Flippity

Flippity.net has several wonderful tools that can be used by teachers and students along with their Google account.  If you can enter information into a Google sheet, you can utilize all of the resources at Flippity.net.  Each tool includes FREE instructions along with a FREE demo and template doc.  Look for the following options found under each tool along the right side of the webpage:

The template docs force the user to create a COPY:

Flippity Random Name Picker

The random name picker can be so valuable in quickly selecting students for classroom jobs, checking for understanding, and answering questions.  In addition, the tool can quickly create groups based on number of students per group or groups per class.

 

Click the template link found under Flippity Random Name Picker to begin.  Replace the fake names with the preferred names.

Continue to follow the instructions.

Flippity Quiz Show

The quiz show acts very similar to a Jeopardy game board.

The tool allows for images and helps in keeping score by adding or subtracting points based on the question location on the board.  Simply click the check for correct answers or the X for wrong answers and points will be awarded to the appropriate team:

Follow the instructions here to create your own quiz game using the Flippity.net template.  

Flippity Certificate Quiz

The certificate quiz can be used to create a student-paced quiz that earns a certificate for mastery.  Simply use the template provided to enter in questions and answer choices of your own.  In addition, images can be added to both questions and answers.  YouTube video links can also be added to questions.  See instructions here.

Flippity Progress Indicator

The progress indicator is a fantastic tool to track student progress.  The template offers a few ideas, such as pages read, miles ran, books completed, or questions answered.  The progress indicator could be used along with student goals throughout the year.  Like the other Flippity.net resources, excellent directions and a template to get you started can be found on the website.

Flippity Flashcards

The flashcards tool can create an effective study tool for students.  Simply copy the template found at Flippity.net, modify the spreadsheet cells to match your content area, and follow the instructions for publishing a link for your students.  In addition to flashcards, students can view a list of questions and answers, visit a auto-generated word cloud, and print a quiz over the material.

Visit the Flippity.net FAQ page to find out more.

Verso

Verso is a free online delivery method for flipped content.  In addition, teachers can gather feedback very easily using Verso.  The unique feature found in Verso is the anonymity of the writing and feedback.  Although the teacher can view who writes what, students cannot.  So, students can view and respond to each other's writing in a safe and anonymous class environment. 

Teachers and students can use their Google account to login.  Students must provide a username, password, and class code to connect with their teacher's class:

After logging in, teachers can create an ACTIVITY consisting of files, links, and Google docs.

In addition, the teacher can specify the number of responses per student.

Embedded in the tool, are strategies to guide the teacher toward better questioning and deeper student learning.  See example here.

Get Verso for iOS

Get Verso for Android

Get Verso for Chrome

Edtech Podcasts Part 2

In December 2013, I wrote about listening to podcasts with the Stitcher app.  I am still enjoying the learning I glean through the edtech podcasts.  If you have not experimented with Stitcher, I want to strongly encourage you to try this tool for a quick and easy learning opportunity.  Several podcasts I've begun to follow:

The Google Educast

Truth for Teachers

TechEducator Podcast

Edtech You Should Know

To find a particular podcast or topic, click thebutton found in both the mobile app and the web app.  Experiment with different topics as the podcasts are easy to organize into station playlists by clicking the PLUS SIGN:

Team Shake

Available in the App Store | Available at Google Play Store

Team Shake can assist teachers with grouping students and also selecting individual students.  The $.99 app can be mastered in minutes.  The app opens with a default group.  To add students or members, tap the plus sign.

From the menu found in the lower, left corner, tap , then tap Save as New List or Rename List if working with a previously-saved list.

Tap the preferred amount of teams needed at the bottom of the screen.

Teams or groups can be made by shaking the device or tapping the Shake button.

To select a random player, tap the icon at the bottom of the screen.

Read more here.

Edshelf

Edshelf is a search tool for all things technology, teaching, and learning.

From the site, a student, teacher, or parent can search for many different resource types including mobile apps, desktop apps, Chrome apps, websites, or physical products.  The tool allows users to search by price, platform, subject, age, and category or a combination of these.

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Edshelf provides a page for each resource including helpful videos, features lists, reviews, support links, and pricing information.

Shelves can be made to bookmark resources. The shelves can then be shared in various formats including social media, lists including URLs, lists including QR codes, and widgets.

Seesaw

Seesaw - The Learning Journal is a digital portfolio solution that can be used with even the youngest of students.  Students utilize the camera feature on their iOS device to take photos of their work. They simply tap I'm a Student, scan a QR code with the app's built-in QR code scanner and select the appropriate option.

Students can add a recorded audio file, an annotated drawing over the photo or textbox straight from the app.  In addition, saved images from the camera roll, notes with or without recorded audio, and web links can be uploaded as well.

Students simply tap their name to add their item to their class journal.

Teachers can turn on a new items require approval option in their Manage Class settings window to approve all items uploaded by students.

Teachers and parents can view student work from the iOS app or the website. View this short video to see more.

Seesaw provides parents with a Seesaw Parent Access app (Available in the App Store and Google Play) to quickly view, comment, and like their student's work (if the teacher has allowed all of these features).

Parents can also turn on push notifications to instantly be notified of new uploaded work.

Pricing for additional parent features can be found here.