Creating Playlists and Hyperdocs
Playlists are often used in a blended learning classroom when the teacher is facilitating a small group other students are working on their playlist that is individualized for them based on their needs.
Tools
Google Docs: Sometimes the best thing to start with is the easiest. You can use Google Docs to create and organize playlists for students in the classroom. There are multiple ways to organize your playlist-really you are only limited by your imagination. Sure it is not as flashy as some web based or paid applications/services, but it is functional and a great way to start for beginning users on the teacher and the student side! Below are some examples of teacher created playlists using Google Docs!
Charts: This is an example of how a teacher used a chart created in Google Docs to organize the playlist for her students. Here is the webpage and interview of the teacher who created this playlist for more information.
Google Slides: Google slides can be a useful tool in breaking down the playlist by slide. It can be less overwhelming for kids who struggle with seeing all of the directions on one page.
Blendspace: Free online resource for creating playlists. With its easy click and drag interface it is easy to create interactive playlists for all students. You can use your own resources or resources found online. Embed quizzes, track progress and get performance data on all your students. It even includes a lesson library for you to search. Why reinvent the wheel? Excellent choice to try out.
Near Pod: Near pod is an interactive presentation and assessment tool that can be used in the classroom. The app's concept is simple. A teacher can create presentations that can contain Quizzes, Polls, Videos, Images, Drawing-Boards, Web Content and so on. In the free version the teacher's presentation can appear on all of the student screens in the room. In the paid license version students can work through the lesson at their own pace. There are already made lessons and VR field trips. Even the free version is work checking out.
Formative is a Formative is an assessment tool where students can type, draw, or submit images to demonstrate their understanding. What differentiates this tool is that you can upload existing assignments from pdfs, Word, and Google Docs, and add interactive pieces to them. What it does mean is that much of your existing best lessons and resources can find new life in a digital format.
Interactive Readings and Worksheets
Interactive Reading What is it?.webmInteractive Reading: A playlist of "sorts" an interactive reading involves the students in learning content while completing activities and engaging in the reading and comprehension of expository text. Using links/pictures/ and graphic organizers the students are tasked with completing the work on their own and assessing their own learning. These can be as simple or as complicated as the teacher chooses.
Wizer: You can use Wizer to create interactive worksheets with video, audio, images and multiple question types. Easy to use and completely integrated with Google Classroom Wizer is a great way to add interest and involvement into a typically mundane task of completing a worksheet. You can save time by turning on automatic checking and grading or you can manually assess students work at your leisure.
Video on how to get started!
Tutorial- How to navigate the application and create questions.
Tutorial - How to assign the worksheet to students.
Resources
These ladies literally wrote the book on Hyperdocs, which can be used as playlists. Their website is complete with templates you can use for free!
Hyperdoc Resource Folder: Many of these are elementary level but if you put your secondary twist on them they might be helpful. They also serve as a great model even if the content is elementary.
Jason Appel is a FUSE RI Cohort 1 member and a Secondary Math Teacher at Barrington High School. He has been using playlists within his classroom for several years and has done so even before his districts switch to 1:1 devices. He is a great resource and has an awesome website for people to use who are getting started and need some examples. I encourage you to look around but to also focus on his presentation page as it has slide show presentations of the use of playlists in the secondary classroom as well as example playlists! Great resource! website and presentation materials