Here are 12 Amazing Tools to add to your EdTech Utility Belt. This was presented at Instructurecon 2014 #INSTCON #BetterEd. For more information and other app, widgets, and gadgets surf to PROFESSORJOSH.COM or follow me on Twitter @ProfessorJosh.

1. 12 AMAZING TOOLS TO ADD TO
YOUR EDTECH UTILITY BELT
by Josh Murdock @PROFESSORJOSH
E
D
T
E
C
H
@PROFESSORJOSH
#EdCampMagic

2. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando

3. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
So#Chalk – www.so#chalk.com
• E-­‐Learning solu:on that makes it easy for educators to engage
with students with interac:ve online lessons.
• Easy (without knowing HTML) create content by mashing up text,
media, interac-ve ac-vi-es, and quizzes.
• Example Lesson: Introduc:on to the Human Body
• So#Chalk eBook Builder
• Frame-­‐free lessons with HTML5-­‐compliant content
• Add Google Analy:cs
• Media libraries, including Khan Academy and GeQy Images
• Fluid layout that adjust to any screen size

5. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
Reflector 2 – www.reflectorapp.com
Let’s you demo, present, play games, and watch movies on a PC or Mac
by Airplay what is on your iPad or iPhone.
• So#ware installed on your PC or Mac
• Just Airplay is needed on your iPad or iPhone
• Both devices on same Wi-­‐Fi
• Ability to record, with device frames, audio, and full video
• Mirror mul:ple devices on one computer
• Ability to password protect access
• Works with Google Cast, AirPlay, Air Parrot 2

7. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
DragOnTape – www.dragontape.com
A collabora:ve online video merging
service in which you can cut and mix
YouTube videos and Soundcloud clips
easily in a sharable and embeddable
online tool.
Web – iPad -­‐ iPhone

9. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
Animoto – www.animoto.com
Example Instructurecon 2013
Animoto is a online and mobile video crea:on
service u:lizing photos, video clips (10 second
clips), words, and music in a simple produc:on.
U:lize content on your Facebook, Instragram,
Smugmug, Flirkr, Desktop, and more.

11. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
Magisto – www.magisto.com
Automa:ze way to edit video and photos into
a video with music and effects in minutes.
Using AI technology to analyze, trim, and edit
the best parts of the video.
Web – iPhone – iPad – Android
Example: Instructurecon 2013

13. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
Powtoon – www.powtoon.com
Powtoon is a cheap, but a fun-­‐filled and easy way of
crea8ng presenta8ons and animated movies. Using
templates and built in voice elements you can have
a product demo, feature walk-­‐through, or marke8ng
pitch without any equipment and talent at all.
Various plans available: FREE to $57 a month
hQp://www.powtoon.com/edu-­‐home/

15. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
Educrea:ons – www.educrea:ons.com
• iPad App – limited FREE – Used to record on the
fly tutorials using sketches with voice recording
• Blank Background
• Mul:ple Images
• Mul:ple Color Markers
• Easy to Share

16. hQp://www.educrea:ons.com/lesson/view/unit-­‐9-­‐the-­‐gas-­‐laws/730991/

17. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
Voki – www.voki.com
• Create and post avatars anywhere online
• Uses text to speech, uploaded audio files, voice
recordings, or phone recordings
• FREE for basic characters and scenes up to 60
seconds in length
• Voki Classroom $30 a year – addi:onal scenes &
characters up to 90 seconds in length, plus ability to
add lessons, no student registra:on, and can leave
feedback for students.
• Voki Presenter & Teacher

18. hQp://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=6593803&height=400&width=300

19. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
Clipping Magic – www.clippingmagic.com
• Web based tool to easily remove backgrounds
from images in seconds.
• Great for eLearning, presenta:ons, and website
development.
• Simple steps (less complicated than Photoshop)
• Affordable op:ons (was free)

21. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
Screen Cast-­‐o-­‐Ma:c –
hQps://screencast-­‐o-­‐ma:c.com/
• Screencas:ng made simple through your web
browser without installing any so#ware
• Record screen selec:on chosen along with
narra:on from your microphone.
• Easy to share on TwiQer, YouTube, or Download as
MP3 file
• Screencast are public unless upgraded to a
business plan

23. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
Audacity – www.audacity.sourceforge.net
• FREE open source, cross-­‐plaoorm audio recording and
edi:ng so#ware
• Record live audio
• Convert taps and records into digital recordings
• Edit WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP2, MP3 sounds files
• Cut, copy, splice, or mix sounds together
• Change the pitch or speed of a recording

24. Fluency -­‐ Students can record their voices and
listen to check their intona:on and
pronuncia:on.
Foreign Language -­‐ Teachers can record
proper pronuncia:on of a foreign language
so students can listen and prac:ce.
Students can record and listen to see if
they are using proper ar:cula:on.
Reading poetry aloud to hear
rhythm and rhyme
Podcas6ng -­‐ Use Audacity to record a "show"
to inform others about class news, current
events, and areas of interest.
Audacity is a free open source so6ware
program that is used to edit, record or listen to
digital audio files.
hQp://audacity.sourceforge.net/

26. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
TouchCast – www.touchcast.com
Provides video produc:on features in both a desktop and app
environment, including robust composi:ng engine, mul:-­‐camera
support, video import, and hot spot crea:on.
• Camera: Switch cameras, built in teleprompter, adjust focus & mic
levels, import video
• Video: Embed website, 15 vApps, and polling
• Effects: Green screen, filters, and sound effects
• Whiteboard, Titles, and Themes
• Beta – iPad and Desktop

28. @PROFESSORJOSH #EdTechOrlando
www.PROFESSORJOSH.com
TwiQer: @ProfessorJosh
Facebook: facebook.com/professorjosh
Instagram: @ProfessorJosh
Email: josh@professorjosh.com