15 Most Important Beyond Basics for Me By: Jaime Munoz

Mobile Devices Devices such as tablets and smartphones can make software portable and accessible to teacher and students. Apps are developed to provide teachers resources to further teaching. Examples of apps include iTunes U, Groovy Grader, Plickers and can be assessable by a simple search on the app store.

Web and Cloud Tools Cloud computing is storage outside one’s own computer. It uses servers that are accessed online. Some of these tools provides more than just storage. Some allows editing and creation of documents. Popular example: Google Docs

Web Design Software Also known as Web page editors. Allows people to create Web pages where they can insert text, graphics, hypermedia links, and documents. Websites can be used as classroom sites that posts classroom news, activities, and resources. Examples include Adobe Dreamweaver, Microsoft WebMatrix, and Google Sites

Interactive Whiteboard Activity Software Interactive whiteboards allows information projected onto a screen to be manipulated with special pens or one’s hands. Interactive whiteboard activity software allows teacher to create lessons to use for their interactive whiteboards. Examples include Smart Board Notebook, ActivStudio, and Activinspire

Worksheet and Puzzle Generators Worksheet generator help produce exercises for practice. Puzzle generators help create and format crosswords, word search puzzles, and other game-like activities. Generators prompts the teacher to enter questions and content. Common uses for these creations include practice for skills, comprehension exercises, and exercises for review. Examples include Crossword Puzzle Maker, Worksheet Works, and Quia Web

IEP Generators Allows teachers to create IEP for special education students. Provides on-screen prompts that helps fill out the required components in the plan. Program will print out the document in a standard format. Examples include IEP Online, EasyIEP, IEP Planet, and IEP4U

Database Software Allows user to store, organize, and manipulate information Allows people to locate information through keyword searches. Can be used to store student records. Examples include FileMaker, Quickbase, and Microsoft Access

Online Survey Tools Allows people to design and implement their own survey and questionnaires Can be used for student polling, generating data, and teaching survey design and other math concepts. Tools provide variety of item formats, summaries of results, instant tracking, and files for download regarding data. Examples include SurveyMonkey and Zoomerange

Student Response Systems Permits each student or participant in a classroom to answer a question simultaneously and permits the teacher to see and display a summary of results. Software may be provided with a textbook or can be found online. Some software may utilize things like tablets and smartphones Examples include Student Response Solutions, Smart Response, ActiVote, ActivExpression, ActivEngage, and iRespond.

Test Generators Test Generators allows teachers to create and enter questions in order to create an assessment. Features may vary, but some common features include different formats questions (fill in the blank, true/false, matching, short answer, essay), random generation of questions, selection of question based on criteria, answer keys, test item banks. Examples include Exam View Learning Series, Test Creator, Wondershare QuizCreator, EasyTestMaker

Computer-based Testing Systems Allows students to take tests on-screen or to put test answers on scanned bubble sheets. Provides reports on performance data. Examples include ExamBuilder, Easy Test, ComputerTest 2.0.

Charting and Graphing Tools Automatically draw and paint charts or graphs from data entered by users. Useful for those that find it difficult to draw charts and graphs freehand. Allows students to focus on the meaning of the data and what it represents Examples include SmartDraw and The Graph Club 2.0

Lesson Plan Software Helps develop and document descriptions of lessons. Most are online and provide on-screen prompts for specific lesson components Allows for printing in standard formats Examples include PlanbookEdu, ILessonPlan, MyLessonPlanner

Scheduling, Calendar, and Time Management Tools Help teachers organize their time and plan their activities. Schedule makers help formulate plans for daily, weekly, or monthly events. Calendar makers print graphic calendars for chosen months or years with planned events. Time Management tools help remind users of events. Teachers can enter activities and the dates on which they are to occur. Examples include FileBuzz Teacher Calendar Software, Reel Logix Calendar Software, Easy Schedule Maker

Calculators, Graphing Calculators and Calculator-Based Labs Consist of software design to utilize calculators and graphing calculators. Includes activities in order to help teach content areas in algebra and geometry Examples include Texas Instruments graphing, Vernier LabQuest

References Roblyer, M. (2016). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson.