12 Ways to Create Quizzes and Tests for Free

 With budgets being cut left and right, teachers are trying to find ways to administer quizzes and tests without exceeding their copy limit at school. (A ream of paper for the entire year??) I'll admit that it's hard to find a lot of truly "free" programs online which offer grading and statistics. My list also includes a survey app which can also be used for small quizzes. (20 question limit with free account)


If you have any suggestions, please share them.

Easy TestMaker - create multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, short answer and true and false questions all on the same test
eQuizzer-web-based quizzing program
FreeOnlineSurveys- create a test with up to 20 questions
GoogleDocs- here is a sample test
Create a Quiz Using Google Forms- from Richard Byrne of Free Technology for Teachers





How to Create a Quiz with Excel
MasterTest- create online tests as well as download and take the test without connecting to the Internet
QuizStar -Manage classes and quizzes, attach multimedia files to questions, make quizzes in multiple languages
ProProfs Quizmaker- Create tests & exams. Distribute securely with automatic grading & reporting.
Testmoz- Generate automatically graded online tests with 4 questions types
That Quiz- find math, science vocabulary and geography quizzes;you receive complete test results including all grades and wrong answers.
Wondershare Quizcreator Free- download required
Zoho Challenge- 100 test papers/month, tests are always public, 1 question bank

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All About Podcasting: 82 Sites Which Will Show You Everything You Need to Know

ABOUT PODCASTING
Apple in Education Podcast Guide
Beginner's Guide to Podcast Creation
How Podcasting Works- from How Stuff Works

How to Create Your Own Podcast- step-by-step tutorial
How to Podcast- Audacity tutorials

Making a Podcast- using iTunes to create a podcast

Podcasting- explained by K12 Handhelds
Podcasting Basics- from Teaching Today

Podcasting in the Classroom- includes guide, iPods in education, a large list of resources for creating podcasts in the classroom and more

Podcasting Legal Guide- from Creative Commons
Podcasting: Tips for Teachers
Podcasting Tools- instructions on how to produce a podcast

Poducate Me- "HowTto" guide is downloadable as a pdf

Sample Video Podcasts- from HS science teacher 
Ten Ways to Use the iTunes/Podcast in the Classroom - from Michael Zimmer's Pursuit of Technology Integration blog
Top 40 Podcasts for Teachers

PODCASTING TOOLS
Audacity- free cross-platform sound editor

Blubrry- podcast community and directory; hosting
Evoca- create and share digital voice recordings 
Gabcast- record and post to your blog or website

MyPodcast.com- free podcast hosting and directory
PodBean-"407,908 PODCASTERS, 1,880,627 EPISODES, 178,593,437 DOWNLOADS AS OF TODAY."
Podomatic- create or listen to podcasts

Power Sound Editor Free

WavePad Audio Editing Software- for Macs

Wavosaur Free Audio Editor

ART AND MUSIC
Art History- produced by LearnOutLoud, this podcast is narrated by Antonia Bath. Each podcast is about 2-6 minutes long.
Museum Podcasts- Smithsonian American Art Museum
National Gallery of Art Podcasts
Pandora Podcast Series


BOOKS
Barnes and Noble Studio- video podcasts with writers
Book Lust- Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl interviews writers
Book Review- The New York Times
Books Available as Podcasts
Bookworm- showcases writers of fiction and poetry
Fireside Book Chat-"books for teens; reviews by teens"
Librivox- books in the public domain; very extensive list includes Shakespeare, Dickens, Aesop and Verne
The NewYork Review of Books
NPR Books
The Penguin Podcast-Penguin Books
Podiobooks-from fantasy to fiction, this site has loads of FREE books you can listen to in your spare time
Science Fiction Book Review Podcast
Slate's Audio Book Club


LANGUAGE ARTS
Booktalks- new and old books are covered here, as hosted by media specialist Nancy Keane
Grammar Girl's Quick & Dirty Tips for Better Writing- tips are 5-10 minutes; most topics are requested by listeners
Podcasting in Language Arts- ideas for the classroom
Podcasts in Language Arts
ShakespeareCast- the complete works of William Shakespeare, performed by the Los Medanos College, Antioch Classical Theatre Company and Antioch High School. 
What Should You Teach Your Students About Communicating Digitally?


