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Quick and Easy Tools for Making Flashcards

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

Looking for a flashcard maker for the new school year? Here is my ultimate list of tools for online flashcards that offer educators a convenient and interactive way to enhance learning and engage students in their studies. Hope you find one that serves you well in 2023-24!

Flippity Flashcards

Image of an online flashcard made with Flippity

Flippity.net is an online platform that provides various educational tools for teachers. The website uses two options to create a collection of free, customizable templates. Option one is the Quick and Easy process, where you just enter text in a box. Option two is modifying a Google Spreadsheet template. If you are new to Flippity, make sure you check out the Demo before heading to the instructions. The flashcards are colored index cards that can only be used within a browser window. Optional features include removing, shuffling, reloading, and flipping the stack of cards.

Fact Monster Flashcards

Image of a FactMonster online flashcard

Fact Monster offers flashcards for practicing math facts. It provides options for the basics facts up to three digits. These flashcards include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and add + subtract flashcards. There are seven levels, with Level 1 being the easiest and Level 7 being the hardest. Be aware that there are several advertisements on this site.  

Google Slides Flash Cards Template

Image of the Google Slides flashcard template

Did you know that if you use Google Slides, there is a Flash Cards template in the Template Gallery? Well, there is! To access the template, go to your Google Drive and click on New > Google Slides > From a template. From there, you can select the flashcards template. The sample deployed for you is Spanish 101. Don’t forget to read the Quick Tip on slide 1: Try right-clicking on a photo and using “Replace image” to build your own set of flashcards.

FlashDecks

image of Flashdeck online flashcard examples on phone, table, and desktop screens

FlashDeck flashcards will work on desktop browsers and mobile devices (Android and iOS). The site is free but with in-app purchases. Teachers, you will need to register and create an account. As a member, you can create and save FlashDecks and then share your set with your students. There are a ton of open content decks already made, which you can use and edit as you see fit.

Brainscape

Brainscape's list of online flashcards

This website has both free and premium account options. With the free account, you can make flashcards that can be accessed by your students from a desktop browser or a mobile device. You can share these sets with your students and manage students’ editing permissions. You will need to register and create a teacher account. 

Study Stack

Example StudyStack online flashcard

StudyStack is an online platform that offers a vast library of user-generated flashcards. The platform also allows students and educators to create their own flashcard sets. Just like most flashcard-creating sites, an account is required. 

Additional Flashcard Tools

If you have any of the following interactive presentation or student engagement tools, don’t forget to check them out for flashcards. Most have this type of platform for instructional support. 

Pear Deck. Pear Deck has designed the Flashcard Factory for your students. They can pair up and work together. It is free to use and works with Google Edu and Gimkit. 

Quizlet. Quizlet has an easy way to make and study with flashcards. Teachers, you must make an account. Then you can create your own set or choose from over 500 million flashcards in their archive. That is a pretty impressive number!

Kahoot!. Kahoot! also offers study modes for their iOS, Android, and Chromebook app. Within the last couple of years, they have added four self-paced study experiences to review content, get more practice with difficult topics, and prepare for tests. These modes can be used with both previously played Kahoot!s as well as new Kahoot!s. You can watch this quick video tutorial to learn all about these new study modes. Teachers, you will need a paid account to access the study modes. 

Nearpod. Nearpod provides interactive lessons, interactive videos, and activities with 20+ formative assessment features. It does not have traditional flashcards, but they provide Matching Pairs and Drag and Drop. It also provides a library of pre-made sets. 

Canva. If you are looking to print off flashcards, Canva has a slew of printable options for you. When you type in flashcards in the “What will you design today?” box, tons of colorful options populate. What popped up for me were a ton of number, alphabet, CVCC, etc., types of flashcards. So, if you are an early childhood or kindergarten teacher, you’ll hit the jackpot with Canva. Don’t forget, you can edit most designs!

Bonus Find

Games to Learn English

GamestoLearnEnglish screenshot

This website supports English language learners through interactive games. The games include word puzzles, quizzes, memory games, and matching exercises. The site covers different aspects of the English language, including vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension, and reading comprehension. Aimed at students and educators alike, the website offers a collection of engaging and immersive games that facilitate language acquisition and reinforce language skills. If you are an ESL teacher, for sure, check out this site!

If you have a flashcard site I have missed, please post it in the comments. Happy flash-carding!

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Image of a cartoon person drowning in papers and looking forlorn with the title "Go Paperless with TeacherMade"
Blended LearningContent AreasWeb 2.0 Tool

TeacherMade: From Pricey Paper Chaos to Paperless Digital Efficiency

by Laura Bresko
written by Laura Bresko

Picture this. Ms.Gallo, a dedicated teacher, is standing in line at the school’s copier. It’s a typical Monday morning, and she’s already been waiting for 12 minutes, her arms laden with stacks of handouts for the week. She came in early to get access to the copier but was still fourth in line. The copier jams, and she wonders if she’ll have to come back later. This scene is all too familiar in schools across the country. But what if there was truly a better way? What if we could get off the expensive paper treadmill once and for all? Let’s explore how schools can go paperless and improve digital efficiency.

