# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Formative assessments matter because teachers make important instructional decisions based on the data they provide.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Imagine being able to connect with one hundred million people anytime you want. With that many people on Twitter each day (and that's not counting the additional 184 million users who are on Twitter at least once each month), a great deal of knowledge, perspective, and news is accessible to you, just by clicking a few buttons.

It's no wonder educators are harnessing the power of Twitter to bring cutting edge ideas, trends, research, and best practices to use in their schools and classrooms. But just as Twitter can be a treasure trove of information, it can be overwhelming for new users to figure out how to use it effectively.

We've compiled this list of the best ways to make Twitter a social media tool that works for you.

Get Started

1. Decide why you are on Twitter. Do you want to increase publicity for your school or classroom? Are you seeking information in your teaching specialty? Are you trying to establish your expertise and build a reputable brand? You may start out with one idea in mind, and it may change as you become more familiar with Twitter, but you'll find as you decide who to follow and what to tweet, your guiding principle will be: why are you here?

2. Complete your biography, including a photo for your profile. Why? It lets other Twitter users know you're a real person and makes it more likely they will trust you, respond to your tweets, and follow you.

Find People

3. Follow people you find interesting. There are few things sadder than an empty Twitter stream. Start filling it by following people you think are compelling, versus trying to find the people you think you "should" follow. (Okay, you should probably follow them eventually, too.)

4. See who the people you follow find interesting. If a school superintendent who is dedicated to ed tech is high on your list of people to keep up with, check to see who she follows and add those Twitter users to your list. Also see which users follow the superintendent and consider them as connections as well.

5. Follow local users. Even though Twitter is global, don't overlook the beauty of connecting with local users. Especially if you're targeting specific professions and topics, those local users will understand your challenges and issues, and may provide insight from the nearby trenches.

6. Find friends. Look for friends who are also on Twitter. Twitter can find them based on your email accounts and you never know if that friend from tennis is also a dedicated ESL consultant.

7. Use Wefollow for more ideas on whom to track. This service is a directory of prominent people, organized by interest.

Find Conversations

8. Use hashtags to search for topics and to identify your tweets. This list on Cybrary Man's website offers a wealth of common education hashtags to use. But take note: using more hashtags won't get you more results. A study shows that using more than two hashtags lessens the effectiveness of the tweet.

9. Use quotation marks to search. Find tweets on "edtech" or "common core" easily with quotation marks.

10. Use Twitter's advanced search tool. Drill down to your desired conversation even more by using Twitter's search tool. Once you enter your search words and get the results, look to the column on the left for Advanced Search. Through this, you can narrow down the language, people, places, dates, or sentiments of the tweets.

Take Action on Twitter

11. Retweet. It's the easiest way to get started on Twitter. Find a tweet in your stream that resonates with you and retweet it, giving credit to the source.

12. Favorite a tweet. Click the little star at the bottom of the tweet that indicates you "like" what was said. The user will be notified that the tweet was favorited.

13. Ask a relevant question. Just put it out there and see what responses you get. Even if no one responds directly, users will notice your existence and may start to follow you. Make sure your question is related to your purpose on Twitter.

14. Join a conversation. If responding in a large stream of tweets isn't your style, look for a twitter chat, such as those on this Google education chat calendar.

15. Don't try to keep up with your Twitter stream. It's impossible to read all of the tweets that pass you by. Pick out the ones that catch your eye. Think of it as sipping from the water fountain, as opposed to trying to drink from a fire hose.

16. Show up consistently. Although you won't want Twitter to suck away all of your time, you do want to use it consistently. Set aside time each day to review top tweets, see who may have responded to your tweets, etc. Make sure to keep the communication going.

17. Share quality information. When you come across some juicy new research, an interesting approach a colleague blogged about, or a perfect quote from a student, share or retweet it.

18. Keep tweets short. We know that Twitter limits tweets to 140 characters, but experts recommend writing tweets that are 100 characters or less for increased impact.

19. Shorten links. Try free services like bitly, goo.gl or ow.ly to shorten the URLs on your links.

20. Add your Twitter account to other social media. It's easy to add a Twitter button or link from Twitter to a Facebook page, LinkedIn profile, or website, and it encourages people who know you from one source to find you on another.

21. Follow back. As you become more visible on Twitter, people will begin to follow you. Return the favor to increase your reach.

Organize Twitter

22. Use TweetDeck. This application helps manage your Twitter account and tweets. You can schedule tweets to be posted later, create alerts for specific information and filter your searches.

23. Use Hootsuite. This product offers one dashboard for all of your social media, so you can easily schedule tweets at the same time as you schedule blog or Facebook posts. It also provides basic analytics to see your social success.

24. Download Twitter for mobile. Twitter is designed for using on the go; so be sure to download the app onto your mobile devices.

25. Find the best time to tweet. Find out how to tweet when your followers are most likely to be on Twitter. Services like Tweriod can help.

In Short

As you review these tips, pick just a few that fit your needs best. Try those, then add on, or substitute as you go. Soon, as your Twitter feed becomes a stream of relevant information, you'll begin getting the most out of the bounty that is Twitter.
Editor's note: This piece was originally written by Jeff Dunn and ran on October 24, 2012. A lot has changed since then, so we've had author Pamela DeLoatch update this piece with the latest techniques and innovations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Imagine being able to connect with one hundred million people anytime you want. With that many people on Twitter each day (and that's not counting the additional 184 million users who are on Twitter at least once each month), a great deal of knowledge, perspective, and news is accessible to you, just by clicking a few buttons.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Surprising Ways to Use Instagram in the Classroom - We Are Teachers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Stop scrolling aimlessly! Instead check out these 10 legitimate and educational ways teachers and students can use Instagram in the classroom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Use of Social Media in School Infographic
11 Facts That Should Encourage You To Use Social Media in Your School for Educational purposes

1. 96%: of students with internet access report using social networking technologies

2. 75%: of 7th through 12th graders have at least one social media profile

3. 63%: increase in the amount of time kids ages 2-11 spent online between 2004-2009 3

4. 59%: of students who use social networking talk about education topics online2

5. 50%: of those who talk about education topics online, talk specifically about schoolwork 2

6. 35%: of schools have student and/or instructor-run blogs 2

7. 46%: of schools have students participate in online pen pal or other international programs 2

8. 49%: of National School Boards Association (NSBA) schools participate in online collaboration with other schools 2

9. 59%: of schools say their students use social networking for educational purposes 2

10. 27%: of schools have an online community for teachers and administrators 2

11. 69%: of American high schools have banned cell phones 3

I hope that you will find valuable the following Teacher's Guides to Social Learning

The Teacher's Guide to Twitter
Twitter can be an incredible tool for both teachers and students when used correctly. As an Educator , your role in the process is to be professional, understanding, and as creative as possible. In regards to Twitter, the possibilities are as endless as you make them. At the Educators Guide to Twitter you will find: How as an educator can you effectively utilize Twitter, a creative writing lesson plan using Twitter, 15 creative ways to use Twitter in the classroom, and 17 videos on how as a teacher can you use Twitter in classroom!

Via: www.bestmastersineducation.com

Embed This Education Infographic on your Site or Blog! Copy and Paste the following code!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Use of Social Media in School Infographic - e-Learning Infographics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
11 Facts That Should Encourage You To Use Social Media in Your School for Educational purposes 96%: of students with internet access report using social networking technologies 75%: of 7th through 12th graders have at least one social media profile 63%: increase in the amount of time kids ages 2-11

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you haven't heard of Kahoot! yet, you've got to check it out! The teachers in our community frequently rave about the free website teachers can use to play review games and quizzes with their students. Bonus: Kids can log in to the platform from any device, even their cell phones.

Last week, teacher Beth asked for some specific advice on how to use the site: "Can anyone give me ideas for how they use Kahoot! in their classrooms? I'm not sure I'm using it as effectively as I could. Thanks!"

Beth, we've got you covered. Check out these ideas for using Kahoot! in your classroom from real teachers:

1. How to get started: "Go to getkahoot.com and create a free account. You can search the public quiz games or create one of your own. I'm not even that tech-savvy, but I played around with it and figured it out. It's pretty simple." - Dawn K.

After you've created an account, launch a game and then have students input the unique pin at kahoot.it.
2. Tap into the kids' love of technology and competitive natures... "There's a new 'ghost' feature that lets the kids play against their previous score. They love it!" - Suzanne K.

3. ... But still keep the volume at a minimum. "I play calmer music from Pandora if the Kahoot! music is too overstimulating for the students. If they get too rowdy, I limit how often we do it until they get the message." - Jo Marie S.

4. Use the results to direct classroom activity organization. "I use the data as a way to organize and pull small groups." - Renee Q.
5. Assess student understanding. "It works great for assessing where students might be missing a concept or content." -
6. Zero in on the needs of individual students. "You can get detailed reports of which child missed which questions!" -
7. Conclude class with a quick round. "You can use it at the end of class or after notes for a formative assessment. I always have to do it at the end because they get too excited if I do it in the middle of class." - Nikki S.

8. Try it for review (and check out comparable free sites, too!). "I love it for review! I make my own, but also search others and duplicate, then pick and choose questions that work best for the material I'm covering. I love it, and so do the kids. Another new favorite site like this is Plickers. Check it out!" - Stephanie H.

9. Need a last-minute time filler? "Create at least one Kahoot! game for each of your units, then play it when you have a random, unexpected ten minutes to fill." - Erin F.

10. Warm up the class with a game. "I use it as my class starter. I do a quick five questions on topics we've covered or material learned from a previous class." - Darenda B.

On the flip side, you could also do this as a pre-assessment, piquing students' interests and gauging what they already know about the topic by asking questions before teaching the material.
11. Assess students' knowledge before the start of a unit. "I use is it for mental/oral starters in maths and I've also used it to assess subject knowledge before starting a new topic and after, although I think Socrative is better for that." - Emma L.

12. Include a game in your sub plans. "Here's a simple sub plan: The students play a game of Kahoot!, and after each question, have the students explain why that's the correct answer." - Calypso B. Love it!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
12 Ways to Use Kahoot! in Your Classroom - WeAreTeachers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you haven't heard of Kahoot! yet, you've got to check it out! The teachers in our community frequently rave about the free website teachers can use to play review games and quizzes with their students. Bonus: Kids can log in to the platform from any device, even their cell phones.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By Brad Spirrison, Communications Specialist, Participate Learning

It's never been easier for educators to collaborate with peers and grow their professional learning networks. Because hundreds of thousands of teachers, administrators and instructional technologists regularly participate in scheduled and "slow" hashtag-based Twitter chats, there is always somebody online who can answer a question, share an idea or recommend a digital resource for an upcoming unit or lesson plan.

Participate Learning recently debuted #CollaborativePD, a monthly Twitter chat moderated by Jennifer Williamsthat focuses on learning through collaboration, as well as other ideas and best practices showcased in our New Recipe for Professional Development digest. We invite you to experience our next chat on Thursday, October 19 and 8pm ET.

In addition, Participate Learning makes it easy to find, experience and reflect on hundreds of Twitter chats, Edcamps and school/district-based conversations at www.participate.com/chats. We also publish analytics to show which chats attract the most participants.

While the number of participants alone does not determine the quality of a given chat (everyone's individual journey and quest for collaboration is unique), it is significant when a professional learning community attracts thousands of engaged educators each month.

Below we showcase the most active chats that are held each day (or night) of the week (as measured between September 3 and October 3 of this year). Note, many edtech-oriented hashtags represent ideas, themes and campaigns that are more broad than individual conversations. We used our best efforts to mine the data to focus on scheduled chats and online collaborations. The descriptions displayed here are provided by chat moderators and founders. Enjoy!

Monday

#Edtechchat focuses on Education Technology. Co-founder says #edtechchat "connects us professionally with inspiring educators from all over the world, all of who encourage us to be better every day for the children and families we serve." Other regular moderators include Sharon LePage Plante, , Susan Bearden, Alex Podchaski, Alice Keeler, Nathan Stevens, Katrina Keene and Katrina Stevens.

Tuesday

With some of the best edtech names in education as moderators such as , Shelly Sanchez, Mark Weston, Nathan Stevens, and Steven Anderson, #Edchat is a hashtag, a movement. It is a weekly organized Twitter discussion of educators and people interested in education that meet virtually from all over the world. #Edchat serves as a conversation thread on Twitter and is also used for organized weekly discussions.

Wednesday

Moderated by , New Teacher Chat was created to provide weekly mentoring and focus on the needs of new to the profession and pre-service teachers. The chat is supportive and practitioner focused.

Thursday

Moderated by , #whatisschool is an award winning edchat space where people can express an unbiased response to questions about schooling, where educators have a voice in shaping the future through their experience, recommendations and interests.

Friday

Moderated by t and , #EngageChat is a weekly chat session that focuses on engagement in schools.

Saturday

Weekly Twitter conversation for current and emerging school leaders. Co-founders and co-moderators are Brad Currie, Scott Rocco, and Billy Krakower. #Satchat's mission is to expand educator's Personal Learning Network (PLNs) that in turn will promote the success of all students.

Sunday

A weekly chat for educators from all around the world moderated by Starr Sackstein and Jamie Murray Armin.

We would welcome your additions and comments on Twitter chats you love in the comments section below!

This post is part of a blog series titled "Professional Development: Learning Through Collaboration" produced in partnership with VIF International Education ( ). Join the conversation on Twitter using @vifglobaled . For more, check out #collaborativePD and see: Professional Development: Learning Through Collaboration

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Popular Twitter Chats for Every Day (or Night) of the Week

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
By Brad Spirrison, Communications Specialist, Participate Learning It's never been easier for educators to collaborate with peers and grow their professional learning networks. Because hundreds of thousands of teachers, administrators and instructional technologists regularly participate in scheduled and "slow" hashtag-based Twitter chats, there is always somebody online who can answer a question, share an idea or recommend a digital resource for an upcoming unit or lesson plan.

# data[].attributes.body
eastbroadway_es
leeroad_es
gardiners_es
northside_es
summitlane_es
abbeylane_es
salk_ms
wisdom_ms
macarthur_hs
dahsdragons
gctech_lev
todd_winch
ltownsup

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I love hosting classroom quiz games. They can be great for formative assessment as can be a great way to help students review before a test. You've probably used (or at least heard of) the multiplayer gaming website Kahoot. There's a lot to like about Kahoot: it's free, works in web browers on tablets, computers, and smartphones, and you input your questions (or copy a pre-made quiz from their library).

Quizizz is an alternative to Kahoot, and there's also a lot for educators to like. It is very similar to Kahoot, with a few key differences.

Just like Kahoot, the teacher (or student host) chooses a quiz to begin. A five digit game code is provided. Players point their browsers to join.quizzizz.com and input the game code, along with their names. If players are using smartphones or tablets, I display the join link as a QR code.

Kahoot is designed ( on purpose) to show multiple choice questions on a large screen, and students respond by clicking buttons on their devices that correspond to the answers they want to choose. Quizizz takes a different approach. No projector is necessary because players see questions and answer options on their own screens. The question order is randomized for each student, so it's no easy for players to cheat. With Quizizz, players don't have to wait for the whole class to answer a question before they continue to the next one.

So, Quizizz is player-paced while Kahoot's pace is determined by the teacher or host. This is the major difference and can be a benefit or a drawback. If you want to pause after each question, then Kahoot is better. The class can stop and discuss after each question, immediately addressing misconceptions. With Quizizz, players zip through questions at their own pace, limiting all discussion to after all questions have been answered.

When you host a Quizizz game, you get to see a real-time view of the game's results. Quizizz shows the total number of questions that have been answered correctly and incorrectly. Quizizz also displays real-time progress bars for each player. At a glance you can see how many questions a player has got right, answered incorrectly, and have left to answer.

Since Quizizz does not rely on the whole class seeing questions projected on a big screen, Quizizz games have the "homework" option which can keep the quiz open for up to two weeks. With this option, Quizizz games can be assigned as homework or be part of a learning station or center.

Quizizz provides eight game settings to give the host quite a bit of control over the quiz settings. When you click Play or Homework, you can change the Question and Game Settings. While having a leaderboard and question timer stokes competition, you can turn these off for when you want students to slow down. Deactivating the leaderboard and timer can also be good for students who might feel too much anxiety when competing.

Teachers can view reports to see currently running quizzes and completed quizzes. In fact, Quizzizz reports are just as nice as Kahoot's. You can view data by student or by question. You can also download a color coded Excel spreadsheet with the data.

When it comes to authoring quizzes, Quizizz stands out. You can start a quiz from scratch or copy and edit an existing quiz from their library of quizzes. Each question must be multiple choice and have between two and four possible answers and only one correct answer. Each question can have one photo, which is displayed behind the question's text. Currently, responses are limited to text. However, Quizizz does provide an Insert Symbol menu with math, Latin, Greek, and currency symbols that can be used in questions and answers. What's great is that you see an instant preview of what the question will look like as you enter questions and options.

When you edit, you can teleport questions from other quizzes right into your current quiz. This can be quite a time saver.

