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.

Teaching and Learning with QR Codes

Technology integration in the classroom continues to change the way teaching and learning takes place on a daily basis. One way teachers transform, motivate, and differentiate their instruction is by using QR codes. A QR code is a scannable image that looks similar to a barcode. Once scanned, it can link you to any content with an URL.  The following links provide some ideas for teachers on how to get started and general classroom use.

Five Reasons I Love Using QR Codes in My Classroom

25 Fun Ways to Use QR Codes for Teaching and Learning

Some other great uses for QR codes:

Literacy

• Book commercials, and reviews
• Read-along audio version of the text
• Author information
• Short videos paired with non-fiction selections
• Student recordings to accompany their work
• Interactive Bulletin Boards
• Virtual tours

Math

• How-to videos
• Self-checking answers
• Interactive quizzes

I encourage you to try using QR codes in your classroom. Not only will this type of technology integration spark interest and motivation but also can create effective and purposeful instructional opportunities.

Students are Producers!

     Discovery Education's Board Builder provides a fantastic opportunity for students to become skilled producers. No longer do students passively consume content, but now, they create, design and order content on a given topic. Students use Discovery Education services to search for videos, images or web links. Then they add appropriate content to their digital board. What makes Board Builder a dynamic resource and tool is the possibility for students to create their own content and add to their board. Essentially anything students can store in their Google Drive accounts can be added to Board Builder. Wow! How exciting for teachers and students! Teachers provide the requirements and structure of the assignment as students determine how to best display their knowledge using these tools. Meanwhile, students are developing critical thinking skills as they consider audience, content and display of each item they add. Still have doubts? Take a look at this link to gather some ideas of how you might use this compelling resource.

50 Ways to Use Board Builder