The Hidden Cost of Paper

Schools often overlook the real cost of their reliance on paper. It’s not just the financial burden, which is significant with commercial copiers costing between $3,000 – $15,000 and toner refills ranging between $200 – $500. It’s also the environmental impact. Schools contribute significantly to paper waste, an issue that is becoming increasingly important as we strive for sustainability. But perhaps the most overlooked cost is the time teachers spend wrestling with paper jams, waiting for copier repairs, and grading stacks of paper assignments.

The Digital Revolution: A Case Study

Consider the story of Lincoln High, a school that decided to tackle this problem head-on. They embarked on a year-long journey to transition from paper to digital. They started small, with teachers committing to one paperless assignment per week using TeacherMade. By the second quarter, all quizzes and tests were conducted online using TeacherMade’s auto-grading feature. By the third quarter, they had incorporated Digital Fridays, where all instruction and learning was paperless that day. The result? A significant reduction in paper usage and teachers reported less stress and more time for instruction. (And their copier lease was for 5 cents per page so they saved lots of money, too!)

Chart outlining a plan for going paperless with TeacherMade by quarter in the 2023-2024 school year.

The Paperless Power of TeacherMade

Picture showing the TeacherMade Uploadable File Types

The transition to a paperless school might seem daunting, but with the right tools, it’s more achievable than you think. Lincoln High used TeacherMade, a powerful tool that allows teachers to convert their existing materials into interactive, auto-graded online assignments. With TeacherMade, teachers can transform their Google Slides, Google Docs, and other PDFs into interactive activities in minutes. Plus, TeacherMade’s auto-grading feature saves teachers time and provides students with instant feedback, enhancing the learning experience.

The Research Is Clear: Students Do Better With Instant Feedback

Going paperless isn’t just about saving money and reducing waste. It’s also about enhancing the learning experience for students. Instant feedback on assignments allows students to learn and improve faster. Digital tools like TeacherMade make learning more interactive and engaging. And perhaps most importantly, it prepares students for a future where digital literacy is increasingly important.

Example of a TeacherMade Paperless autograding assignment

Your School’s Paperless Journey Starts Today

It’s time to step off the paper treadmill. Start small, set clear goals, and gradually increase your digital usage. Invest in the right tools like TeacherMade and provide training for your staff. Monitor your progress and celebrate your successes. And remember, every step you take towards going paperless is a step towards a more efficient, sustainable, and effective learning environment.

So, are you ready to start your school’s paperless journey with TeacherMade?

What tech or apps do you need to go paperless with TeacherMade?

There are many options, and you can quickly run into analysis paralysis as you compare software for the paperless classroom. At a minimum, your toolkit will need to include:

  • The camera on your Android or Apple phone or tablet. Just take a picture of your handout and email it to yourself. You can also use apps to convert the image to a PDF (CamScanner is top-rated in the Google Play Store and free.)
  • An online assignment creator or converter. Once you have a PDF, you must choose a tool to turn PDFs into interactive online assignments. (There is really only one tool for this job– and that’s TeacherMade!)
  • An LMS platform for managing assignments. Google Classroom, Canvas, and Schoology make it easy to communicate with students, post assignment links, and import grades into online grade books.

Benefits of Going Paperless with TeacherMade

TeacherMade is the ideal tool for converting PDFs into online assignments. Your online assessments and activities will feel familiar and much like the paper versions you’re used to. When you go paperless with TeacherMade, you can:

  • Use the materials you already know and love. Transform your existing Google Slides, Docs, and other PDFs into interactive activities in minutes. Or construct digital activities from scratch. The choice is yours.
  • Prevent teacher burnout with TeacherMade’s auto-grading. Regain your nights and weekends. 20+ question types in STAAR 2.0 format means TeacherMade activities are auto-graded for you and your students. Scores flow straight into your online grade book! Even student-constructed responses are graded more easily and quickly in TeacherMade.
  • Instantly measure what your students know. Engage more deeply with the curriculum when they get instant feedback. TeacherMade’s ‘Check My Answers’ button lets students make a game out of getting higher scores on their work.
  • Save money. TeacherMade’s annual subscription is just $79 per year. That’s at least 6 times less than the cost of one teacher printing one page per day for 150 students at $0.02 per page! That doesn’t even include the cost of toner and maintenance!
  • Reduce paper waste. Do good for the earth, be a little greener, work towards sustainability, and reduce waste.
Chart showing an example of how much can be saved by going paperless with TeacherMade

TeacherMade quickly pays for itself by reducing copier costs. As more teachers go paperless, TeacherMade puts money back into your school’s coffers, not in the landfill. Sign up for a free, 30-day trial (no credit card required) and explore going paperless with TeacherMade.