More about Quizizz...

Create a fun classroom atmosphere while playing a quiz show with a colorful disco ball (like this one from Amazon).

One time I had 196 teachers playing a quiz a the same time, and it worked with no problems..

One of the surprisingly entertaining features of Quizizz are the memes. Funny pictures are shown after each question. You can turn these off, but your students will beg you to leave them on.

Teachers aren't the only ones who can host a game. What if students wrote questions and hosted their own games? This is fun to do during a parent night.

Quizizz was developed by a couple of college buddies in India.

I've spoken with Ankit, one of the developers, and he assured me that they plan to keep Quizizz free for teachers.

Ankit tells me that Quizizz's backend is designed so that student devices can lose connections for a little while and still continue participation in the game. This is helpful in schools where the internet can be sketchy.

You don't have to pick just one: Use Kahoot for some of your games, and Quizizz for others.

Have questions about Quizizz? Read the Frequently Asked Questions.

Quizalize, Pear Deck, Formative, and Socrative are other free tools for quizzing students.

When you play, turn down the classroom lights and turn on a disco ball to make the game extra exciting.

Watch the recording of my live broadcast about Quizizz below.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Class Quiz Games with Quizizz (an Alternative to Kahoot)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I love hosting classroom quiz games. They can be great for formative assessment as can be a great way to help students review before a test. You've probably used (or at least heard of) the multiplayer gaming website Kahoot.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Plickers is a fun, easy and free app which quickly assesses student knowledge. Best of all... only one smart device is required! At plickers.com teachers assign each student a number and print a set of Plickers cards. Each student is given a Plicker card with his or her assigned number. The black image on the card is different for each student. If you look closely at the Plicker card on the left, you will see it is card #3. On each side of the card you see letters A-D. The letters are small, so the students cannot tell what other students are answering. For younger students you can print the cards in a larger font and write large letters A-D on the back of the card. When students are asked a question, they hold up the card with the answer on the top. Using the Plickers app on a smart device the teacher scans all the cards. The app shows the teacher all the names and answers. Very simple for the teacher, and the kids love it! Here are some ways to use Plickers in the elementary classroom:

1. Exit Ticket: At the end of the school day have students answer questions about what they learned during the day. What a simple and quick daily assessment!

2. Vocabulary Quiz: Multiple choice quizzes where the students choose the definition of a word are a perfect way to pre-assess and post-assess vocabulary knowledge.

3. Information Text Reading: Before reading informational text give the students multiple choice questions about the topic. Scan their answers, but don't tell them the answers. Have students search for the correct answers during the reading. This is a very effective way to get students excited and engaged in informational text.

4. Opinions: Conduct a quick poll about student opinions on certain topics. The graph created by the app can be printed and shared.

5. Parent Survey: Survey the parents on different topics during a parent night with some multiple choice questions. Examples: What subject does your child like the best? When is the best day for you to come to conferences? How often does your child read at home?

6. Quick Quizzes: Quizzes can be given spontaneously through out the day. You can plan the questions ahead of time on the app or website, or you can just ask questions on the fly. The possibilities are endless!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Using Plickers in the Elementary Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Plickers is a fun, easy and free app which quickly assesses student knowledge. Best of all... only one smart device is required! At plickers.com teachers assign each student a number and print a set of Plickers cards. Each student is given a Plicker card with his or her assigned number.

# data[].attributes.headline
Twitter Chats you've found helpful! ADD THEM HERE!

# data[].attributes.subject
Twitter Chats you've found helpful! ADD THEM HERE!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You've worked out how to make a kahoot, but how do you make your kahoot awesome? Find out in this article!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Written by Cassie (Teach Starter)
Posted Tuesday October 3, 2017

QR codes are a super fun way to engage your students and incorporate technology into your classroom. While not all schools are 1:1 with tablets, all of the activities below can be used during small group rotations with whatever number of tablets you might have access to.

QR Code Activity Ideas

For each of the activities below, you will need to:

1. Google "free QR code generator" to find a website to create your codes. We used http://goqr.me/

2. Install a free QR Code reader app onto the set of tablets. We use the "Quick Scan" app. It is available for free through the App Store for iPads, and is also free to download for Android.

Have students bring in clean boxes, containers, packets and any other items to create a classroom shop.

Download, print and laminate these awesome QR Code Price Tags.

Attach each tag to an item

Students scan the code to reveal an item's price.

You can also download this resource in an editable MS Word document so that you can create your own price tags.

Extension Activity

Provide students with a scenario and a budget for which they need to shop.
E.g. It is your Mum's birthday and you need to get food for her party. You have $25 to spend.

Create a table for students to record their "purchases" and track their total spend.

#2 Learning Pop-Up Spots

Generate QR codes that link to videos, websites or information sheets about the topic or theme.

Print poster-size codes to use in the centre of a display, or in a special location in the school.

#3 Trip Around the World

Generate QR codes that when scanned, provide clues about a certain location from around the world.

Place these around your classroom, or around the school.

Provide students with a map where they can plot their trip around the world as they work through each of the clues, finding the next location.

#4 Homework Helping Tips

Create QR codes that link to the specific strategies or information needed to support student learning.
For example, reading strategies, spelling strategies, or mathematics strategies.

Add the QR code to reading folders or homework sheets as an easy way for parents to access information they can use to help their child with their learning at home.

#5 Anatomy of Anything

Place QR codes on the different parts of a model (e.g. a skeleton, a simple machine or globe).

Provide students with a variety of definitions on cards or on a worksheet.

Students scan the QR codes to reveal the name of that part and match the name to the definitions.

#6 Make Your Own Scavenger Hunt

#7 Extension Activities Corner

Create a fast-finishers corner or display where QR codes reveal an extension activity.

Colour-coordinate the activities for each key learning area.
- For example, codes on green paper reveal numeracy activities, codes on blue paper reveal literacy activities.

#8 Live Worksheets

Make worksheets live by adding QR codes that take students off the page and onto a relevant website, interactive game or video.

#9 QR Code Cubes

Use a QR code generator and our 3D QR Code Activity Cube Template to create QR code cubes.

Each code reveals a different question or activity.

Create cubes for reflection questions, journal questions, brain break activities or fast-finisher tasks.

We've created these QR Code Comprehension Question cubes using the Super Six comprehension strategies!

#10 Digitial Student Work Presentations

Use a shared space on your school intranet or website where students can upload their completed digital works.

Generate a QR code for each student's work.

Create a display incorporating the codes, where students scan to reveal and view each others' digital works.
E.g. share book reviews (display a picture of the cover with a QR code that links to a book review).

Here are some favourites from our QR Code resource collection:

Have you used QR Codes in your classroom?
What has been your favourite moment of QR code-inspired student engagement?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Exciting QR Code Classroom Activity Ideas - Teach Starter Blog

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Written by Cassie (Teach Starter) Posted Tuesday October 3, 2017 QR codes are a super fun way to engage your students and incorporate technology into your classroom. While not all schools are 1:1 with tablets, all of the activities below can be used during small group rotations with whatever number of tablets you might have access to.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Seesaw is an online learning journal that gives students the ability to digitally showcase what they are learning about in school. Here are five facts about Seesaw that will help you use it in your classroom.

Seesaw empowers students to take ownership of creating their own journal by taking the task of uploading work out of your hands and placing it into the student's. You can also upload, organize and manage portfolios if you choose, but allowing students to upload items lessens the tedium of organizing countless amounts of files for parent conferences or student evaluations.

Seesaw's user-friendly features make it easy for young children to manipulate. Students upload their work by simply taking a photo and can add voice explanations, drawings or text to the uploaded image. They can also create original drawings and videos or access their camera roll to view or add additional documents.

Students' journals are accessible on the web, apple devices, Chromebooks and androids. This makes it easy for all students, teachers and parents to keep track of the work children are completing in the classroom no matter what device they are using.

A great way to keep parents engaged and informed on what their children are working on in the classroom is to encourage them to sign up for Seesaw. Seesaw will even create a customized "parent invite handout" that you can send to them. Once parents subscribe, they are granted access to their child's journal and will receive notifications when new documents are added. Parents can even add comments to what they are viewing.

You can use Seesaw to help young students practice self-reflection. Once students have uploaded their work to Seesaw, they can then use the program's features to annotate or record audio files on what they are working on and how they can improve their work in the future. Before moving on to a new assignment, have students review their notes and make improvements where needed.

Once you have created an account, you can immediately begin creating classes by simply naming your class and adding your students' names to the roster. You can then print out your classroom login handout, equipped with a unique QR code, for your class. Remember to allow Seesaw to send you notifications so that you are informed when students add new items to their journals and parents comment on uploaded work.

