Kahn Academy’s Learning Plan
One of the outstanding and interesting learning tools in the Kahn Academy is that students can build their own learning plan. In addition to that, it looks like a simple and clear picture so that students can access to any learning unit efficiently. The exercise map also proposed the suggested learning plan for students to be able to follow the basic learning processes. It offers step-by-step tips to students to help them to solve the problem by themselves. As a math teacher, I really appreciate these features of Khan Academy, because I’ve observed many of online math lessons just provide simple explanations of the sample questions, even though some of them does not show any explanations at all. The explanations also come with brief animations, so I think it really help a lot students to understand the basic concepts of the questions. When students obtain a certain point of the sample question, the Khan Academy exercise tool suggests students moving to the next step. Thus, students don’t need to worry about losing the right learning direction in the website. Surprisingly,the approaching way of teaching the negative number in the Khan Academy exercise tool is exactly the same way of mine. From my personal teaching experience for the subject, I believe that this can be one of the most efficient ways for students to comprehend the concepts.
MuchEnough
MuchEnough is an online place where learners and instructors can meet for online instruction in any topic. This website helps people to share what they know with the idea that everyone is an expert at something. Instructors open their available time schedule. Students also schedule a session for a live presentation, a discussion or some Q&A so the instructor’s availability is shown in the student’s time zone.
Mentormob Pro
Mentormob Pro is reflective of the endless possibilities provided by a “remixed” web 2.0 tool. This web tool allows for a cloud-based compilation of a myriad of web based learning resources (such as digital content, blog posts, articles, and videos) and allows the instructor to create a unique “playlist” of the material; the possibility for embedding collaborative features to this resource were noted via publishing opportunities.
Storyjumper
Storyjumper, is a good online tool for students to create their own story by writing in words and drawing pictures from their own imagination. Firstly, the students can choose which templates they are most interested in and would like to create story about. There are many different templates, such as Treasure Map Builder, Food Fun, or Ocean Tale. Storyjumper provides different kinds of templates of stories. Students are able to choose the one they are most interested in. When the students click into their chosen templates, it has already provided some example parts of story to help the children get start narrating their story. They may changes those parts of story examples into their own whole story or they may continue to narrate their story from the provided examples of story. Also, the children have a chance to build up pictures that match with the stories they are narrating.
Diigo
Diigo is a social bookmarking tool that is easy-to -use and navigate. There is a free version, and 2 paid versions: $5 a month or $20 per year. It also works on Android, iPhone, and iPad and saves on the “cloud” so that one can access from anywhere. You can place your important web sites to your library to access at a later time, and add “tags” to organize these web sites. You can use the “add on” option tool (in browser) to highlight text and add sticky notes to make annotations to the text. Diigo notes that this feature promotes active readings and reading retention. Users can take a snapshot of your annotated text and write and circle important phrases or words within that text. Then, you can share these annotated notes with friends on Diigo or other places (and also saved in the Library). This tool could be used at various grade levels to promote collaboration and/or critical reading skills. Groups can be created within Diigo so that users can share links and their annotations with other classmates or group members. A great resources for teachers to connect with other professionals in an effort to share resources and ideas.
Quininator
Quizinator is a free web tool designed for instructors. It allows teachers to create and edit worksheets, power points, quizzes, and other documents. The website allows the user to create a question database and store it on the site in their own personal library. The user can access the questions and documents on any computer and make changes. Quizinator also allows you to classify each question in the database into subjects, difficultly level and type of question. The user then can create documents, quizzes and tests using the questions from the library. You can change test by alternating the questions, changing the multiple choice or editing the question. Each question is saved in the library and the user can access it at any time and incorporate the question into any document. This can be a very useful tool for teachers to stay organized. Instead of searching for test questions or retyping quizzes, Quininator allows instructors to organize and store questions for use at any time.
Create Games without code with Stencyl
Stencyl is free, web and mobile game creation software. It allows users to build games without any knowledge of coding languages. However, the software allows the user to also code in Objective-C. Once the game is created it can be exported to IOS, and Flash. The ability to publish to Android and HTML5 is coming soon.
Great Student Response Tool
Scocrative is a very easy to use student response tool. Teachers can create quizzes, short answer responses, or “Exit Tickets” from students using any web enabled device. Socrative requires no student registration. Potentially a great teaching tool that’s currently free.
Web Adventures Science Games
The Rice University Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning has developed a suite of science games. The free games target Middle School science objectives. Web Adventures includes support material for teachers.
Learn JavaScript with a Game
Codeacademy offers a unique path to learning Javascript basics. Play the well designed game to get started with programming. Codeacademy is one of the games featured in the 2012 Games for Change Festival.
