Tech Review #1

            For my tech review I am going to discuss BrainPop.  BrainPop is a very educational site that is full of fun facts.  This website is primarily for grades 4 and up, although there is a BrainPop Jr. for grades K-3.  I have used both versions in my third grade classroom.  Several teachers take advantage of this powerful tool in my elementary school.  When introducing a new unit, or new skill, I always check out this site to see if there is a video that I can use to go with my lesson that week.  There are thousands of topics of study on this site, such as weather, the solar system, solving fractions, and even famous artists and musicians.  I tend to use the science videos more often in my classroom.  This resource was created to help teach difficult concepts in a creative way.  

            The videos on this site can be used individually, in teams, or during whole group settings.  The cartoon-type characters in the videos, one of which is a robot, are entertaining and attention-getting.  The students love watching the interactions between the robot and the boy in the videos.  The content in the videos are common-core aligned and based on academic standards. Which, as you know, is a very useful tool to teachers in this day and time.  Some of the videos and activities can be accessed without a site membership, but not all of them.  Our school has purchased a membership and our students can also access the site in their own homes.  It is completely safe to let your student work through any of the videos, lessons, or activities without adult supervision.  I love it when I let my kids choose something for ‘free-time’ to do in the computer lab and I see that they are choosing to visit the BrainPop site.  I love it, and so do my students.  I would recommend it to anyone as a powerful teaching resource.