their place in the new year? Wearable technology in the classroom? A new social network? What are your predictions for 2016?
Anna Bates is a tech ninja at Noodle, the leading education website that helps parents and students make better decisions about learning. In her free time, Anna moonlights as a volunteer soccer coach and mom to Norman and Mabel, her basset hounds.
Thanks to Anna Bates for these great ideas! Check back soon for my take on Noodle!
Thanks for reading 🙂
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