These are some of my go to apps and tools that I use in class with my students and to create various activities and resources. If you have any fun suggestions, let me know!
Student Response
GoFormative was another "find" during remote learning. I liked the variety of options it provides for assessing student learning. Students can use multiple choice, true and false, voice responses, matching and 'show their work' via drawing. It has been the main tool I use for assessments as well. It's very easy to use for both teachers and students. As a teacher perk, it syncs directly with most LMS and makes grading a breeze!
Edpuzzle has been incredibly useful to me during distance and remote learning. Initially I started using the free version, but decided to pay for it for the increased storage limits - I love it so much! Videos with built in questions spanning all subject areas are available to assign for students to assess their learning. For my purposes I found it a very useful tool for providing Spanish input for my students, even from a distance.
Flipgrid is a unique and easy tool to use in your classroom. One constraint is that it is mainly app based. I have my students download it on their own personal devices or use and ipad in the classroom to record their flipgrid videos. Students are required to make an account to use Flipgrid. I use Flipgrid to give my students a more low pressure situation when doing speaking activities. I also really like that you can have students respond to Flipgrids that are already posted and even share Grids out to others to view.
Games
Blooket is a new classroom favorite. It reminds me of Gimkit (discussed below) but with even MORE game options for students to choose from. My favorite part? It's free! Teachers can upload Quizlet sets for ease of use on Blooket. You can play 'live' with a class or assign it as homework, too. Similar to Gimkit, Blooket has some stratgey to it and therefore makes it a tool that is fun and useful for all students, regardless of if they are an A+ student or not. Given the choice between Gimkit and Blooket, lately, my students have been choosing latter!
Gimkit is a newer website in the last few years that is created by students, for students. It is fun, engaging and has amazing customer support and service. The creation of a Gimkit is very simple - you can upload already made lists from Quizlet or import your own lists. I mainly use it to work with vocabulary. One of my favorite affordances with Gimkit is that there is strategy with the game, so a student who is not the best at your content can master the strategy required and be a winner. Gimkit also caters to students and creates limited edition, coveted game modes that students can only play for a certain amount of time. Compared to when it first started out, Gimkit does cost money and is not a very viable option for classes if you do not pay for it. A similar and free counterpart would be Blooket (mentioned above).
Quizlet is a staple in my classroom. In class, I love to use the "live" game play style function that automatically randomizes students in groups. I also like the ability for students to use Quizlet on their own with the flashcard ability to prep for assessments. I only use the free version and find it perfect for my needs, but I know with the paid version you can track student usage and upload images among other features.
Quizziz is another fun formative app that I use in my classroom. This is one is an individual effort. Students do not work in teams. For that reason, I tend to make my Quizziz longer than I would make a game in Gimkit, Quizlet or Kahoot. Students enjoy Quizizz because there are different "memes" embedded into the game. (You can choose premade sets or make your own) Making the actual assessment itself is VERY easy, which is why it is a go to for me. You can search whatever topic you want to practice with students and choose from premade questions and copy and paste them directly into your quiz. Quiizz can also be assigned at home - I never assign them as required homework, but always will over them to students for another practice option.
Creation
Popplet is both available as a web-based and app based platform. It is a "mind mapping" tool that is very easy to use to create word webs. Images are easily uploaded and colors of the "popplets" can be changed (to a limited selection) as many times as you want. There are few constraints with Popplet - you can't change the font and in order to get more personalization, you do have to sign up and create an account.
ImgFlip is website that is a meme and GIF creator and generator. You can select pictures that are typically used to create memes, or you can upload your own picture to create a meme. It has easy share and download functions.
Infographics are fun tool to have students use to express information. I have used my fair share of different infographic design tools and found Infogram to be the most user-friendly. It is free, but the templates are limited compared to other options. With younger students or students that are less tech-experienced it would be a good option to use.
Animoto is web based app that allows you to design and create professional quality videos. You can insert pictures, videos, add music and do voiceovers. The free version is capable of quite a lot, but with the paid version you can have a watermark free video as well as a few extra options for music, backgrounds and photo options available. This is a very easy, fun to use app that would be great for a variety of projects for students.
Canva is my other suggestion for an designing tool. There is an infographic section, but there are also template options for Facebook banners, invitations, posters and just general design. Canva has a lot of free options and the designs students can make are of professional quality. However, this web based app platform can be bit more involved than something like Infogram, (if you want it to be!) so be aware that it could take a bit longer with the design process.
Google
I'm a big Google fangirl. My school is a Google School and we function using everything in the Google Apps for Education (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Drive, Meet, etc.) Below I am highlighting some additional google apps that I use that might be more non-traditional.
Google Jamboard is one of the newer tools available to educators in the GSuite. I like using Jamboard both synchronously and asynchronously with students because it lets them interact and demonstrate their thinking. Jamboard can be used in multiple creative and different ways (and the list keeps growing!) I use it mainly for student response/interaction with my students. You can use it both on a computer and as an app and you do NOT need to own the physical Google Jamboard device.
Google Expeditions is part of the suite from Google Apps for Education. Google has pre-created expeditions that you can use with students to explore (either in VR using Google cardboard OR just via large images on screens) certain pre-selected areas. My original constraint with Google Expeditions is that your choice was limited. However, with the creation of Google Tour Creator - you can now just create your own!
Google Tour Creator is an app that should be used in tandem with Google Expeditions. With Google Tour Creator, you can create your own "tour" of essentially any location in the world. Google uses images from Google Street view to help create your "tour". Once your tour is created, you may upload it into Google Expeditions to use with your students. I found Google Tour Creator to be very easy to use (assuming you are familiar with Google) the only constraint I found was that you need to use it with expeditions.