The teacher dashboard is easy to navigate and keeps everything organized and easily accessible. You can choose to browse work from the entire class or a single student's journal. Seesaw also lets you organize student work in colored folders. This enables you to categorize work by unit, learning objective or however you see fit. You can then instruct students to upload their work into designated folders or you can place them in folders yourself through item approval. In addition, you can edit uploaded items, flag items to review later (flags are only visible to teachers and co-teachers) and approve or disapprove items students are attempting to upload to their journals.

Seesaw has a wealth of resources that you can access in order to assure you are using it to its fullest potential. Resources include tips on how to get started, professional development and more than 30 activities aligned to Common Core. You can access their resources by clicking here.

Seesaw's compatibility with a variety of apps allows you to share PDFs, videos, links and other documents with your students. Click here to find a list of Seesaw compatible apps. You can also share single items to blogs, websites, or popular social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. When doing this, it is important to maintain a student's anonymity by making sure that anything indicating his/her identity is removed. This includes the student's name, class icon and comments unique to that student's work.

Seesaw allows you to customize your privacy settings and limit student viewership. Once students begin uploading their work, the default setting allows them to view their classmates' work as well. You may change these settings to limit their viewership. One setting only allows the student to view their own work and the most restricting setting only allows the teacher to view student submissions.

Check out the video below for a brief overview of Seesaw and its capabilities.

Are you using Seesaw in your classroom? Let us know how by leaving a comment below!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Seesaw is an online learning journal that gives students the ability to digitally showcase what they are learning about in school. Here are five facts about Seesaw that will help you use it in your classroom. Seesaw empowers students to take ownership of creating their own journal by taking the task of uploading work out of your hands and placing it into the student's.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Technology Thursday is a weekly linky dedicated to all things technology related. Check out our Tech Thursday page for details on how to link up!

I happen to love ClassDojo! I adore my classroom's Dojo Mojo, so to speak. I use the website for attendance, picking students for tasks, motivation, management, timing activities, and parent communication. But the uses of ClassDojo are not my focus in this blog. See the links below if you have questions about what ClassDojo is and what the site can do for you.

I have been a ClassDojo mentor for a couple of years now and have seen many teachers jump on the Dojo bandwagon. Most of the time, the teachers implement Dojo seamlessly into classroom routines. But every once in a while, I see a teacher (or read about a teacher) not using Dojo as effectively as it should be used. Let me explain. ClassDojo is a classroom management So for our purposes, let's compare it to another tool- the hammer. I could use the hammer handle to attach a nail to a board and it would work...eventually- it is just not as effective as using the head of the hammer. You get the job done but, boy, did you struggle along the way.

Here are my 6 tips for using ClassDojo effectively.

Set Expectations

For Students: Students need to know what behaviors you are targeting. Go through your list of Positive behaviors and Needs Work behaviors in a class meeting. Ask the students what they think each behavior would look like. Get their input on which behaviors need to be added and which should be worth more than 1 point. This helps give them a "buy in" for the program. It's their class. It's their Dojo. But yes, this needs to be a guided process- teachers have a say too.

For Parents: Parents need to know how you are going to use this tool. They need to know how the communication is going to work, and, more importantly, what it means when their students lose a point. I always inform parents (and students) that everyone loses a point here and there; no one is perfect 100 percent of the time. You need to let parents know that if a real behavior issue arises; you will get in contact with them (besides just seeing points disappear).

When I became a teacher, our professors taught us to change the things we said from the negative, "Stop running!" to the positive, "Walk please!" They also taught us newbie teachers that praising a child that is doing the right thing can be more effective than disciplining the student that is doing the wrong thing. I take this approach with ClassDojo. I have almost double the amount of Positive behaviors as I do Needs Work behaviors. I also give out quadruple the number of positive points than I do taking points away. It is so much more rewarding for your classroom atmosphere to be positive rather than negative.

Here's what happens if you only take points away or are overall negative- the students stop caring about Dojo. They can't win or get ahead, so why try? Who can blame them? I don't like things I am unsuccessful at either.

I know what you are thinking...what about (insert name here)? They never are on task! Yes, they are. You just have to look a lot harder to find the Positive behaviors.

Try this: Joe is off task again and is playing in his desk. I give 3 other students points for doing their work. Joe then starts doing his work. I give Joe a point for "joining his friends".

Or this: Catch Joe early in the morning. Joe hung his backpack up. Point. Joe put his folder in the correct place. Point. Joe put his name on his paper. Point. Great answer to that question, Joe. Point.

Now Joe sees that he can get points; he can succeed. He likes Dojo points. So if I eventually have to take a point away, it is more effective.

Now Joe's parents like ClassDojo. For the first time in little Joe's life, they are getting some positive feedback about their child!

Don't be stingy! Give out points! Reward those good behaviors! Always be on the lookout for a behavior to give a point to. I always tell my students that I LOVE giving out points. I also tell them, "I'm in a Dojo givin' mood today!" I sometimes even relate to the students what behavior I am on the lookout for.

Try to give points to everyone. Spread the wealth! Look at your reports. Are there students you are overlooking? Is there a particular student that is running away with all the points? Is there a student that you are only taking points away from? Has it been a long time since you rewarded a particular student?

Tip: I never let the kids ask for a point. Dojo begging is not allowed. They can, however, suggest a friend gets a point, but they have to explain to me why.

Let the Students Take Charge

I take the time to actually teach the students how to run ClassDojo. I show the kids how to use the attendance, random picker, the timer, giving (or taking) points, and resetting points. Believe me, this will make your life so much easier. The kiddos love, love, love to give themselves points. They actually love to do anything on the website.

Tip: I leave the website open all day on the computer. You can minimize the window if needed.

If some students have dug themselves into a hole of negative Dojo points that never seem to go away, they will stop caring. Dojo becomes irrelevant for these children. They feel that they can't crawl out of the hole, so why try? We want to avoid this. Reset the negative points at the end of the day. Tell the students that each day is new and you get a fresh start. Don't leave them hangin' out in Negative Land. Let them start with a clean slate each day!

I set a limit to the amount of points students can receive and let them go to the treasure box when they reach that goal. I, then, reset their points to 0, and they start the cycle all over again. Why? Well, if Sally has 230 points and I only have 56, I will never catch up.

I asked my students about this one. I asked them how they would feel if someone had a lot more points than them. Here are some things they said:

I would be disappointed because I wouldn't have points.

If everybody else has more points, they might make fun of me.

I'm trying to get there, but he's always ahead of me.

I would be sad because I am working hard and not getting points.

They also said they would be happy for their friend with lots of points. AWWWWHHHH!

I usually start out with an easy goal of 10 points. I am trying to get everyone to LOVE ClassDojo. I want them to love going to the treasure box. I need my students to WANT points. I do this for about a week, which is just enough time for everyone to experience the success of going to the treasure box. Then I raise the goal to 15 points, and then, ultimately, to 20 points for my 3 rd graders.

A good thing happens with this system of resetting points. My Joe (from above) will have more points than the best behaved kids in the class on some days because those well-behaved kiddos just reset their points back to 0. They have 0 and he has 8. Rock on, Joe! On any given day, the gap for student points can be 0-20- which is an entirely attainable goal. There is not a signaling out of kids this way, and all students appear to be just as successful as the others.

Tip: You can still see how many points each student has for the week, month, or year in your reports.

Tip: I use certificates for treasure: chew gum in class, sit in the teacher's chair, bring a furry friend,

wear a hat...etc.

Tip: Use only your students' first names, initials, or class numbers to keep anonymity.

There you have it...my tips for being a successful Dojoer. You are now ready to get started Dojoing! Let us know if you have any questions!

If you need more information about ClassDojo, check out our other Dojo blog posts.

Link up below with your own Website or App recommendations, Tech Tips, Tutorials, or anything else tech-related! We can't wait to learn from you!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Technology Thursday is a weekly linky dedicated to all things technology related. Check out our Tech Thursday page for details on how to link up! I happen to love ClassDojo! I adore my classroom's Dojo Mojo, so to speak. I use the website for attendance, picking students for tasks, motivation, management, timing activities, and parent communication.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ever wanted to streamline your classroom management? Here's everything you need to do so with free printables, ideas and resources. You'll love these 27 nifty things that'll breathe new life into your classroom management. It's all about Class Dojo for teachers!

Dojo Rewards Tubs - Set yourself up by starting simple and keeping your prizes organized.

Printable Rewards Kit - Print out punch cards and tracking sheets to handle dojo rewards.

Lunch With the Teacher Certificates - Reward students with 85% positivity or higher with lunch with you.