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Web 2.0 Tool

Five Techie Things to Try This Summer

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

First and foremost, during summer break, every single teacher needs to kick back, put their feet up, and binge-watch their favorite series. The rule at my house is for every one or two episodes, everyone gets up and does something productive. It could be loading the washer, sweeping the floor, or just standing up and getting some steps in. Personally, I have a list called the “Check This Out” list (the CTO list.) The list contains items I have read about, that a colleague suggested, or something I have stumbled upon but haven’t had time to check out yet. I check out something on the CTO list every one to two episodes of binge-watching. So if you are wanting to follow my rule, this article can be your CTO list! Here are five techie things for teachers to try during summer break (in between episodes, of course).

1. ChatGPT

Title: ChatGPT Prompts for Busy Educators

If you are like me, I was skeptical of ChatGPT. My first thoughts: What good will come of ChatGPT? Is it cheating? Is this for me? But after many months of my colleagues trying it, talking about it, and blogging about it, I decided it was time to check it out. 

The first time I used it I was working on a Would You Rather activity for National Pizza Party Day. ChatGPT gave me a list of ten statements, many I didn’t like, but a couple gave me pause and a head start. For example, ChatGPT generated: Would you rather eat a pizza made with a cardboard crust or topped with rocks? I was not a fan of the rock part, so I changed it to sprinkled with glitter. 

As far as ChatGPT goes, I have changed my mind. I can use ChatGPT to help me get rid of the blank piece of paper that stares at me when I’m trying to write something. It gives a foundation to build on. I think of ChatGPT as the little spark that lights my fire to create and produce content. 

3 Steps to Get Started with ChatGPT

  1. Create a free account here.
  2. Opt out of ChatGPT saving your data
  3. Read this blog to help you get started with AI both personally and professionally. 

2. Padlet’s “I can’t draw”

Images of Padlet's I Can Draw tool

If you are a Padlet user, have Padlet create art for you with its “I can’t draw” tool! I gave it a go twice. Remember the famous Marilyn Monroe Diptych (I had to Google that) by Andy Warhol? For my first prompt, I used “Andy Warhol diptych art of a dachshund.” The second artwork, Padlet created for me: “Starry Night of Austin Texas.”  

Five Steps to Generate Art with Padlet

  1. Click on the + in the lower right corner.
  2. Click on the pink hexagon with the 3 horizontal dots.
  3. Select the green “I can’t draw” tool.
  4. Type a description in the search bar of what you want to be drawn for you.
  5. Click on your selection and save it immediately! Padlet does not give the same result each time for the same prompt. 

3. Google Sites + ChatGPT = The Percent Progress Game

Image of the Percent Game

If you are in the ed tech world, you probably know the name Tony Vincent! If not, simply put, Tony is an accomplished educator and ed tech enthusiast with a passion for empowering teachers and students through technology integration. He is a creative force! And he used two of my favorite tools to create a guessing game: Google Sites and ChatGPT. 

The Percent Progress Game is played by guessing the percentage of a progress bar that is filled with color. You see the bar, input your guess at what percentage is filled, and submit your guess. The actual percentage is revealed after the guess is submitted. You play ten rounds, and your final score is displayed after you have completed ten guesses. 

Check out Tony’s blog to create your own game, and yes, you know I had to try it out. Here is my version! Thanks, Tony, you continue to blow my mind with your imagination.

4. Spotify Music

Image of Josie Bensko's Playlist icons from Spotify

If you are looking for classroom-safe playlists and use Spotify for your music service, middle school teacher, Josie Bensko (@maniacsinthemid) creates and shares classroom-safe playlists. You just have to check out the Pump Ups, March Madness, and the 90’s Babies Spotify playlists here.

5. Lived, Stopped, or Want to Be Here?

Image of a color-coded USA map

If you are a traveler of the USA, try out this web activity just for funsies. You will color-code each state using the website’s coding system. Just click on each state and select the option that reflects that particular state’s status as it pertains to you.  You gain points for different levels, and your total score is calculated at the top of your map.  

As always when you use your personal information for an online activity, I would not post your map publicly. Remember, scammers are on social media platforms mining your personal information for identity theft or security questions. The map I created is just an example, my real score is 103. Post your score comments to share!

I hope one of these five options can help you out in the coming school year. And, as always, if you have another tool or resource you think other educators would like to add to their CTO List, post it in the comments section.

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Web 2.0 Tool

Five Ways to Make a Splash with Wakelet

by Destiny Wagner
written by Destiny Wagner

Are you riding the #WakeletWave yet? If not, you’re missing out on a powerful tool that offers a range of possibilities to personalize and facilitate learning while enabling educators to curate and organize content in creative ways. Whether you are a newbie getting your feet wet or a seasoned surfer, let’s discover five ways Wakelet can be used to transform your teaching and learning experiences!

What Is Wakelet?

