Welcome to Tech Tools for Teachers, the podcast that brings you free tools that you can use in your classroom! This week, we're exploring Figma and FigJam, two design platforms that can take your classroom discussions to the next level.

Do you ever wonder if your students are truly engaged in deep conversations or just nodding along? Figma Design can help. This cloud-based design platform allows older students to learn graphic design, illustration, and software prototypes while working collaboratively on design projects. From logos to prototypes, there are all kinds of design tools available to make your classroom assignments more creative.

But that's not all. FigJam is another platform that can be used in most classrooms. This brainstorming and diagramming space is perfect for planning discussions and assignments. It includes fun tools like emojis, Post-it type notes, and Washi tape that make it easy for students to express their ideas and brainstorm together. The best part? Several people can work on the same project simultaneously, making it ideal for group assignments.

So join us this week as we explore Figma Design and FigJam, two innovative tools that can help your students express their ideas and engage in deep conversations. With endless possibilities, you won't want to miss it!

• Figma Design
• FigJam

Find all of the tools we've discussed in the EdTech Directory:

https://smartinwi.com/edtech-directory/

Get in touch:

https://smartinwi.com

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©2018-2023 Snoring Dog Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

In this week's episode, we explore two tech tools that can help students practice their decision-making and argument-writing skills. The first tool is Quandary, a game-based website that challenges students to make decisions for a future community based on information presented in a graphic novel format. Students will need to use fact versus opinion to make the best decisions for the community. The second tool is ProCon.org, a nonpartisan site that presents both sides of various topics. Students can choose a topic of interest and explore the pros and cons as presented by researchers and professionals in the field. This site is recommended for older students due to the range of topics available. If you're looking for ways to help your students develop their decision-making and argument-writing skills, these tech tools are a great place to start.

• ProCon.org - Pros and Cons of 100+ Topics
• Quandary

Find all of the tools we've discussed in the EdTech Directory:

https://smartinwi.com/edtech-directory/

Get in touch:

https://smartinwi.com

https://www.twitter.com/smartinwi

https://www.threads.net/@smartinwi

https://www.facebook.com/smartinwi

[email protected]

©2018-2023 Snoring Dog Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

In this episode of Tech Tools for Teachers, Knight Lab presents two helpful websites for students to share their data in an interactive and visual way. The first website, Storyline JS, enables students to upload their data and explain the story behind it. The visual representation of the data displays the growth and decline of the data, allowing students to explain the reasoning behind each point. This tool is useful for student reports and presentations. The second website, Timeline JS, allows students to create timelines with images and information. This tool is great for a variety of classes and is a great way to demonstrate learning.

• Timeline JS
• Storyline JS

Find all of the tools we've discussed in the EdTech Directory:

https://smartinwi.com/edtech-directory/

Get in touch:

https://smartinwi.com

https://www.twitter.com/smartinwi

https://www.threads.net/@smartinwi

https://www.facebook.com/smartinwi

[email protected]

©2018-2023 Snoring Dog Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Join us this week as we explore the power of mathematical thinking and introduce you to an incredible resource that can be incorporated into any classroom. NRICH, created by the University of Cambridge, is a website designed to encourage mathematical thinking for students of all ages, from primary to post-secondary. With featured problems, activities, games, and news, as well as resources for teachers, NRICH offers a wealth of opportunities to build mathematical thinking into your daily routine. Whether you're a math teacher or not, you won't want to miss this episode as we delve into the world of NRICH and its many offerings, including online activities, printables, and supplies lists for hands-on learning experiences.

• NRICH - Mathematics Resources for Teachers, Parents and Students to Enrich Learning

Find all of the tools we've discussed in the EdTech Directory:

https://smartinwi.com/edtech-directory/

Get in touch:

https://smartinwi.com

https://www.twitter.com/smartinwi

https://www.threads.net/@smartinwi

https://www.facebook.com/smartinwi

[email protected]

©2018-2023 Snoring Dog Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

This week's episode of Tech Tools for Teachers focuses on two online encyclopedia resources that can help students with their research: DK Find Out! and Fact Monster. DK Find Out! is a visually-friendly site for younger students with tons of visuals, videos, quizzes, and fun facts all in one place. Fact Monster is a comprehensive site with information on various topics, making it more suitable for upper elementary or middle school students. The site has fewer images and more ads, but students have access to games that are age-appropriate and might be great for free time. These online resources are a great alternative to traditional hardcover encyclopedias and a perfect tool for student-driven inquiry.

Weather or not you are a Science teacher, the sites we discuss today are great resources for all students! 🌞 This week, we chat about two great weather sites that can be incorporated into any elementary or middle school classroom—Weather Wiz Kids and SnowCrystals.com. They have great resources and are super interesting to dig into. So hopefully, you find something enlightening for your classroom!

It's recess time! I am excited to share this week's tool because it is super easy and fun to use in any classroom! RoomRecess.com is a website that offers a wide range of activities and resources for K-6 education.

So if you need some indoor recess activities or just fun ways to review content, we have a fun tool for you!

Have a great week everyone!

• RoomRecess | Free Learning Games for Kids Online

Find all of the tools we've discussed in the EdTech Directory:

https://smartinwi.com/edtech-directory/

Get in touch:

https://smartinwi.com

https://www.twitter.com/smartinwi

https://www.threads.net/@smartinwi

https://www.facebook.com/smartinwi

[email protected]

©2018-2023 Snoring Dog Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Here on the Tech Tools for Teachers Podcast, we love FREE resources. And one free resource for teachers that is in every state is PBS - the Public Broadcasting System! What is also great is that PBS offers different resources from each state so you can find all kinds of information for your students. And... here's a little tip... you can access other state's PBS content even if you don't live there—or even if you don't live in the US! 🤫.

This week we are chatting about a great science resource called Meet the Lab from PBS Wisconsin.

• Meet the Lab

Find all of the tools we've discussed in the EdTech Directory:

https://smartinwi.com/edtech-directory/

Get in touch:

https://smartinwi.com

https://www.twitter.com/smartinwi

https://www.threads.net/@smartinwi

https://www.facebook.com/smartinwi

[email protected]

©2018-2023 Snoring Dog Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

If you haven't heard about it already, OpenAI's ChatGPT and Dall-E 2 programs are taking the world by storm. ChatGPT is an AI writing program that will write essentially whatever you'd like it to based on prompts that you input into the chat box. Dall-E 2 will create AI-generated images based on whatever prompts you tell it (within their terms of service).

Aside from the obvious implications with students using these tools to get around doing the actual work, there are some cool ways that you can use these tools as a teacher to help support your students.

• OpenAI
• DALL·E 2
• ChatGPT

Find all of the tools we've discussed in the EdTech Directory:

https://smartinwi.com/edtech-directory/

Get in touch:

https://smartinwi.com

https://www.twitter.com/smartinwi

https://www.threads.net/@smartinwi

https://www.facebook.com/smartinwi

[email protected]

©2018-2023 Snoring Dog Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

This week's site will keep your students busy creating and designing for hours! (If you need to keep them busy for a while.) 😉

Vectary is a cloud-based 3D design site that runs in the cloud! That means you don't need to download anything... and it works on Chromebooks!

• Vectary - Create 3D interactive experiences for Web, Augmented Reality and Metaverse

Find all of the tools we've discussed in the EdTech Directory:

https://smartinwi.com/edtech-directory/

Get in touch:

https://smartinwi.com

https://www.twitter.com/smartinwi

https://www.threads.net/@smartinwi

https://www.facebook.com/smartinwi

[email protected]

©2018-2023 Snoring Dog Media, LLC. All rights reserved.