Tons of Useful Websites

"A wise man once said, 'Give a teacher an app, and she/he’s got a day's lesson; Teach her/him how to find the right apps, and she'll have lessons for a lifetime!'" 
My hope is that everyone will get the parallel to the familiar saying about fish and fishing. I also make reference to the many '10 Best Websites' articles that circulate accompanied with #EdTech, #TechEd, and similar hashtags. My goal for this session is to uncover the various resources, websites, EdTech folks, search techniques, and yes, even apps so that educators can create a menu (curriculum), get a good cookbook (SAMR model), and go to the various fishing spots (resources) to catch a whole lot of big fish.

Thinglink

Use ThingLink to instantly add video and text to images. Create unforgettable greetings, interactive travel photos, and capture best moments. Share images to your friends on Twitter or Facebook — and communicate in new ways. ThingLink introduces a new, richer way to share the world through photos. Touch the Future of Images. Download the app now and start tagging.
FEATURES 
√ FREE TO USE
√ Choose or take a picture with your phone’s camera  
√ Add interactive tags on your image
     - YouTube videos 
     - Videos from your phone’s camera  
     - Twitter handles
     - Text
√ Share with friends on Facebook, Twitter and Email
√ Browse your own interactive image gallery 
√ Join the ThingLink community at ThingLink.com
√ Take advantage of your own channel at ThingLink.com
Thinglink:  https://www.thinglink.com/
Thinglink for Education: https://www.thinglink.com/edu 
Transform Teaching & Learning with ThingLink EDU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnUnQKASmiE&feature=youtu.be 
Create Engaging Resources with ThingLink EDU + Google Docs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiKoWpxYk_8&feature=youtu.be 
AppSmashing with ThingLink EDU, Padlet & Explain Everything
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNUGmounlj8&feature=youtu.be 
​
73 Interesting Ways to Use Thinglink in the Classroom (Links to an external site.)
27 Ways to use Thinglink in the Classroom  (Links to an external site.)
12 Ways to Embrace Thinglink in the New Year 2015 (Links to an external site.)
10 Innovative Ways to Use Thinglink in the Classroom (Links to an external site.)

Padlet

Padlet is a blank canvas to create beautiful projects that are easy to share and collaborate on. It works like a piece of paper. We give you an empty page and you can put whatever you want on it. Drag in a video, record an interview, add some images and document files, write your own text posts, and voilà! A wall is born. Make it even more beautiful by choosing custom wallpapers and themes.
Website: http://padlet.com (Links to an external site.) (formerly Wallwisher)
A variety of tutorials about Padlet: 
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=padlet+tutorials
 
Education World: 5 ways to use Padlet in the classroom 
32 Interesting Ways to Use Padlet in the Classroom (Links to an external site.)
Teachers Guide to using Padlet in the Classroom 
20 Useful Ways to Use Padlet 

Ted ED: Lessons worth sharing

Build a lesson around any TED-Ed Original, TED Talk or YouTube video. TED-EdTED-Ed’s commitment to creating lessons worth sharing is an extension of TED’s mission of spreading great ideas. Within TED-Ed’s growing library of lessons, you will find carefully curated educational videos, many of which represent collaborations between talented educators and animators nominated through the TED-Ed platform. This platform also allows users to take any useful educational video, not just TED’s, and easily create a customized lesson around the video. Users can then distribute TED-Ed lessons, publicly or privately, and track their impact on the world, a class, or an individual student. This platform is also the home to TED-Ed Clubs – an exciting new program that aims to stimulate and celebrate the best ideas of students around the world.TED-Ed LessonsThere are two types of TED-Ed lessons. The first, TED-Ed’s award-winning original lessons, represent collaborations between expert educators, screenwriters and animators. Each collaboration aims to capture and amplify a great lesson idea suggested by the TED community. The second type of TED-Ed lesson can be created by any website visitor, and involves adding questions, discussion topics and other supplementary materials to any educational video on YouTube. Both types of TED-Ed lessons are used regularly – in classrooms and homes – to introduce new topics to learners in an exciting, curiosity-inspiring way.
http://ed.ted.com  
Categroies