Wakelet is an online platform that allows the user, including teachers and students, to curate and organize a wide array of digital materials into Collections or Spaces that are visually appealing and easy to understand. In Wakelet, a Collection refers to a curated grouping of resources around a specific topic or theme. On the other hand, a Space in Wakelet refers to a collaborative area where a group of people can work together, share resources, and engage in discussions related to a particular subject or project through multiple Collections. Here’s a quick, five-minute introduction!

Now let’s dive into ways you can use Wakelet to enhance teaching and learning.

1. Digital Portfolios

Students can create digital portfolios using Wakelet to showcase their learning and progress. This allows students to demonstrate their creativity and unique personalities along with fostering independence, responsibility, and ownership over their learning. If you’re not sure where to start, Wakelet already has a plethora of templates created! You also have the ability to create your own to share with students and vice versa. Either way, using a digital portfolio Wakelet template is as simple as clicking the three-dot menu at the top of the collection and then clicking “copy collection.” Want to see an example? Here is a full collection of examples curated by Tisha Poncio (@tishaponcio) for you to explore! 

Image of Tisha Poncio's (@tishaponico) head for her student portfolio examples collection in Wakelet
Click here to see this collection of digital portfolio examples!

2. Professional Development

Teachers and coaches can use Wakelet to organize and share professional development resources and best practices. This is also a great way for teachers to share their takeaways from a lesson on a particular topic or tool. Think of the opportunity for staff members to remember what it’s like being students! Besides reexamining the way they assess their own students, teachers get to see a tool used from a different perspective and think about how it might be used in their own classes. Here is a great example of how Dyann Wilson (@techCareWilson) uses Wakelet for professional development. 

Image of Dyann Wilson's (@techCareWilsom) Wakelet collection of tools for teacher PD
Click here to see how Wakelet can be used for professional development!

3. Classroom Resources

Wakelet can be used to organize classroom resources, schedules, and procedures. House live links to Google Docs and Sheets or Microsoft Word and Excel files so students know where to find important information in one place. Think about posting your classroom expectations, syllabus, or other important notices in a class Space or Collection. You can even include video messages! No more lost papers or “I didn’t know where to find that” excuses. Check out this template for Meet the Teachers by Dyann Wilson (@techCareWilson) which can act as a one-stop-shop for parents and students. 

Image of Dyann Wilson's (@techCAREWilson) Wakelet template header for Meet the Teachers
Click here to see Dyann Wilson’s Meet the Teacher template!

4. Substitute Planning and Resources 

Use Wakelet to create a sub plan with resources, assignments, and a place to turn in work. The Wakelet Collection can be shared with the sub via QR code printed and left in your box or on your desk. Wakelet’s ease of use and intuitive interface make it easy for any sub to pick up where you left off and keep your students on task, moving forward, and out of trouble. Check out this sub plan template from Ryan McGinnis (@RyanMcGinnis) of Wakelet to get you started.

Image of @Ryan McGinnis's Wakelet header for his collection of substitute plans.
Click here to see how Mr. McGinnis uses Wakelet for sub plans!

5. Parent Communication

Teachers can use Wakelet to communicate with parents by sharing resources and updates through a newsletter! Keep parents in the loop in an organized and accessible way by easily building a newsletter with announcements, links, to-do lists, and more. Wakelet already has a great class newsletter template you can copy and use! Additionally, explore this curated collection of newsletter examples and templates by Miguel Guhlin (@mguhlin).

Image of Wakelet's header for their newsletter template.
Click here to access a Wakelet Newsletter template!

Be sure to join the Wakelet Community where you can find free training, information about Wakelet’s products and programs, and meet other Wakelet users. The Wakelet Team is incredibly responsive, so don’t be afraid to reach out to them! Additionally, I’m a Wakelet Ambassador (@edtechdestiny) and so is my partner, Kris Thurston (@KrisThurston). Together, we’re the EdTech Nerds, and we’d love to assist you on your journey to riding the #WakeletWave!

Want to learn even more ways to use Wakelet? Don’t miss Kris Thurston and Destiny Wagner (the EdTech Nerds) at TCEA’s Elementary Technology Conference! They’ll be presenting five sessions, and one of them is on Wakelet! Join them for “The Top 10 Ways to Make a Splash with Wakelet” on Monday, June 12.

Haven’t signed up for the best beachside conference for elementary educators? No problem. There’s still time! Join us in Galveston, Texas for a learn-cation, and get your summer started right!

SIGN UP TODAY!
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ELARSocial StudiesWeb 2.0 Tool

Five Steps to Student Podcasting with Canva 

by Jillian Pratt
written by Jillian Pratt

Research can be a daunting task for students and educators. Navigating topics, locating information, and how to share the information can be challenging and overwhelming. When a third grade teacher came to me, the school librarian, looking for an innovative way for her students to discuss research she wanted her students to conduct for Women’s History Month, I knew exactly what to suggest, making a podcast. 

