One of the essential components for change in international schools is the use of digital tools to promote learners agency. Having said that, I've compiled five digital tools which are not only adjustable but also able to support ALL learners need.
1. Rewordify
Rewordify is a free and user-friendly online tool that can help learners read words easily. It can simplify difficult English texts, teach words for better vocabulary and help teachers save time and produce engaging lessons.
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| Go to rewordify.com, enter a difficult English text and click 'Rewordify text'. |
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| Highlighted parts of speech for grammar lessons. |
Difficult words changed to easier ones.
Example of a printable activity.
2. Google Image-Tools
Support comprehension with images using Google images-tools. It makes image searching quicker, easier and customized for your learners' need. Images can be filtered by sizes, colours, types and usage rights, amongst others.
3. Read and Write
Read and Write walk-through.
How to get the Free Teacher Subscription to the Read&Write?
Please note if you have had the free 30-day trial version of Read&Write for Google Chrome and it has expired, skip the first step, uninstall the extension, sign up for the teacher subscription as in step 2, and then re-install the extension.
Support comprehension with images using Google images-tools. It makes image searching quicker, easier and customized for your learners' need. Images can be filtered by sizes, colours, types and usage rights, amongst others.
Click on the tools.
Filtered by colour.
Read&Write for Google Chrome™ is an extension that provides personalized support to make documents, web pages and common file types in Google Drive more accessible. It’s designed to help everyone engage with digital content in a way that suits his/her abilities and learning styles. Some of my favourites and often used are Text and picture dictionaries, Text-to-speech and Vocabulary.
First, get a free trial via the Chrome Web Store. The Read&Write for Google Chrome 30-Day free trial includes access to ALL features. After having installed the trial, sign up to get free Premium Teacher Subscription here.
Please note if you have had the free 30-day trial version of Read&Write for Google Chrome and it has expired, skip the first step, uninstall the extension, sign up for the teacher subscription as in step 2, and then re-install the extension.
4. Kiddle search engine
Kiddle is a visual search engine designed for kids, therefore offering safe kid web, image, video search and kids-friendly texts. This should be a better option for young learners to protect them from inappropriate materials as its results are vetted by editors.
5. Anything to QR
These days, almost everyone demands quick response for everything, hence the QR code popularity. Anything to QR allows you to generate url of the current page, any text/image/link on the page. You will see anything to QR code icon at the top right corner once you've added it to chrome. By clicking on the icon, a QR code for that page generates in seconds or you could also right click on an image and then choose generate QR code from the drop-down menu.
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| Anything to QRcode from Chrome Web Store. |
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| Once the extension is added, you'll be able to see the icon on the top right corner of your toolbar. |
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| Right-click on the image and choose to generate QRcode from the menu. |
QR codes can be used in a variety of ways; a quick share of a link to a video, website or an image to support learning, make it fun in a game-based lesson such as breakout or print and stick the QR code (linking to a relevant tutorial or resources) in their text or notebook for a more personalized learning.
There are thousands of digital tools which have amazingly transformed the learning pattern in the international school. Start using some of it and prepare to see increased student engagement and participation. Have a great week ahead. Ciao!
