EdTech Alternatives

Flashcards

Once considered a rather old-fashioned classroom tool, flashcards have had something of a resurgence lately thanks to a wealth of brilliant online versions. Try using a simple site like Quizlet, which allows you to create teaching aids quickly, easily, and for free!

HOW IT GOES THE EXTRA MILE COMPARED TO THE NON-EDTECH VERSION:

The site includes visual and auditory features to add to flashcards, and also lets users access flashcard sets created by others teaching similar topics and age groups around the world!

 

Pop Quizzes

Pop QuizzesFifty Sneakers, (formerly Quizinator) is a fantastic site for teachers to create online quizzes for any age and ability, on any topic. The free site allows you to build exams, worksheets and quizzes as either printable documents or online tests, with the option of automated online grading also included. Or try Quiz Library, an online collection of quizzes on a vast range of different topics all ready to use!

HOW IT GOES THE EXTRA MILE COMPARED TO THE NON-EDTECH VERSION:

An extra nifty feature enables teachers to track student scores and performance!

 

Storytelling

An integral part of education for centuries, storytelling has had an inspiring EdTech makeover in recent years. Try using a great tool like Go Animate to let students’ imaginations run wild as they tell their stories by creating free videos quickly and easily!

HOW IT GOES THE EXTRA MILE COMPARED TO THE NON-EDTECH VERSION:

Community and forum pages allow you to view other popular videos and get crafty ideas from other animators!

 

Newspaper articles

Newspaper articles

Instead of the traditional task of writing a newspaper article, have students create one virtually, using the fantastic tools at Fodey.com. Incredibly simple to use and free, students just have to choose a name for their newspaper, pick a headline, insert the date and type up their story. The program does the rest, automatically generating a realistic-looking front-page story!

HOW IT GOES THE EXTRA MILE COMPARED TO THE NON-EDTECH VERSION:

Simply click to download your creation and print it off to share!

 

Drawing

Whether they’re being created as works of art in their own right or as illustrations for a story or project, spice up your students’ drawings with Canvastic, a user-friendly online tool that enables them to create colourful, complex art. Best of all, their creations can be saved or printed off directly.

HOW IT GOES THE EXTRA MILE COMPARED TO THE NON-EDTECH VERSION:

Students can create multiple images and then press ‘play’ to flick through them, creating a stop-frame animation like a flick book!

 

Are there any great EdTech alternatives you have used to put a modern spin on traditional teaching? Or any tools you think will replace age old methods? Let us know in the comments and share your ideas!

 

1st image courtesy of Flickr, susivinh. 2nd image courtesy of Flickr, albertogp123. 3rd image courtesy of Flickr, foxypar4

2 Comments

  1. Fifty sneakers is definitely recommended for teachers especially those that aim for their class to be more interactive and engaged. Learning is fun and all these apps and online tools help to create diversity to stimulate the mind for creativity and develop problem-solving skills.

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