Step 1: Have a Listening Party!

The teacher surveyed her class before we started the project to see how familiar students were with podcasts. The results concluded that our first step was to showcase some podcasts  to get students familiar with them. So we had a listening party. Brains On! Podcast is a fantastic resource, and during their visit to the library, we listened to the episode “Do Scientists Have Super Powers?” about women in science. Students were engaged while listening, so we knew we had them hooked. 

Screenshot of Brains On! podcasts for kids website.

Step 2: Pair students and conduct research. 

Students were split into pairs, assigned a woman in their history standards to research, and given a few days to research using databases and texts. We encouraged them to collect information that focused on the following:

  • Why their historical figure was important. 
  • What they did to change the world. 

We also encouraged them to use taught strategies for collecting research and make note of any details about their topic that would become a good talking point. Here’s a great editable template in Canva that students can use for organizing their research.

Example editable Canva template students can use to gather podcast research.
Editable Canva Template for Biography Research

Step 3: Guide students in podcast planning.  

Once they found all their information, it was time to get creative! The pairs were encouraged to name their podcasts, write a commercial, and develop a script demonstrating what they learned about their woman in history. I created a slide deck with one slide for each component of the podcast:

  • Introduction
  • Information
  • Commercial (if they made one)
  • Closing Credits 
  • Bibliography

I shared the slide deck as an assignment with each group in Canva, and students completed the slides with information for their podcasts. Students were encouraged to be creative, engage with their partner in conversation, and have fun. 

One pair of students gathers research for their podcast
Once pair of students completing their podcast slides in Canva

Step 4: Use Canva for podcast production. 

We used Canva’s video presentation to organize and record our podcasts. Our students are very comfortable with Canva, so this tool was the best fit for us. They recorded in Canva, added music, and used the slide deck they completed as a script.

Additional Tools for Podcasting 

When working with eight year olds, it is best to stick with what they know. We did not want to spend too much time teaching students how to use recording technology, so we decided to use Canva since it was already familiar. However, there are other modes of creating podcasts. 

For Apple iPad users, you can use iMovie. Students can load the slides into iMovie as a script and voice record their podcasts. To share the podcasts, students must download and share the video using Google or YouTube.  

Students can also use Flip to record their podcast presentations. A plus to using Flip is that student peers can listen to each other’s podcasts and give feedback to their classmates. In order to use Flip, you must have an account to share the link with your students. 

Additional tools, like Audacity and Garageband, are also available and can work well for older students. 

Step 5:  Have another Listening Party!

Once they finished their recording, they shared it with their teacher and me. We uploaded the videos to YouTube and created listening links for the students and their parents to enjoy. We hosted another listening party in the library, but this time we listened to our own work. 

Screenshot of the student podcast playlist in YouTube
Listen to the students’ podcasts!

You will find that research standards list that students are to demonstrate their research in a multimodal format. Multimodal is the strategic integration of two or more modes of communication to create meaning. It’s another way to say to move away from research papers being the only way students demonstrate their learning. Creating a podcast is a modern and innovative way to engage students in research and have fun while you do it.

Did you know that April is School Library Month? TCEA will feature a guest article by a member librarian each week of the month! The month also includes:

How will you show appreciation for your librarian, media specialist, and library staff?

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Social StudiesWeb 2.0 Tool

Make History Interactive with HistoryMaps

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Historians and K-12 students use historical maps for a similar purpose. Maps provide a window into the past. They enable us to see what people knew or understood at a particular time in history. You can find paper maps and digital maps in great plenty online, but one outlet for digital maps is the free, interactive site HistoryMaps.

Learn, Interact, Explore with HistoryMaps

HistoryMaps, available online or via the Android or iOS app, makes it easy to access historical maps. Additionally, the interface is available in multiple languages, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

The founder of HistoryMaps, Nono Umasy, describes his goal in this way:

Once upon a time…I loved reading stories about far-off lands from picture books at the local library. Much of that same sense of wonderment still remains with me today. I still love History. I’m still curious about stories from remote places that happened a long time ago. So, when I decided to study again, I wanted to create something to help me. This was how HistoryMaps started.

About HistoryMaps

Explore HistoryMaps, and you’ll find a different aspect of history represented with each period offering interactive stories, images, and videos, like this one:

Periods Shared

HistoryMaps offers insights into various periods in history, including:

  • Ancient History
  • Medieval Period
  • Early Modern Period
  • Late Modern Period

As you find your way through each story, images of maps and various people from the time period appear.

Screenshot by author

For example, when you search for United States History, you’ll see this:

Screenshot by author

The videos that accompany each HistoryMaps are about twelve minutes long. There are embedded video advertisements that would appeal to student viewers. You will want to review these sponsored videos for relevance and appropriateness.

Mobile Apps Available

You might want to use the mobile app version of HistoryMaps website. Each HistoryMap on mobile features an opening page with content, characters, and text. The text source for characters is Wikipedia, so critical examination is a must.

