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Blooket is a game-based learning platform that enables teachers to create and host trivia games. Key features include various game modes and engaging visuals that make learning fun and effective.

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OpenStudy is a social learning network where students can ask questions, give help, and connect with other students studying the same subjects. Key features include collaborative learning and peer support.

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CommonLit offers free reading passages and literacy resources for grades 3-12. It includes reading materials, lesson plans, and assessment tools. Key features include diverse texts and reading comprehension strategies.

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For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your web browser.

World-class content

Access thousands of reading lessons and our comprehensive ELA curriculum, CommonLit 360.

Accessible for all learners

Tailor instruction to students' needs with text-to-speech, translation, and digital note-taking.

Actionable data

Track students' reading performance, set goals, and plan instructional next steps.

CommonLit
Digital Library

Discover thousands of free, supplemental lessons and quizzes in English and Spanish - all featuring great authors.

CommonLit
Assessment Series

Measure growth in reading comprehension with three benchmark assessments when you unlock our premium packages.

CommonLit 360 &
Professional Development

Support a successful rollout of our research-backed ELA curriculum with personalized webinars and on-demand trainings.

"

CommonLit has made a tremendously positive impact on my teaching practice. I'm very proud to teach CommonLit!

Jennifer Lane ELA Teacher

"

CommonLit definitely keeps me organized. It's easy for me to grade and it's easy for me to see students' reading growth increase throughout the year.

"

The CommonLit assessment questions are aligned to our ELA standards, which is extremely helpful when prepping for the state exam.

Teachers trust CommonLit to foster students' reading comprehension

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CommonLit | Free Online Reading Passages and Literacy Resources

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CommonLit is a comprehensive literacy program with thousands of reading lessons, full-year ELA curriculum, benchmark assessments, and standards-based data for teachers.

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Kids A-Z provides access to literacy resources for students, including leveled reading materials and interactive quizzes. It supports differentiated instruction and helps teachers track student progress.

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Hey, Kids: To access your Raz-Kids page, go to the web page for your class and click on the symbol above your name. It’s that easy!

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Google Classroom is a free website for schools, non-profits, and anyone with a Google account. It makes it simple to share files between professors and students. Assignment creation, grading, and communication are some of the key aspects of Google Classroom. Teachers can also communicate with students' families through this tech tool.

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Enrich and personalize learning

Drive student agency with tools that meet students where they are - and build skills for their future.

all editions

Make learning more personal and foster student agency

Amplify instruction with tools that simplify everyday tasks

Boost instructional time with tools purpose-built for teaching, productivity, and collaboration

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Tools designed for seamless teaching

Get creative with hundreds of apps

Hundreds of EdTech apps integrate with Classroom to spark creativity and enable more opportunities for learning.

Operate with solutions designed to gain visibility, insights, and control

Create learning environments that are easier to manage and support educators and students with connected, safer tools.

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A secure, reliable, and extensible platform for school communities of all sizes

Level up your Classroom with apps

Discover a world of apps that seamlessly integrate with Chromebooks and Google Workspace for Education.

How Classroom can make a difference for you

Classroom can be learned in minutes and serves all types of learners and educators, regardless of their tech savviness. Empower educators, and encourage adoption and proficiency with new tools and techniques, with a broad range of resources.

Teachers can immediately set up classes, easily create coursework, distribute it to the whole class, and grade it efficiently and transparently.

Admins have as much control as they need while they access and analyze their data for insights and choose from a range of upgrade options for additional capabilities to fit their specific needs.

Need more information about Classroom?

Bring all of your tools together with Google Workspace for Education

Google Workspace for Education empowers your school community with easy-to-use tools that elevate teaching, learning, collaboration, and productivity - all on one secure platform.

Ready to transform your school?

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Classroom Management Tools & Resources - Google for Education

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Get started with Google Classroom, a central hub for tools and resources designed to help educators manage classrooms and enrich learning experiences.

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Socrative is a cloud-based student response system that allows teachers to create simple quizzes and exit tickets that students can complete on their devices. Key features include automatic grading and feedback.

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Login or sign up for free on Socrative - your assessment partner for real-time assessments and instant insights.

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Nearpod is an interactive lesson-planning tool that allows teachers to create presentations that can include quizzes, polls, videos, and more. Key features include student engagement tools and analytics.

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Nearpod: Foster a love of learning in every student

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Create active learning experiences students can’t wait to be a part of.

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Quizlet is an online learning tool that provides many different study modes, such as flashcards, quizzes, and games, to help students learn. Key features include customizable study sets and collaborative learning.

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Quizizz is a game-based student engagement platform that includes quizzes and interactive classes. It enables students to learn at their own pace and gives teachers an understanding of how students' are performing. Real-time feedback and a library of pre-made quizzes are the key features.

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The evidence is in the practice

ESSA Level 3 correlation evidence in math and ELA, earned by teachers running frequent formative assessments.

