Business+Tools

=﻿Business Tools for the Classroom=

**About CSI: The Experience**
CSI: The Experience allows users to become fully immersed in solving crime. Users are invited to "crime" scenes where they identify and record evidence just like on the hit television series. Once logged in, the game takes them inside "laboratories" for scientific testing and to "autopsy" rooms for pathology analysis. Finally it returns them to the "office" to build their case, based on the scientific evidence which they have collected and analysed.

The exhibit brings to life real scientific principles and the most advanced scientific techniques used today by crime scene investigators and forensic scientists.

[|CSI: The Experience]


 * Differentiation Level:** Process

The CSI Experience Game requires students to have developed knowledge and then manipulate this in meaningful ways to show understanding. This implementation of this simulation differentiates the learning activity, as well as requiring students to using various levels of thinking to solve the crime.

To solve the crime students must have the capacity to discern logical patterns and handle long chains of reasoning. Further students are required to develop their perceptions within the visual/spatial world accurately to transform their intial perceptions of the crime scene.
 * Multiple Intelligences: Logical & Mathematical; Visual &Spatial**

Note that the use of a blog to further explain choices is an additional web communication tool worth investigating.

**About Warning Sign Generator**
This tool is very simple to use, a couple of clicks and you have created a unique warning sign. While the list of hazards is far from complete it would tie in well for anybody looking at Workplace Health and Safety.

[|Warning Sign Generator]


 * Differentiation Level:** Product

The Warning Sign Generator site requires students to have previous knowledge of visual literacies through knowing the meaning of symbols. The sign they produce is simply a product being created which may have nothing to do with the topic.

In order for students to generate a warning sign they must be able to think in pictures to ensure the meaning of the sign can be interpreted by others.
 * Multiple Intelligences: Visual &Spatial**

**About The Small Business Game** The Small Business game requires students to run their own football store. The players of this on-line game will develop their skills in management of the business through the implementation of action and strategic plans.

[|The Small Business Game]


 * Differentiation Level: ** Process

The game will engage students in the processing and transforming of information regarding the operation of a small business.

The Small Business Game requires participants to use higher order thinking skills - reasoning and to think in a logical manner to attract new customers and even set up the store to attract customers.
 * Multiple Intelligences: Logical & Mathematical**

Note that the use of a blog to further explain choices is an additional web communication tool worth investigating.

**Hot Shot Business**
Hot Shot Business is a game provided by Disney. Students are required to set up their own educationally appropriate businesses. The goals of the game is to make $2000 in six virtual weeks by making a range of strategic and action plans.

[|Play Hot Shot Business]


 * Differentiation Level:** Content and Process

The Hot Shot Business Game requires students to have developed knowledge and then manipulate this in meaningful ways to show understanding. This implementation of this simulation differentiates the learning activity, as well as requiring students to using various levels of thinking to make business decisions which impact the business in a positive way.

The Hot Shot BusinessGame requires participants to use higher order thinking skills (reasoning) and to think in a logical manner to attract new customers and ensure the successful achievement of $2000 profit in six virtual weeks. Note that the use of a blog to further explain choices is an additional web communication tool worth investigating. Note that the use of a blog to further explain choices is an additional web communication tool worth investigating.
 * Multiple Intelligences:** Logical & Mathematical

**Practical Money Skill**
This website is US based but links financial literacy games into Sports Games. It is very simple to jump on in and begin playing a game however students will need to know about the forms of money in the USA.

[|Practical Money Skills]

Can be used to show the different types of money that are available in the USA. The site also gives a chance to use their knowledge to participate in the games which are available.
 * Differentiation Level:** Content


 * Multiple Intelligences:**

**About Xtr****anormal**
Xtranormal is an animation producer which allows you to make your own movies from a range of selected characters and sets. While you are required to register, as an educator or student you will receive 5000XP points needed to produce and publish the movies.

Xtranormal as a tool is easy to﻿ use, you just need to develop the script. It provides a great way to complete a multimodal task and is something different from the typical PowerPoint.

Applications for this site extend through all subject areas. Students can use Xtranormal to broadcast legal case news or produce a project video on any Business curriculum area. Students have used this to prepare a persuasive essay on "Saving vs Spending", and to highlight key learnings from a chapter they have finished reading.

You can embed your or your student's Xtanormal videos into your class website or wiki and encourage parents to view school news or student projects.