Screenshot by author

In examining The History of California, you will find the mobile version. The images and maps are stunning, as is the cover art.

Screenshot by author

Critical Examination of Content

Watching The Colonial History of the United States, you will see references made to Paleo-Americans. More information appears to address concerns of Indigenous Peoples. You might want to pair student use of HistoryMaps with critical tools that look for bias in history.

Here are four blog entries that offer approaches that may assist you:

You will find Black History included as part of the Civil Rights Movement HistoryMaps.

Screenshot by author

Powerful content is available to fuel learning in the classroom. Be sure to learn, interact, and explore.

Feature Image Source

Screenshot by author, HistoryMaps website

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"Panel from Diego Rivera's mural at Unity House, depicting the growing conflict over slavery that eventually led to the Civil War. Also included are references to the Mexican War and the discovery of gold in California. Important figures include Henry Da" by Kheel Center, Cornell University Library is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
ChromebooksCommunicationDigital CitizenshipWeb 2.0 Tool

Openverse: An Open Source Creative Commons Search Tool

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Looking for images, photos, and audio that won’t get you into trouble with the copyright police? If you read Dr. Cynthia Piña’s blog on Intellectual Property 101, you would have found a host of great solutions. One offering in that blog entry, Creative Commons (CC) Search, changed its name. CC Search is now called Openverse, joining Wordpress as an open source project.

Source: “Saturn’s Rings in Ultraviolet Light” by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

A Managed Commons for Media

Wordpress acquired CC Search in 2021. Openverse, the revised label under Wordpress, offers more than 600 million creative works. This library of photos, images, and audio are available for you to use at no cost. All images are Creative Commons licensed, or in the public domain. Dr. Piña explains:

Creative Commons is a kind of license that is open and flexible. This means that media licensed under Creative Commons is more available to share and reproduce by others…. Public domain refers to materials or works that do not have copyright protection.

Alluding to The Tragedy of the Commons, Word Press’s Matt Mullenweg says this:

Word Art generated sheep with words, "Tragedy of the Unregulated Commons"
Word Art generated sheep with words, “Tragedy of the Unregulated Commons”

“…the canonical example is as a shared field in a town, and it doesn’t belong to anyone, so anyone can use it. And when too many farmers took their sheep there, they would overeat the grass, and then there was no more grass left because it was being overutilized, and there was no one owning the field to say, Hey, we need to practice a more sustainable amount of sheep….

The idea is like a shared resource that gets overused and then disappears. With software, we have the opportunity to have the opposite. A wealth of comments where every person using the thing actually has the opportunity to make it a little bit better.”

The Tragedy of the Commons has seen some pushback on the main concept. In the 1980s, revisions suggested this wording:

“Under conditions of overpopulation, freedom in an unmanaged commons brings ruin to all.”

For those who want access to media they can use for a short-term project, Openverse offers a solution. A managed commons that anyone can find and use without fear.

Filters available in Openverse to narrow search results

Revisiting Boolean Logic

Even with the right filters, finding the right image to use can be difficult. Using Openverse to find content seems obvious. You go to the Openverse.org website, then type in what you are looking for. That said, you can take advantage of Boolean logic. You may be familiar with AND, OR, NOT but Openverse gives you more search options.

Openverse.org, a great media search tool for adult professionals, not so much for K-12 children, who may encounter inappropriate content.

You can combine keywords or search terms. These operators make it easier to find what you are looking for. More options are available online in this tutorial.

  • + signifies AND operation
  • | signifies OR operation
  • – negates a single token
  • * at the end of a term signifies a prefix query
  • ( and ) signify precedence
  • ~N after a word signifies edit distance (fuzziness)

You can put phrases in quotation marks. Here are some examples:

classroom+teacher

This search should yield any images that include a classroom AND a teacher. As you can see from the screenshot below, the search isn’t that strict.

student|teacher

This combination shows images that include a student OR a teacher, but not always both.

classroom -desk

Searches for a classroom, and does not show a desk.

In spite of the near misses, Boolean searches and operators can be helpful. You can see that below in the revised search:

classroom AND teacher -empty

See classrooms that have a teacher in them but are not empty.

Sound on Openverse

Looking for amazing sounds? You’ll find amazing tunes, songs, and more in Openverse’s search results. The Sound of Some captivated my ear. Search on music and you may not be able to lay your headphones aside.

And, who knows what wings this poetry may give your imagination.

“Poetry: a poem by liber” by liber(the poet); is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Finding amazing images that don’t violate copyright, and suit your needs, can make work easier. Isn’t that worth a little logic?

Feature Image Source

“Panel from Diego Rivera’s mural at Unity House, depicting the growing conflict over slavery that eventually led to the Civil War. Also included are references to the Mexican War and the discovery of gold in California. Important figures include Henry Da” by Kheel Center, Cornell University Library is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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Wakelet Classrooms
Web 2.0 Tool

Wakelet’s Enhanced Classrooms Features

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Wakelet offers a revamped interface for managing students in its Classrooms feature. Teachers need to have an Educator Account on Wakelet to access the new feature, which offers enhanced options.