When teachers run 30+ formative questions a week, the research is clear: they get more data-driven, their students get more engaged. Wayground is built to make that practice enjoyable ot run, attainable to fit a class period, and habitual enough to last past September.

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Quizizz is now Wayground | Teacher AI and Resources

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Find standards-aligned resources that engage every student. Wayground (formerly Quizizz) helps teachers differentiate instruction with AI and track student progress.

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Using Google Classroom for Parent-Teacher Communication

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Using Google Classroom for Parent-Teacher Communication

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Google Classroom can be used to update parents on their child's progress and upcoming homework. Teachers may create announcements, offer resources, and contact parents to establish a collaborative environment.

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/en/google-classroom/grading-and-leaving-feedback/content/

Communicating with students and parents

In addition to assigning and grading work, Google Classroom allows you to communicate with students via email. It's also possible for parents and guardians to receive email summaries to keep them informed of current and upcoming events.

Watch the video below to learn how to communicate with students in Google Classroom.

Emailing your students

Google Classroom makes it easy to email your students, whether it's a message to the entire class or one student in particular. Regardless of who you'd like to email, you'll first need to navigate to the People tab.

You have several options here, depending on the people you're emailing. Let's take a look at a few possible examples:

Emailing a single student: Find the student's name, click the More button, and select Email student.

Emailing multiple students: Check off the names of the students you'd like to email, then click Actions and select Email.

Emailing the entire class: Check the box above the list of students to select all of them. Then click Actions and select Email.

Posting announcements

Instead of sending emails, you can post announcements to the class' Stream. These are simply posts your students will view on the Stream when they sign in to Google Classroom. They can be helpful as reminders, notifications of upcoming events, or anything else you'd like to share with the class as a whole.

To post an announcement, navigate to the Stream tab, then click the field at the top of the stream that reads Share something with your class...

From here, you can type anything you want and include a link or attachment by clicking the Add button. Once you're done, click Post.

Your message will post to the stream.

Class summaries for parents

It's also possible for parents and guardians of your students to receive email summaries. These include missing work, upcoming work, and recent class activity. These summaries are generated automatically and cannot be customized with personal messages or additional content. Parents get to choose whether they receive these emails daily or weekly, and they have the option to unsubscribe as well.

Class summaries are only available when your students are using G Suite for Education school accounts. School administrators also must grant teachers access to manage these email summaries.

If your students are using G Suite for Education school accounts and you'd like to provide email summaries, you can learn how to do so here.

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Google Classroom: Communicating with Students and Parents

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Learn how to email your students using Google Classroom and keep their parents up to date on class activity.

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Students can use blogging platforms for creating and sharing work for the community. This not only helps their writing skills, but also gives an opportunity for input from the community. Blogs can be utilized to highlight student effort.

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Listen to this post as a podcast:

Sponsored by Pear Deck and ISTE U

When you hear the word "blog," what do you think of? When blogs first started showing up on the internet, most were basically diaries, individual people's personal musings on life. Although this is a perfectly legitimate practice, these early prototypes made many of us equate the word "blog" with something self-indulgent, writing that shouldn't be taken seriously.

Since those early days the blog has really evolved as a genre: People have taken the basic framework of the blog and used it to build all kinds of useful, interesting things online. This evolution has given the blog limitless potential as a form of writing, and that's just as true for student writers as it is for everyone else. So if you're looking for a nice, meaty assignment, one that in previous decades might have been a research paper or an oral presentation, consider assigning a blog instead. It's not only a highly relevant form of writing, but because it's done entirely online and worked on over time, it would also lend itself beautifully to remote or hybrid learning.

To support you on this mission, I'm going to share six different kinds of blogs students could create, each of which could be written on thousands of topics and fit into plenty of different content areas. I'll also explore some of the nuts and bolts-tools and practices that will help you do this work well. And finally, I'll talk about how you might go about assessing student blogs.

Before we get into all that, let's make sure we all understand our terms.

What's the difference between a blog and a regular website?

Let's start by defining our terms. A website is basically any online "container" that houses at least a few pages of content. It's possible to have a website that consists of nothing but a single page, but usually those exist simply because the people behind them opted not to use any additional features.

Your dentist, most likely, has a website. Most of the restaurants, mechanics, churches, and gyms in your town probably have websites. These sites typically consist of just a few pages: a home page that lists some general information, hours, the address, etc, and then a few more pages that provide more detail on the goods and services offered by the business, the staff, and maybe the history of the place. That's basically it. All of those pages are more or less static, meaning the information doesn't change regularly unless something about the organization changes (new staff members, new menu items or services, etc.).

A blog is part of a larger website, and what makes it unique is that it is dynamic. It changes. It's regularly updated to provide new material. Some companies, like the kinds listed in the previous examples, might decide to add a blog to their regular website for the purposes of educating their clients or helping their customers get to know them. For example, a dentist's website might put out regular blog posts offering tips on home dental care, reviewing toothbrushes, or sharing before-and-after stories of patients who received special services like laser teeth whitening. In most cases, though, these blogs aren't chock-full of content because they're just a supplement to the main thing, which is to give the reader information about the business.

