X
Government

50 resources for using tech in the modern classroom

A roundup of educational articles, apps and tutorials for educators looking to integrate technology into the classroom, updated for 2014.
Written by Charlie Osborne, Contributing Writer
student-asleep-keyboard-back-to-college-tech-zaw21-620x342

The aim of technology may be to make processes more efficient and to expand our horizons, but unless used appropriately, it can also make life unnecessarily complicated. In the classroom, teachers are more and more often expected to show innovative and progressive thinking by integrating technological solutions into their lessons — but starting out isn't easy. From learning how to scour YouTube for clips to working out which photos and files can be used under fair copyright terms, while trying to keep up with standard workloads, invigorating lessons with technology can fall by the wayside.

To help teachers out, and given the popularity of ZDNet's last iPad in the classroom roundup, here is an updated, fresh list of tutorials, apps and software to transform your work-life balance and the student experience in today's modern classroom.

Tutorials:

1. The Teacher’s Guides To Technology And Learning, Edudemic

2. The Center for Implementing Technology in Education

3. What is the wired classroom?

4. 12 easy ways to use tech in the classroom

5. Tablets and SEN students

6. Help! I'm a Teacher -- How Do I Get into Education Technology?

7. Teacher's guide to Copyright and Fair Use Issues

8. Beginners' guide to using technology in language lessons

9. Teacher's manual to a paperless classroom

10. 6 considerations when launching a class Twitter account


Apps, services for teachers

11. Google for Education: Teacher Academy

12. Google Apps for Education suite

13. Apple iTunes University

14. iPad app resources

15. STEM lesson: MIT app inventor

16. Planboard lesson planning

17. iOS lesson planning | iOS/Android

18. Online lesson plan generators | Single, simple paperwork generator

19. The teacher's corner

20. AppInventor course-in-a-box


How do I use...?

21. Smartboards? Nine videos on using interactive whiteboards effectively | Lesson plans | Whiteboard animations guide

22. Handheld devices, clickers?

23. Tablets, smartphones, laptops? Tablets for schools | Tablets, laptops and mobiles in the classroom: top tips from teachers

24. Video and media? TeacherTube | Video tips

25. The Internet? Webquests -- How, when and why. | Internet safety cheat sheet

26. Presentations? Tips for design and delivery


Teaching about digital citizenship:

27. As the online and physical blur, digital citizenship is now paramount

28. The importance of teaching digital citizenship

29. Digital citizenship resources

30. Digitalcitizenship.net


Additional resources, software and hardware guides:

31. The Raspberry Pi: A teacher's guide

32. Raspberry Pi worksheets + lesson plans

33. Gamification and learning

34. Free technology for teachers

35. Grant Wrangler K-12: Look for technology-based grants for your classroom


Talks and teacher chat

36. TED talks: Lectures, papers and discussion on today's subjects

37. TED talks for inspiring teachers

38. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

39. Educause: Conferences, training and publications

40. Classroom 2.0


Tips, tricks and lesson plans:

41. Discovery Education

42. Technology enhanced lesson plans

43. Teach-nology, free lesson plans and guides

44. 10 things every teacher should know how to do with Google Docs

45. The teacher's guide to wearable tech in the classroom

46. 50 resources for iPad use in the classroom

47. 50 QR code resources for the classroom

48. Class tech tips

49. National Teacher Training Institute

50. International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

Read on: In the world of ed-tech

Editorial standards