The Loop  

How can we use different online features to be inclusive, engaging, and awesome?

• Padlet or Collaborative Slide Decks: Jamboards have been phased out, but we still have Padlet! Padlets are great for whole class responses, brainstorming. Imagine your in-person classroom: you've taped up various chart papers around the room and students are wandering around writing their answers on sticky notes to place on each paper. Padlet does digitally for us! You can have students log in or include their name as a required field, you can make the Padlet's completely anonymous. 

  • • • Alternative: Collaborative shared Google Slide decks are great for small group work. You can see all changes in "Version History" and can restore things if they get deleted.
        
        

• Google Meet Breakout Rooms: Group work not only provides a chance for collaboration and discussion of various school topics, but it gives many of the students a chance to socialize that they may not have anymore. Many students are virtual due to health needs and may not get many chances to hang out in-person with their friends. If the students finish their activity early: let them chat! Maybe dedicate a period for different chat groups. You have kids who want to share every single Pokemon card they have? Make a Pokemon room! Students are interrupting class with a new Roblox update? Make a room to talk about that too! They have a need and desire to share their passions and connect with others. We can gently redirect some of those moments to breakout rooms instead of the middle of math class.