Adobe Spark, first for iPad and your Computer

Named App Store Editors’ Choice, Slate lets you turn your next newsletter, report, invitation or travel adventure into a gorgeous visual story that delights readers on any device. Simply tap to select a unique look — beautiful fonts, color and magazine-style design are automatically incorporated. Fluid movement and elegant motion are applied instantly. Share your Slate story link anywhere. Grab attention, increase awareness and inspire action. Stand out.
Website: https://standout.adobe.com/slate/ 
App:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/adobe-slate-make-your-words/id968433730?mt=8 
Tour of Slate:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o14tnNsOA9Q
Slate Story:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY3iVeqxGTs&feature=youtu.be
Examples:
A Students Research Report:  https://slate.adobe.com/a/78KQK/
A Review of Cats:  https://slate.adobe.com/a/2J6kK/
iPad Monthly PD Newsletter:  https://slate.adobe.com/a/R94Rx/ 
Adopt A Dog:  https://slate.adobe.com/a/73Knv/
The Unpleasantness of TouchScreens:  https://slate.adobe.com/a/20Kw9/

Smore

Smore makes it easy to design beautiful and effective online flyers, newsletters, school reports, informational handouts and more. . Smore has over 1 Million users creating over 100,000 flyers and newsletters each month.
Website:  https://www.smore.com
An Example:  https://www.smore.com/j6ry-using-smore-in-your-classroom

Grammarly

A Better Way to WriteGrammarly makes you a better writer by finding and correcting up to 10× more mistakes than your word processor.#1 Rated Grammar Checking Tool. Trusted by over 4 Million Users! Eliminate grammar errors · Easily improve any text · Detect plagiarism...The best overall online grammar checker – Top Ten Reviews  

Check your grammar right from your browser or Microsoft Office. Improve your writing in emails, documents, social media posts, messages, and more.

I have recently started using the FREE version of Grammarly on my laptop, I have installed the extension in my web browser for Safari and Firefox. I am seriously thinking about paying for the service for a full year!  it is that good!!But I also like the idea that I could just pay for one month, so I might try that first.

I encourage you to give it a try. It's free what do you have to loose!!

Here is a blog post I share about it with College of Ed faculty. http://cdk.posthaven.com/think-different-resource-grammarly 

NOTE: Grammarly Currently, it is only available for laptops and desktops._

http://www.grammarly.com/

The teaching Channel

Hundreds of videos offer teaching tips on topics both large and small. Use the Q&A section to get ideas from your fellow teachers. The blog provides insight on topics such as integrating material from different subjects and maintaining a supportive classroom throughout the year.https://www.teachingchannel.org 

Edutopia

Forward-thinking teachers will find a wealth of resources here to support their biggest plans. Browse articles and videos from experts on blended learning, flipped classrooms, differentiated instruction, and more. Check the discussion board for answers to your toughest questions.
http://www.edutopia.org

Evernote

Ideas and inspiration often come at you quickly. Evernote allows you to keep photos, recordings, and notes in one place, so it’s especially useful at conferences and lectures. You can record a lot of material and return to it later. It’s also handy when you have a substitute. Keep your lesson plans and worksheets in Evernote, and pass off the appropriate folder to the sub.
https://evernote.com/​
10 Tips for Teachers Using Evernote – Education Series

Google Tutorials 

This page contains tutorials for using Google tools. The tutorials that I've (Richard Bryne) created you are welcome to use in your own blog, website, or professional development session. Before using the tutorials created by others, please contact their creators.
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/google-tools-tutorials.html#.Vkz0toTwDsM​

Best Websites for Teaching & Learning 2015

The 2015 Best Websites for Teaching & Learning foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration. They are free, Web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover. 
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/p/google-tools-tutorials.html#.VkkI_YTwDsM​ 
http://www.ala.org/aasl/standards-guidelines/best-websites/2015  
​Media Sharing
Digital Storytelling
Manage & Organize
Social Networking & Communication
Content Resources
Curriculum Collaboration

Famous Authors

​http://www.famousauthors.org 

PBS Teachers

http://www.pbslearningmedia.org

Comic Life

http://plasq.com/downloads/comic-life-desktop/
30 day free trial.

