101 Recommended Educational Web Tools | by Jeff Dunn

101 Recommended Educational Web Tools

Added by Jeff Dunn on 2013-04-17

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Classrooms are fundamentally changing right now. You may not see it or even feel like it’s happening anytime soon. But the simple amount of web tools out there designed to genuinely improve education is astounding. With so many tools, it’s hard not to feel like technology is banging on education’s door louder and louder. In an effort to showcase some of the best web tools for teachers, many people put together lists, slideshows, and presentations detailing what they think are the most important or best.
This presentation from Eric Schreefel at GoEdOnline is one of the most robust and useful lists around. I clicked through all 101 web tools for teachers and found at least a dozen I had never heard of. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad … but I love learning new stuff so I’m going with the ‘glass is half full’ mentality here.

And Now, The Best Educational Web Tools:

1. Poll Everywhere
An inexpensive and quick alternative for clicker response systems. Create your first poll in 30seconds without having to sign up.
2. Animoto
Use Animoto to easily create presentations and videos with your own images and music, or choose from a library of stock files.
3. Edmodo
Edmodo is a social network that you set up for your class. It looks like, feels like and smells like Facebook; however, it employs many safety precautions that keep students on task.
4. Edublogs
Create and manage your own teacher blog as well a s student blogs. You can customize designs and include videos, images and podcasts. Best of all, it’s safe and secure.
5. Wikispaces
With a free option for K-12 teachers, Wikispace sis a great tool for making custom webpages that your students can edit together.
6. Photobucket
Store and share your images and videos for free.It’s a handy tool for transferring files between your home and class computer.
7. Gizmoz
Animate a picture of yourself with Gizmoz’s avatar creation studio. Your students will get a kick out of it!
8. Screencast
Screencast is another media storage website.With a free account, you get 2GB of storage and2GB of bandwidth a month.
9. Celly
Celly is a free group text messaging program for schools with no user limit. It’s easy to start a group chat and create a class poll using text messages.
10. VoiceThread
VoiceThread’s group conversations are stored and shared in one place, from anywhere in the world.It allows you to create multimedia slideshows with images, videos and documents.
11. Twitter
Many teachers create a class Twitter account and use it as a way for students to contact them with questions about homework, due dates, and exams.
12. Dropbox
Dropbox isn’t specific to teachers, but it’s a very handy tool. I’ve spoken with many teachers who use it with their students to share documents, turn in homework, etc.
13. Flickr
Like Photobucket, Flickr is another free image hosting service that allows you to access your files from any computer with an internet connection.
14. WordPress
Create a class blog where you post links to helpful readings and give updates on assignments. It’s free to sign up and start a blog.
15. Prezi
Prezi is a really neat cloud-based presentation program that allows you to zoom in and out.
16. Google Docs
Create, share and collaboratively edit documents using a Google account. Google Docs is especially useful for group projects where students are working together on an assignment.
17. Google Earth
Google Earth puts the planet’s geographic information at your fingertips and can be utilized in a variety of educational activities.
18. YouTube
Recently, YouTube launched an education-specific version of the website called YouTube for Teachers.
19. Google Calendar
Google Calendar is great for planning lessons, exams and keeping track of assignment due dates.
20. Evernote
Evernote allows you to take notes that are accessible from any of the computers, phones or tablets that you use.
21. Vimeo
Vimeo is kind of like YouTube in that it is a place for you to easily upload any kind of video you create—even high definition.
22. IMDb
Use IMDb, the internet movie database, to see if there are any movies that are relevant to the topic you’re teaching.
23. Teaching Channel
This website is a little bit like YouTube because you can watch streaming videos. However, it’s very different because each video shares teaching ideas and methods that can be implemented in a classroom.
24. Testmoz
Automatically generate free online tests using four different question types. You and your students don’t need to register, and you can build a fully functional test in about a minute.
25. Screencast-O-Matic
Screencast-O-Matic is an online screen recorder with a one-click recording feature. You can use it from your browser on either a Windows or Mac computer.
26. WeVideo
WeVideo is an online video editing program that you can use collaboratively with others. It is easy to add effects, music and narration to a personal or group project.
27. Quizlet
As one of the largest and most popular flashcard creation websites around, Quizlet allows students and teachers to customize their own “sets” of flashcards.
28. Dipity
With Dipity, you can find, create and embed interactive timelines. The best part is that you can add photos to customize the look of each timeline.
29. Yugma
Yugma instantly shares your desktop with a single student for free. Use it for providing extra after-school help to struggling students.
30. Fold3
This website is an online collection of historical military records. There are millions of images and documents that can be searched and annotated with additional information.
31. Gliffy