Classroom Management Rewards Poster - Start at 5 points and work your way towards 100!

Tracking Class Dojo Points

Karate Belts Bulletin Board - Help students track their point progress by giving out colored karate belts.

Dojo Meter Class Tracking - Track your entire class' points with this printable meter.

Printable Points Trackers - Let students in first grade (or older) keep track of their own points with the goal of reaching 100. Here's an alternative points tracking sheet.

How to Have Students Track Own Points - Using a log, students keep track of their own points in a classroom economy format.

Dojo Goal Sheets - Students set and track their own weekly behavior goals.

Free Printables for Student Recognition

Brag Tags {Printable} - Let your students brag about their points that they earn using brag tags. How fun.

Reward Stickers and Jeweled Monsters - Get 2 unique ways to build in rewards that are simple in order to keep your system simple.

Trading Cards - Introduce trading cards as a way to incentivize and encourage.

Top Classroom Dojo Point Earner Reward Necklace - Let your student earn recognition for having the highest amount of points.

Milestone Awards for Class Dojo Points - Acknowledge the positive points students have earned with milestone certificates that are a free printable pack.

Class Dojo Printable Awards - Certificates to hand out to students for earning point levels.

Handy ClassDojo for Teachers Tutorials

How to Customize Behaviors on Class Dojo - Set up custom behaviors to reward and print a certificate for the student with the most points in a week.

Set Up Tutorial - Get the step-by-step photo tutorial on how to set up yourself using Class Dojo for this year. Or you may also want to take the video tutorial on how to set it up.

What to Reward - Are you struggling to set up your custom point system? Here are 15 ways to give positive points.

5 Reasons Why You Should Try It - Find out one teacher's top five reasons why giving Class Dojo a shot is worth it.

Giving Points to Groups - How to make giving out points easier by using a groups feature.

Editable Parent Explanation Letter - How to explain class dojo to parents at the beginning of the school year with an editable letter.

Tricks to Make It Awesome

Building Community to Start the School Year {How to Introduce Class Dojo} - Start your year off on the right foot by focusing on building community and working towards classroom goals.

How to Change Student Avatars - Go beyond the monsters and give each student a unique avatar that's easily recognizable from across the room.

How to Use Class Dojo When You Have a Sub - Set yourself up a quick substitute profile so that students can be rewarded in your absence and parents know that a sub is awarding those points.

How to Create Free Rewards with QR Codes - Students scan the QR code to see what free but fun reward they get.

Integrating Classroom Dojo With Other Systems

Combine Power Teaching with Class Dojo - If you follow the prinicples of Power Teaching, try this tip to work the two together.

Combine Class Dojo and a Clip Chart - Find out some ideas on how to blend using both a clip chart or color chart with this technology.

There you have it - the list of all things Class Dojo just for teachers. Don't you love it?

More Classroom Management

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
27 Amazing Class Dojo Printables and Ideas

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ever wanted to streamline your classroom management? Here's everything you need to do so with Class Dojo free printables, ideas and resources. You'll love these 27 nifty things that'll breathe new life into your classroom management. It's all about Class Dojo for teachers!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ed Tech

There's a good chance you've done the "write on a sticky note and put it on the wall" activity - or have seen it happen before.
Padlet lets those sticky notes have images, links and videos AND be available with practically any Internet-ready device.
It used to be blocked by my school's Internet filter. This school year, the powers that be have allowed it through on student devices, opening up lots of possibilities in class!

Padlet is a great place for gathering ideas, sharing them and modifying them later. It's like a living, breathing webpage. Users can add links, YouTube videos, files and images to Padlet notes. They can move and arrange them. A link to a Padlet can be shared and Padlets can be embedded into webpages.

Here are 20 ways to use Padlet in class:

15. Collect videos to share in class

Looking for FREE Tech Like A PIRATE resources?
You'll find a treasure trove of additional ideas and activities related to t ​ ​​​​he book at TechLikeAPirate.com!

Looking for some more ideas? These sites have them!
Do you have an idea of how you could use Padlet in class? Post it in a comment below!

For notifications of new Ditch That Textbook content and helpful links:

Are you looking for quality, meaningful professional learning that both equips and inspires teachers?

Matt provides in-person and virtual keynotes, workshops and breakout sessions that equip, inspire and encourage teachers to create change in their classrooms. Teachers leave with loads of resources. They participate. They laugh. They see tech use and teaching in a new light. Click the link below to contact us and learn how you can bring Matt to your school or district!

Ready to take your teaching skills -- and student learning -- to another level?

Check out our summer bundle. 9 GREAT COURSES ONE LOW PRICE!

Upcoming Speaking

There are no upcoming events.

©2022 Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
20 useful ways to use Padlet in class now

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ed Tech There's a good chance you've done the "write on a sticky note and put it on the wall" activity - or have seen it happen before. Padlet lets those sticky notes have images, links and videos AND be available with practically any Internet-ready device.

# data[].attributes.body
I know you want some BADGES!!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn at your own pace and get certified!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
30+ creative ways to use Padlet for teachers and students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I’m always excited when I’m using Padlet. Is it the interface, the way everything is designed, its purpose or the fact that I’m organizing things smoothly? I don’t know. It just makes me happy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The more you learn about OneNote, the more likely you are to embrace it as one of the best teaching and learning tools available today.

OneNote is often described as a digital 3-ring binder, or considered to be the Swiss Army Knife of note-taking. That description covers the basics, but over the years OneNote has gained many new features designed with education in mind. It has now blossomed into a comprehensive teaching and learning framework that belongs in every learner's toolbox.

These are just 10 great ways in which OneNote earns its place in your classroom:
1. Organizing
OneNote is versatile and adapts to anyone's note-taking preferences. You can organize digital notebooks by Sections and Pages in a way that makes sense to you. Some like to organize information based on time; Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, etc. Others like to organize by content; Chapter 1, Chapter 2. Chapter 3, etc. Others just throw everything together in a pile with little or no organization at all, which is just as valid a choice in OneNote.
2. Accessing, collaborating, and sharing content
Note-taking no longer needs to be a fleeting or lonely experience. With technologies like OneNote, teachers can help students learn long after class time is over. Notes persist over time and can be referred to often for review and deeper understanding.

You can access notes easily and share them with other students to contribute together in near real-time through peer collaboration. Notes can be automatically synced to OneDrive and accessed from a laptop, tablet, or even a mobile phone, long after the lesson is over. It's like having your own copy of every note ever taken available, from any device that can hop online, any time and any day of the year.
3. Presenting content
Oftentimes text is not enough to get your point across. With OneNote, you can easily add text, images, audio, video and digital ink to any page. OneNote also uses an infinite canvas that lets you expand, at will, to add more notes as you need. Try that with a physical piece of paper.

When presenting live, you can pinch and zoom to enlarge areas of the screen you want the audience to pay attention to. Notes can be typed or handwritten, and with free-form digital ink you can annotate documents to draw attention to a particular point. You can easily insert pictures such as screen clips, or add pictures ad hoc via your mobile phone - in the middle of presenting - to address live questions from the audience.
4. Allowing flexible teaching styles
There are many things to manage in the classroom and OneNote lets the teacher decide upon the best pedagogy to use for a given situation. OneNote allows for easy review of older material and provides multiple methods for formative feedback in the moment that it is most effective.

Adding new content is just as easy and a teacher can individualize instruction based upon any student's needs and interests. Flipped-classroom type resources can be organized by scope and sequence to meet individual needs, and can be verified with checks for understanding by using Microsoft Forms.
5. Getting messy with digital ink
Learning is messy and OneNote provides the free-form tools to help you (and your students) think through it. When we first learn something new, we do not yet have all the pieces required to make sense of a topic. We often collect and gather artifacts for learning (OneNote excels at this) but we must also process new learning by combining, re-combining, and assimilating new information. Before we can get to the polished, high-fidelity output a computer can produce, we must first struggle with basic conceptual understanding. Learning is about making meaning and thinking, not just transcribing notes with a keyboard.
6. Presenting wirelessly
I often present content untethered from the front of the classroom using Miracast with my Surface Pro tablet. The pedagogy this enables in face-to-face environments allows for free movement around the room, providing a more effective and responsive learning environment for both myself and my students.
7. Unleashing learning across devices like a symphony
In a world of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), being able to access your notes on a variety of different devices is liberating. You can use OneNote on a PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and even Chromebook devices. I often use my Android phone at the same time I am using OneNote on my PC, while presenting. I can use my mobile phone to add pictures on-the-fly in near real-time and notes are automatically synced to all the devices I use routinely. This multi-device use while teaching and presenting opens up another world for just-in-time learning. Taking advantage of those "teachable moments" has never been easier.
8. Searching and tagging
Getting my notes into OneNote is one thing, but the true value of note-taking is being able to retrieve that information, at will, when and where you need it. With OneNote your notes are searchable. You can also tag your notes with ready-made tags, or create custom tags of your own to easily find specific notes. OneNote will even search the text within images (OCR) and within handwritten notes (if they are legible, that is).

