Peer Review

Free Technology for Teachers

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Overview:: Free Technology for Teachers is a blog written by Richard Byrne that includes various free resources and lesson plans for teaching with technology.
Type of Material:: Collection
Recommended Uses:: The content could be leveraged to teach almost any type of lesson, from a step by step, to more abstract concepts. The technologies covered by the blog are of all types and are free. The resulting content generated by the various technologies could be used in-class, offered online, just about any setting where the student has access to a computer.
Technical Requirements:: Internet access. Use of a graphical browser for videos.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Be aware of up-to-date free websites and resources for use in learning. Apply educational technology in the classroom. Use iPad and/or android apps for learning. Be aware of cost-based courses and summer camps the author offers.
Target Student Population:: The targeted population is teachers and instructors.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Educators with some familiarity with educational technology will gain more especially if they own either an iPad or android mobile device. Newcomers will get a sense of what's possible.

Rating:
Strengths:: The blog offers tutorials on a range of online tools which could be adapted to almost any teaching level and for just about any subject matter. Suggested resources and tips are creative, varied, and useful. The author is obviously enthusiastic about this topic. Blog posts are added almost daily - several on some days. They span and are organized into grade levels from pre-k to university. In addition, there are links to other pages of the author's work: iPad Apps for School, Practical Ed Tech, Android 4 Schools, Google Tutorials, Alternatives to YouTube, Free Guides. A newsletter subscription is available to some of these.
Concerns:: None seen.

Rating:
Strengths:: Any tool is only as good as the person using it, but with a little imagination, even non-technically inclined teachers could certainly manage the tutorials and turn out interesting media for their courses or classes.
Concerns:: Each resource and tip stands alone; there is no integration a concepts or other concepts. Nor are there learning objectives outside of the general one of helping educators be aware of tech tools and tips. Prerequisite knowledge is not identified. Advertising is omnipresent.

Rating:
Strengths:: Navigation is consistent and easy. Organization of the site is clear. Pages are cheerful and broken into effectively-sized areas. It is visually appealing and engaging. Interactivity is inherent in the site and the resources discussed.
Concerns:: None known.

Other Issues and Comments:: The blog assumes that the user has a minimum knowledge of computing (approximately to the level of using a word processor), but otherwise no known issues.
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