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iPad app for digital storytelling "A Novel Idea is the premier tool for plotting your story and recording bursts of inspiration. Use its simple interface to create your characters, locations, scenes, and novels and then link them together to create your story's plot. Use the Idea feature to quickly jot down your creative sparks, snap pictures and link them to your story elements. "

Cyber safety interactive from the FBI

great resource to find good digital tools for K-12

Freemium MEOGRAPH, the interactive storytelling tool which proved best in show at EdSurge's Inaugural Teacher Tank, has released a new set of premium features aimed specifically at educators. Meograph's core functionality -- story creation through maps, timelines, web links, and multimedia -- is still 100% free, but the new licensed features remove some of the practical barriers to classroom-wide implementation. They include a classroom management tool that lets teachers view student content in a single place (addressing direct feedback from one of our teacher sharks!), privacy options for sharing with groups or individuals, and privacy-compliant registration for users under the age of 13. Plans start at $19.99/year for up to 40 students. 

Free! THINKING WORLDS is a drag-and-drop 3D scene builder and visual programming editor that allows non-coders to build immersive gaming experiences and simulations. It appears more suited for creating virtual training exercises in large organizations, but with a free developer license it should provide a sufficient challenge for the ultra-techie educator. Beware. This is more of a summer project than weekend quick pick -- just imagine the learning curve if there were Scratch controls for every movement in Sim City. But if you're up to the task, there's still time to join this recently started MOOC on gameification. After all, a tool is only as good as the outcomes it makes possible.

connect with students at other schools through blogging rotations

"Tynker is a new computing platform designed specifically to teach children computational learning and programming skills in a fun and imaginative way. Tynker is inspired by Scratch from MIT. It is a completely browser-based implementation written using Open Web standards such as Javascript, HTML5, CSS3 and does not use Flash."

Great wiki with information on edcamps around the world, as well as how to get started wtih one in your district or campus.

"Learn the basics of programming by helping blueFuzz and his family navigate the Technomazes on planet Smeeborg!"

Digital media resources for teachers

"The academic digital portfolio is an excellent way to keep an archive of a student's work and achievements in school. It is important to begin this assignment early in the school year so that the students can keep documents and digitize their work throughout the term or year. The goals of the lesson are to familiarize them with the concept of digital portfolios, to have them discover the common elements of a digital portfolio and to ultimately to create a digital portfolio of their own. "

Find resources to help integrate technology across the curriculum.

Free coding clubs for kids

"LEGO® Education offers solutions from preschool to university, offering STEM and humanities related products along with digital tools, comprehensive teacher guides and activity packs."