Monday, March 21, 2016

Encouraging Creativity, Choice and Voice

     Looking for tools to create logs, collect evidences or document learning for students? Google apps is a great place to start. Create an assignment or lesson in Google Docs, Slides or Drawing. For those first digital assignments, provide students with lots of direction and structure for success. As the task or similar tasks are repeated, you may provide more choices for students to display their learning. Click on the following links to see examples of ways you can build in structure and independence.

My Animal Poster         All About Sound     Planet Newsletter Template                      

Collaborative Notes     Fractions                Collaborative STEM Glossary  
       


      For a more dynamic option, you might want to consider Padlet! The web-based tool and iOS app was made with young users in mind. Teachers might use this tool for lesson activities or plans, fast facts about topics of learning, or morning meetings. Students may use Padlet for collaborative assignments, digital project boards or reading and learning logs. Users are able to add text, links, images, or videos. It works well for most any lesson you can imagine! What an exciting way to stir creativity, encourage choice and provide opportunities for learners to develop their voice!


     
     Check out these two links to gather ideas about different ways to use this tool! Padlet Hacks offers helpful hints about sharing, permissions, and more! Summer Vacation shows how Padlet can be used as a place to record memories. How can this format be utilized during the school year? Students may record details and information about field trips, special moments and science experiments while also adding their favorite resources to further document or show evidences of their learning.

     Padlet and Google Apps are tools that can be used to engage, motivate and energize students. Moreover, learning opportunities can be designed in a way as to embrace learning styles, enhance media literacy and strengthen higher order thinking skills. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try!