Create attractive and professional graphic organizers like Venn diagrams and flow charts.
32. Iconfinder
For the tech-savvy teachers out there, Iconfinder is a cool place to download free icons for your customized website or blog.
33. SlideShare
SlideShare is one of the most popular ways to upload and share PowerPoint presentations and other documents.
34. Quora
Quora is basically a wealth of the world’s information. The gist of it is that if you have a question, say about a topic in your homework, you log in and post it. There, people who follow that topic will answer.
35. Penzu
Penzu is home to what is probably the most realistic imitation of lined paper on the internet.This nifty online journal is accessible from any computer with the internet, so it’s great for writing prompts and class notes.
36. Make Beliefs Comix
Create your own comic strip for free. You can write in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Latin.
37. Forvo
Forvo is the world’s largest pronunciation dictionary. It’s very valuable for foreign language teachers.
38. Dictionary.com
Use Dictionary.com as a quick reference for words that your students don’t know.
39. Wallwisher
Wallwisher is basically an online message board where you post “Sticky Notes.” You can make one for yourself to help you remember important events and dates, or create one for your class.
40. Google Talk
An instant messaging program that only requires a Google account.
41. Google Sites
Google Sites is a free and easy way to create and share webpages and wikis.
42. Gmail
Gmail is one of the most versatile free email programs out there. It’s really easy to use and you can access it from any computer with an internet connection.
43. TeacherTube
TeacherTube is exactly what it sounds like—YouTube for teachers.
44. Dabbleboard
Dabbleboard is an online whiteboard drawing interface that allows you to collaborate and share your work with an unlimited number of users.
45. Podomatic
Create and upload your own podcast or find a variety of free podcasts on Podomatic.
46. Diigo
Use Diigo to highlight text and images on webpages that you’ve found and then access them at a later date from your Diigo account.
47. Zamzar
Zamzar is a free online file conversion service. It’s super easy to use and all you have to do is upload your file and enter in an email for the converted file to be sent to.
48. Scribd
Scribd is a web 2.0 document sharing site where you can upload, store and embed various types of files.
49. BibMe
BibMe might be the easiest way to create a works cited page. You can search for a book, article, website or film and it automatically generates the information for you.
50. MediaFire
MediaFire is a free file and image hosting website.It is nice because you can upload and download your documents from any computer with an internet connection.
51. Google Bookmarks
Keep track of websites that you’ve visited and searchable notes to them.
52. Create-a-Graph
Use Create-a-Graph to make attractive graphs for free. Choose from bar, line, area, pie and simple XY coordinate graphs.
53. Remember the Milk
Remember the Milk is a free online to-do list and task manager. It’s cool because you can use it from a number of different platforms including Gmail, Twitter, iPad, iPhone, Android, and more.
54. ClassMarker
ClassMarker is an online quiz and test creation website. As an educator, you get 100 free tests taken (and graded!) per month.
55. Bubbl.us
Use Bubbl.us to create colorful online mind maps.It’s great for class discussions and brainstorming sessions.
56. Meebo Messenger
With Meebo, you can chat with students on different instant messaging platforms without having to download or use that specific platform yourself.
57. Blabberize
Blabberize is a fun web 2.0 tool that allows you to upload a picture (of a person or animal), select its mouth, and make it talk by adding an audio file.
58. Primary Pad
PrimaryPad is an online word processor that allows students and teachers to work together in real-time.
59. EasyBib
Use EasyBib to automatically generate works cited and bibliography information for academic papers using MLA, APA and Chicago/Turabian citation styles.
60. Crocodoc
Upload and display documents in your browser without Flash or any plugins and then use the Crocodoc tools to write comments, edit and highlight.
61. Sharendipity
Customize, create and share your own educational games with Sharendipity. You don’t need any programming skills to get started. Just choose one of several game templates or start from scratch.
62. TypeIt
TypeIt is handy for foreign language teachers and students. Use it to easily type accents and diacritics online without a language-specific keyboard.
63. TubeChop
If you want to show a YouTube video in class that isn’t entirely appropriate or relevant, use Tubechop to cut out all of the excess and only keep what you want to show.
64. Mindomo
Mindomo is another online mind mapping tool.It’s neat because you can collaborate in real-time with others and share/embed what you’ve created.
65. 4shared
Enjoy 10GB of free file storage at 4shared. Since everything is stored in the cloud, you can access it from any computer with an internet connection.
66. bitly
If you tend to provide your students with a lot of links to online readings, activities, etc., you should look into using bitly’s link shortening service.
67. Creative Commons Search
Easily find images and files that can be freely used for worksheets, presentations and more with the Creative Commons Search.
68. Certificate Street
Select the award template you want from the list of categories. Then download it, fill it out and print! Premium templates without a watermark are available for a small fee.
69. youconvertit