MATH
Chisholm Math Minutes- podcasts from 8th grade teacher Mrs. Penner 
Classroom Professor Math Podcast-  sample podcast: Math in the Cemetery, Where is Zero on Earth?
Dan's Math Cast-for high school juniors and seniors, this podcast is produced by math professor Dan Bach; well done!
How to Integrate Podcasting into Science and Math Classes  
Math Podcasts- 6th grade student podcasts
Technology in the Math Classroom 
Using Podcast to Teach Math


PODCAST DIRECTORIES
Digital Podcast- around 40 categories

The Education Podcast Network- K-12 with 15 categories

Find Education Podcasts- list covers professional development podcasts, education podcasts

Podcast.com- podcasts from CNN, Grammar Girl, The Public Speaker, Yale University, Edutopia and much more
Podcast Alley

PodcastDirectory.com

PodcastDirectory.org
PodFeed- 19,000 podcasts


SCIENCE
Discovery Network Podcasts- you'll find Science Channel Video, Animal Planet Presents and Discovery Channel Video
Hidden Universe- episodes are 5 minutes long and transcripts are available; this podcast is presented by the Spitzer Space Telescope
How to Integrate Podcasting into Science and Math Classes 
Ideas for Podcasting in the Classroom
NASA Podcasts- for 9-12th graders
Podcasting in the Middle School Science Classroom
The Wild Classroom- biology podcasts


SOCIAL STUDIES
Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt- 15 chapters
Colonial Williamsburg
Medieval Studies
Mr. Carmichael's Social Studies Podcasts- covers American history, world geography and world history
Podcast Central: Social Studies- for middle school teachers
Room 613 Talk- 6th grade social studies class
Social Studies Podcasts- includes Free Speech vs Privacy, Digitizing History
Using "Easy" Podcasting in the Social Studies Curriculum

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Sparknotes Videos Illustrate the Classics

While assisting a teacher yesterday with videos to explain Lord of the Flies, I came across Sparknotes videos. I knew that Sparknotes offered study guides in 19 subject areas, with detailed information from biology to U.S. government and politics, but was also pleasantly surprised that they also have videos which look like the drawings in graphic novels. (Kids love those graphic novels!) With a listing of 26 videos, language arts teachers can find the classics which all students have to read at one time or another, including Of Mice and Men, Catcher in the Rye, Macbeth, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, The Scarlet Letter, 1984, Hamlet, King Lear and Julius Caesar. Here is a sample video of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness:

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Library of Congress Has So Much to Offer Teachers!

A few summers ago, I took a wonderful course called Teaching Information Literacy Using Primary Sources.Using The Library of Congress' American Memory Collection, I was exposed to an incredible amount of information, including photos, maps, journals, audio tapes and videos. The name of the course has recently changed, but the content seems to be the same and is still taught by Mary Alice Anderson. Check here if you are interested. This digital collection is constantly evolving, as new items are added all the time. The Library of Congress even has its own YouTube channel.

The teachers' section is filled with classroom materials, (lesson plans, themed resources) professional development, (online modules and more) a section on additional resources, ( slide shows from past LOC events, historic American newspapers, American Memory Timeline and more!) a blog entitled Teaching With the Library of Congress and so much more.

If you haven't checked out the Library of Congress yet, you must find time to explore this amazing resource!!

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Thousands of Science Fair Project Ideas! Find Them on These 25 Web Sites

Agricultural Ideas For Science Projects

All Science Fair Projects- this site boasts that it has "hundreds of science fair projects"; all grade levels

Animal Science Fair Project Ideas

Biology and Chemistry Science Project Ideas

Discovery's Science Fair Central- everything you need to get you started

Earthquake Related Science Projects- from the US Geological Survey

Free Science Fair Projects

IPL2 Science Fair Project Guide- step-by-step instructions

Make it Solar Science Fair Topics and Projects

Prepare For a Science Fair- lesson plan for grades 6-8 from HotChalk

Science and Energy Projects

Science Fair Adventure- projects cover every category of science including mathematics and computer science

Science Fair Primer- getting started tips

Science Fair Project Ideas- from Education.com; covers grades K-12

The Science Project- ideas for 7th and 8th graders

Science Fair Project Ideas- choose from lists of easy, medium and challenging projects

Science Fair Project Ideas With Solar Energy

Science Fair Projects- over 400 to choose from

Science Fair Resources- Science From Scientists

Science Fair Sanity- grades K-12 ideas for download

Science Kids Science Projects

ScienceBob- this site has loads of "science stuff," and you'll find ideas, videos, research and experiments

Science Buddies- currently 1,073 ideas grouped by area of science

Steps of a Science Fair Project- yup, step-by-step

Super Science Fair Projects

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Joyce Valenza at TEDxPhildelphiaED: See Sally Research

Teacher-Librarian Joyce Valenza teaches at Springfield Township High School in Erdenheim, Pa. In addition to her job there she also writes a blog for School Library Journal entitled The Neverending Search. Having met her her at this year's Edcamp Philly unconference, I am very impressed with her passion for her work and what she has done for all teacher-librarians. Here is a speech she made on September 5, 2011 at TEDxPhiladelphiaED.

