Recording Audio Apps

Opinion will allow you to record, edit and publish online for free! To record simply open the app and tap the big red button at the top of the screen.

When you're finished talking, tap the recording button again to stop the recording. You can chop your recording into smaller pieces by tapping on your recording then tapping the scissors icon to cut your recording. Opinion also shares to iMessage, Dropbox, Google Drive, and e-mail. You are also able to Import audio from your local iTunes music library, or Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive.

StoryCorps.me will ask you to create an account, but you can use it without. Creating an account will allow you to publish your recordings on the StoryCorps website. The app includes sets of questions that you can use in your interview. 

The question sets are varied depending upon the type of interview you want to conduct. You can swipe through the questions to help you keep the interview on track. Completed recordings can be saved on your device and or shared with the StoryCorps community.

The Opinion app would provide students a quick way to create simple recordings. Suggestions for multiple ways for use in the classroom could include: story reading (students reading a page at a time), interview students in a classroom, book reviews, recap a story....and the list goes on.

StoryCorps.me will take a little more time for students to set-up but great use of documenting interviews involving two or more people. Being able to see the questions while they record should help students keep their interviews concise and on track. You can find more information about StoryCorps.me on their website: https://storycorps.me/.

Mail Merge and Google Sheets/Docs

There is a fabulous add-on within Google Docs that will use Google Sheets to create labels through mail merge.  Avery Label Merge is simple to use to create either mailing labels or name tags for the classroom.  Image creating a Google Form to get information from classroom parents and then using their responses to mail information from Sheets Response page.

First off it is necessary to get the Add-on in Google Docs.  Click on the Add-0ns in the Google Docs menu bar.  Choose Get add-ons and search for Avery.

Click on the +Free for the Add-on.  Make sure to allow Avery to access your Google Docs. 

To enable the Avery add-on.  Click on Add-ons again, and select New Merge.

It will then prompt you to select what form of label you will be using and the specific Avery label you will be using.

Choose the type of label.

The mail merge will now prompt you to choose the Google Sheets file you will merge from.

Now it is time to add your fields into your label.  On the right hand side of the Doc form it will show you the fields from the row 1 of your Sheets file.  

As you choose your topics it will place them into the box of the Doc file.  

Blank box

Filled in box.

Once you have your label set up the way that you wish, you are now ready to merge the two files into one.

It will give suggestions about merging and opening a new Document.

 Opens new file that it the program names as the type of label, it is strongly suggested to rename so prior labels aren't overwritten when creating new files.

Education Applications:  

This would be a great tool to use for classroom organization.  After receiving login information for students for different programs, generate labels to have them put in their interactive notebooks for easy access.  Sending out positive parent letters can be quite time consuming when you need to constantly make labels or look up addresses.  Create labels at the beginning of the year and use the labels as a reminder to who you haven't reached out to because their label is still there.

QuickRubric

QuickRubric is a free tool for creating rubrics.  It is a resource designed by Photos for Class and Storyboard That.  Creating a login is quick and easy, and allows you to save your rubrics for future editing and use.  

Quick Rubric gives you the power to create a rubric that is tailored to your subject and point/scoring system.  You have the ability to use the quantity of descriptors you need for the assignment and it will use the exact language you specify.    The best part is that you can copy rubrics within your login and then modify for your next project.  Thus it helps you to not have to start from scratch when creating a new assignment rubric.

Quick Rubric even gives helpful hints on how to design a better rubric by using bullets, italics, and bold markings.  This is located in the Advanced Formatting at the bottom of the website. Check out their information for Tips for Writing a Strong Rubric.

Applications in Education

Even though the language of the rubric may not naturally flow into the rubric, it will make it easier to create, save, edit, and print your rubrics once they are complete.   For all teachers, it is nice to have a tool that will format the rubric quickly and allow them to fine tune the document.

Pearltrees- organize all your interests

Pearltrees - Visually Organize and Share Collections of Files and Links

Pearltrees is a visual bookmarking extension that bookmarks your favorite websites in a format of squares and folders.

Pearltrees now allows you to organize collections of links, videos, images, and files. The Pearltrees browser extension allows you to quickly add content from a web page to your collections (bookmarking in a visual format). To combine folders or create sub-folders simply drag and drop one folder on top of another just like you do when making folders of apps on an iPad.

The extension also works on your iPad the same way in your web browser by a free iPad app.

Itunes

The add button allows for your to add a collection, a website, note, pictures or files.

Once you have created a folder of great resources you are able to share in a variety of ways.

SMS Generator

SMS Generator

Have you ever wondered what a conversation between George Washington and Abe Lincoln might sound like?  What about if texting could happen between these two great leaders, what would their text look like?

Classtools.net has a great SMS Generator that is free to use and allows students to it without logging in or setting up an account.

Using the two side buttons for conversations, students can create a dialogue that could be happening between two famous individuals.  

When they have completed the dialogue, they simply click the save button. They will give it a unique password and a unique url will be created for their SMS message.

The students can also create a QR Code, Embed Code, or a Web Shortcut by using the at the bottom.  Simply by clicking from the menu as to what is desired and then it generates these for future use, 

Application uses within the History or English classroom:  Pair students together to create a dialogue between two famous individuals, either from a common event or from two different events.  The conversation could be as long or short as necessary.  The students save their file and then create a QR Code.  The teacher would print out the QR Codes and hang them around the room.  The class would then complete a gallery walk with their own devices to scan the QR codes and try to guess who the two members of the conversation might be.

Application use in Math and Science classroom:  Have students in either pairs or individually create a conversation between a math skill or science term with a student.  Have the skill or term try to explain itself without saying its name.  Such as, explaining  how to use order of operations.  Create the QR Code and then combine all of the codes into a webpage or flipbook that students could use for review or reteach.

EDpuzzle

edpuzzle.com

EdPuzzle allows you to add your voice and questions to educational videos. On EdPuzzle you can search for educational videos from multiple resources. Once you've found a video you can insert your own voice comments or create a series of questions to go along with your chosen video. Questions are inserted along a timeline that matches the video.  Your students don't have to wait until the end of a video in order to answer the questions. They can answer questions while fresh in their minds.

 You can provide students with a private classroom code for access.

Step 1:

• Crop the video, use only what you need for your lesson. 
• Record your voice on top of it to explain it in your own personal way, add clarifications, an introduction, give examples, you name it.
• Add questions along the video and check if your students truly understand the lesson.

Step 2:

• Assign it to your class/classes and let your students watch the video and answer the questions.

Step 3:

• Get meaningful data and insights about your students while they watch the video lesson or after they have completed it as homework. See at a glance how they are answering the quizzes and where in the video they are struggling to understand the concepts.

PROJECT BASED LEARNING

Let your students learn by doing. Enable your students to find the proper video and use EDpuzzle editing tools. Increase creativity and understanding by letting them explain the lesson.

Teachers can decide if they want to prevent skipping in their assignments. You know what is best for your students.

Uses in the classroom:

* interactive

* students are engaged

* formative assessment data

* students hear own teachers voice and explanations

* multiple choice quizzes

* problem solving skills

* teacher can identify student who are struggling

* teachers and student can check for understanding