TOP PICKS | 20 TOOLS
Best Professional Development Websites and PLNs for Teachers
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BetterLesson
Exemplary Common Core-aligned lessons from rock star peers at large
Bottom line: Get a head start on the Common Core transition with this professional community for great classroom-ready lessons.
Common Curriculum
Sleek lesson planner replaces bulky binders, promotes collaboration
Bottom line: Ditch pen-and-paper planning; embrace the flexibility of collaborative lesson planning and calendar design.
Smart classroom tool if used with care; priceless for PLNs
Bottom line: Twitter offers something for everyone: information, resources, and an easy way to connect with just about anyone.
KQED Teach
Super PD resource for making media in the classroom
Bottom line: Stay on top of the trends and take the fear out of media-making in the classroom.
PowerMyLearning Connect
Create playlists and differentiate with quality third-party content
Bottom line: A curation of some of the best educational content on the web made easily accessible, both for students and teachers.
ReadWriteThink
Excellent free resource for all things reading and writing
Bottom line: A language arts teacher's dream; lesson plans, professional development, and all-around quality support.
Smithsonian Science Education Center
Teacher-geared site outlines steps for innovative science instruction
Bottom line: Use the SSEC's site as a stop on your changing-science-instruction path; just be prepared to reach out to them for constructive details.
California Academy of Sciences
Expert research and diverse, rich lessons inspire future scientists
Bottom line: A perfect companion to (or substitute for) the Academy, this site delivers highly interactive resources and research with a lot of depth.
LearnZillion
Quality Common Core-aligned lessons with great modeling for teachers
Bottom line: An innovative way to enhance lessons and tailor learning for individual needs.
OER Commons
Free, easy access to a wealth of resources
Bottom line: Impressive resource opens access to quality materials for all educators.
Teaching Channel
See colleagues in action with digital PD for discussion and reflection
Bottom line: This video library of actual classroom teaching offers opportunities for professional educators to watch, share, and improve their craft.
Teaching Tolerance
Thought-provoking classroom resources support diversity education
Bottom line: It's an invaluable teacher tool to help reduce prejudice and encourage tolerance in schools, as well as within society as a whole.
Edmodo
Manage classes, content, and communication with social LMS platform
Bottom line: This free platform allows for teacher-monitored classroom communication but lacks excitement.
The Current
Engaging space for tech-forward instruction and teacher collaboration
Bottom line: A great resource to share and gather ideas on teaching with technology and media, but there are some bugs that need fixing.
KQED Education
Great news and classroom resources support both teachers and students
Bottom line: With some organizational adjustments, the site could be an exceptional place for both kids and teachers to find educational inspiration.
Microsoft Teams
Collaborative platform helps manage multiple groups and projects
Bottom line: It offers a ton of options for integrating learning; the lack of some typical LMS features may make it a better fit for small groups or nontraditional group configurations.
Ogment
Get beyond binders with digital, remixable lesson-planning tool
Bottom line: If you invest some serious time in preloading your content, this is an exceptional tool for building and using your lesson plans.
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Stellar history website, gateway to cool PD and scholarship
Bottom line: In class, a good resource for U.S. history; beyond, a great website for free teacher PD and some great in-depth exploration of primary sources.
Voxer Walkie Talkie Messenger
Voice- and text-messaging app is a teacher PLN standout
Bottom line: A cool tool for teachers to collaborate with each other (but maybe not with their students).
Visually appealing, endlessly creative gallery of images and ideas
Bottom line: An effective way to search for new ideas and save them for later use, but keep an eye on the source -- and on your watch.
