KP's Teacher Tales #18: Tech Ed
Hi all! Today, in response to the Steemiteduation homework I’m going to talk about some of the tech ed resources I use in my classroom, and some I would like to try! I’m on spring break right now, and I have the brain power to actually look into new tools to wrap my head around. Yay for spring break! Yay for free time!
Okay, let’s start with the stuff I use.
Edmodo
Edmodo is an online platform that looks a lot like Facebook. Essentially, you set up your classes, and then your students and their parents can use a code to join. You or your kids (not their parents) can post resources and announcements for all members of the class to see. For example, often I’ll show a video, and my students will want to re-watch it or some will have missed it from being sick or something. I just post a link to the video on Edmodo so they can access it anytime. You can also set up folders filled with things like the course outline, or expectations, or support documents. My favourite part of Edmodo is that you can put your assignments on it and your students can submit their work. You can comment and mark their work right on the site. Edmodo does keep track of the grades for students, however I warn them that it isn’t an accurate mark because the site doesn’t take into consideration different weights of assignments. Being that I get emails all day, every day, and my desk is a bit of a disaster, I like anything that keeps work in one organized, easily accessible place.
What I will say is that I know there are other platforms that are similar to Edmodo that teachers are using. I did try what Microsoft 365 had to offer and it was just too… messy. And then they went and changed it so I went back to Edmodo. If my school used Google, I would definitely try Google classroom. I’ve heard good things. What do you use?
Kahoot!
I’m all about a little friendly competition, especially when I can play too. My students love Kahoot. I keep thinking they’ll get tired of it, but they don’t. Kahoot allows you or your students to make a quiz (or use a pre-made one) and students access it through a code on either their laptop or their mobile device. Then, it goes through the questions and you get points for right answers, and speed. It’s a great way to check for understanding.
I have also heard of teachers using Quizlet with success. Do you use anything similar?
Padlet
I have a confession. I love using sticky notes. My next teacher-y post is going to be about the Harvard Visible Thinking Routines (specifically see/think/wonder) and my love of sticky notes. But, after returning to Costco multiple times to buy the behemoth pack of sticky notes, I’m realizing that maybe I need to control my waste a little bit more. Padlet is a great tool that allows you to cut back on your sticky note addiction, and keep the conversations going. It’s basically a space to collaborate. It reminds me of Pinterest a little bit in that you can post documents, web links, videos, and music. Which sticky notes cannot do.
My colleague uses Padlet to set up discussions that span different classes. For example, she has students from her one English 12 class commenting and discussing the thoughts written by students in her other English 12 class. The online interaction is a requirement for her class. It’s pretty cool, and I would like to start doing this with my Socials 10 classes.
Those are some of the tools I use, now let’s look at the ones I would like to use!
First of all, I want to cite the Cult of Pedagogy 2017 and 2018 lists of 6 Tech Ed Tools to Try. There are some other good suggestions on both lists that you should check out. I am personally wanting to look into these 3!
Insert Learning
Insert Learning is a Chrome extension that basically allows you to lesson-ify any webpage. You can set up different classes kind of like Edmodo and then assign webpage lessons to whichever ones you want. Like Edmodo, students can use a code to access the lesson. You can highlight text, add questions, insert discussions or sticky notes yay!, or imbed things like youtube videos. I dig it.
Flipgrid
As someone who is pretty addicted to sharing with the world on my bookstagram instastory, I like the idea of giving students the opportunity to share short videos in response to a discussion prompt. Flipgrid is a tool that allows students to do just that. They record themselves and post it, and then their peers can respond to their videos. In a world where we have budding youtubers and social media stars, they may engage with this format. I’m not ashamed to say that I would.
Peergrade
I’m constantly asking my students to do peer and self assessment. Peergrade, from my understanding, is a place that helps students give and receive feedback, using a rubric, anonymously. Check out the following taking from the website, and see what you think!
Okay! I think that’s it for me today. Please, please comment and share any tools that you find useful or are interested in! Check out the links below to see my previous educational posts! Thanks!
KP’s Teacher Tales #17: How I Exemplify Being a Lifelong Learner
KP’s Teacher Tales #16: International Women’s Day and Eleanor of Aquitaine
My kids have used Emodu before with their teachers. They enjoyed it and it seemed like a great program from a parents perspective. I personally am a huge fan of Kahoot. My students find it incredibly fun and are always engaged. The best part is I can create my own questions and then I can pull information to help with assessment. I'm loving this weeks homework. I might have to make a few posts about it. lol
Kahoot is so awesome.
I'm very much a fan of the Google Suite... we use it at work and its pretty incredible, especially Google Sheets and Google Docs, and Google Hangouts is absolutely amazing. Literally no other webinar/Skype thing comes close.... so given it's pedigree, I can only imagine Google Classroom is pretty amazing.
This is a great list... I'm sure parents love being able to log into Edmodo... genius move to be able to include them. Love to know how the kids would go with Peergrade...
Secret time: I wish we used google ALL THE TIME. But, I don't have that kind of decision making power. :P
I'll write a review of Peergrade when we use it!
Awesome! Hey, I've been meaning to ask you but kept remembering when I was nowhere near a computer... do you know of a good plagiarism checker? I could definitely use something in my Curie duties since dudes be gettin' sneaky...
Hmmmm, TurnItIn is really good but it’s a paid service. I haven’t found anything that is free and reliable.
What I do if I suspect plagiarism is just throw a chunk of it in google and if something like it pops up I do a few more quotes and then call them in.