ESL students can create animated characters who speak their carefully written English language practice, such as conversations or explanations using target vocabulary.

[|Xtranormal]

Xtranormal will allow students to differentiate their product as this web application acts as a mode of communicating what students know about a topic.
 * Differentiation Level:** Product

Students when using Xtranormal are required to use words effectively to ensure that the correct meaning is conveyed to the intended recipient. Xtranormal may provide some students a chance to interact with others in a mode they may not necessarily use.
 * Multiple Intelligences: Linguistic & Interpersonal**

**Voki for Education** Voki will allow students to create and customize their own avatar using an extensive variety of characters, clothing, props and backgrounds. Each character has customisable features such as eye colour, hair colour, face and nose shape, and others. Be warned that Voki does only allow a small number of characters, or small recording to be made.

[|Create a Voki]

Voki will allow students to differentiate their product as this web application acts as a mode of communicating what students know about a topic.
 * Differentiation Level:** Product

As a teacher you may use a Voki to introduce a new topic, or provide an overview for a subject.

Students when using Voki are required to use words effectively to ensure that the correct meaning is conveyed to the intended recipient. Voki may provide some students a chance to interact with others in a mode they may not necessarily use.
 * Multiple Intelligences: Linguistic & Interpersonal**

BeFunky
BeFunky develops innovative digital media tools that let people become instant artists and express themselves creatively without the need for any technical knowledge.

BeFunky Photo Effects allow everyday people to easily create photographically rich and artistic results from their digital images without the need for any technical knowledge. These "one-click" photo-effect options produce desired results effortlessly and each effect comes with the option to make simple adjustments.

[|BeFunky]

Students can use Be Funky to create a special addition to an assignment or even as part of a Digital Imaging unit. There completed images or maniupulations are the final product which is being assessed.
 * Differentiation Level:** Product

Visual Spatial learners appreciate a tool like Be Funky at they can learn through drawing etc. It is a great way for students to begin looking at photo editing if alternate software is not available.
 * Multiple Intelligences:** Visual Spatial

Write Comics
Write Comics is a simple comic creator. Simply click on your character (person, animal, alien etc), select your background, add speech bubbles and words and you are done.

A very simple tool to use to create a quick comic to show understanding of a topic.

[|Write Comics]

The way that you as a teacher decide to structure the task will impact on the differentiation level. Primarily this tool is used as a product and will differentiate the learning activity. Students can create a comic to display there knowledge of a topic by simply clicking a character, background and insertings dialog boxes.
 * Differentiation Level:** Product

Students are be able to design the space of the comic as well as add dialog which can be understood by the reader.
 * Multiple Intelligences: Linguistic/ Visual & Spatial**

** Comic Master **
Comic Master allows you to create an comic page rather than just a single frame. Again you select the layout, characters background etc. Be aware that this is more advanced, and will therefore take considerable time to complete. If you are considering using this in a classroom allow time for the completion of a draft first.

[|Comic Maser]


 * Differentiation Level:** Product

Cartoonster
Cartoonster is a website aimed at students with tutorials on how to create animations. It is perfect to introduce the concept and possibilities of animation of students. [|Cartoonster] As Cartoonster provides the tutorials on how to create animation, by using the online tutorials you have differentiate based on the type of instruction. The use of these tutorials will provide the teacher as a facilitator of learning, rather than providing direct instruction.
 * Differentiation Level:** Content

Students are reading to read, look at graphics and others to learn about making a good animation.
 * Multiple Intelligences: Linguistic/ Visual & Spatial**

** Wallwisher **
Wallwisher is a simple tool that allows you to create an electronic noticeboard where you or students add post-it notes. You could use it in the classroom by providing a list of unit terms and having students find the definition of these.

[|WallWisher]

If you use Wallwisher to develop a list of definitions it may only be content which is differentiated by learning activity, however if you use it for students to post a sticky of their understanding it could become a process.
 * Differentiation Level:** Content or Process (depending on use)

Students when using Wallwisher are required to use words effectively to ensure that the correct meaning is conveyed to the intended recipient.
 * Multiple Intelligences: Linguistic**

Dance Mat Typing
Have you lost the time to teach touch typing? A simple game that allows students to learn the keyboard through repetition.

[|Dance Mat Typing]

**Typing Test**
Need other typing games. Maybe try Typing Tests.

[|Typing Test]