Tools & Resources
A curated list of tools and resources that can be implemented into the classroom. Click each pictures to visit the tools.
Toy Theater
This is a resource of virtual manipulatives, including fraction strips, base ten blocks, clock work, and protractors. This is a great resource, especially for virtual learning, but also a way to increase equity in the tools that we are able to provide for our students, as it is a free website. Although helpful for certain scholars, some students who prefer physically touching manipulatives may not find this website as beneficial.
Google Jamboard
Google Jamboard is a collaborative and interactive virtual whiteboard. It includes drawing tools, shapes, images, and sticky notes. This tool would be great for annotating, creating a collaborative brain dump, or virtual getting-to-know-you games. You can find various templates to use, or create your own. It is simple to use, free, and is connected through Google Suite, so a Google Account is a must-have. It does not have many tools, which can be seen as an affordance and a constraint.
Classkick
Classkick is a virtual assignment platform in which teachers can see students working in real time and provide feedback to students in a timely manner. Affordances include that is is a free software, although there is a paid version It also has a wide array of tools that students can use including adding drawings, pictures, movable manipulatives, and answer checking submission boxes for assessments. Constraints include the subsciption for ClasskickPro, issues with connectivity, and problems for students with visual impairments.
Canva
Canva is a free online graphic design tool in which users can create posters, presentations, videos, and more. Affordances of Canva include hundreds of easy to use customizable templates, a free version, easily accessible user-interface, and ability to print straight from Canva's website. Although there is a free version, there is also a paid version that unlocks various templates, graphics, images, fonts, and more. The user-interface is easily accessible, but with the amount of tools, users may become overwhelmed.
Flip (Formally FlipGrid)
Flip is a video discussion tool that allows teachers to post topics and ask students to reply with video messages. Affordances include that students can show their learning in a new way, teachers can moderate who sees the videos, who can comment on each video, and who can "react" to videos. Constraints include the user interface is a little confusing to use, if you moderate the video, you can either set the settings to show that no one, including the creator, can see the video, or that everyone can see the video.
Smore
Smore is a website for creating and sharing newsletters, infographics, and flyers. There is a free version and a paid version. Affordances include that flyers can either be shared virtually or through print, the website is intuitive and easy to use, and the scrolling feature allows you to create newsletters that are longer than a page but seamlessly scroll through. Constraints include that with the free version, you are only allowed a certain number of items made and there are not many attractive templates to use.