As a teacher, you are charged with a great responsibility: to equip the young people, the future of the world and the next generation. A lifetime ago, information was hard to find on anything. People did most things instinctively, superstitiously or based on their beliefs. However, in today’s age, information is everywhere. In fact, one can say that information is at our fingertips. All because of technological advancements.

Ecasey77 #worldgeochat, educational technology, Lists, technology, websites 22 thoughts on “ 10 Free Tech Tools & Websites Every Teacher Should Know About ” Pingback: 7 of the Best Ed Tech Tools for Your Classroom Future of Ed Tech Insiders. Spread the loveIf you are involved in education technology in any way, you must stay up to date on the latest news and trends. Educational technology is growing at immense speed – practically changing every day. The best place to find out quality information from trustworthy sources is in EdTech research journals. These journals publish articles by EdTech entrepreneurs and educators. The official blog of the International Society for Technology in Education, ISTE Connects offers a forum for discussion of ed-tech trends and the ways in which new tools are being leveraged in K–12 classrooms, and provides links to other social media resources for educators and technology leaders. The last few months have created opportunities for educators and developers of education technology to innovate. Students are learning to use digital tools to create things that would otherwise be done by hand, exploring the world virtually through maps and videos, and even inventing ways to stage group musical performances from a dozen tiny.

As such, the lives of many people have become so intertwined with technology. Therefore, a question arises about whether technology has a part it can play in classrooms? Can technology improve the education process or the learning environment of classrooms? The answer is yes. It has therefore become imperative for teachers to be conversant with EdTech tools and websites in order to be truly effective in passing down knowledge.

Reasons why teachers should embrace the use of EdTech tools and websites

• In a world where people make their living via technology or technological skills, it is vital for teachers to help students to understand how technology works and how it can help with their dreams and future.
• Teachers can use technology to encourage students to work together in teams. Since technology allows access to different people in different places, students can work together online without having to go to each other’s houses.
• Money can be saved on educational infrastructure and resources if educational technology is integrated heavily into the educational system.
• While some textbooks quickly go out of date because of new information, educational technology can be easily and quickly updated, unlike these textbooks which will have to be bought all over again.

The best free EdTech tools

1. LiveBinders

   LiveBinders is a great online resource that can help students to find materials that they might need for reading, assignments and homework without having to go to the library or asking their teachers for help. LiveBinders is also a great tool for teachers because it allows them to organize the materials they share based on the timeline and curriculum the classroom is following. As such, teachers can add new materials online after a topic has been covered in the classroom for students to study.

2. SpiderScribe

   Have you ever had that experience where you’re trying to think of an idea for your project or assignment and you just feel like pulling your hair out? SpiderScribe is the best tool to help teachers and students brainstorm about projects, assignments and papers. You can also add images which you can organize, connect or link together. If a student is having problems understanding something, SpiderScribe also helps to give ideas that they’ve written down in visual representation. Students and teachers can access one account so collaboration is also very possible for group work.

3. Project Gutenberg

   You can download textbooks, literature texts and audio books on almost every subject on Gutenberg as eBooks. With over 54,000 eBooks available for free download, students can easily find books for their assignments and projects and teachers can easily find teaching aids and eBooks that simplify topics.

4. RealWorldMath

   As the name implies, RealWorldMath brings mathematics to real life using Google Maps and SketchUp. Teachers can create interactive activities in 3D to engage students with interactive and digital representation of math problems and mathematical application. It is a great tool for making students realize that what they’re being taught is relevant to their lives.

5. Remind

   Remind is a great app that ensures that students, teachers and parents can communicate without the exchange of private information like phone numbers. With this application, teachers can send messages to parents and students alike of schedule changes, updates, reminders and important questions. And students and parents can also do the same.

The best free educational websites

1. Triptico

   Triptico is a great educational site that offers you a number of tools and resources to manage your students and engage them. The site offers a wide range of activities in form of tools, timers, selectors and quizzes which teachers can experiment with, to give their students the best learning experience.

2. SMMRY

   With SMMRY, you can get a summary of any text gotten from an eBook or web page. The tool is easy to use and all you have to do is copy the text to be summarized and paste into the empty text box on the page and hit the summarize button. You will get your summary in the exact number of sentences you specified when submitting the text for summary. SMMRY also has a bookmark widget with which you can summarize web pages without copying their text.

3. ViewPure

   This is the best site for teachers that seek to use YouTube videos to teach their students. Why? Because when you open a YouTube video, different types of ads popup which you may not want your students to see. But by pasting the video link on ViewPure, you get a purified ad and clutter-free video with which you can teach your students. You can also use the ViewPure widget to purify videos without even going to the ViewPure site.

4. Google Earth

   Google Earth is a great site to help teachers to teach students about different locations in the world. Teachers can also use Google Earth to explain difficult location-centered concepts and even historical or current global events.

