Bubbl.us is a simple and free web application that lets you brainstorm online.
Why UDL?
Brainstorming is an effective way to plan and strategize, and Bubbl.us allows students to do this in a collaborative way.
While conducting research online, Zoho notebook allows you to highlight useful text or images and then save the information directly into the notebook.
Why UDL?
The amount of information available online is overwhleming. Zoho Notebook's ability to aggregate useful information into one document is an effective way to manage information and resources.
In this article, the author describes the use of "Learner Diaries" in order to "see each student as an individual with individual needs and abilities" and "to develop a 'one-to-one' relationship even with large classes of students."
Why UDL?
The use of "Learner Diaries" in the classroom is an effective way to develop students' self-reflection and assessment skills.
ESOL Online has a helpful list of strategies for activating prior knowledge that are useful for multilingual or monolingual classrooms.
Why UDL?
The strategies listed on the ESOL site, such as concept maps, KWL charts, and graphic organizers, are effective examples of ways to activate and supply students' background knowledge.
"Skype allows you to make free calls over the internet to other people on Skype for as long as you like, to wherever you like."
Why UDL?
Skype is another powerful example of a tool that can be used to foster collaboration and communication among students across classrooms, districts, states, and countries!
Quizlet is a lightning fast way to memorize vocabulary lists. It's like flashcards, but much more fun and interactive.
Why UDL?
Creating flash cards is a method to support memory and transfer through the process of creating a visual or textual reminder of information. This process is likely to be most effective when intentional strategies, such as using mnemonic devices are understood by students and developed though practice.
Starfall is a free learn-to-read website. It contains various interactive activities and games related to the essential components of early reading. Primarily designed for first grade, Starfall is also useful for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and second grade.
Why UDL?
Designed for early readers, Starfall features activities and games that build decoding skills such as the pairing of sounds with letters and letter combinations.
Use Webspiration to map out ideas, organize with outlines and collaborate online with teams or colleagues.
Why UDL?
Implementing Webspiration's array of visual thinking models into the classroom is an effective way to guide students' information processing.
Shahi is a visual dictionary that combines Wiktionary content that includes a definition and examples of word use in a sentence as well as images from flickr, google, and yahoo that correlate with the specified word.
Why UDL?
Shahi offers image cues as well as a text based definition to increase depth of vocabulary knowledge.
Wikipedia is a free, web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia project supported by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation.
Why UDL?
Wikipedia offers its content in 41 different languages to reach a broad audience. Use the site for a multilingual audience or compare entries in different languages to develop vocabulary and syntax in a foreign language.
Use this site to create, share, publish, and read digital books that engage and support diverse learners according to their individual needs, interests, and skills.
Why UDL?
Book Builder books can include text, images, and audio, providing options for authors and multiple points of access for readers.
Online calculators that can handle a range of mathematic and financial equations. Very easy to use and navigate.
Why UDL?
Calculators are one way of providing options in the tools available to students for problem solving.
No-Keys is a computer software program that displays an on screen keyboard, also known as a virtual keyboard (a picture of a computer keyboard on the screen). Users can "type" on this onscreen keyboard using a moUse, trackball, or similar pointing device.
Why UDL?
The different options for "typing" (moUse, trackball, etc.) are great examples of options in the mode of physical response.
The TechMatrix is a powerful tool for finding educational and assistive technology products for students.
Why UDL?
Use the TechMatrix search engine as a resource to find the assistive technologies that provide options in the mode of physical action.
Animoto provides tools for making videos by using animation to pull together a series of images and combining with audio. Animoto videos or presentations are easy to publish and share.
Why UDL?
Making a video presentation by combining music and images is another creative way through which students can express their ideas.