Educ560

Through out this semester, we were introduced to some new interesting applications, websites and programs that would help us benefit from technology in our classes as well as engaging our students in the teaching- learning process. What I'm talking about is found in the list below:





Publisher: 

This application can be very useful for teachers especially if they are willing to create posters, newsletters or even business cards. It serves the teachers a lot in their daily lives because of its templates that would simplify tasks and make them achievable in a less amount of time.










Google Drive: 

Since I was introduced to google drive in the Edit250 course I've been relying on it a lot because I found it really safe and easy to use. Also, I liked that it has no limits, one can keep many files in it that can be reached in a click. Being able to share documents or files with others and controlling what others can do with them is really interesting, beneficial and useful.

Google Forms:
Having results immediately after testing students without the difficult of correcting the exams is every teachers' dream. Google forms is such an interesting way of assessment that is time saver for both students and teachers. Although it has some short comes it is still a beneficial website.










References on word: 

Microsoft word has proved that it’s a vital application in the lives of everyone: students, teachers and researchers. The reference list saves time and effort where we can add the citation in a click and everything just appears in the correct form.

Webinars:
Before knowing about Webinars, I used to search for Ted Talks that are related to education and would benefit me. Having the opportunity to attend online webinars is something I liked because we can get answers to our questions that may pop while listening to the speaker. Another thing I liked about Webinars is that every week you get an email about the upcoming Webinars; in this way, we'll be updated by the topics and would choose easily.









Blogs:
Because we are all hooked up in the social media life, blogs are really essential for us. From that time that we were introduced to blogs in, I searched for some that are related to my major, Early Childhood Education, and I have been benefiting a lot from the shared posts about strategies and ways to reach young children.










Activinspire:
Activinspire is a learning program used to prepare interactive lessons where students can be easily engaged and motivated to learn from. The program has many tools that would help teachers be creative while designing their lessons in addition to the rich resources that contain wonderful various activities for different purposes and age groups.







Web-Quest:
It is really interesting that using web-quests students learn by themselves through out completing tasks. It is safe because the teacher provides all of the resources that the students need and would check. It is also engaging because students don't feel pressured while completing the tasks 


Zoom:
Who said that classes should be cancelled if an emergency happened and the teacher couldn't get to the class? Zoom is the solution if the lesson is important and the circumstances don't help. It is an application that engages both the presenter and the audience in a video call; it has many features the help the presenter explain their topics on the wall.      

Padlet:
Teachers always ask for the students' opinions during different lessons so why not use a more interesting way? Padlet is a space where teachers can ask students about their opinions and have responses published on the wall. It can be used for book reviews, topic summary, asking questions or sharing opinions. In addition to that, it can be used as an ice-breaking activity as we did in Edit250: the teacher asked us to introduce ourselves for our friends; in this way we knew each others' names and the major of every one.




Poll everywhere:
Pollev allows students to answer online on teachers' questions using mobile phones or web browsers. Using pollev students can predict what would happen next in the story, share opinions, check new decisions and checking their understanding or notifying they've finished the work.









Rubistar:
 Preparing a rubric is something every teacher needs to do in her life; RubiStar is very interesting, beneficial and time saving website where rubrics can be done easily in small amounts of time. I'm sure I'll be using this website a lot in my future career as a teacher.

Bitly:
 So many times we try to remember important links; this can't be done when the link is very long and contains so many symbols and numbers. Bitly is the solution for our problem where it shortens the links.   




Quizlet:

 As an English teacher I'll be defining terms constantly; and because students get bored from memorizing vocab words and different terms, we have Quizlet. Quizlet is a place where everyone can share knowledge in any subject, at any level and gain confidence as a learner. This application gives the teachers an opportunity to engage their students in an enjoyable tests and games related to sets based on the teacher's objectives and under her control.

Kahoot:
Who doesn't love games? Kahoot is a game-based learning space, it is available for teachers with ready lessons or custom made ones. Students can play, learn, have fun and celebrate together while accessing it.






Mind Map: 
Before starting with lessons, most of the times teachers need to know their students schema in order to build on them if the concept they want to talk about wasn't found in their schema. Mind maps is a very beneficial website which can be used to illustrate a concept or share ideas; it is interesting that all students can share their ideas at the same time and can view others' ideas. Mind maps can be used in reading, writing, speaking, grammar, vocabulary and in other different skills.