10 Tools Challenge

Visual Text Cloud

Here we are a couple of weeks into the new term and we are already asking our learners to try new things, take new risks, and learn new skills. Well, now is a good time for us to also look at increasing our skill set professionally.

Through Twitter I came across the “10 Tools Challenge” that I’d like to pass along to you all. The idea is that as part of your professional development plan for 2013 you learn 10 new technology tools. At a rate of about one a month, this sounds like a challenge that will be both manageable and rewarding. There are hundreds of tools out there that are valuable to educators and, perhaps, that hardest part of this challenge will be choosing the tools that will be most valuable to you professionally. Below I’m providing a few examples of tools that may fit the bill, organized by category. (The original challenge post also has a great list of options.)


What are your favourite tech tools? Let us know in the comments section below.

1. Internet Search - how to get the most out of the web
1. Google - how well do you know how to search? Google now offers training for educators on how to search more productively
2. Twurdy - search websites according to readability level. If your learners are expected to read at a Grade 7 level, lead them to websites that aren’t written for first-year university students.
3. Symbolab - use math symbols to search for equations and formulas
2. Social Networking - creating a professional learning community
1. Twitter - share resources and connect with other educators (or celebrities) in 140 characters or less
2. LinkedIn - showcase your work and professional achievements and connect with others in your field
3. Google+ - share and connect with others
3. Presentation
1. Prezi - an alternative to slideshows, create zoomable, multi-media presentations
2. Easel.ly - create your own infographics
3. Timetoast - create timelines with notes and images
4. Blogging - publish information and opinions online and connect with your audience
1. Blogger
2. WordPress
3. Edublogs
5. Screen Capture - record your computer screen as images or videos
1. Jing
2. Screencast-o-matic
3. Screenr
6. Mindmapping - a visual form of planning or organizing ideas and information
1. Mindomo
2. Spicynodes
3. Spidescribe
7. Bookmarking - track all of your favourite websites online (so that you can access them from any computer) - some sites allow you to share with others
1. Pearltrees
2. Symbaloo
3. Pinterest
8. Office software - online versions of word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet applications
1. Google Drive
2. OpenOffice
9. Visual Text Clouds - visual way of presenting textual information
1. Wordle
2. Tagxedo
3. Tag Cloud Generator
10. Online Meeting software - meet even when you can’t all be in the same room
1. Adobe Connect (contact the TLE for an account)
2. TodaysMeet
3. AnyMeeting