Guides to Educational Technology Used at NCSSM

Core Teaching Technologies at NCSSM

Canvas

• Canvas - learning management system; for posting & grading assignments, syllabi, and interacting with students

Zoom

• Zoom - Videoconferencing platform for synchronous class sessions and meetings

Panopto

• Panopto - Video hosting platform; used for storing zoom recordings and other videos

Google Apps

• Google Apps - Used for shared word processing, slide creation, and spreadsheet editing, as well as calendaring.

Screen Recorders

• Camtasia - Screen recording software with advanced editing capabilities, best used for creating videos you intend to use year after year

• Loom for Education - simple screen recording software, best used by teachers for one-off demos and tutorials

• Screencastify - Screen recording tool; the free version has some limitations; this is best used by students who need to create 10 minute or less video presentations

Video Quizzes

• Edpuzzle - allows teachers to add questions directly to YouTube and other uploaded videos.

Video Hosting

• Panopto - Video hosting platform; used for storing zoom recordings and other videos

Discussions and Forums

• Padlet - used for creating and sharing interactive boards where users can collaboratively post text, images, links, and videos - this can often be used in place of discussion forums

Digital Whiteboards and Social Brainstorming & outlining tools

• Lucid for Education - Lucid Software offers a suite of web-based visualization and collaboration tools, including Lucidchart for diagramming and Lucidpress for design, to help individuals and teams create, manage, and share complex ideas and projects visually.

• Padlet Sandbox - A tool within Padlet that allows people to collaboratively draw and post videos, images, etc., on multiple whiteboards. Resembles Google Jamboard in its design and simplicity.

• Miro Whiteboard for Education - interactive whiteboard that allows students to collaboratively post sticky notes, draw diagrams, and brainstorm. This tool is a bit more advanced.

• Figma / Figjam for Education - FigJam is an online collaborative whiteboard platform that enables teachers to facilitate interactive, real-time brainstorming, planning, and learning activities with students, enhancing engagement and creativity in the classroom.

• tldraw - a collaborative whiteboard that requires no login. This is best used for spur-of-the-moment quick collaborative brainstorming.

• Canva Whiteboards - Canva Whiteboards are collaborative, online workspaces within the Canva platform that allow teams to brainstorm, plan, and design together in real time.

Social Annotation

• Perusall - Perusall is used in schools to engage students in interactive and social learning by allowing them to collaboratively annotate digital texts and participate in discussions directly within the reading material.

Film Licensing

• Swank K-12 Motion Pictures - Streaming video platform hosting more than 30,000 films and documentaries that can be used in the classroom.

Open Educational Resources

• CK-12 - CK-12 is an online platform providing free educational resources, including customizable textbooks, videos, and exercises, primarily focused on STEM subjects for K-12 students.

• OpenStax - provides free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed textbooks and educational resources. Can be integrated with Canvas courses.

Grading Tools

• Gradecope - a web-based tool that streamlines and standardizes the grading process for educators, allowing for efficient assessment of paper-based and digital assignments

Polling

• Poll Everywhere - Polling platform that can be used within Google slides and PowerPoint to help engage students and provide live feedback to instructors

Graphic Design

• Canva for Education - Canva is an online design and publishing tool that offers a user-friendly platform for creating a wide range of visual content, such as presentations, social media graphics, posters, and other materials.

Badging

• Canvas Badging (formerly Badgr) - Badging platform that is integrated with Canvas. Allows instructors to create and award badges for completion of modules or activities in Canvas.

Chat and Instant Messaging/Communication

• Slack - Slack can be used in schools as a communication platform where teachers, students, and staff collaborate, share resources, and manage class or project-related discussions in organized, topic-specific channels.

• Discord for education - Discord can be used in schools as a versatile communication platform for creating virtual classrooms, hosting study groups, facilitating real-time discussions, and fostering a community among students and educators. Often used by gamers, so many students are familiar with this tool.

Podcasting

• Audacity - Audacity is a free, open-source digital audio editor and recording application software for Mac and Windows, offering a versatile platform for teachers to create, edit, and share audio projects and materials for classroom use. There is a learning curve to this software.

  • Guide to using Audacity for podcasting

• Canva - Canva is an intuitive, web-based design tool that enables teachers to easily create engaging educational materials, such as presentations, infographics, and class handouts, without needing advanced graphic design skills.

  • Instructions for using Canva to record podcast episodes

• Spotify for Podcasters - Spotify for Podcasters is a comprehensive platform that allows teachers to publish, track, and enhance their educational podcasts, providing a seamless way to reach and engage with students through audio content. Requires creation of free Spotify and Riverside accounts (paid upgrades available). This is best used by teachers rather than one-off student asignments.

Document Camera Software

• iPevo Visualizer Software - free software for use by document cameras; allows for on-screen annotation and magnification.

Artificial Intelligence

• AI Pedagogy - dedicated to exploring and providing resources on the integration of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning practices. Provides lesson plans for teachers.

• EduAid - Generative teaching resources; can assist in lesson planning and instructional design.

• Magic School - Generative teaching resources; can assist in lesson planning and many other day-to-day tasks. Also includes guidance on accessible teaching for students with special needs.

• Writing better prompts for educators - (Substack article)

• Using ChatGPT to Generate Canvas Quizzes

• Using ChatGPT and CrossCraft to create Crossword Puzzles for vocabulary review

Guidance for utilizing AI in the Classroom

• AI Guidance for NCSSM Students

• Guidance: North Carolina Generative AI Implementation Recommendations and Considerations for PK-13 Public Schools

• Guidance: UNC Generative AI Employee Resources