Titan Tech Tips has Moved -- http://bit.ly/cen10techtips

In case you haven't noticed, Titan Tech Tips is now Cen10 Tech Tips located at bit.ly/cen10techtips. It still has all of the CHS specific content you've always found on the site but has the new Google Sites look. 

New Google Sites

Recently Google changed Sites completely. It now looks "prettier" and is easier to create but for now it has also lost a small amount of functionality. Take a look at Control Alt Achieve's post on The New Google Sites to learn more. 

Grammarflip

Teachers can register on GrammarFlip for free and create online classrooms in which they can track their students’ progress on the lessons they have completed.  The concise tutorials are designed to engage students and grab their attention while allowing pause and playback at any time.  Students are awarded virtual badges when they successfully reach certain milestones to build confidence and provide encouragement.  GrammarFlip can be used with any computer, tablet or mobile device connected to the Internet.

Learn more by visiting GrammarFlip’s website!

Rubric Creators

FreeTech4Teachers put together this list of 3 Good Tools for Creating Rubrics. He mentions Rubistar, Quick Rubric, and Online Rubric. Read his article for more details on each.

You might also look into the Google Add-on Orange Slice: Teacher Rubric and accompanying Student Rubric (students can rate peer's work). 

Random Name Pickers and Group Making Tools

If you're looking for Random Name Pickers or Group Making Tools, check these out...

Google Drive Options

You can make a copy of a Google Sheet that will do this for you here: Article with directions

You can use Flippity.net to create one as well: Article with directions

There is also a Google Template for generating groups: Google Template

Website Options

There is a website (www.classtools.net/random-name-picker) that lets you input names and spin a virtual wheel to have a name randomly selected from the list.  After a name is selected you can remove it from the wheel so that it is not selected again.  This website is free to use and doesn’t require registration to use.  You can save your lists by assigning passwords to them.  You can re-use your saved lists.
The Random Name Picker was written in HTML5 so that it will run in the browser of your iPad too.
This could be a fun way to select the order in which students will present to classmates.

The website (instantclassroom.com) has several tools for teachers, but it does require a free account. 
The good thing is that once you’ve created your class lists, you can use them in all of their applications which include a SeatingChart Maker, RandomName Generator, and even a ClassroomGroup Maker.

This works in the browser of all devices too!

App Options

As far as apps go, I personally like things that can be used across platforms, but here is a list of installable iTunes apps that can be used for this purpose.  Many of the apps, unlike the websites above, are sadly not free:  Student Selector & Grouping Apps

Kagan also has several tools in iTunes (Name Selector, Student Selector, Timers, and Spinners).  Naturally, these are also paid.: www.kaganonline.com/apps

Here are two free apps for Android: 
Group Picker Express
Random Student Picker

TechTator Pinterest Page

Just a reminder to everyone that the DLCs in the district have created a Pinterest board with app and website suggestions divided into folders for easy location: www.pinterest.com/techtators

There is also always the old popsicle in the jar. 

Thanks to Kristy McCoy (DLC for Pioneer Heritage and Stafford) for compiling this list!

Graphite's Top Picks for Persuasive and Argumentative Writing

Common Sense Media's Graphite

Apps, Games, and Websites for Persuasive and Argumentative Writing

  

These products include skills-builders, practice tools, and writing communities, all of which help students -- especially those in middle and high school – understand the mechanics and art of crafting writing that communicates a point well.

LucidChart's New Presentation Mode

LucidChart is a mind mapping tool that recently added a presentation feature.

Check out Richard Byrne's (Free Tech 4 Teachers) tips for educational uses.

To access LucidChart, 

- Click New à More à Connect more apps…

- Search for and add LucidChart

- Click New à More à LucidChart

- New documents will show up on your Drive list.

32 Innovative (Free) Online Educational Tools in 2015

Check out Noodle's list of 

32 Innovative (Free) Online Educational Tools in 2015. 

Desmos: Explore Math

Desmos

What it is: Desmos is an incredibly fast online calculator that can graph any imaginable function. It also allows users to add sliders, do regressions, and plot whole data tables, among other things.

Who would love it: Anyone learning math, from middle and high school through graduate school and beyond. Also great for teachers.

Why it’s good: Desmos can be used on any computer or tablet, completely free of charge, and does not even require a download. It seamlessly creates beautiful visual representations and animations, and it allows users to save and share graphs they've created. Desmos makes complex math — whether theoretical or applied — fun, interactive, and accessible.

Why it’s relevant: For many students and math enthusiasts who can't afford graphing calculators, Desmos is leveling the playing field. It is also, in Tech Crunch's words, "platform-agnostic" — so anyone with a computer or tablet can use it anytime. In addition, Desmos is supporting the push toward online textbooks and leading many students to spend their free time creating cool graphs and cultivating a love of math — something that's especially crucial given the growth in STEM-related careers.

Something you didn’t know: The site has an engaging series of classroom activities for teachers. One of these is the Function Carnival, which enables students to watch a video, create a graph, and have that model transformed into an animation. Another is Des-Man, in which students do math artistically — they draw faces with graphs by using domain and range restrictions.

Top Tech Tools for Formative Assessment

Common Sense Media's Graphite put together their list of Top Tech Tools for Formative Assessment.

**Note: Infuse Learning is unfortunately closing doors in the coming weeks so skip that one. 

There is also an online BYOD Assessment Tools workshop that you can take this summer. Sign up for either Mon, June 15 - Mon, June 29 or Mon, July 27 - Mon, Aug 10

Top Test Prep Apps and Websites

Common Sense Media: Graphite's Top Test Prep Apps and Websites

Some are free, some are paid.

Take a look and share with your students!

Wordmark.it

Wordmark.it quickly shows you how a word or phrase looks in each of the fonts loaded on your computer. 

Tech & Learning's Top 100 Sites & Apps of 2014

Tech & Learning's Top 100 Sites & Apps of 2014

Keep in mind, not all of these are free.