Online Quizzes meet EdCanvas

I have mentioned EdCanvas before and it's getting even better.  You can view my previous post on EdCanvas here, but in short it's a site that allows you to create one cohesive, visually appealing page with various resources imbedded in it.  You can embed videos, links, audio files, video files and documunts.

They have now come up with a new feature that allows you to create online quizzes right in the program.  This is great as you can get some feedback from the students as to how well they understand the material you are presenting.

Here is a short video that explains this new function!

Know any new science teachers (teaching for less than 5 years)

If you know any science teachers who have been teaching for less than 5 years I really encourage you to let them know about the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy. 

If you are selected you will get:

An opportunity to participate in a variety of web-based professional development activities, including web seminars

Unlimited use of resources including vetted web links for lesson plans, links to state and national standards, professional organizations, safety tips and more;

An opportunity to participate in New Teacher Center e-Mentoring for Student Success (eMSS) developed by NSTA, the New Teacher Center, and Montana State University that includes:

• e-Mentoring with an experienced teacher in the same science discipline and grade level;
• Facilitated online curriculum that focuses on science content and applicable classroom pedagogy;
• Access to a nationwide, online network of science educators and scientists that facilitate the exchange of information, ideas, and resources;

Accommodations, coverage of airfare, food, and registration fees to attend the NSTA national conference;

An opportunity to participate in specialized conference pathways and to participate in a Research Dissemination Conference or a Professional Development Institute

The trip the NSTA conference is enough of a reason to apply, but all of the extra are fantastic for any new teacher.  Please help spread the word about this great program!

Build your own Ed Tech application

If you are interested in building your own educational technology application, your wait it over.  Teech.io is looking for people to be beta testers with their new software.  It's not for everyone, but it can't hurt to sign up (it's free) and see what it's like.

Do you have idea for applications you would like to use with your students?  If you could have any application to use with your class, what would it be?



We'll do our best to give you access to the beta as soon as possible, but in the meantime, you can help us sharing your referral link http://teech.io/515c80f1a839e/share with your friends via email and/or on social networks.

Barrons Regents site - one subscription gets you access to all subject exams

I have been using Barronsregents.com for a few years now as I have found that they are the cheapest of the paid sites and they give you access to all of the regents exams (this means I don't need to pay twice for my Biology and Chemistry classes).

Right they are running a special and are giving 10% to people who register with a referral code from an existing member. I wanted to share my code with you in case anyone is interested in signing up. I like that I can go in and look at questions from any subject. (Colleagues have occasionally asked me to pull up a bank of questions for History or Math).

My referral code is 10116 and it will get you a subscription for one year for $33.29. As many school are looking into their budgets for the next school year, this might be something that you can put a Purchase Order in for.

They also have a function for students to get their own subscriptions so they can practice on their own. I don't know if the price is different than the teacher one, but I'm sure the referral code will give them a discount too.

April's Most Popular Posts and the most popular posts of all time

I've decided to do a monthly recap of the most popular posts in case that you missed them. Being that this is the first time I am doing this I am including the most popular posts of April and the most popular posts of all time!

Top 10 Most Popular Posts from April
1. Giving online quizzes or hw assignments
2. Problem Attic Update - More than just New York
3. Instantly grade multiple choice tests and quizzes ,
4. Creating a classroom supply or wishlist online
5. Plagiarism Tracker
6. QuestBase - create online and print test, quizzes and worksheets
7. EdCanvas - share multiple resources in one place
8. Instant Screencasts
9. Create an online supply list and get a free set of glue sticks
10. Going Google











Most Popular Posts of All Time





1. Online Textbooks





2. Instantly grade multiple choice tests and quizzes





3. Giving online quizzes or hw assignments





4. Online Planbooks





5. PDF to Word





6. Triptico - a little app that does a lot





7. Bill Nye Worksheets





8. Problem Attic - NYS Regents Questions Test and Worksheets





9. 19 Pencils





10. Google Drive

Going Google

I am very into Google and all of the ways I can use it in my classroom.  Google has these cute "goodies" that gives you some shortcuts for when you are searching.  With the push to create technology literate students, that includes doing research, knowing how to use search engines to their fullest is key.  These might be good to post on your website or print out and have accessible for students when searching the web.

QuestBase - create online and print test, quizzes and surveys

I just heard about a site that allows you to create tests, quizzes, survey and anything else you would need to create that has questions in it. It's called QuestBase. Right now it's still in Beta so not all of the feature are 100% yet, but from what I have seen I really like it. It is very simply to use and it allows you to give the quiz in two different way: you can create a pdf and print or you can have students take the quiz online. One of the feature that really sold me on this (because I've been a big Google Forms person for quizzes) is the ability to add in pictures. This was one of the thing that held me back when creating quizzes for my Chemistry classes. Don't get me wrong, I love Google for so many things, but creating online quizzes is one area where it's not the best. QuestBase seems like a good solution to problem of not being able to add pictures. In addition, I like that you can randomly rearrange both order of the questions and the order of the answers.

Do you have a great program you use to create tests? Do you give your tests online?