Some websites, like my own, are more heavily focused on the blogging side of things. Yes, my site has a few static pages-like the one where I introduce myself and my staff -but the vast majority of the content on my site is blog posts. These blog posts are not just general musings about life, though. I made the decision when I started my site that it would be focused solely on education-related topics, with the main goal being to write posts that help teachers do their work better. Every other week I put out a new blog post-along with a podcast episode-on a different topic.

The internet is full of sites like mine, websites that use a blogging framework to regularly share content for an audience that will be interested in that specific topic. Most of them wouldn't even call themselves "blogs." Instead, they'd see themselves as websites that are content-heavy. Those are the types of blogs I'm focusing on here, the kind I think our students should be writing.

Ideas for Content

What follows are six different ways students could use a blogging platform to produce a collection of content. In many cases, that "content" is writing, but in some cases, it is another type of media. These blogs could be done just for school, but if they're good, if the students want to, and if their parents give permission, the blogs could ultimately reach a wider audience and might even end up turning into a career.

1. The Single Project Blog

This would be devoted to documenting a project from beginning to end. It would include a description of how the idea came about, any research and planning that happened, progress on the project at different stages along the way, the final result, and impacts or outcomes after the project was over. If your school does a lot of project-based learning or offers a genius hour program or an innovation class, this type of blog would be a natural fit.

Example Topics:

A community service project, where the student or a group of students is doing something to serve the community

A learning blog, where the student sets a goal of learning something, like a language, or developing a particular skill, like juggling, and documents progress along the way

A build of some kind, where the student is creating a specific end product, like a mural, a piece of furniture, an app, a painting, etc.

Any kind of trip or journey taken by the student or a group of students

A performance or event, like a play, talent show, ceremony, or celebration

2. The Special Interest Blog

What are your students passionate about? This type of blog features an ongoing series of posts around a single topic. Ideally, the topic will be broad enough so that it can include some sub-topics as well. This type of blog would be a good fit for a social studies or science class, if you wanted students to focus on a topic related to your content area.
Example Topics:

A hobby, like skateboarding, gaming, traveling, any kind of music (as a player or spectator), or any sport (as a player or spectator)

A cause, like environmentalism, racial justice, or animal welfare

A historical period, event, place, or person

A country or culture

A skill area like cooking, woodworking, gardening, or any type of craft

A health-related topic like nutrition, exercise, sleep, or mental health

A musical artist, celebrity, movie franchise, or TV show.

3. The Portfolio Blog

This is designed to showcase a collection of the student's work in one particular area. Along with each artifact, the student could also write an introduction or reflection on the piece to give insights into the creation process or their inspiration for the piece.
Example Topics:

short stories, poetry, chapters of a novel or memoir

art (either digital art or photographs of paintings, hand-drawings, sculptures, and other mixed media)

photography

comic strips or graphic novel-style stories

video

music

Sketchnote by Mrs. LeFave

4. The Journalistic Blog

Like a magazine or newspaper, the goal of this type of blog would be to tell stories about things that are happening now. These stories can include photos or videos to supplement the writing, or they can be focused mainly on photos or videos with minimal text. Stories can be short and "newsy" or longer, magazine-style feature articles.
Example Topics:

school-related news, either general or narrowed down to a specific angle, like sports, the arts, or even specific clubs

community news, either general or focused more narrowly on specific neighborhoods, interests, or businesses.

family news: Ideal for students who belong to large families where keeping up with individual family members' milestones and life changes would help the whole family stay connected

5. The Review Blog

This type of blog would be comprised solely of reviews, where the writer (or group of writers) review new or established offerings in a particular category.
Example Topics:

music

movies or TV shows

books

restaurants

video games

websites

videos on TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms

6. The Advice or How-to Blog

On this type of blog, the writer would simply give advice or instructions on how to do things. The topics could come from real readers, or the site creator could just make them up based on common problems they know people have.
Example topics:

relationship or friendship advice or how-tos

academic advice or how-tos

hobby or sports-related advice or how-tos

technology how-tos

Nuts and Bolts: Making it Work

The Tech

Choose a platform where students can build their blogs.

WordPress is my recommendation if students want to use a well-established platform for free.

Google Sites and Blogger are also free and may be easier, but they don't offer as many features as WordPress.

Edublogs is a good option for younger students, because it gives teachers more control over student blogs, privacy, etc.

Some sites have age restrictions that do not permit users under a certain age, so be sure to check the Terms and Conditions and consult with your district IT department before launching a blogging project.

Choosing a Focus

Just like with a research paper or a presentation, a good blog will have a clearly defined focus. Here are some considerations:

Many of the types of blogs listed here can be combined. A special interest blog might regularly feature posts that give reviews of products, for example. A portfolio blog might occasionally feature a how-to post about the skills being showcased.