36 Best Websites for Full-Fledged Learning

https://custom-writing.org/blog/36-best-websitescustom-writing.org/blog/36-best-websites

Tools for Creating Infographics

PiktoChart

Piktochart is an infographic and presentation tool enabling you to turn boring data into engaging infographics with just a few clicks. Piktochart's customizable editor lets you do things like modify colour schemes and fonts, insert pre-loaded graphics and upload basic shapes and images. Its grid lined templates also make it easy to align graphical elements and resize images proportionally. There's a free version offering three basic themes, while a pro account costs $29 per month or $169 for a year.
http://piktochart.com​ 

Eas.ly

This free web-based infographic tool offers you a dozen free templates to start you off, which are easily customisable. You get access to a library of things like arrows, shapes and connector lines, and you can customize the text with range of fonts, colours, text styles and sizes. The tool also lets you upload your graphics and position them with one touch.
http://www.easel.ly 

Canva 

Canva makes design simple for everyone. Create designs for Web or print: blog graphics, presentations, Facebook covers, flyers, posters, invitations and so ...
Website: https://www.canva.com
Tutorials: https://designschool.canva.com/tutorials/
Teaching Materials & Lesson Plans: https://designschool.canva.com/teaching-materials/
Quick Guide to Canva in the Classroom

Top 50 Sites/Apps of 2015

It's the time of year again for my favorite annual sites and apps.  This year's list will be a little different as I list my favorite 50 instead of 100.  The reason for this as not as many new learning tools came out this year compared to years past, while more current tools focused on regular updates.  However, that does not mean there are not a lot of new items to look through, as sites/apps for programming/coding, Math/STEM, and Game Based Learning played a predominant role in this year's list.  As w/ any of my previous annual top lists, all tools listed in previous posts will not be eligible for this years'.