youconvertit is a good online conversion website that allows you to convert and send files up to100MB. You also enjoy 200MB of free storage.
70. Block Posters
Upload a large image to Block Posters and create any size wall poster you want for free!
71. AuthorSTREAM
AuthorSTREAM is another one of many websites that allow you to upload a PowerPoint presentation and access it from any computer with an internet connection.
72. Screenr
Screenr is one of the best instant screencast tools available. It’s free and you can record on your PC or Mac, play it anywhere—even on your iPhone.
73. SurveyMonkey
Create and publish your own online survey or quiz in minutes. You can make 10-question surveys with 100 respondents for free.
74. Tricider
Tricider is great for online brainstorming and voting and can be used to gather feedback from your students on class projects and awards.
75. Tagxedo
Tagxedo is an awesome word cloud creation tool.You can turn customized text, websites, blogs, twitter accounts and more into stunning designs based on the frequency of words found in the medium.
76. dotSUB
dotSUB is especially useful for foreign language teachers. Use it to watch videos with subtitles inthe target language, or upload your own video and create your own subtitles.
77. Khan Academy
With over 2,600 videos ranging from arithmetic to history, Khan Academy is a great tool for reviewing a subject that you’ve already taught.
78. SchoolTube
SchoolTube is a moderated video sharing website for K-12 students and teachers. Find videos on everything from anime to zoology.
79. Wikipedia
While some argue that Wikipedia isn’t the most academic place to go for information, it’s a fantastic reference for quick facts and getting on the right track.
80. Appolicious
If you have a BYOD (bring your own device) policy at your school, you can use Appolicious to find a mobile app that fits your lesson plans.
81. Engrade
Engrade has thousands of members who utilize its free grade book, messaging, homework calendar, quizzes, attendance tracker and more.It’s one of my favorite web 2.0 tools.
82. Cramberry
Use Cramberry to create, study and share your flashcards online. You can download the Cramberry app on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad to access your flashcards on-the-go.
83. Writeboard
Writeboard allows you to create sharable, web-based text documents that let you save and view every version of your content. It can be used as an individual or collaboratively which makes it perfect for group assignments.
84. Teacher Planet
Teacher Planet has hundreds of downloadable templates for lesson plans, rubrics and more.
85. Convert pdf to word
This nifty website allows you to turn static PDF pages into editable Microsoft Word documents.
86. Online Stopwatch
Online Stopwatch is a web-based stopwatch that is easy to display on an interactive whiteboard and can count up or down. Use it for timed exams, essays, and standardized tests.
87. Hootsuite
If you use social media to communicate with your students about homework assignment due dates, projects, etc., then you should give Hootsuite a try. Use it to schedule message reminders ahead of time so that you don’t risk forgetting, too.
88. Microsoft Worldwide Telescope
Microsoft Worldwide Telescope allows your computer to act as a virtual telescope by bringing together images from the most advanced telescopes around the world.
89. Poll Daddy
With a free account, you can create online surveys and quizzes with up to 10 questions.
90. Zoomerang
Use Zoomerang to create an unlimited number of online surveys and polls that can be answered via email, Facebook, Twitter or your website. Quizzes with up to 10 questions and 100 responses are free.
91. Disapainted
Animate basic web-based paint drawings with Disapainted. It’s a cool way to give life to a simple concept and, since it’s online, it’s even easier to project onto your interactive whiteboard.
92. Grammarly
Share Grammarly with your students because it’s a user friendly way to improve a paper. Simply copy and paste text into the box and click “check text.”
93. Live Binders
Live Binders is a cool online storage and organization tool. You can use it to create tabs for your important documents.
94. Cueprompter
Copy and paste your script into the box and it displays just like a real teleprompter. Plus, it’s free to use.
95. Twiddla
Twiddla is a web-conferencing service that is great for helping students out after school. You can mark up graphics and websites, use it to brainstorm and more. It even has a few other nifty features that are free, including voice chat.
96. YouSendIt
YouSendIt is an online service that allows you to upload and send large files via email. Use it to send documents to colleagues.
97. Socrative
This web 2.0 tool uses cell phones and/or laptops to gather feedback from students. You can post asmany questions as you’d like, which is nice if youhave several classes.
98. Memplai
Create videos in collaboration with your social network. The online video editing tools are useful if you don’t already have video editing softwareon your computer.
99. Wordle
Create beautiful word clouds from text that you provide. Like Tagxedo, it gives prominence to words that appear most frequently. You cansave, print and share your creation.
100. Zotero
Zotero is a neat tool that helps you collect, organize, cite and share research that you have done. You can add PDFs, images, audio and video files, snapshots of web pages and more. It indexes the full-text content of your library, allowing you to quickly find what you’re looking for.
101.GoEd Online
There’s no other website in the world where teachers can rent streaming educational videos or download eBooks, PowerPoint presentations and interactive games all in one place.Do me a favor and check it out.

101 Recommended Educational Web Tools | Edudemic