When choosing a topic, consider the target audience. Who are students writing for? Even if the blogs will not actually be shared with the public due to student age or general privacy concerns, students could still write for a hypothetical audience.

Any of these blog types can have a personal angle if the writer chooses. Letting an audience get to know you as a person can make your writing much more compelling, and this kind of writing not only helps the writer reflect and grow personally, it can also be helpful to readers who connect with those experiences.

One good way to determine whether a chosen focus is a good fit is to create a list of blog post topics ahead of time. If a student can't come up with more than a few ideas, the topic might need to be broader. For example, if a student wants to write about skateboarding gear and doesn't have many ideas for posts, it might make more sense to write about skateboarding in general; this will allow for more diversity in topics under that larger umbrella.

It is possible for a person to have more than one blog at a time or multiple blogs over time. Not that you'd assign more than one, but knowing this and letting students know might help when they're trying to decide on a topic and can't choose just one. (By the way, it would be better to have two separate blogs on two different topics than trying to force them together on one site.)

Taking it Further

Students who want to go beyond school with their blogs might consider these add-ons and tips:

Most blogs have social media accounts associated with them. This helps writers advertise new posts and build an audience. Many blogging platforms have tools built-in to link the blog to social media accounts, so readers can find your Instagram or Twitter feed from your blog, and vice versa.

It's also a good idea to have a clearly defined brand-this includes things like the blog title and tagline, the colors and typefaces you use for your blog design, the artwork you add to supplement your posts, even the kind of language you use in your writing (Is it formal? Casual? Does it include a lot of slang from the audience you're speaking to?) This branding should be consistent in your social media as well.

It's possible to monetize most blogs if students have the desire, the drive, and the permission to do so. This revenue can come from advertising, from selling products through other sites like Etsy, eBay, Amazon, and others, or from affiliate marketing, where the blogger receives a commission for recommending products sold by other people.

For a blog to be successful, it's important to maintain a consistent schedule of posting-even if that's once a month. Your readers will come to expect whatever schedule you set for yourself, and if you're all over the map in your posting, that will make it harder to grow an audience.

Assigning and Assessing Student Blogs

Ideally, a student blog would be a long-term assignment, where students must come up with an idea and develop it over time, "submitting" the final blog for a grade, but getting a lot of feedback from you along the way as different posts are published.

When assigning a blog it's important to define the criteria by which you'll assess it. I strongly recommend you use a single-point rubric for assessing blogs; share the criteria with students ahead of time or better yet, co-construct the criteria with them.

Below are some criteria I think would be important to include in a rubric for student blogs. I'm sure there are many excellent blogging rubrics out there that address some characteristics I haven't thought of, but this is what I have so far:

Purpose and Audience: The overall focus is clearly defined and consistent throughout the blog. Individual blog posts have a clear focus that is consistent with the larger theme. The writing is directed toward a targeted audience that is consistent across individual posts.

Development: The overarching topic of the blog is developed with posts that address sub-categories. Each individual post addresses a clear, specific idea and develops that idea with sufficient details.

Organization: Posts are organized effectively with categories and tags, making it easier for readers to find what they're looking for.

Style and Tone: All posts are written in a style and tone that is appropriate for the audience.

Effective use of multimedia: The writing is enhanced with images or video that expand on the content or relate to it in some way.

Ethical and appropriate use of multimedia: Images, video, or music use complies with copyright and fair use laws. Appropriate credit is given to creators of other works. (See this post for more information.)

Writing mechanics: Errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and usage are infrequent and do not distract from the overall experience of reading and understanding blog posts.

Technical functionality: All features of the site operate correctly to create a seamless, pleasant reading experience for readers. Links work as expected, elements that appear "clickable" work properly, and nothing from the "back end" (such as HTML coding that should not be visible to the user) shows up on the site.

It's often said that people don't read and write anymore, that all we do is mess around on our devices. But I think we're still reading and writing all the time; the delivery systems have just changed. And one of the most popular delivery systems in the 21st century is the blog. Regardless of what line of work our students go into later in life, there's a high probability that they will be reading or writing blog posts as part of that work. Let's embrace that: Instead of keeping it separate from school, let's bring it in and give our students opportunities to get really good at it.

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A Few Creative Ways to Use Student Blogs

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The blog has evolved as a genre, giving it limitless potential as a form of writing, and that's just as true for student writers as it is for everyone else.

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Teachers use Nearpod to develop interactive presentations including community members. A history class, for example, could incorporate local history quizzes and polls to encourage students to learn about their community's history.

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Connect to a global network of educators transforming teaching with technology by joining a Nearpod Community.

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The integration of technology tools in education can significantly enhance the learning experience. Tools like Quizizz and Nearpod make learning interactive and fun, while platforms like Google Classroom help teachers to share files and communicate with students and parents.

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Technology's impact on K-12 education has been transformative, ushering in a new era of learning characterized by enhanced accessibility, engagement, and personalized instruction.