9. Holding the "SuperNotebook of Notebooks"

Imagine having 24/7 access to the digital binders for every single student in your class. With OneNote Class Notebook you have exactly that - and no more lugging around physical 3-ring binders. With OneNote Class Notebook, all of your students' notebooks are just a click away.

10. Empowering you to teach the world

With OneNote, you are in control. If you want to scribble and doodle with digital ink, you can. If you want to keep a private notebook, you can. If you want to share a notebook with the world, you can. If you want to record an audio comment for one of your students, you can. If you want to handwrite a complicated mathematical equation, compose music, or sketch your latest invention with digital ink, you can do that too. If you want to embed an online video for a flipped learning lesson, go ahead. If you want to individualize instruction using Microsoft Forms and set up an auto-graded quiz as a check for understanding, you can. If you want to embed multimedia content like YouTube videos, do it. If you want to have your notes read back to your students using the new OneNote Learning Tools, you can.

And if you want to use OneNote in any of the ways I've shared above, now you can.

Keep on Learning,

Tom Grissom, Ph.D.

Eastern Illinois University

Twitter: @tomgrissom
Tom Grissom, Ph.D. is the Director of the Instructional Technology Center at Eastern Illinois University. The ITC is one of the premier teacher education resource centers in the State of Illinois serving the faculty, staff, and students in the College of Education & Professional Studies. Dr. Grissom is a Microsoft Innovative Education Expert (MIEE) and focuses on the strategic implementation of technologies to improve teaching and learning. His specialties include the use of OneNote notebooks and digital inking in the classroom and beyond.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Best uses for OneNote in your teaching and learning |

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The more you learn about OneNote, the more likely you are to embrace it as one of the best teaching and learning tools available today. OneNote is often described as a digital 3-ring binder, or considered to be the Swiss Army Knife of note-taking.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Use OneNote at School: 10 Tips for Students & Teachers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
OneNote can transform the modern classroom. The note-taking app from Microsoft is designed for both students and teachers. Go ahead and organize, collaborate, and share with these tips for better note-taking.

# data[].attributes.body
Some teacher-centered books for you to consider

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"This year I'm really going to make time for more professional reading." Sound familiar? It's easier said than done. But these must-read books for teachers, recommended by our friends on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE, are worth staying up a little past bedtime for. These are the professional development reads teachers are raving about. Check them out!

In an era of mandated testing and ready-made curriculum, it's important to take time to reflect, refresh, and renew our teaching practice in order to make it our own. This easy-to-read book encourages us to remember the reasons why we teach the way we do.

An inspiring must-read book for teachers who are looking for ways to get out from behind the lectern in order to give students the opportunity to facilitate their own learning and become their own best teachers. Particularly thought-provoking for middle and high school teachers.

This book encourages teachers to tap into their passion for teaching and engage their creativity and energy in order to make their classrooms brilliant, dynamic places of learning. Includes practical techniques and innovative ideas to use in the classroom, including over 30 hooks and 170 brainstorming questions.

Another great book that offers practical tips and techniques for increasing rigor and engagement, thus getting the most out of your student community. You can even opt for the version that includes sample lesson plans, videos, and the teachlikeachampion.com online community.

Streamlining your work to yield maximum efficiency is an effective way to not only avoid becoming overwhelmed and burned out but boost your students' academic performance. This must-read book for teachers offers management suggestions and tips for increasing student responsibility and includes one section for teachers and another for students.

This book argues that creating a culture of thinking in schools is more important to learning than any particular curriculum. The author spells out the eight cultural forces (expectations, language, time, modeling, opportunities, routines, interactions, and environment) that are critical for creating this shift.

Research shows that personal qualities like grit and self-control play a critical role in children's success. This book argues that rather than trying to teach these skills directly, we should focus on creating the kind of environment in which those qualities are most likely to flourish.

This must-read book for teachers is "an urgent call for the radical reimagining of American education in order to equip students for the realities of the twenty-first-century economy." It presents a new vision of American education, one that focuses on wonder, creativity, and initiative.

The basic message of this book is that we have much more potential to affect the learning of students than we realize. Translating neuroscience into practical classroom applications, topics include include how to prepare children for school, how to motivate students to participate, how to influence emotional states, how to design smarter schools, and how to enhance memory and critical-thinking skills.

Many intelligent children are struggling in schools-not because they don't understand, but because they need support with their executive function skills (the fundamental habits of mind required for getting organized, staying focused, and controlling impulses and emotions). This must-read book for teachers offers practical, realistic advice in a respectful, hopeful tone.

Based on compelling scientific research, this must-read teacher book emphasizes that students learn best when they are engaged in lessons that involve seeing, hearing, doing, speaking, and feeling. And when kids are engaged, behavior issues subside.

What do you do when traditional methods of rewards and consequences are not effective with students with behavioral problems? This book provides a different framework for understanding challenging behavior and introduces methods for solving problems collaboratively, improving communication, and building relationships.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
12 Must-Read Books for Teachers to Hack Learning - WeAreTeachers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"This year I'm really going to make time for more professional reading." Sound familiar? It's easier said than done. But these must-read books for teachers, recommended by our friends on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE, are worth staying up a little past bedtime for. These are the professional development reads teachers are raving about.

# data[].attributes.body
A padlet in a padlet?! This must be some sort of Inception...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Because you're an educator, Edmodo sees you as a superhero, on a mission to improve student learning. With this guide, you'll find everything you need to be successful, from how to get started on E...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Nearpod is a student engagement platform with formative assessments to make every lesson interactive. It’s a time saver for teachers and is simple to use.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As a digital learning coach and consultant with more than ten years working in instructional technology, I have learned quite a few ways to help teachers integrate technology. I have compiled my Top 20 Tech Tips for Teachers into this handy infographic, which you can download below.

I find myself answering the same questions, dilemmas, and excuses over and over again. For those of you who have been integrating technology for a while, some of these may seem obvious. But we have too many teachers, even new teachers fresh out of college, with no idea how to utilize digital tools to increase student learning.

I want to inspire you to push the boundaries of traditional learning, but I also want to be someone who can keep it real and give you ideas to help you shake up learning in your classroom. Below are digital learning tips that any teacher can use in their classroom.

I blogged some of these tips during my first year as a blogger. In 2014, I kept it to my top ten, a la David Letterman style. Later, my very talented friend, Sylvia Duckworth, created an infographic of the tips. My list of tips keeps growing, and it is actually much longer than twenty, but for the purposes of a blog post, I gotta keep it (somewhat) brief. Let me tell you, that was a struggle!!

You will probably notice that most of these tips are NOT about tech tools specifically, but how to maximize their use to improve student learning.

I share these tips (AND MORE) in my new book, Shake Up Learning: Practical Ideas to Move Learning from Static to Dynamic. This book is all about learning, pushing boundaries, and helping teachers learn how to create dynamic learning experiences.

PRE-ORDERS START SOON (with a special BONUS)!

Now, on with the show, y'all!

20 Tech Tips for Teachers

I could talk about these tips all day with in-depth detail, but to keep this from growing into another accidental eBook, I will just give you a brief description. If you want to dig deeper, check out the additional links and resources provided, as well as the Shake Up Learning book!
DOWNLOAD THE PDF INFOGRAPHIC: Top 20 Tech Tips for Teachers
1. Shift Your Mindset

Mindset is the biggest battle to overcoming technology fears as well. I hear this phrase all the time, "I'm just not good with technology?" Make up your mind to be positive. The classroom is full of obstacles; technology is no different. Maybe you aren't as quick to learn with technology as your peers, but never let that become an excuse. If your mind is holding you back, you have some internal work to do. Take the time to reflect on your current mindset and approach technology with a positive and flexible attitude.

2. Take Risks

The magic happens outside of your comfort zone. Don't be afraid to step out and try new things in the classroom. Model risk-taking in your classroom. Let your students know when you fail or make a mistake so that they understand that is okay. Find ways to push students out of their comfort zones, give them new ideas, perspectives, and ways to approach a problem that can help them see the value in failing forward. Taking a risk during the learning process is a gamble, but one that can pay off big time. The difference is that a risk in the classroom may not guarantee success, but if truly guided with purpose toward the learning goals can garner valuable learning along the way.

