Digital Tools by Betsy Bell https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3 Made with fortitude en-us 2021-12-01 18:34:08 UTC 2021-12-02 02:13:58 UTC hello@padlet.com Padlet is a digital online bulletin board. It allows uses to post images, links, video, documents, and make comments. It's setting can be adjusted to allow various levels of collaboration depending on the users needs. https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923538454 Using Padlet as a weekly bulletin board, can allow teachers to put links to resources to support lesson activities. Teachers can post themed resources. In my 6th grade tech class, we are working on a research paper that they have been working on in their English class. The English teacher and I have collaborated to post different citation machine cites, hyperlinks to tips about writing different parts of paper...introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. There are also videos of discussions about specific research aspects. It is a great place for students to be able to access all the information they need, when they need it, to complete this assignment in a variety of formats. ]]> 2021-12-01 18:38:30 UTC https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923538454 Google for education has everything a virtual classroom needs. It includes: Gmail, calendar, Hangouts, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Classroom, and Meet. There are various free methods to communicate between teacher and students as well as student to student, ways to organize all work, and free applications available that are compatible with Microsoft applications. https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923539807 The Middle School I work for uses Google Classroom as our LMS. In the tech class, all assignments are distributed, collected, and stored in Google Classroom. Last month the students completed a Virtual Trip Via the Internet assignment. I used Google Classroom to distribute the instructions and provide a rubric for the assignment. The students used Google Sheets to keep track of the money needed for all the required trip costs. Part of the assignment required them to make postcards which they did using Google Docs. At the end of the assignment, they presented all their project in a Google Slide. It was an easy way to give students multiple ways to show their understanding of each tool. ]]> 2021-12-01 18:39:08 UTC https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923539807 Jamboard is a digital interactive whiteboard that promotes collaboration and engagement. bjennybell https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923543057 Jamboard is fantastic option when looking for a digital brainstorming tool. Students can take turns posting ideas, making comments, and working with peers. The audience is limited to those who are invited to use it. When brainstorming for ideas about a writing assignment, I allowed small groups to create their own Jamboards and come up with ideas that interested them. Because they had their own control over it, students were engaged and motivated to express themselves. ]]> 2021-12-01 18:40:32 UTC https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923543057 Kahoot is a virtual site that allows teachers to gamify instruction in the form of quizzes. Teachers can create their own or select one from one of Kahoot large online learning community. bjennybell https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923543585 Competition is a great way to motivate students. Kahoot allows teachers to do just that by creating game-based quizzes complete with point rewards and ranking polls. Kahoot is an easy way to maintain engagement while assessing students. It can be given prior to subjects to assess prior knowledge, during instruction to assess understanding, or at the end of a unit to measure knowledge acquisition. ]]> 2021-12-01 18:40:46 UTC https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923543585 Similar to Kahoot, Quizlet is a game-based digital learning tools. Students can compete against themselves or in groups. Teachers can make their own Quizlets or select one from one in the vast Quizlet library. bjennybell https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923544033 Prior to tests, I use Quizlet as a study guide. Students sign in, are placed on teams, the Quizlet game is cast onto the classroom wall and the game begins! One of the functions I like most about Quizlet, is that during Quizlet live, players each receive a unique set of possible questions per question. It is up to the team to work together to find the correct answer. This holds each player accountable for participation. Games are played in rounds and shuffling teams is an option each round. Quizlet is a good digital game to improve fast recall.]]> 2021-12-01 18:40:58 UTC https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923544033 Quizizz is another gamified digital instruction tool. It can be used to assess students before, during, and after units. Students can participate independently or in groups. bjennybell https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923544690 Quizizz is another great tool that promotes student engagement. Students can compete against themselves, tailoring their learning to their specific levels and needs. Often I will have a Quizlet live review day in the classroom and assign a Quizizz for homework with a minimum score requirement. Both Quizlet and Quizizz can be accessed from any digital device. So if students only have access to a mobile phone they can still participate. This is just one step to help maintain digital equity. ]]> 2021-12-01 18:41:16 UTC https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923544690 Mote is a Chrome extension that allows users to provide audio feedback. It is fantastic for language learners, special education, and young learners. bjennybell https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923547048 In addition to improving productivity and efficiency, teachers love Mote because it creates a stronger student teacher connection. When providing feedback on assignments, I use Mote so that students can hear exactly what I am thinking. I can model critical thinking, change the level of my tone, explain in more depth, and provide feedback for those who might struggle with reading or comprehension. Verbal responses increase engagement and can be used to motivate students to provide their own feedback. ]]> 2021-12-01 18:42:16 UTC https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923547048 Nearpod uses polls, quizzes, collaborative boards, and interactive questions to engage students during lessons. Teachers can select premade lessons from its online learning community or create on of their own, tailored to their students needs. bjennybell https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923547595 When teaching students about sourcing information, I used Nearpod. The premade lesson was created for the grade level I taught and had age appropriate information. It brought the lecture to life by asking several open ended questions that students answered and shared on a collaborative board, took interactive pools, and even concluded with an assessment quiz. These activities not only increased engagement but motivated learners by offering a variety in information representation. There were pictures, links to sites, and audio included. It had something for all of my learners. One of my favorite functions was that I could moderate what was shared by either with holding students names or approving posts before they were shared. ]]> 2021-12-01 18:42:32 UTC https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923547595 Flipgrid allows it's users to make and share meaningful video responses to whatever topic is posted. Videos can be customized with audio, art, and frames. They can be shared publicly, privately, or to limited audiences. bjennybell https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923548325 When looking for a digital tool to incorporate into social emotional learning, Flipgrid is a good option. Students can share feelings, ideas, and thoughts directly with the teacher or their class. It helps connect students, creating a more inviting classroom. If students are camera shy, they can share audio with emojis to express themselves. Taking the time to build relationships using Flipgrid, will make a meaningful difference in your students, increasing engagement and motivation. ]]> 2021-12-01 18:42:50 UTC https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923548325 Seesaw uses multimodal tools to assess student understanding. Teachers can create or borrow ideas from other professionals to provide engaging lessons that allow students to take ownership of their learning. bjennybell https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923550518 Providing differentiated instruction is what Seesaw does best. Students can draw and record audio, create collages, make videos, and so much more using this digital tool. When I was looking for a digital citizenship activity, I found an escape room on Seesaw that was designed specifically for my class' grade level. The challenge motivated the students to participate, while the interactive activities engaged them in learning. It was a fun small group activity. ]]> 2021-12-01 18:43:52 UTC https://padlet.com/bjennybell/u0pg16d9vjbnmap3/wish/1923550518