In recent years, K-12 tech innovation news has made it clear that educational technology has become an integral part of classrooms, influencing teaching methodologies, student interactions, and the overall educational landscape. From interactive digital resources to online learning platforms, technology has given educators innovative tools to create dynamic and inclusive learning environments. Students, in turn, have benefited from increased access to information, personalized learning experiences, and opportunities for collaboration.

While the positive impact is evident, challenges such as equitable access and the need for effective integration strategies continue to shape the evolving relationship between technology and K-12 education.

What is one positive effect technology has had on education?

Looking at K-12 tech innovation news, perhaps the biggest positive impact of technology on education is that of equity of access. Digital learning tools and digital technologies have broken down geographical barriers and provided access to educational resources for students no matter their socioeconomic status or geographic location.

Technology empowers students to take ownership of their learning, expanding opportunities for self-directed and personalized learning experiences. Online courses and educational apps offer flexibility, allowing students to learn at their own pace and tailor their educational journey to suit their individual needs.

Because technology has transformed access to learning tools, students who previously may not have had access to these tools now also have the opportunity to build skills they'll use in college and the workforce. Battling this so-called "opportunity gap" makes personalized learning and skill development more inclusive and accessible.

How technology has impacted students' education

Technology has had a transformative impact on K-12 education. The impact of technology on student learning has revolutionized the way students engage and interact in the classroom. In fact, K-12 edtech innovation news is full of examples of successful and engaging edtech implementations.

One of the most notable changes is the digitization of educational materials. Traditional textbooks are being replaced by interactive e-books and online resources, giving students dynamic and multimedia-rich content that can be updated as the world changes. This shift not only makes learning more engaging but also allows for more up-to-date and easily accessible information.

Edtech has personalized the learning experience for K-12 students. Adaptive learning platforms and educational apps cater to individual learning styles and paces, enabling students to progress at their own rate. This personalized approach helps address the diverse needs of students in a single classroom, fostering a more inclusive learning environment where each student can thrive.

Classroom dynamics have evolved with the introduction of interactive whiteboards, tablets, and other devices. Teachers can incorporate multimedia elements into their lessons, and collaborative tools enable students to work together on projects, fostering teamwork and communication skills that are crucial for their future success.

The impact of technology on student learning also extends beyond the classroom walls. Virtual field trips, online educational games, and video conferencing tools bring real-world experiences into the curriculum, making learning more relevant and connected to students' lives. This interconnectedness cultivates a sense of curiosity and exploration.

How technology is impacting education

Technology has profoundly impacted education, upending traditional teaching methods and reshaping today's learning landscape. As with all innovations, there are positive and negative effects of technology on education. Several key areas highlight the transformative effects of technology on education:

1. Access to Information: The internet has become a vast repository of information, providing students and educators with unprecedented access to a wealth of knowledge. Online resources, educational websites, and digital libraries have expanded the scope of learning beyond the confines of textbooks.

2. Interactive and Engaging Learning: The integration of technology has made learning more interactive and engaging. Virtual simulations, educational games, and multimedia presentations captivate students' attention, making complex concepts more accessible and enjoyable.

3. Efficiency in Administration: Administrative tasks within educational institutions have been streamlined through technology. Digital platforms for enrollment, grading, and communication enhance efficiency, allowing educators to focus more on teaching and students' individual needs.

4. Skill Development for the Digital Age: The integration of technology in education prepares students with essential skills for the digital age. They develop digital literacy, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills that are increasingly crucial in today's workforce.

5. Flexibility in Learning: Online education platforms and digital resources provide flexibility in learning. Students can work through materials at their own pace and from various locations if needed, accommodating diverse schedules and learning preferences.

6. Innovative Assessment Methods: Technology has introduced innovative assessment methods. Digital quizzes, online assignments, and real-time feedback mechanisms offer a more dynamic and varied approach to evaluating students' understanding and progress.

As technology continues to evolve, its role in education is likely to expand, offering even more opportunities for transformative change and improvement in the learning experience.

Why is technology in education important?

The integration of technology in K-12 education is of paramount importance in preparing students for success in the digital age. One key reason, according to research about technology in education, is the enhancement of learning experiences. Technology provides dynamic and interactive tools that engage students in ways traditional methods cannot. Interactive whiteboards, educational apps, and multimedia resources cater to various learning styles, making lessons more accessible, engaging, and effective.

So, what are the technological impacts on education in the United States? For starters, technology fosters personalized learning through adaptive learning platforms and educational software. This individualized approach addresses diverse learning needs, ensuring that each student can progress at their own pace and grasp concepts more thoroughly.

Technology in K-12 education is also instrumental in developing essential 21st-century skills. As the workforce becomes increasingly reliant on digital tools, students need to be proficient in technology from an early age. Exposure to devices, coding activities, and digital collaboration tools equips students with the digital literacy and problem-solving skills necessary for success in a technology-driven society.