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Guidance Counselors: Here Are 15 Web Sites Where Students Can Compare Colleges

College Board Matchmaker- over 3,900 colleges

College Finder-browse by location, major, degree; then compare

College Navigator- site maintained by the National Center for Education Statistics

College Prowler- compare colleges

College Results Online- compare colleges of your choice

CollegeSearch

College Search Engine-search by school directory, program directory or by state and compare

College Solved

Get Recruited- search technical, vocational and traditional colleges

Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges

Online Colleges- find and compare accredited online colleges

Peterson's- colleges & universities, online & continuing education

Princeton Review College Rankings

Student Advisor

U.S. News and World Reports College Search

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Have You Tried Backchanneling in Your Classroom? Why Not Try These 33 Web Sites and Videos!

Backchanneling: using networked computers to maintain real-time online conversation alongside live spoken remarks- Wikipedia

Several of the junior high school language arts teachers in my building have been using Edmodo with great success. It's great to see seventh graders excited about sharing ideas and communicating online. It doesn't hurt, of course, that Edmodo reminds the kids of Facebook.

5 Ways to Use Twitter to Avoid a Backchannel Disaster- from Mashable.com


7 Things You Should Know About Backchannel Communication

9 Tips for Enriching Your Presentations with Social Media- from Mashable.com


10 Observations About Backchanneling- written by David Warlick, an educator with the popular blog, 2 Cents Worth.

10 Reasons to Try Backchannel Chat

Back Noise - works with web browsers and iPhone, iPod and iPad


Backchanneling Explained- this video explains what takes place in a classroom using backchanneling:

Backchannel in Education-Nine Uses- written by Dr. Derek Bruff, who has an interest in teaching with clickers (his blog is all about this)


Backchannel Discussion- LiveBinder


Backchanneling in Grade 1- first grade teacher's blog post includes the video below:


Backchanneling in Middle School Social Studies

Backchanneling with Elementary School Students- written by educator Silvia Tolisano, whose Langwitches blog very popular


BackNoise- create conversations on the fly


Cacoo- collaborate on online diagrams

Chatzy-have your own private chat room simply by inviting people and giving them the URL

Donut Chat- filter words, manage many rooms and embed in your web site

Edmodo- classes can have their own micro blogging network; students can communicate in real time, teachers can post assignments, questions for discussion

Google Wave-invite people into a conversation, post any links you might have, see text in real time and use many gadgets Google has.


HootCourse-  take your class conversation online


Installing a Backchannel in My Classroom This Week- from Cool Cat Teacher Vicki Davis


Joint- group chat for Twitter (my school blocks Twitter, so this one is out for us..)


Kicking it Up a Notch: Back-channels in the Classroom- from K12 Online Conference


MeetingWords- real time collaborative text collaboration

MicroMobs- "name your mob" and "create your mob"; easily create your group discussion and share info, images, links etc.

Neat Chat- very easy site to use; simply enter the nickname and click "start group"; then email URL to people you want to invite.


Notaland- online collaboration

PinDax- take notes, upload images and chat in real-time; click here to see demo

Present.ly- allows you to create a private micro-blogging network if you have the same email domain; collaborate in real time


Scribblar- Multi-user whiteboard, live audio,image collaboration, text-chat and more:

Skrbl- interactive whiteboard allows you to chat, draw, write text in one spot


Today's Meet- create your room and collaborate in real time


Twiddla- online meetings; some accounts $$, one is free with limitations

Using Backchannels in the classroom

View more presentations from Richard Byrne

What is the Backchannel? 

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Why You Should Get to Know LiveBinders: Here Are 33 Examples For School Librarians (and Other Tech Geeks)

If you've never seen a LiveBinder, let me introduce you to them. LiveBinders are your 3-ring binders for the web. Think of them as resource links in a virtual binder. LiveBinders is offered for free and allows you to add as many tabs as you like to your binder. The following are mainly for my fellow teacher-librarians and media specialists, but there are several that many of you tech geeks should love. NOTE: This post will also be added to the page for Teacher-Librarians and Media Specialists.

