TowerStorm is a fantastic free iOS app/broswer based game for Game Based Learning in the subjects of Math and Literacy. As w/ any game created by the award winning company DimensionU, this game takes place in a multiplayer 3D virtual world.  Players can create their avatar and unlock special power ups as they immerse themselves in a fun 3D world while solving problems in Math/Literacy aligned to Common Core Standards.  Best of all, the game tracks a players score and generates detail reports as well as lets a player customize and select what problems they want to encounter (i.e. Algebra, Vocabulary, etc.).  Also, TowerStorm has high replay value as each game lasts only 5 minutes and has students trying to answer as many questions correct as they can while trying to score points by changing the color of rings on the Tower.I highly recommend checking out TowerStorm by clicking here!!!For more DimensionU games click here.For my Pinterest board on Game Based Learning click here.To find TowerStorm on Edshelf click here.* DimensionU is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Brainscape is an excellent free iOS app/site for flashcards.  Brainscape's innovative "smart" flashcards works in timed intervals that a user rates on a scale of 1 to 5.  Brainscape then used an adaptive learning algorithm to differentiate instruction and display the flashcards that need more focus on.  This is a great way to learn difficult subjects and break down difficult concepts.Below is a brief demo video...I highly recommend checking out Brainscape by clicking here!!!

Answerables is a wonderful new innovative site/game that is perfect for Game Based Learning (or more accurate Game Based Learning meets Learning Management System).  It reminds me of Second Life but geared more toward kids w/ their fantasy/SciFi environment.  The game takes place in the 3D virtual world of Answerables on a planet called Proxima, where the native Ansibles (students) encounter an alien race.What makes this so great for education that is the safe/COPPA compliant environment that Answerables provides.  This is an ideal place for students to collaborate w/ others and develop their social learning skills.  Answerables provides windows (i.e. Second Life) to view the web, go on quests, etc.  The student dashboard allows students to track their quests, notifications, events, PODS (Personal Online Development Spaces), and more.Educators can create a lesson/POD (manage permissions), create webquests, internet scavenger hunts, host live events, and best of all "Gamify" their lesson.  This is great for introducing a new concept, guided/differentiated instruction, and even "Flipping" a classroom.  Also, teachers (parents too) can track/monitor student progress, share and view resources by collaborating w/ other educators, and even setup tutoring courses where they set their own rate.I highly recommend checking out Answerables by clicking here!!!Below is a brief demo that has to be seen to be believed...For my Pinterest board on Game Based Learning click here.*Answerables is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Math Snacks is an excellent site for educational games, animations, and more, for Math grades 3rd-7th.  This is a great learning tool to use w/ any Math curriculum and can help teachers differentiate instruction.  Also, this is a nice way to introduce Game Based Learning into the classroom.  Best of all are the abundance of teacher resources such as: lesson plans, teacher guides, etc etc, and all resources are aligned to Common Core Standards and available in Spanish.Below is a brief demo...I highly recommend checking out Math Snacks by clicking here!!!For a more detailed review check out Graphite.

BoomWriter the innovative site that allows educators to seamlessly integrate collaborative writing into their classroom has just released a free packet of goodies for teachers starting off their school year.  This packet includes desk labels, classroom posters, and door tags, to help liven up a classroom.I highly recommend checking out BoomWriter's welcome back packet by clicking here!!For more information on BoomWriter click here.Below is a fun video on BoomWriter...*BoomWriter is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Now FreeMystery Math Museum is the sequel educational iOS app from the hugely popular Mystery Math Town.  This is an excellent follow up to one of my favorite iOS Math apps for Game Based Learning.  As w/ the first game Mystery Math Museum is a big adventure that has students exploring 8 different museums in a eccentric town.  As they explore different museums they will have to solve basic Math problems that focus on skills such as: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  Also, this game allows for multiple accounts which is ideal for schools and has a fantastic parent/teacher section where different skills can be set.  This is ideal for Differentiated Instruction.  Finally, MMM has a very high replay value as there are lots of different objects to find and secrets to unlock to keep students coming back for more.I highly recommend checking out Mystery Math Museum by clicking here!!!For my Pinterest board on Educational iOS Apps click here.For my Edshelf collection on Educational iOS Apps click here.For a brief demo view below....

Storyboard That is a fantastic Web 2.0 tool for digital storytelling w/ educational portal.  This portal allows for educators to create student accounts (even batch upload) and assign them to their class via a URL and unique code (i.e. ClassDojo).  Not only can and educator create, manage, adjust privacy settings, and more, they can create storyboard templates and assignments for their class.  Everything is COPPA compliant and very safe to use in an educational setting.Storyboard That is a very easy tool to use w/ it's drag-n-drop interface and allows students to seamlessly create a storyboards by adding images, clip art, text, record narration, etc.  There is even a innovative slideshow button that turns storyboards into slideshows that easily allows for students or teachers to share their presentations up on a big screen.  A finished product can then be downloaded as a PDF, shared via a link, exported into a PPT, or embedded into a site/blog.Best of all are the new "Teacher Guides" that are aligned to Common Core standards and contain plot diagrams, Q/A, character maps, and much much more.  Educators are using these for project based learning, digital storytelling, and in a number of different ways to assess student's learning on a project or story.Also, a student/teacher has the ability to create timelines.  Once a timeline is created they then have the option to add a date, text, image, or select one of the many templates/styles of their choice (i.e web, t-chart, grid, etc.).  This is a simple and great way to make a timeline or graphic organizer.  Educators can use this to create templates and then have students fill it out online through Storyboard That's educational portal, making it a perfect tool to use for any subject or grade level.*Just added support for Grid, T-Chart, and Frayer ModelsI highly recommend checking out Storyboard That by clicking here!!!*Storyboard That is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

Grandma's Preschool is a free iOS app for kids ages 3-6.  This is a fun animated app that has 11 educational games and videos for young learners.  Grandma's Preschool has lots of educational content that focuses on: counting, sight words, puzzles, coloring, shapes, and more.I highly recommend checking out Grandma's Preschool by clicking here!!!

SpellingCity simply put is the best site around for all Vocabulary and Spelling needs.  It even has an educational portal that allows for student tracking and educators to add assignments/word lists to their students.  Also, there is a free mobile (iOS, Android, Kindle) that interacts w/ the web portal to allow mobile learning for students.  SC also has a wide variety of resources and videos, but allows teachers to create their own customized word lists and integrate them into educational games for their students.Here's an example... "Homonyms, homophones and homographs can bring confusion to even adults and teachers! VocabularySpellingCity can help anyone master these word groups. For clarity, we've brought them all together on one page. It makes it easier to learn the difference among the three types of words using the definitions and homonyms, homophones and homographs examples below."I highly recommend checking out SpellingCity by clicking here!!!*SpellingCity is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.

GoClass is a wonderful new (beta) site/app for flipping a classroom.  This is a fantastic solution for educators to be able to manage their classes/students and create dynamic lessons that can be shared on mobile devices.  Students can login to a session on their mobile device and then follow the lesson following the "show-explain-ask" method.  Teachers can then get instant real-time feedback on student engagement and learning as well as attendance.I highly recommend checking out GoClass by clicking here!!!*GoClass is an advertiser of Technology Tidbits.