Technology also expands access to information and resources. The internet provides a vast repository of knowledge, allowing students to explore subjects beyond the confines of textbooks. Online educational resources, virtual field trips, and educational games enrich the curriculum, offering a more comprehensive and diverse educational experience.

What is the impact of educational technology in teaching and learning?

Educational technology has a profound impact on both K-12 teaching and learning, ushering in transformative changes that enhance the overall educational experience. In terms of K-12 teaching, technology provides educators with powerful tools to engage students and deliver more dynamic and effective lessons. The impact of technology on the academic performance of students and teaching effectiveness cannot be overstated.

Interactive whiteboards, educational software, and multimedia presentations allow teachers to present information in diverse ways, catering to different learning styles and making lessons more engaging and interactive.

Moreover, educational technology facilitates personalized instruction. Through adaptive learning platforms and online resources (just two examples of technologies that improve student learning), customization helps each student receive targeted support and opportunities for enrichment, promoting a more inclusive and effective learning environment.

Collaborative learning is another significant impact of educational technology in K-12 education. Online platforms and tools enable students to collaborate on projects and participate in virtual discussions, whether they're fully-online students, hybrid learners, or are simply not present in their brick-and-mortar schools for one reason or another.

Technology opens up new avenues for exploration and self-directed learning. The internet serves as a vast repository of information, allowing students to delve into subjects beyond the confines of traditional textbooks. Educational apps, games, and simulations make learning more interactive and enjoyable, encouraging students to explore and experiment with concepts in a hands-on manner.

Additionally, technology promotes digital literacy and 21st-century skills. As students interact with digital tools, they develop the skills necessary to navigate the digital landscape, critically evaluate information, and communicate effectively online. These skills are increasingly essential in the modern world and are transferable to various aspects of students' academic and professional lives.

What are examples of positive and negative effects of technology?

Sometimes, a list of pros and cons can be subjective when it comes to technology's impact-and positive and negative effects of technology on education in particular. Some may view certain developments as positive impacts, while others may view them as negative impacts.

Take, for example, the advancement of generative AI in classrooms. Some educators are eager to embrace generative AI and teach students how to learn with such a tool, arguing that developing an AI skillset sets students up for future success in a global workplace. Other educators, however, believe AI is simply an avenue for academic dishonesty and will harm students' individual and critical thinking skills.
Positive effects of technology include:

1. Enhanced Communication: Technology has revolutionized communication, enabling instant and global connectivity through email, social media, and video conferencing. This facilitates efficient and widespread exchange of information.

2. Access to Information: The internet serves as a vast repository of knowledge, providing individuals with unprecedented access to information on a wide range of topics. This democratization of information has empowered people to learn independently.

3. Increased Productivity: Technological tools and software streamline tasks and boost efficiency in various industries. Automation and digital systems contribute to increased productivity and faster completion of complex tasks.

4. Educational Opportunities: Technology in education, such as online courses and educational apps, has expanded learning opportunities globally. It provides access to quality education for individuals who may face geographical or economic barriers.

Negative effects of technology include:

1. Social Isolation: Excessive use of technology, particularly in the form of social media, can contribute to social isolation. People may spend more time interacting online than in face-to-face social settings.

2. Privacy Concerns: The digital age has raised significant privacy issues. The collection and sharing of personal data, surveillance technologies, and the potential for data breaches pose risks to individuals' privacy.

3. Job Displacement: Automation and artificial intelligence have led to concerns about job displacement. Some traditional jobs may be replaced by technology, impacting employment opportunities in certain industries.

4. Health Issues: Prolonged screen time and sedentary behavior associated with technology use can contribute to health issues such as eye strain, disrupted sleep patterns, and a sedentary lifestyle, leading to obesity and related problems.

5. Cybersecurity Threats: The interconnected nature of digital systems makes them susceptible to cyber threats. Hacking, identity theft, and other cybercrimes pose significant risks to individuals and organizations.

What does research say about technology in the classroom?

Research about technology in education suggests an evolving impact on teaching and learning. Based on existing studies:

1. Improved Engagement and Motivation: Many studies highlight that well-integrated technology in the classroom can enhance student engagement and motivation. Interactive and multimedia elements capture students' interest and make learning more enjoyable.

2. Enhanced Learning Outcomes: Adaptive learning platforms, personalized instruction, and digital resources have been associated with increased student achievement and a deeper understanding of subjects, according to recent K-12 tech innovation news.

3. Promotion of 21st-Century Skills: Technology integration is linked to the development of essential 21st-century skills, including digital literacy, critical thinking, and collaboration. Students exposed to technology-rich environments tend to develop skills that are valuable in today's digitally-driven society and workforce.

4. Increased Access to Information: The internet and digital resources have significantly expanded students' access to information. Technology provides a more comprehensive and diverse range of learning materials, allowing students to explore subjects beyond traditional textbooks.