All About Creative Commons and Copyright

Apps for Teachers and Students

Digital Citizenship Resources- all ages covered

Digital Curation for School Librarians and Other Tech Types

Digital Storytelling

Do You Read Me? - resources for elementary/middle school teachers

eBooks and Libraries

Edcamp: Do it Yourself Professional Development

Edmodo- Extending Learning Beyond the Classroom

An Educator's Guide to Twitter 

Evaluating a Web Site

Focus on the Future-Connecting Books and the 20th Century Reader

Free Stock Images

Google+ For Educators 

Google Forms-More Than Just Multiple Choice 

GoogleDocs

Infographics for Librarians, Educators and Other Cool Geeks

iPads in Content Areas

iPads in Schools

Just Say No to PowerPoint 

Library Toolkit- everything for the school librarian

Professional Organizations for School Librarians and Media Specialists

QR Codes in Education

Reference

Research Skills for History and Science Fair Projects

School Librarians and the Common Core Standards

Staying Safe Online

Technology Integration and 21st Century Learning

Technology Integration Resources

A "Top Ten" Teacher's Guide to Being a Cyber Hero- Web 2.0 tools

Web 2.0 Elementary Resource Kit

Web Quest Information

Write On! for Kids

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Games Add Fun To Any Classroom: Try These 14 Sites For Game Templates

Game Templates- editing required and add your own content

Game Templates for Teachers- includes Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Weakest Link and Twenty Questions

Games for the Classroom- many different PowerPoint games

Games for the Science Curriculum- includes Science Jeopardy, Science Bingo, Science Baseball, Science Pictionary

Jeopardy Games- long list covers elementary, middle school and high school and includes many curriculum areas

Jeopardy Labs- thousands of Jeopardy templates for various school subjects- browse or make your own

Math Jeopardy Games- covers grades 1-7

Parade of Games in PowerPoint- Bingo, what's the Truth, Scavenger Hunt and more

PowerPoint Activities- templates, games in subject areas, lessons

PowerPoint Games Templates- listing includes blank templates and games created with content

PowerPoint Games- nice listing includes Password, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Twenty Questions.

PowerPoint Jeopardy Games- created by 5th grade students

Templates and Pre-Made Games- nice listing includes Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Microsoft Word game boards

Vicki Blackwell's PowerPoint Templates for Teachers- loads of web site resources

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30 Websites Which Show the Pros and Cons of Social Networking and Students

Last year, one of our administrators asked me to compile a list of sites on pros and cons of social networking and students. The more information I gathered, the more I realized what an important post this would be for teachers. All of the infographics can also be found on the page I made for infographics. Here are  sites with information on the topic:

7 Ways to Fix Rude Tween Behavior

Anti-Bullying Programs- speakers for assemblies; online bullying surveys and more

The Benefits of Social Media for Teachers- from Richard Byrne, Free Technology For Teachers

Dr. Kowalski on Social Media- Professor in the Department of Psychology at Clemson University in South Carolina, and the author of Cyberbullying: Bullying in the Digital Ages.

Education 2.0: Social Networking and Education- infographic

How College Professors Use Social Media- infographic

How Does the World of Social Networking Compare to High School?- infographic

How Social Media is Reshaping College Admissions-infographic

How Texting Changes the Way Kids Communicate

How to Get Better Grades Using Social Media- infographic

How to Protect Your Teens From Dangers Posed by Social Media Sites

Is Social Media Ruing Students?- infographic

Kids and Social Networking: Pros and Cons- CNN Health

The New Risks for Teens in Social Networking Sites

An Open Letter to Teens: re Social Media

ProCon.org- about social networking

Problems With Social Networking and Teens

The Pros and Cons of Texting and IM- written by Kelley Loftis for TechLearning Magazine

Responsible Social Networking For Teens

Rules 'n Tools for Social Networking Sites- from Protectkids.com

The Secret Life of Kids Online- CNN

Social Media Finds a Place in the Classroom-USA Today report about New Milford H.S. Principal Eric Sheninger

The Social Media Stars of 2011

Social Networking and Bullying

Social Networking: Good For Children? - from the Cyberhood Watch web site

Social Networking Sites: Safety Tips for Tweens and Teens- from the Federal Trade Commission

Study Links Too Much Texting, Social Networking to Health Risks- from CNN

Why Social Media is Actually Good for Teens

Why Social Media is Good and Bad For Kids

Why Social Networks are Good for the Kids

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Infographics Page Updated

Several more infographics have been added by subject area.

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39 Sites For Using iPads in the Classroom

How Much Did Steve Jobs Change the World? You might be reading this on your iPhone, iPad or computer, but whether or not you have a Macintosh or a PC, Steve Jobs is responsible for so much of the technology we are using today. Did you know that Windows computers copied the drop-down window interface from Apple computers? Yes, all true. So today, when the power went out in the school and we couldn't get on the Internet, I noticed what an important part of my life technology has become. Talk about making a dent in the world. Jobs' legacy will live on in generations to come. Here are 39 sites for using one of Jobs' greatest innovations: THE iPAD.