5. Listenwise

   This is a tool that allows you to add audio components to your text set. This way your text set is dynamic with articles, images and audio. Listenwise has a variety of radio broadcasts on different topics which can be used to enhance learning. The link to audio recordings on the site can also be shared with students.

Conclusion

Technology is a great way to bring life to your classroom. It provides an exciting way in which you can engage your students and make them feel like they belong to something. It also prepares them for the technology they’re sure to meet later on in future.

Lilian Chifley is a writer and editor at Aussie Writings Service. She loves reading books about modern technologies, spending time with family and shopping. You can talk with her through Facebook.

The Instructional Technology program (EDIT) was founded to prepare instructional technology professionals:

• with the knowledge and skills in design, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of materials, processes, and resources to enhance learning in educational and business settings and
• who are committed to respecting diversity among people, and who ascribe to the highest of ethical standards and practice in the field of instructional technology.

Mission

EDIT prepares educators and instructional technology professionals to provide opportunities for growth to and contribution to the field and society through research and practice seek to Improve learning and performance.

Vision

EDIT vision is to become a learning instructional technology program through cutting-edge research, teaching, service. Graduates will serve as a change agent bringing in effective use of technology process and resources to address learning and performance needs in diverse settings.

Program Goals

The overall goals and objectives of the Educational Instructional Technology program embrace the 2008 definition of instructional technology endorsed by the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT).

Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources.

The goals for students in EDIT revolve around the following six broad areas of Instructional Technology.

1. Theories and models of instructional design;
2. Development of instructional materials through a variety of technologies based on theories and models of instructional design;
3. Utilization of processes and resources to promote learning;
4. Management of technologies, resources and development for instructional purposes;
5. Evaluation of programs, projects, and materials; and
6. Critical analysis of research, trends and issues related to the field of instructional technology.

While defined as six separate goals, these categories do not exist in isolation. A student taking a course with a heavy focus on any one goal would be exploring and utilizing knowledge and skills related to the other five categories.

Career Opportunities with this degree

The EDIT graduate programs prepare instructional technology professionals for leadership roles in public school and college level education, for training positions in business and industry, and for leadership roles in distance education.

Degrees Offered

1. Masters (M.Ed.) in Educational and Instructional Technology
   • The Master's Degree in Instructional Technology is offered completely online.
2. Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Educational and Instructional Technology
   • The Doctoral Degree in Instructional Technology is a offered on the TTU main campus with some courses offered online.
3. Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with Instructional Technology Specialization
   • The Doctoral Degree (on campus) in conjunction with Educational Psychology
   • Ph.D. Handbook (coming soon)
4. Graduate Certificate of E-Learning and Online Teaching
   • Five online courses focusing on effective teaching in an online environment

How to Apply

Application Steps

• Please follow the graduate application process at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/education/apply-now/graduate.php

Required Supplemental Application Materials

• M.Ed.: Resume, Applicant Statement, 2 Professional Recommendations. Download a comprehensive list of requirements.
• Ed.D.: Resume, Applicant Statement, Writing Sample, 3 Professional Recommendations, GRE Scores. Download a comprehensive list of requirements.

GRE Scores

• The Ed.D. program requires official GRE scores. Scores must no more than 5 years old at the time of application. Official GRE scores must be sent from Educational Testing Services (ETS) to the Texas Tech Graduate School. To register for the examination please visit the GRE Testing website. Texas Tech University's code is 6827.

• Due to the ongoing situation surrounding COVID-19, the Graduate School has temporarily changed its admission requirements regarding test scores. The GRE may optionally be submitted by applicants for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years. International applicants may use certain alternate exams in place of the TOEFL. Please visit the Graduate Admissions COVID-19 FAQ page for more information.

Semester in which the programs can be started

• Continuous enrollment, students may begin coursework during any semester.

Estimated Hours to Completion

• The master's degree consists of 36 hours of coursework.
• The Ed.D. consists of 93 hours of coursework.

Allowable Transfer Hours

• Master's - up to 6 hours, at the discretion of the advisor
• Doctorate - up to 30 hours, at the discretion of the advisor

Financial Aid

• Please find all financial aids and research assistantship at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/education/student-resources/graduate/

Tuition & Fees

• Use the Student Business Services Tuition Estimator to estimate your costs.

Contact

Brandi StephensAcademic AdvisorOffice of Graduate Admissions & Enrollmentbrandi.stephens@ttu.edu 806-834-4554

Inan, Fethi A., Ed.D.Professor; Ed.D. contact personEducational Psychology & Leadershipfethi.inan@ttu.edu 806-834-4743

Shin, Sungwon, Ph.D.Assistant Professor; M.Ed. contact personEducational Psychology & Leadershipsungwon.shin@ttu.edu (806) 834-6240

Ed Tech Blogsslcsd Educational Technology Resources Internships

EDIT Courses

• The EDIT course titles and descriptions are available in TTU Academic Catalog.

Ed Tech Blogsslcsd Educational Technology Resources Technology

Faculty