Screenshot by author

The Classroom on Wakelet is a space where teachers can import their students so they can start creating Wakelets with various digital elements. Having a Classroom in Wakelet makes importing students a simpler process. You are also able to disable or enable features like the ones in the screenshot below:

Screenshot by author

Many educators are familiar with Wakelet. It offers a digital space, a blank slate, that allows you to collect a variety of elements. For example, you can drop in Flip videos, YouTube video links that remove ads, or Adobe Express files. What’s more, you can embed cloud stored documents, such as from Google Drive or OneDrive.

Screenshot by author

The Wakelet team says that Classroom is one of the best ways to bring students into Wakelet. Students can be imported from a student information system, and once in Wakelet, the teacher can share resource collections with students. What’s more, teachers can view student progress.

Did You Know?
Wakelet offers a District Plan. It includes “a suite of tools and features on Wakelet specifically designed to enhance teaching and learning across school districts. The District Plan offers a variety of exciting features that are tailored to the unique needs of educators, students, and administrators.” Find out more about Wakelet’s District Plan.

“Create memorable learning experiences for you and your students,” says Misbah Gedal. Mr. Gedal serves as the Head of Partnerships for Wakelet. He offers this video walkthrough of the Wakelet Classroom set up process:

Solutions like Wakelet can enhance, they say, the following:

  • digital citizenship skills
  • critical thinking skills
  • digital portfolios that capture evidence of learning milestones

Instructional Applications

You can use Wakelet in a variety of ways to support teaching and learning. Here are some of the ways TCEA has highlighted Wakelet in the past:

Educator Applications of Wakelet

Wakelet’s Classroom and existing feature-set offer various tools some educators see as essential. Here are a few of the ways educators are sharing how they use Wakelet on social media around the globe. Resources listed are in English unless otherwise indicated.

As you can imagine, there are many more ways to use Wakelet in the classroom. Now, with its new Classroom feature, students and teachers can curate content easily.

This blog entry was updated on 3/10/2023 to correct information shared, and include more information about the District Plan.

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AppleWeb 2.0 Tool

Freeform: Apple’s New Collaborative Brainstorming App

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

Surprise! After a recent iOS 16 update, a new app just appeared on my screen. The design looked enticing, so curiosity got the best of me, and I opened up Freeform.

Screenshot by author

What Is Freeform?

According to Apple:

Freeform helps users organize and visually lay out content on a flexible canvas, giving them the ability to see, share, and collaborate all in one place without worrying about layouts or page sizes. Users can add a wide range of files and preview them inline without ever leaving the board. Designed for collaboration, Freeform makes it easier than ever to invite others to work on a board together. Users can even collaborate with others while on a FaceTime call. Freeform boards are stored in iCloud, so users can stay in sync across devices.

When I first opened it, it reminded me of a mashup of Google Keep, Jamboard, and an app I first used a long time ago when I I got my first iPhone called Popplet. I had to search to see if that one is still in existence, and it is, along with the free version, Popplet Jr. 

How to Use Freeform

Animals, transportation and education images in Freeform.
A Sampling of the Freeform Shapes – Screenshot by author

When you open the Freeform app, you can add a board by tapping the notepad and pencil icon in the top right corner. Everything you add to a board is either a single or double tap. This app is very user-friendly and the interaction I found with the tools is simple and straightforward. Once you select an item (symbol, text box, sticky note, etc.), a tool menu pops up giving you several options related to the tool. 

Freeform toolbar
Screenshot by author

You can easily share with other folks by hitting the share button. Immediately, I wondered how many people you could share a board with, and Apple promises “up to 100 collaborators in the same board.” I had no way to test this out, so I’ll just take Apple’s word for it. 

Freeform Basic Features

Freeform features
Screenshot by author
  • Available for iPhone and iPad
  • Add photos, video, and/or audio
  • Easily add sticky notes in seven color options 
  • Multiple options for text (font, alignment, and size)
  • Delete anything easily
  • Many options of brush styles and colors
  • 700 shapes divided into 16 categories 
  • Deleted boards can be recovered for 30 days

My Favorite Things About Freeform

Deleting items is easy peasy lemon squeezy. Just select the item and a toolbox automatically pops up at the bottom of the screen.  The red trashcan sticks out among the other black colored icon options. 

The scanning feature is really nice. Tap on the photo icon and choose scan. Position the document in view and it will automatically snap a picture. The technology auto-resizes to just grab your document. Then, you save it and enlarge it on your board. A final bonus is easily making annotations to your scanned document with the brush tool. 