5 Great iPad Apps For Early Childhood Teachers

10 iPad Apps Everyone Should Have- from PC Magazine

10 Must Have iPad Apps for Students and Teachers

10 Ways to Use iPads in Your Classroom

40 iPad Apps Librarians Love

40 Most Awesome iPad Apps for Science Students

50+ iPad Apps By a Geography Teacher

62 Interesting Ways to Use an iPad in the Classroom

100 Incredibly Useful and Free iPad Apps

Best Academic Reference Apps for the iPad- some $$, some free

A Day in the Life of the iPad Classroom

The Debate Over iPads in Education

Digital Storytelling with the iPad

An Incredible Way to Teach Music Using iPads in the Classroom- from Edudemic



Five Ways Readers Are Using iPads in the Classroom

Getting Started With iPads- site is constantly being updated

How to Access Over 30,000 Free Books For the iPad

How to Set Up Class iPads and iPods

iPad Apps- from Teach With Your iPad Wiki

iPad Apps for Kids in the Classroom

iPad Apps for Physical Education

iPad Apps for Social Studies- LiveBinder covers civics and government, geography and culture, U.S. history, world history.

iPad Resources I Can Use- comprehensive LiveBinder

iPads For Education

iPads in the Classroom- Kathy Schrock's web site

iPads in School- this blog is all about just that

iPads in Schools LiveBinder- comprehensive site

iPads in Science

Math That Moves: Embracing the iPad in the Classroom- New York Times

Mobile Learning 4 Special Needs

Pros and Cons of iPads in the Classroom- from Forbes Magazine

Quick List of iPad Resources For the Classroom- from Steven Anderson's blog

Road Show- Browse your favorite websites — Vimeo, Funny or Die, MSNBC, TED Talks, and thousands more — to find great videos.

ScreenChomp- app for the iPad; share lessons on your iPad

Snag Films iPad App- free full length documentaries

Top 20 iPad Apps for Teachers

The Ultimate Guide to Using iPads in the Classroom- from Cool Stuff For Nerdy Teachers

The Ultimate Guide to Using iPads in the Classroom- from Edudemic

Using My iPad in the Classroom This Year- the Nerdy Teacher

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Oh, How Young Kids Love Dinosaurs! Here Are 33 Web Pages About Dinosaurs

When I worked as a media specialist in an elementary school, the most popular section  was 567.9, the Dewey number for dinosaurs. Most of the time it was a boy who checked out the dinosaur book, although now and again a girl asked for one. I even had a kindergartener who only wanted books on dinosaurs. Week after week he took another book from the section until there were no more left for him to choose. Today, dinosaurs are still very popular in the elementary or middle school library. Here are some resources to get you started:

Best Books For Teaching About Dinosaurs- from Education World

Billy Bear's Land O' Dinosaurs- story with links

Books About Dinosaurs-books here for kids and teachers (reference books)

Books About Dinosaurs- from Barnes and Noble; reviews online

Child Dinosaur Books

Dinobuzz- current topics concerning dinosaurs

Dinosaur Central- Dino viewer from Discovery

Dinosaur Crafts- from Enchanted Learning

Dinosaur Floor- why dinosaurs are extinct

Dinosaur Games and Coloring Pages

Dinosaur Hall- The Academy of Natural Sciences

Dinosaur Lesson Plans- from Lesson Plans Page

Dinosaur Safari- The UnMuseum of UnNatural History

Dinosaurs: Fact or Fiction

Dinosaurs and Fossils Encyberpedia

Dino Dictionary- dinosaurs from A to Z

Dino Time Machine- fun, facts, books, toys

Dinobuzz- topics which concern dinosaurs

Dinodig-online games

Dinopedia- a wiki about prehistoric life

Dinosaur Clip Art

Dinosaur Crafts

Dinosaur Eggs Museum

Dinosaur Songs

Dinosaur Webquest

The Division of Paleontology- American Museum of Natural History

Enchanted Learning-lots of fun!

Great Dinosaur Books for Kids- from Amazon.com; reviews online

National History Museum- (England)

Printable Dinosaur Worksheets- from TeAchnology

Sue at the Field Museum- The largest, most complete, best preserved T. rex

Take a Closer Look at Bizarre Dinosaurs- interactive from National Geographic

Tyrannosaurus Rex Coloring Page

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