Spotlight on Tools

One of my goals in this blog is to assist in filtering information for best practices and quality tools which can hopefully make your jobs easier. Some really great tools can across my desk this time.

EduCanon

This online learning environment, created by and for teachers, allows you to use any video, your own or that of a third party, and annotate it, embed questions and directions, and pace it so students are accountable for the work. I especially like the ability to ask for reflection from students - you know, those thought-provoking moments we find hard to build into online work. Watching video content is often called passive learning. EduCanon creates active learners and best of all, this tool is free!

Check out the website, scroll through the many examples of work done by other teachers, and jump in! Sign-up and -in is simple and you are on your way. Create and share work, set up students to create content as well, and share successes with staff. You will not only find units to access and tools to freely use, but an informative blog attached to the website. I particularly enjoyed the January 5th entry about the "stayability" of the Flipped Classroom model. Curious about what a "bulb" is and how to share between colleagues, set up class sites, and connect to edmodo? Check it out - you'll thank me for this one!

Bibblio

I have to say that I am excited about this site as well. Never heard of it? Well, you have now and here is how the founders answer the question "How is Bibblio different from other similar sites on the web?"

"Bibblio indexes all of the great materials that are already on the web, across different formats and platforms. With a single home for curation like this, you are no longer forced down individual platforms such as YouTube, Soundcloud or SlideShare, but are free to browse the most inspiring content from the internet all in one place. There is a lot less clutter here too."

You can add your quality content, create your channel, use any of the content on the site and it will never cost you anything. Guaranteed free for life - now that's a promise educators like a lot. Look over this site and see that you think, and if you add content, let me know and I will happily link and promote through my blog and my Pinterest site, Online Educators Lounge.

Can't wait to share more winning 21st Century tech tools to enhance your teaching experience.