ClassTools.net

I just love ClassTools.net.  Every time I visit their website, there is something new and useful to integrate into my classroom.  Besides offering safe ways for students to practice using social media, the tools often include widgets so that they can easily be added to a class blog.

The latest addition to classtools.net is a random name picker.  It's perfect for that first month of school when students are still feeling apprehensive about sharing their work and teachers are still learning their students' names.  This tool allows teachers to manually type or copy and paste names into a list that will then generate a wheel that can be "spun" with the click of a mouse.  After landing on a name, the teacher can choose to remove that name to avoid duplication.  The teacher can set it up so that once a name is selected, a timer will go off in either two minutes or seven minutes.  Perfect for classmates sharing quick presentations and ensuring that everyone will get a turn within the allotted time.

I have decided to try it out in my class of young entrepreneurs.  Students are creating and sharing inventions using the ScratchJr. app.  The students are proud of their creations resulting in a lot of enthusiasm for wanting to share.  Delegating the order of presentations to the computer is not only a huge time saver but discourages any disagreements about who gets to go next.  No one argues with the computer.  It will also help me keep track of who has not yet shared.   Not to mention, everyone enjoys feeling like they are on The Price is Right every now and then!