TOO COOL (PERFECT FOR SCHOOL): We've got our favorite edtech teacher and administrator tools for the week right here, as highlighted in our Instruct newsletter. By the way—got a favorite S’Cool Tool you like to use? We would love to hear and share your recommendations! If you’ve got a tool that makes you or your students sing from the proverbial mountaintops, fill out this form to let us know. It might just get featured! Note: If we have not appended a privacy flag to a tool’s description, it does not collect personally identifiable information. If a tool collects personal information, parents or educators should create an account for users under 13.
Free!—Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)—A collection of lessons on writing mechanics and techniques from Purdue University, Purdue OWL covers everything from spelling to establishing arguments in academic writing.
Free!—PicLits—Use images and word banks to prompt students to write stories. Educators can drag in their own photos or choose from PicLits’ repository. PicLits then provides words categorized by part of speech that students can use to create sentences, or there is a “freestyle” option that allows for freeform composition. The results are oddly poetic. Privacy flag: To save their PicLits creations, users must create an account, which asks for an email address. PicLits states in its privacy policy that it does not share email addresses except as required by law.
Free!—Photos for Class—A search engine for Creative-Commons-licensed photos for students to use in class or on their homework. Students can download and repurpose any photo they find, and the images come with appropriate attributions. The search also filters out inappropriate images.
Freemium—Smart Coos—Language acquisition lessons for babies. Smart Coos offers web-based classes in English, American Sign Language, French, Spanish and Mandarin, as well as young conversation partners for children to practice with native speakers. These lessons can be with private instructors or with groups. Privacy flag: Smart Coos requires parents’ email addresses, phone numbers, children’s ages and payment information.
