Classtools
Classtools is a free website that offers some useful tools you can use to add pizazz to your lessons.
Here are some of my favorites features on the site:
- The SMS text generator page lets you easily create an image of a phone displaying bubbles with SMS texts of your choice. Once you save it, you can print it as a single image onto paper, or you can share a unique URL with your students for them to see your pretend text dialogue appear line by line.
- The Fakebook page allows you to create a fake Facebook profile page.
- The Movietext page takes the text you enter, and uses it to create a StarWars-like movie intro.
- Fruit Machine is a random name or word generator. You enter a list of words and then click to start a slot machine type animation that spins around and then randomly stops on a word.
In Your Classroom
- Ask students to use the SMS text gernerator to create an imagined text conversation between two biblical characters.
- Students can use the fakebook page to design a profile page for a historical figure or hero.
- Use Movitext to introduce a new topic, provide writing prompts or even display students’ names at the beginning of the school year.
- Try out Fruit Machine the next time you need to randomly select a student for a task, or organize teams.
This is a “Technology Tuesday” post via Behrman House, edited by Ann D. Koffsky . You can find more Behrman House Technology Tuesdays here.
About
Debbie Harris is the director of educational technology at the Sager Solomon Schechter Day School in Northbrook, IL. Involved in Jewish education for over thirty years, she has an education degree from Northwestern University with a concentration in instructional media and a master’s degree in professional Jewish studies from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. She is skilled in using and teaching desktop publishing, video editing, presentation and animation software; and consults and presents regularly on integrating technology into Judaic studies. Her students podcast, blog, edit video and create claymations. She co-chaired the technology track for CAJE 33 in Vermont, is a SMART Certified Trainer for SMART Notebook, and a 2011 recipient of the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.
When not learning, teaching or writing about technology, Debbie likes to sketchnote and craft. She likes to knit, do calligraphy, sew, watercolor, paint fabric and just generally play with fun toys like scrapbooking supplies and anything with texture. Debbie travels to California every summer to paint tallitot with high school aged campers. Finally, she is incredibly proud of her two daughters; Lori, who teaches English at a community college; and Allie, who is the director of the URJ’s Camp Newman in California.
Look for her at:
Debbie Does Desktop
Flickr
Twitter
Diigo
YouTube
Ravelry
Email Debbie here
MuseForJews 