1. Easy Ed Tech wins
David Horton

2. What constitutes an “Easy Win”?
Straightforward to implement
Minimal dependencies
Cross-platform
Minimal staff training
Inspires and Engages
Good value for money
(not necessarily free)

3. Office 365 and Google Apps Safe(ish) Reliable Great for collaboration
Gives access to other systems
Enables mobility

4. Some websites Name: Typing Club Location: www.typingclub.com
Purpose: Teach touch typing
Login options: O365, Google, Facebook (or defined by school)
Setting up: User configuration required
Cost: Free to individuals <£100 pa for school set up
Notes: Very popular and easy to use and set up. Gives feedback to teachers on pupils’ progress. Pupils enjoy using it.

5. Some websites Name: Pixlr Location: www.pixlr.com
Purpose: Online photo editing
Login options: None required
Setting up: None required
Cost: Free
Notes: Useful and powerful, but requires Flash which is limiting. More fiddly since it was taken over by Autodesk.

6. Some websites Name: MyMaths Location: www.mymaths.co.uk
Purpose: Maths Teaching
Login options: Dedicated website login
Setting up: Some required – creating users etc.
Cost: £325 + VAT
Notes: Immensely popular with good feedback and personalised experiences. I expect you’re already aware of it.

7. Some websites Name: Linguascope Location: www.linguascope.com
Purpose: Languages
Login options: Dedicated website login
Setting up: Some required – creating users etc.
Cost: £300 + VAT
Notes: The languages equivalent of MyMaths. Again very popular.

8. Some websites Name: Coggle Location: coggle.it Purpose: Mind maps
Login options: Google Account
Setting up: None required
Cost: Free for occasional use
Notes: Great tool as long as you don’t want to use it too much. Mindmup is another alternative if you have Google accounts

9. Some websites Name: Bebras Challenge Location: challenge.bebras.uk
Purpose: Computational Thinking
Login options: Website login (optional)
Setting up: User import
Cost: Free
Notes: A great way of teaching and assessing computational thinking and problem solving. It’s an annual competition (November) run like the Maths Challenge. Teacher feedback available if set up.

10. Some apps (iOS and Android)
Name
Cost
Purpose
Notes
Duolingo
Free
Languages
Kids love it
Plotagon
Create scripted animations
Inspires creativity
Plickers
Formative assessment
Excellent feedback
Quizlet Flashcards
Uses the Quizlet website: Q&A
Works
Kahoot
Q&A app, like Quizlet
Kids prefer it to Quizlet
Tayasui Sketches
£££ or Free
Powerful drawing package
Artists love it
PicCollage ££
Photo editor
Good for the young
Zu3D
Multifunction video editor
Powerful but accessible
Book Creator
Ronseal. A classic
Good for all ages
Office Lens
Free with O365
OCR from photos
A godsend when it works
Strip Designer
Create cartoon strips
Popular in KS2
Sphero Edu
Apps free
Toys £££
Control and programming
Best used with the Sphero toys. Fun.

11. Using cameras and recording
Screen recording
Video feedback
Drones
Using as visualisers
Mirroring to the board
ONVU Learning – lesson observation

12. Micro:bit

13. File and document sharing
And don’t forget
Your VLE
Your MIS
File and document sharing
Dictation
If these things aren’t making your life easier, you’re not doing them right.

14. Yours Truly… 07967 021170 david@educate-innovate.com