Make Learning "Suite" In Your Classroom!

The Google Suite is a powerful set of tools that are available to our students. It's a simple option for our classrooms since the deployment of Chromebooks and implementation of BYOD across our district. However, the potential and possibilities of the Google Suite are often under utilized in many elementary classrooms.

One way to reverse this trend is to make sure students know how to tap into the power of the Suite. Modeling and training students how to use Google Docs, Slides and Drawing provides opportunities for them to show what they know on any topic. Investigating the menus takes some time and lots of patience; however, it has been so exciting to demonstrate these skills! Once students understand how to use these apps, teachers can begin offering choices.

With every use, students become more comfortable with using mobile devices, choosing an app and creating a meaningful product of learning. Here are some things that have been created with students based on classroom needs:

• Word clouds in Google Docs
• Research reports in Google Docs
• Presentations using Google Slides
• eBooks using Google Slides
• Venn Diagrams using Google Draw
• Mini Posters using Google Draw

How will you tap into the power of the Suite? If you are still wondering how to get started, check out these links!

• 10 Things Every Teacher Should Know How To Do With Google Docs

• 3 Quick and Easy Google Docs Ideas For Your Classroom

• 5 Ways to Use Google Slides In The Classroom

• How To Use Google Draw In Your Classroom

Appmazing Thinking

     Our district just completed their first week of school! I have seen some wonderful things going on in some of our elementary buildings and classrooms! Administrators, teachers and students are interacting more than ever because of mobile apps! Not only can teachers visibly see how students come up with their answers, but they are also able to structure their activities in such a way that collaboration, communication, higher order thinking and authentic learning are all addressed.  Some of the apps I observed being used were Goose Chase and Padlet. With Goose Chase, teachers can create a task list for their students, and have the option to start and stop the game so students have a visual reminder of their time constraints. Padlet is a wonderful tool that can be used to showcase student thinking, and activities at a glance. Teachers can quickly see what is or is not occurring during collaboration among their students. Moreover its services have recently expanded beyond its web-based application by adding the mobile app for Apple devices. If you want to get your students moving, thinking and showing what they know, these apps can help you in that endeavor!

Crazy for Chatterpix!

     I had the fantastic opportunity to witness Chatterpix being used in first through fourth grades throughout the month of April! Many of these classrooms were in the same school. What made this even more exciting was to have conversations with teachers about using it beyond the initial activity. There were two ways that it evolved into a tool that had significant impact among students. Some teachers allowed students to create Wevideos using Chatterpix as a springboard into the topic area. Wevideo provided the opportunity for students to learn how to create their own content and upload their media, add content slides and search for other media to support their topic. 

Another way teachers used this app was as a teaching aid from one classmate to another. In this particular case, third-grade students were paired with first-grade students. Both grade levels studied the same topic, discussed vocabulary terms, and the overall process as specified by their curriculum guides. Teachers ensured that students were assigned partners and had a picture to use for the apptivity. When students began, they discussed what each one of them knew about the topic, planned a 30-second script and then recorded their learning.  Once the project was saved to the camera roll, students were able to upload them into their Google accounts and share with their teachers.

     What I noticed was that it allowed teachers to visualize the possibilities of using technology in their classrooms. For the teachers that were already comfortable using apps, it was one more way to allow students to showcase their learning. For the teachers that had reservations, they responded with excitement and enthusiasm about future possibilities. Students seemed to enjoy the the learning task. Every student was engaged and excited about what they had accomplished. Chatterpix simply provided a way for students to take ownership of their learning and display it in a meaningful way while building skill sets in collaboration, digital skills and communication.

     Never heard of Chatterpix? Chatterpix is an app that can be used on iPads or iPhones. Simply take a picture, draw a mouth, record your voice, add a filter or text and save to the camera roll. Your picture will look as if it is chattering. This tool is a quick, easy and effective way to interest, motivate and engage students!

More about Chatterpix

Free Technology for Teachers

We Are Teachers

Offering a Commingled Learning Environment

As I learn more about blended learning, it seems to make sense to offer this type of learning environment to students. With the options of blended or commingled learning, students have the opportunity to take ownership of their learning. Commingled learning allows teachers to take advantage of learning styles and offer differentiated learning through the development of various elements of online and traditional instruction.  An additional facet for consideration is the amount of assistance the teacher provides. Webster defines commingle as blending thoroughly into a harmonious whole. Shouldn't learning be harmonious for teachers and students? I look forward to learning more about Blended Learning throughout the BlendKit2015 course.

iPads, iPhones and Androids, Oh My!

    

     I am super excited about sharing two technology tools that can help teachers accomplish so much with so little! Hard to believe, right? Both of these tools can be used on iPhones, Androids, iPads, Chromebooks or desktops. These tools offer multiple platforms so teachers can focus on the most important things... teaching and learning!  

Plickers

This free app allows teachers to use one device to gather real-time data about all of their students with a scan of the room. Students use a plicker otherwise known as a paper barcode to choose their answer. Teachers can choose how they want to view the responses- by student or by answer selection. The possibilities are endless!

Click here to learn more!  

Seesaw: The Learning Journal

This free app provides students with access to an online portfolio. They can show what they know through photos, text, drawing, video and voice. Teachers can add comments and share with parents in a few clicks. It can be used on one device or on multiple devices. It's a simple and an effective way to to showcase student work!

Click here to learn more! Click here to get ideas about using Seesaw in your classroom.