3. Start With the Why

When you are planning a digital learning experience, be goal oriented! Begin with your learning outcomes, not the technology. This idea is perhaps the most important tip of all. Everything we do as teachers should always come down student learning and doing what's best for kids. Just because you are using technology doesn't ensure you are meeting any objectives or learning outcomes. If you cannot explain how the digital tool enhances or improves the learning experience, you are just using technology for technology's sake. If this is the case, start over!

I can't tell you how many conversations I've had with teachers that have started with this question,"How can I use [insert digital tool name] in my classroom?" The question should never be how to "fit" this awesome new tool into your learning experience. The question is always, "What are the desired student outcomes? What do you want them to understand and be able to do?" Then you find the best tools in your toolbox to help you get there.

4. Get Tech in Student's Hands

Modeling is great, especially when it comes to technology use, but it is way more important to get technology into the hands of learners. Often times and with good reason, teachers can become overprotective of the technology in their classroom. Sticky fingers and clumsy hands can make you resistant, especially if it something you purchased with your own money. But if you really want to see an impact, that technology needs to be in your learner's' hands. Give them guidelines, show them proper use, then trust them. I see this a lot in situations like a one iPad classroom, or even when SmartBoards were popping up everywhere. The teacher became super savvy with the new technology, and the learners were engaged and excited to see something new, but don't forget our purpose. Get technology in the hands of learners, even at the cost of giving up control.

5. Shop for Tools Like You Are On Amazon

There are so many devices, digital tools, learning ideas and gadgets to choose from in the twenty-first century that it can be overwhelming. Too many choices is a good problem to have! When it comes to the digital tools that you have discretion over, shop for your learners like you are on Amazon! You may actually be on Amazon, the App Store, Google Play, the Chrome Web Store, etc. Read reviews, talk to friends, get ideas from blogs and social media. Shopping is no longer a blind act. We can gather information on just about any idea or product, and we should find out what other teachers recommend. Find out what you can before you ever click download! Find out what you can before you decide to use it on your device and in your classroom.

6. Don't Get Swept Away By New Tools

I am very guilty of this one! It's easy to get swept away by new digital tools. I am often an early adopter and the first to sign-up to try something new; but if you are always trying to integrate something new, you run the risk of focusing too much on the tool and not enough on the learning. Give new tools time grow and evolve. Often times you will find that new tools that start off as free, could suddenly require a fee the day you decide to integrate into your classroom. Or worse, the company went under, and the tool is no longer accessible. New tools and ideas are part of what makes the 21st century so exciting, but we must be cautious when jumping into something new that hasn't been proven or tested.

7. Be Consistent

When technology changes so fast, and new digital tools become available every minute, it can be tempting to try something new in your classroom every day, but learners need consistency. We all know how frustrating it can be to try something new that requires additional set-up time and then doesn't really do everything you had hoped. Risk-taking with new tools is great, but not every day, that would risk too much instructional time. Stick with your tried and true tools, that your learners already know how to use. Then sprinkle in the new stuff! Be consistent so that your students have an opportunity to learn in-depth, focus on the learning goals, and become savvy with the best digital tools. Balance tried and true tools with sprinkles of new stuff to keep it interesting. You don't want to be so consistent that it becomes predictable and mundane.

8. Don't Integrate Too Many Tools At Once

Start small. Along with being consistent, resist the urge to integrate too many digital tools all at once. App-smashing is fun if guided by purpose, but if you try to do too much at once, you risk shifting the focus to the tool and just using technology for technology's sake. If you love tech like I do, it can be easy to keep adding more ideas and tools to your lesson. But you should gradually build your student's digital toolbox. It doesn't have to happen in one day!

9. Don't Be Afraid to Let Your Students Teach You!

Our students have a lot of knowledge and skills, especially when it comes to technology. Long gone are the days of the teacher being the gatekeepers of knowledge. It's okay if you don't know the answer when it comes to the technology, and students will love the chance to help teach you! As you are designing your learning experience, and you wonder about how a digital tool works or if there an app for that, ask a student! And even if they do not know the answer, they will be willing to help you figure it out!

The other thing that I love about talking to students about technology is they always show me something new, some new app, some new trick, that my adult world hasn't seen yet. A lot of our students have their finger on the pulse of what's hot, what's right now, and while that may not always have a direct implication in the classroom, it could! Don't immediately dismiss a tool because you think it isn't educational. They will prove you wrong every time!

10. Utilize Student Tech Experts

It's a myth to assume that every student is comfortable with technology. We still have a huge digital divide. But there are experts among us in our classrooms that can help bridge that gap. So not only should you leverage students to help you learn new digital skills, but you should also use them as go-to experts for other students in your classroom. This kind of leadership can be a very empowering experience for students. It can also help those with inclinations toward technology to explore their passions and interests, and it can definitely help get more girls and young women interested in technology as well.

Depending on how many savvy students you have in your class, this could be a permanent role or group, or even a rotating job for students in your class. Be careful though; you don't want to force this role on any student who is uncomfortable or shy. At least initially, this should be a volunteer role. This idea can also be taken a step further by establishing a student help desk, genius bar, or Chrome Squad for your school. (Learn more about developing a student tech team for your school from this blog post series: The Chrome Squad.)

11. Ask Three Before Me

In my classroom, I would often deliver small group instruction while the rest of the class worked on other assignments, stations or learning menus. It became difficult to manage questions while I was working with my small group. Some learners just naturally go to the teacher with every little problem, and often times, these questions are easily answered by other learners in the classroom or found online. By implementing the, "ask three before me," strategy my learners helped each other problem solve and complete their tasks and assignments, while I focused on my small group. This, of course, works well when digital tools are involved. If a student forgets how to log in, or where the rubric is saved, they can easily ask another student instead of interrupting the teacher. TIP: You can also make YouTube and/or Google Search one of the "three," options to ask for help.

12. Use Digital Tools FOR Learning

When technology integration began to enter our classrooms, and a dedicated computer lab was all the rage, most used it as time to type a paper, do some research, or to create some type of end product like a PowerPoint or Brochure. But with so much technology at our disposal, and hopefully the end of trips to the shared computer lab, teachers should be integrating technology and digital tools throughout the learning cycle. Let's maximize these tools to engage students from beginning to end and beyond, not just summative products.

13. Use New Tools to Do New Things

Think beyond using digital tools to complete only traditional assignments such as papers and reports. Use digital tools to do new things. Just going paperless or digital isn't enough. Use some of these new tools to go further, go deeper and extend your students' learning. Reach beyond what you think a digital tool can do and should be used for, and challenge your students to demonstrate their learning in a new way.

Use digital tools beyond their original purpose. For instance, did you know that you can create an eBook with Google Slides? Presentation applications alone can be used for many more things than just a presentation. As my friend Alice Keeler says, "I don't use Google Slides to GIVE information, I use Google Slides to GET information from students." Matt and I even did an episode of the Google Teacher Tribe Podcast on this topic: Google Slides Can Do Whaattt??!!. Think about how you and your students can get creative and use new digital tools in unexpected ways.

14. Give Students Voice & Choice

Giving students voice and choice is a vital component to creating student ownership of learning. There are many ways to do this. This may be as simple as giving them a choice in the digital tool they use to demonstrate their learning, or it could involve more student voice and choice like incorporating Genius Hour into your curriculum. For me, learning menus (aka choice boards) helped me to find easy ways to give students more choice in their assignments and provide a more flexible learning path. It doesn't have to be complicated, but you will be pleasantly surprised at the outcome and the depth of understanding when you give students a little extra room to make their own decisions in their learning.

15. Get Organized

One of the best things you can do as a facilitator of digital learning is to organize the information, directions, objectives, and resources online for your learners. Giving learners ONE central location or website will make your life so much easier and will allow learners to focus on the learning tasks-and to help you keep this learning experience as paperless as possible! This is their one-stop-shop! Consider using Google Classroom, WordPress, Blogger, Google Sites, Weebly, or Wix as your classroom hub.

This one location is what I like to call, "The One Link to Rule Them All!" Don't over complicate your classroom. Make it easy for you and your students. Use this central, "hub," to give students everything they need: information about assignments, additional resources, enrichment activities, due dates, links to important school and campus information and web pages, classroom procedures, class rules, syllabus-anything and everything should go in your one-stop-shop and b organized for easy navigation.

16. Package Your Online Assignments

Don't miss out on one of the BEST things about managing assignments online! When you create an assignment online using your preferred tool, be that Google Classroom, Canvas, Edmodo, Blackboard, Google Docs, Google Sites, Hyperdocs, whatever...give learners ALL of the information online. Give them detailed directions, the rubric, the due date, detail collaborative expectations, where and how to turn it in, what to do if they finish early, EVERYTHING you can think of! This will save you so much time answering questions. Learn about the ten things to include in your assignment package.