5. Challenges in Implementation: While the potential benefits are evident, research also acknowledges challenges in the implementation of technology in K-12 classrooms. These challenges include issues related to teacher training, infrastructure, equitable access to technology, and the need for ongoing support and professional development.

6. Importance of Pedagogical Integration: Studies emphasize that the success of technology integration relies on effective pedagogical strategies. It's not just about using technology for its own sake, but about incorporating edtech purposefully to enhance teaching methods and to meet specific educational goals.

7. Concerns about Screen Time: Some research raises concerns about the amount of screen time students experience in technologically rich environments. Striking a balance between digital and non-digital activities is essential for maintaining overall well-being.

What are the positives and negatives of using technology in the classroom?

Using technology in the classroom comes with benefits and drawbacks.

Here are 10 positive effects of technology on education:

1. Enhanced Engagement: Technology in the classroom makes learning more interactive and engaging. Educational apps, multimedia, and interactive whiteboards capture students' attention and stimulate interest in the subject matter.

2. Access to Information: Technology provides immediate access to a vast and ever-evolving amount of information. This access allows students to explore topics in depth, conduct research, and stay updated on current events, enriching the learning experience.

3. Personalized Learning: Adaptive learning platforms and educational software tailor instruction to individual student needs. This personalized approach accommodates diverse learning styles and paces, helping students grasp concepts more effectively.

4. Global Connectivity: Technology fosters global connectivity within the classroom. Edtech tools enable virtual collaboration for online projects and discussions.

5. Preparation for the Digital Age: Integrating technology prepares students for the demands of the modern workforce. Familiarity with digital tools and platforms equips them with essential skills for success in a technology-driven society.

6. Efficiency in Teaching: Technology streamlines teaching processes and administrative tasks for educators. Digital tools for lesson planning, grading, and communication allow teachers to manage their workload more efficiently, freeing up time for more focused instruction.

7. Customized Assessments: Technology enables innovative assessment methods, including online quizzes, interactive assignments, and digital portfolios. These tools provide educators with real-time feedback and allow for more nuanced evaluations of students' understanding.

8. Collaborative Learning: Digital platforms and tools facilitate collaborative learning experiences. Students can work together on projects, share ideas through online forums, and collaborate in real-time using collaborative software, preparing them for collaborative work environments.

9. Resource Diversity: Technology expands the range of educational resources available to students. Online textbooks, multimedia presentations, and educational apps offer diverse learning materials that cater to different learning styles and preferences.

10. Life-Long Learning Skills: Technology encourages the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy skills. These skills are not only beneficial for academic success but also prepare students for a lifetime of continuous learning in an ever-evolving technological landscape.

Here are some examples of negative impacts of using technology in the K-12 classroom:

1. Technological Disparities: Access to technology is not uniform, leading to disparities among students. Those with limited access may miss out on the educational benefits of technology, exacerbating existing inequalities in education.

2. Distractions: The presence of technology in classrooms can sometimes lead to distractions. Students may be tempted to use devices for non-educational purposes, impacting their focus on learning tasks.

3. Privacy Concerns: The use of technology often involves collecting and storing student data. Privacy concerns arise regarding how this data is handled, stored, and shared, raising ethical questions about the protection of students' personal information.

4. Overreliance on Technology: There's a risk of overreliance on technology, with educators relying too heavily on digital tools at the expense of traditional teaching methods. This could potentially hinder the development of certain foundational skills.

Conclusion

It's time to embrace the transformative power of technology in K-12 education. As we witness the profound impact of digital tools on learning experiences, it's time for educators, administrators, and policymakers to actively integrate technology into classrooms. We should foster personalized learning, global connectivity, and innovative teaching methods. By investing in teacher training, ensuring equitable access, and promoting responsible technology use, we can empower the next generation with the skills they need for a future defined by innovation.

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The impact of technology on education has a wide reach, and investing in teacher training and ensuring equitable access are key actions.

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While technology has many benefits, there are challenges in implementing these tools. Problems with internet access, device accessibility, and teacher preparation might make it more difficult to use technology effectively in the classroom and in community participation. Integrating technology into education presents numerous challenges, but with careful planning, collaboration, and support, these challenges can be addressed to create a dynamic and effective learning environment.

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The 7 Greatest Challenges Facing Education Technology Today

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EdTech faces challenges: budget constraints, training needs, infrastructure gaps, teacher resistance. Strategic solutions essential.

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Socrative can make lessons more interactive by allowing students to respond to quizzes and polls during class. This makes it easy to gauge understanding in real-time and adjust the lesson accordingly. It can also be used during parent-teacher nights to engage parents in the learning process.

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Socrative is not just another quiz system for the classroom, it's one designed with live interactions in mind. That means teachers can see students working digitally, live, and can give feedback in the most helpful way.

This is a very easy to use tool that's readily available across devices, so it can be used with little training and on students' devices. Teachers can set a quiz, send the invite, and have everyone answering multiple choice, and other types of questions, right away.

