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Top 25 Tech Tools for Teachers for 2015

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Technology Evolves Quickly!

When I started teaching in 2004, I used any/all available technology. I had an overhead projector and a CD player. Then I scored an InFocus machine and a laptop because no one else in the social studies department had use for it.  Afterwards, I graduated to a SmartBoard and “hoarder of laptop carts.” Even when I was a “floater,” without my own classroom for several years,  I would wheel my own teaching cart and two laptop carts to all of my classes- without missing a beat. The only real issue with the method was how loud I was coming down the hallway. The laptop carts squeaked and the wheels always sounded like shopping carts that needed repair.

Teachers have wonderful tech tools to choose from these days. I am positively jealous that many of the tools below did not exist even three years ago when I left the classroom. As the E Learning Coordinator of my division, I get to review and train others on the latest tech tools, which I have to admit, is pretty fun!

All of the tech tools featured in this post are free, user friendly, and (likely) will be available on your school’s network. These tools are best for students in grades 6-12 but the teacher creation tools can be used for any grade/subject level.

So, here are my top 25 picks for digital tools for 2015!

Want an updated list for 2016? Check out the Top 16 Tech Tools for 2016.

For creating lessons to digitally share with students:

1.  Nearpod– include already created presentations or start from scratch. Nearpod keeps students engaged and on the same digital “page” as their teacher.

2.  OfficeMix– make your powerpoints interactive with polls, questions, videos, and more!

3.  Prezi– creates awesome presentations.  This is for you if you are sick of “plain old PowerPoint.”

Instant polling: perfect for quickly checking for student understanding, collecting quick data, and engaging students.

4. Socrative- ask true/false, multiple choice, and short answer questions to your audience! There’s a fun “Space Race” game that splits your group into two and puts them “head to head.” Whoever answers the most correct questions fastest, wins.

5. KaHoot– totally feels like a a game…but it’s a quick and fun way to assess students’ knowledge.

6. PollEverywhere– also asks a variety of question types to poll your audience and get immediate feedback.

Current Events: why not promote reading and a global perspective in any class you teach? Making connections to what’s going on outside the walls of your school is always a good idea to engage your students.

7. Newsela– provides current event articles on the students’ reading level and interests.

8. CNN Student News– quick 10 minute news video with discussion questions.

Connecting Home and School

9. Remind– have parents/students sign up for text alerts without having phone numbers. You can even schedule reminders in advance.  It’s just one more way to connect and bridge school and home.

10. Edmodo– create an online community and practice digital citizenship at the same time. Students/teachers have access to subject content, polling, quizzes, discussion boards, badges, “snapshot” which assesses students competencies (VA Standards of Learning; Common Core), and more!

Videos and Resources for Video Watching:

11. Youtube (of course)- my favorite channels include Crash Course, Khan Academy

12, 13.  Zaption or Educanon– both use Youtube and Vimeo to embed questions within videos for students to answer as they watch.

14. Hippocampus– a wide variety of  videos and interactives, best for upper level subjects/students.

15. Seesaw– the Digital Learning Portfolio. See my quick review here for more information about why it is awesome.

16-20 Core APPS:
21-23 Productivity tools:
  • Zipgrade– instantly grade assessment and get data quick!
  • Evernote– organize everything, share notes/notebooks, create checklists, and more!
  • Pinterest– create boards (like my TechnoED board) to organize awesome Internet finds!

24. Powtoon– create fun and easy animated videos.

Here is an example of a Powtoons video I made for our online summer school students to view.

25. PicMonkey– I love using it for simple graphics like the ones I use for my blog.

As you can see, there are plenty of free options to choose from when integrating technology into your classroom. The key is to use technology to enhance your instruction. Make sure the tool fits your final goal and serves a real purpose- don’t just use technology for the sake of using technology. All of the featured technology tools found in my blog fit into my criteria for recommending technology.  See the list below!

Tech Tools Should

Comments

  1. Since I’ve been a student for the past 12 years, checking my work before my teachers do is one of my first priorities after completing all of my research. Copyleaks is super easy to use and I can scan all my assignments in different file types (even on the mobile app) which makes my life super easy. Highly recommend copyleaks.com

  2. Great info. Any suggestions or resources geared towards creating a professional teacher presence online would be very helpful.
    Thanks again for the great list of tech tools in the above post.
    Jeanie

    • I suggest Twitter…join chat groups and meet like minded educators! check out hashtags related to your field…also LinkenIn is a pretty good go-to. Thanks for stopping by!

    • Oscar- hope it helps! These tools have been loved by the teachers in my division so hopefully your teachers will also appreciate them! Thanks for reading : )

  5. I am a teacher and not employed by them, but Front Row is by far the best free math app I’ve found. Manga high is really cool and IXL, meh not such a fan, and at home, I have my own children on Reasoning Mind (which is paid), but for in class Front Row cannot be beat.

    • Awesome, thanks so much for the recommendation : ) I am always looking for free & awesome apps to share with teachers in my division. I will be sure to check it out.

    • I loBe Front Row. I used it all year last year. Vibe students loved it, they would beg me to get on it in their down time, and it really helped them improve their math skills.

      • Lynn- I’ve heard of Front row but not Vibe. Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve also been wanted to try Oust, are you familiar with that one? Thanks for the comment/suggestion!

  6. Don’t forget about plickers….”paper clickers”….so easy to use and great for those with only one device.

    • Linda- plickers is awesome! Great suggestion! I never realized the origin of the name, paper clickers….makes sense : )

    • Thank you, let me know if you try a tool and have some tips to share. : )

  8. Have you tried http://www.mathster.com?
    We’ve been working on it for 5 years and just launched it late 2014 (and new primary section this month). 15000+ randomised questions, coded individually by me and another maths teacher – can be used for any kind of online or printable assessment. Gives teachers compete control for homework, mini quizzes, revision and exams. Great for any curriculum as the questions have been designed to be generic. Getting rave reviews from teachers and departments who are using it as their ‘go to’ assessment system.
    Have just launched a free section for students with access to questions and videos.
    Would love it if you could take a look and review it.

  10. I began teaching 02. This post describes me! Except I haven’t found a way to leave the classroom yet. How did you do it?