It is also convenient for absent work and demanding parents. This can also serve as documentation, a record of your lesson plans. You can fine-tune it and revise as you see fit throughout the assignment.

17. Don't Assess the Bells and Whistles; Content is King

Technology can bring some excitement and engagement to student products and projects. But when it comes to assessing student work, always remember to go back to those learning goals. What was the original purpose of the lesson? Was it to include three animations in a PowerPoint? I hope not! The fun little extras, the bells, and whistles can give something special to a project, but that is most likely not your end goal.

Steer clear of rubrics that rely strictly on numbers, like the number of slides, the number of pictures, etc. Instead, use a rubric that focuses on the content and skills that the lesson was designed to teach.

18. Publish for a Global Audience

Every student should have the opportunity to publish for a global audience on a regular basis. Find ways to flatten the walls of your classroom and allow learners to publish their work, their writing, their videos, their projects, their creations, or even a full e-portfolio online. This will change the quality of their work and help them build a positive online presence. See my previous post, Every Student Should Publish for the World for more ideas and tools.

19. Always Have a Plan B

I say this one ALL THE TIME! No matter how much you prepare ahead of time for any lesson, even the ones that don't involve technology, things do not always go as planned. We have all experienced those times when the technology doesn't cooperate: the Internet connection or wifi is down, the website you were using crashed, the video you were going to play is blocked, the digital tool you planned to use is no longer free. It happens to all of us! That is why it is crucial to not only think on your feet, but to also have a Plan B. Plan B doesn't mean a completely new lesson plan, but it does mean knowing what you will do if the lesson just isn't working out. Sometimes this means going back to pen and paper. Sometimes this means going back to a tried and true tool like Google Docs. Being flexible is nothing new if you are a teacher, integrating technology is no different. Be prepared to transition to Plan B before you lose an entire instructional period.

20. Share Your Voice

I am a firm believer in sharing your story, your reflections, and your journey, and this is something we can also cultivate in students. This is a different type of sharing than sharing for collaboration and feedback. This is about sharing something more personal: the story of your learning. Reflection is an important part of the learning process, and when you are bold enough to share an honest reflection about your fears, what went well, or where you failed, it helps students cultivate a growth mindset. They begin to understand that the process, the good, the bad, and the ugly were all part of the learning journey. Help students to document their learning, reflect, and share with the world continuously.

Want to learn more idea like this? You will love my new book!

Check out my new book, Shake Up Learning: Practical Ideas to Move Learning From Static to Dynamic.

About the Shake Up Learning Book

Technology is not a magic solution for education. It is an opportunity! An opportunity to shake things up, to connect and grow, and to create dynamic learning experiences for our students!

In this three-part book, you will explore WHY it's time to Shake Up Learning, WHAT changes we can make in our classrooms to support dynamic learning experiences, and HOW to plan meaningful lessons for your classroom.

Shake Up Learning is a powerful guide and planning tool to help educators at all grade levels make the most of technology. Educator and blogger Kasey Bell guides you through the process of using technology and proven techniques to make learning dynamic.

You'll discover . . .

Practical strategies to help move from static teaching to dynamic learning

Straightforward and easy-to-use templates for crafting engaging learning opportunities

Tips and tricks for fearless implementation of powerful lesson plans

Advice for moving from one-and-done activities to learning that evolves and inspires throughout the school year-and beyond!

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON Be DYNAMIC and SHAKE UP LEARNING in Your Classroom This Year!
But wait...There's more!

With this book, I have also created several interactive resources, templates, and downloads, all available on ShakeUpLearningBook.com.

Get the FREE Shake Up Learning Quickstart Guide

An online community

Discussion Questions, Chapter Actions, and Embedded Resources for all 20 Chapters!

An interactive companion website to help you continue and deepen the learning

A lesson plan database (submit and search for dynamic lesson plans)

Tons of free resources, videos, templates, and downloads, all available on the website: ShakeUpLearningBook.com.

Shake Up Learning QUICKSTART GUIDE

© Shake Up Learning 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As a digital learning coach and consultant with more than ten years working in instructional technology, I have learned quite a few ways to help teachers integrate technology. I have compiled my Top 20 Tech Tips for Teachers into this handy infographic, which you can download below.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
SMART Exchange - USA - Search lessons by keyword

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Subject: English as a Second Language, Special Education, Health and Physical Education, Modern Foreign Languages, Social Studies, Music, Art and Design, Cross-curricular, Geography, Mathematics, Citizenship, History, English Language Arts, Science

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Dr. Puentedura graciously Creative Commons-licenses some of his papers to allow for reproduction on other sites with attribution.

I have taken one of the PDF files and turned it into a slideshow below. I have included links to the original PDF files in case you want to download it from Dr. Puentedura's site.

Bloom's and SAMR:
​My thoughts based on the work of R. Puentedura, A. Churches and L. Nelson

I feel teachers need to both create tasks that target the higher-order cognitive skills (Bloom's) as well as design tasks that have a significant impact on student outcomes (SAMR). A visual to illustrate that follows.

Educators will argue they have seen redefinition tasks that only target the remembering level or have a creative assessment that is only at the augmentation level. Of course that is true, but I believe we should be planning for technology tasks, activities, and assessments that include both the higher levels of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy and the transformation area of the SAMR model.

My vision of how the Bloom's and SAMR models work together and intersect follows below.

Bloom's and TECH: My thoughts

Work by others

Videos by others

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
SAMR is a model designed to help educators infuse technology into teaching and learning. Popularized by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, the model supports and enables teachers to design, develop, and ...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Every week, there are new apps and platforms that serve a multitude of purposes in the world of education. These could be websites with lessons, tools that allow teachers to create new lessons, platforms for case management, or any other of a wide range of services that are designed to help educational administrators, teachers, and students. These tools can be a great way to foster digital learning and build meaningful skills for 21st century learners, but it is important to consider whether teachers and classrooms are equipped to implement them in a meaningful way.

The SAMR model is a framework designed to help educators get a crystal clear idea of what their goals are for implementing technology, as well as the specific outcomes the technology can provide. SAMR is an acronym for the following terms: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. We'll get into what each term means a little bit later on, but it is also important to understand that they are broken into two categories. Substitution and Augmentation are both considered "enhancement", whereas Modification and Redefinition are "transformation". Let's dive in a little bit deeper into what each piece of the model actually means.

The first and easiest piece is substitution. This is the most basic form of technology integration in the SAMR model, and consists of merely replacing a traditional lesson item with a technological equivalent. An example of substitution would be using a powerpoint presentation to deliver content, rather than reading straight out of a textbook. While substitution is the most basic form of technology integration, that does necessarily mean that it is not a valuable and meaningful way to bring technology into the classroom, and based on the differentiated needs of your classroom, substitution can be a great way to involve technology in your students' day to day activities.

The next form of technology integration is Augmentation, which is very similar to substitution except that it provides a clear enhancement to the student in the activity. While substitution is a direct equivalent (text book page vs. webpage) augmenting lessons with technology means that the technology actually allows greater learning to occur than would happen with the traditional classroom resource.

Both of these are considered to be "enhancements" because they still convey the material in the same way, but can often bring benefits with them that expand the learning taking place for the students. They allow the students to take in the material in the same way, but with increased success or in a way that is easier to implement. Now we're going to find out a little bit more about the 'transformation' pieces.

Modification is taking a traditional learning task and significantly changing it with technology. An example of this would be replacing a 'foldable' about the solar system with a multimedia presentation. While the learning task is similar, the end product and the learning task have both changed slightly as a result of technology being implemented.

Then, finally, there is redefinition. Redefinition is taking a traditional learning task and completely transforming it in a way that would be impossible without technology. For example, rather than reading about a person from another country, a teacher might set up a video call for students with someone from overseas. By using technology to transform the learning task, the teacher is integrating technology in his or her classroom at the highest possible level.

These two pieces of the framework are rightfully called "transformative" because they change the way the lesson runs, and the way the students interact with the content. While these are high level ways to integrate technology into the classroom, they are by no means any more or less important than the "enhancements" of substitution and augmentation. It is important to objectively decide where in the SAMR model your technology makes the most sense for the outcomes of your learners.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Integrating Technology in the Classroom using the SAMR Model

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Every week, there are new apps and platforms that serve a multitude of purposes in the world of education. These could be websites with lessons, tools that allow teachers to create new lessons, platforms for case management, or any other of a wide range of services that are designed to help educational administrators, teachers, and students.