Here are some of the digital lifelines that buoy the 21st century classroom. Personally, I find Google Classroom and the entire G Suite to be the unparalleled game changer in education.

Google Classroom

Now that I have experienced the phenomenally streamlined power of Google Classroom, I cannot imagine a classroom experience without it. The collaborative nature of the G Suite is empowering for students, the ability to track revisions and recover earlier versions of documents is the ultimate safety net, and the interface is brilliant and effortlessly easy to navigate. I am in love with Google Classroom. It is the be all and end all of organizing a classroom.

Technology Boomerang.png — Boomerang

I am a self-confessed late-evening email writer. I will draft an email after dinner, and instead of saving it as a draft to send the next morning, I will use Boomerang to schedule the email to be automatically sent at its appropriate time. You can also “boomerang” an email that you don’t have time to respond to so it comes back to you at a better time.

Tech Classroom Organization CamScanner.png — CamScanner

This app has transformed how I approach papers that need to become digital. Before, I was full of trepidation. Now, I go for it without hesitation. The corrective technology to flatten pages of books, bring out the color in pictures, and make pictures of documents look like they were physically scanned is game changing. Plus, the cloud storage is very helpful. I am sure that there will be later and greater competitors to emerge, but right now, I am hooked on CamScanner.

EverNote

I cannot recall how many important notes I have lost on my computer or phone, so EverNote was immediately attractive to me. It strives to create a sleek experience, and I find it easy to create a Notebook in the app for entire classes and then individual Notes for students. It is easy to update my conferencing notes, they are automatically backed up in cloud storage, and the ability to link files from the G Suite directly into Notes means that EverNote can also serve as a student portfolio.

Technology Out of Milk.png — Out of Milk

When my wife and I are listing our grocery shopping for the week, this is the to-do list app that I go-to. I like how it syncs between phones and has a clear system of organization, as well as a history function. While I do use it for grocery shopping, I find it most useful for taking care of those classroom to-do lists that can get overwhelming without a digital tool.

Technology+Do+It+Now.jpg — Do It Now

The reason that I use this app is that it is nerdy. First, I get to creatively name classroom tasks (ex: going to the library becomes “borrowing from the House of Wisdom”). Second, I get to build a character and reward XP points based on tasks (ex: grading papers increases my “communication” and “responsibility”). A few students have also gotten into using it; however, it is definitely a niche app.

Tech Classroom Organization Finger Chooser.png — Chwazi Finger Chooser

This is the modern day version of "rock, paper, scissors" for deciding who goes first during a class presentation or who will randomly take the facilitator role during a table discussion. It is surprising just how many times this app can simplify and streamline the decision making process in a classroom. Plus, it's fun!

More Information

F1. 21st Century Reading

F2. Assessment Sites

F3. Curriculum Sites

F4. Design for Students

F5. Design for Teachers

Currently Viewing

F7. Student Expression

F8. Studying Tools

Educator Portfolio

Educator Portfolio

F6. Organization Tools

Educator Portfolio

F6. Organization Tools

More Information

Educator Portfolio