Choose to display your boards in either icon or list view. You can display your boards by date or name. And once you create a bunch of boards, you can mark them as a favorite so you can find them quickly

The search feature is awesome. I put a random word and then a random phone number on two different boards. Once I typed the word or number into the search box, the board containing the information immediately popped up. 

Check out this post for more information on the Freeform app. If your school environment is Apple-centric, I could certainly see teachers and students benefitting from using the Freeform app. 

Uses for Freeform in Education

  • Sketchnoting
  • Group work
  • Brainstorming
  • Question Bank
  • Mindmapping
  • Note taking
  • Teacher lesson planning
  • Journaling
  • And more!

Have any ideas for how you’ll use Freeform? Be sure and leave a comment to let me know what your plans are and what you think of this app.

Featured image by Apple

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Professional LearningTCEA Convention & ExpositionWeb 2.0 Tool

Resources Shared at the 2023 TCEA Convention & Exposition

by Lori Gracey
written by Lori Gracey

Another amazing convention has come and gone. If you were lucky enough to attend, then you enjoyed networking with your peers, gained a ton of new educational resources, and had the chance to see some amazing technology for learning. If you weren’t able to attend, here’s a small sample of some of the great things we discovered at TCEA 2023.

Ms. M’s Free Online Resource Libraries

Elementary teachers, be prepared to have your mind blown by all of the free resources that Ms. M. has created! These include multiple virtual libraries on a wide variety of topics, digital stickers, Valentine clip art, drawing tutorials, math videos, and so much more. Check out her math library with clickable links, one of many libraries that she has available.

Centervention’s 90+ Free SEL Activities

TCEA’s own Diana Benner, our resident SEL expert, shared Centervention’s 90+ Free SEL Activities. “The free resources include lessons and activities in the following skill areas: Communication, Cooperation, Emotion Regulation, Empathy, Impulse Control, and Social Initiation.”

Antimatter: A Collaborative Meme Generator

I overheard two attendees discussing Antimatter, a new collaborative meme generator for students. Teachers create a “studio” for each of their classrooms and then create spaces inside the studio for each lesson. Students are then invited into the space to begin their projects. Having students create memes to demonstrate what they understand about a particular topic or equation can be very powerful.

Google Arts & Culture’s The Descent of the Serpent

Social studies teachers were excited to discover The Descent of the Serpent from Google Arts and Culture. Students can explore the symbols, culture, and legends of ancient Mesoamerica in this fun and free game. The site includes downloadable lesson plans and gameplay in both English and Spanish.

Which One Doesn’t Belong?

In one of the sessions for math teachers, Which One Doesn’t Belong? was shared. This free site shows a collection of four objects, and students must discuss and decide which one of the objects doesn’t belong with the others. What makes this resource really powerful is that there is no one right or wrong answer; instead, it’s about the thinking that must occur to come up with an answer and then share and convince others that your answer is the best. These are appropriate for all grade levels and include shapes, numbers, and graphs.

Artificial Intelligence

If you are interested in the world of artificial intelligence and its use today, you would have loved Dr. Bruce Ellis’ session. He shared the following resources on the topic:

  • The AI Exchange – An amazing newsletter to subscribe to that will keep you current with the latest AI news and features
  • Futurepedia – A growing, curated list of AI tools that is searchable by category and updated daily
  • Elicit – Your AI research assistant to help with literature review

Matt Miller: ChatCPT in the Classroom

ChatGPT was a big topic this year. The amazing Matt Miller created this cool infographic on ways to use the new AI tool in the classroom.

Coaching Resources

For those supporting educators in improving classroom teaching and learning, a great resource on formal coaching cycles by Dr. Ashley McBride was shared. The site includes a printable checklist, a coaching interest form, pre-meeting information to gather, an observation document, and more. This EdTech Coaching Primer site has other ready-to-use resources for instructional coaches as well and is a real time saver.

The Kanbie Chrome Extension

TCEA Professional Development Director Miguel Guhlin shared a new resource for students that can help them with task completion. “Simple, task-based checklists can empower and assist learners to follow steps. What’s more, they help them do tasks with many steps, as well as serve as memory aids. When used effectively, checklists help students become more aware of their thinking. One tool that may be useful for older students, as well as teachers, are kanban boards. You may know about Trello, OneNote, CryptPad’s Kanban board, and Google Docs/Keep. But do you know about browser-based Kanbie, a Chrome extension?”

Professional Learning

For our IT members, Alexis Reed and Bonnie Koliba shared this great infographic on designing effective professional development for campus technicians.

Jamboard Template Collection

I was excited to share a TCEA-curated collection of more than 1,750 free Google Jamboard templates with convention attendees. The templates are organized by subject area and available for all grade levels. New templates are added weekly.

Be sure to mark your calendar and include in your budget request to attend next year’s fantastic learning experience. We’ll be back in Austin February 3-7, 2024. (Note that the convention will run Saturday through Wednesday so that districts having trouble finding substitute teachers can allow their staff to attend on Saturday and/or Sunday without missing school.)

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