While this can work beyond the classroom, it's well-suited to in-class work as it shows teachers just how everyone has responded. It can help spot holes in knowledge, allowing for adaptive teaching that ensures everyone in the class is keeping up and that learning is happening collectively.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about Socrative.

What is Socrative?

Socrative is an online platform designed to enhance student and teacher digital communications. It does this by offering a questions-and-answers learning system that can be created by teachers for a bespoke tool.

The idea is to take quizzing online, for remote learning and for a paper-free classroom. But, crucially, this also makes the feedback and marking near instant, which saves teacher time while also making progress faster for learning.

(Image credit: Socrative)

Teachers can use Socrative for a class-wide quiz, or break up the class into groups. Individual quizzes are also an option, allowing teachers to work as they need for that subject.

Teachers are able to create quizzes with multiple choice answers, true or false responses, or one sentence answers, all of which can be graded with feedback for each student. There is also more group-based competitive answering in the form of Space Race, but more on that in the next section.

What's new in Socrative?

Updates come fairly regularly for Socrative, and as such, you can enjoy new features including Trials, so you can try all plans at no cost. Added to this are some billing improvements that should make finance handling better.

This all comes after the company expanded what you get for your money, with more students per room and more rooms now available.

Split View was a fairly recent addition that allows you, in iOS, to enjoy that new view so more can be seen. Slide Over and Stage Manager support is now available on iPhones and iPads.

How does Socrative work?

Socrative is available on iOS, Android, and Chrome apps, and can also be accessed through a web-browser. This makes it easy to use for most students on nearly any device they can get access to, including their own smartphone, for example, which allows for outside-of-class responses, if necessary.

(Image credit: Socrative)

Students can be sent a room code that they can then enter to access questions. Answers will then instantly register on the teacher's device as the students submit their responses, live. Once everyone has responded, the teacher can chose to select the "How did we do?" icon, which will show everyone's marks, as shown above.

Teachers can adjust the settings so that students don't see individual responses but rather just percentages, to keep everyone feeling less exposed in the class. This helps encourage those students less willing to speak up in class to respond via this digital platform.

What are the best Socrative features?

Socrative is a great way to help build communication skills between students and teachers. It goes beyond this as a way to help students think critically in order to answer questions and, potentially, debate them with the class afterward.

This tool can be aligned with Common Core standards, and with the ability to save student results, is a useful way to measure progression. Since answers to questions can be seen across the class, this is a helpful way of spotting together areas that may need more attention or study.

Space Race is a collaborative mode that allows teams of students to answer questions in a timed quiz, which is a race to the fastest correct answers.

(Image credit: Socrative)

The freedom to create quizzes is useful, allowing the teachers the ability to offer multiple right answers, for example. This can be a great way to foster debate after the quiz has ended.

The exit ticket mode is a useful option for standards-aligned questions. These can be done for the last five minutes of a class, for example, to make sure students have understood what's been taught in that lesson. Knowing it's coming at the end is a great way to have student focus during the class.

The "Are you sure" prompt is a helpful way to slow students down so they think before they commit to submitting an answer.

How much does Socrative cost?

The cost of Socrative is laid out in several different plans, including Free, K-12, K-12 Schools and Districts, and Higher Ed.

The Free plan gets you one public room with 50 students, on-the-fly questioning, Space Race assessment, formative assessments, real-time results visuals, any device access, reporting, quiz sharing, help center access, and State & Common Core standards.

The K-12 plan, priced at $59.99 per year, gets you all that plus up to 20 private rooms, a Space Race countdown timers, roster import, shareable links, restricted access with student ID, quiz merging, email results, scientific notation, folder organization, and a dedicated customer success manager.

The SchoolKit for K-12 Schools & Districts plan, priced on a quote basis, gets you all the above plus access to give additional teacher-approved applications: Showbie, Explain Everything, Hologo, Educreations, and Kodable.

The Higher Ed & Corporate plan, priced at $99.99 gets you all of the K-12 plan, plus access for up to 200 students per room.

Socrative best tips and tricks

Take a pre-assessment
Socrative can be used to assess how well the class understands a subject. This allows teachers to pre-assess the students, which can make for more targeted learning planning.

Work live
Teachers can see student responses in real-time. If a whole host of red wrong answers pop up it could be tackled right there and then, in the class. Or saved to go over at the end of the quiz.

Use Space Race in the room
By using Space Race, as a competitive quiz, you can have students see responses on the big screen in the room. This allows them to work competitively, or cooperatively depending on how you have the quiz setup. Either way, it gets everyone involved with passion.

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Socrative takes live quizzes in the classroom to a level that makes it perfect for teaching

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"To curate a list of technology tools that not only aid in instructional strategies and curriculum development but also facilitate community outreach and engagement."

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Technology integration in the classroom is crucial to educating children for the future. Learning may be more accessible, individualized, and engaging with the help of technology. It also has a big impact on community participation since it makes it possible for teachers, students, and community members to work together and communicate more.