From David Kapuler of Technology Tidbits: Thoughts of a Cyber Hero

  • Seesaw - Excellent free mobile app (Android/iOS) for students creating digital portfolio w/ educational portal.
  • Code Kingdoms - One of my favorite sites for learning how to program (Javascript) by drag-n-dropping blocks of code (i.e Scratch).  Also, has an abundance of lesson plans and students can learn how to create their own Minecraft style game.
  • Oncore - A free to use iPad app for teachers that acts like an all-in-one Learning Management System, where educators can assess students, take attendance, communicate w/ parents, and much more.
  • Plotagon - A wonderful site/app for digital storytelling where students create animated movies (i.e Xtranormal) by typing a script.
  • Grammarly - A terrific site for helping students w/ their grammar, spelling, and more w/ detailed reporting.
  • Sketch Nation - A great free site/app (iOS/Android) for creating games.  Students can also work on their STEM skills and learn the basics of programming.
  • Ignite Teaching - An excellent free iPad app for Project Based Learning through collaborative digital presentations/projects.
  • Help Teaching - A very nice site for educational resources, printables, assessments, and more.
  • Class Compete - A super fun and innovative Game Based Learning system for grades K-8 in the subjects of Math and English.
  • WhatsDue - A cool new free mobile app (iOS/Android) for keeping students and parents up to date on what is happening in the classroom.
  • Modern Chalkboard - A great site for finding free Smart Board resources and tutorials.
  • Galxyz - An innovative mobile app (Android/iOS) for Elementary Science that is COPPA compliant and aligned to Common Core Standards.
  • Mystery Word Town - The excellent mobile (Android/iOS) app that uses Game Based Learning to help learn and spell words.
  • Box Island: One Hour Coding - A fun free iOS app for ages 6 on up learning the basics of coding.
  • TenMarks - A very popular site for Math for grades 1st-12th that tracks student progress as well as helps teachers differentiate instruction.
  • Bloomz - Bloomz is a free (iOS/Android) app for educators looking to communicate w/ parents via mobile devices.
  • Monster Math - An excellent iOS Math game w/ high replay value that helps students learn their basic Math Skills through an innovative platform-type game.
  • Versal - A nice site for creating interactive digital lessons, that is ideal for online learning.
  • Learnteria -  A new site for educators looking for reviews on a wide variety items, such as: sites, books, apps, and more.
  • WonderBox - A wonderful free iPad app for students learning a number of different subjects (i.e Math, Geography, Science, etc) through use of videos, maps, images, and more.
  • Story Shares - An interesting new site for readers grades K-12th.  Story Shares creates digital books that are customized per Reading Level.
  • Quiz Hero -  One of my favorite (iOS/Android) free apps that uses RPG game elements to learn a variety of subjects, such as: Math, Vocabulary, Science, etc).
  • Tickle - A fantastic iOS app to learn how to program by dragging blocks of code together, that works on items such as: Sphero, drones, etc.
  • Quizizz - A excellent site for creating multiplayer quizzes where educators get results in real-time.
  • CodeQuest - A fun iOS app that helps teaches students learn how to code in CSS or html, ideal for STEM.
  • Choosito - A new and safe way to search the web for students and library resources.
  • AlfaTyping - A great site for educators for students to learn how to type while educators track their progress.
  • Milk Hunt - A entertaining Math game for 1st-5th grade that has students collecting bottles of milk while answering different questions.
  • Make It - A nice iOS app for grades K-2nd for creating games, stories, slideshows, and more.
  • Flashsticks - An innovative site/app for learning a foreign language through interactive post-it notes.
  • Brownie Points - An excellent free iPad app for Math grades K-7th, that uses an incentive based learning system.
  • CodeCampKidz - An interesting site for students 5th-8th learning how to code in html, Javascript, and more.
  • myBlee Math - A nice free iOS app 5-12 yrs old learning Math.  myBlee not only tracks student progress but offers rewards and puzzles in a wide range of Mathmatical topics.
  • Erase all Kittens - A unique site that has students "hack" through the levels of a game to rescue all the kittens.  A nice way to learn how to code and ideal for STEM.
  • Lumio - Excellent site/company for Math games and resources, ideal for mobile learning or a 1:1 environment.
  •  JellyBean Scoop - An interesting new site/app (Android/iOS) for finding "true" stories divided into four Reading levels.  Be sure to check out JellyBean Writer too!!
  • LearnBop - A great site for educators teaching Math in grades K-12 that tracks student progress and allows educators to differentiate instruction.
  • FlipQuiz - A fun site for creating Jeopardy style game quizzes.
  • Spell 'till you Drop - A super fun iPad app that has students learning how to spell while playing through a game of building a bridge, w/ over 600 words included.
  • Code Blast - A nice introductory to problem solving by programming a rocket in this fun iPad app.
  • Explain 3D - Is a innovative mobile (Android/iOS) app that acts as an interactive encyclopedia that has a wide range of simulations on topics such as electronics, machines, and more.
  • Scoodle Jam - A great iPad app for grades K-6th ideal for Project Based Learning.  Students can create presentations, drawings, projects, and more as well as choose through lots of educational templates.
  • Study Ladder - A wonderful site for educational resources and games on a number of different subjects.
  • Monster Physics - An excellent iOS app for kids ages 9-11 learning the basic concept of Physics by creating their own interactive creations.
  • Zap Zap Math - A cool free mobile (iOS/Android) app for self paced learning in Math.
  • NumberShire - A terrific site/app for K-2nd learning basic Math concepts that tracks student's progress and is aligned to Common Core Standards.
  • Counting Kingdom - One of my favorite iOS apps for addition/Math for kids 6-8 yrs old that uses the popular "tower/defense" style game.
  • SlateMath - A free iPad for young learners learning the basic concepts of Math and numbers, w/ over 38 different activities.
  • Kidtopia - A nice safe COPPA/CIPA compliant search engine for kids/students.
  • Telling Time w/ the Smurfs - A great and fun way for students to learn how to tell time through an interactive story w/ Papa and Brainy Smurf.

Camera Advice

Camera Guides for Beginners: Understanding Video Capture  www.cctvcameraworld.com/cameras.html