Padlet

"Padlet is a website and app that allows kids to collect information from the internet and pin it onto virtual bulletin boards using a simple drag-and-drop system. Videos, text, links, images -- basically anything -- can be added to a board and organized there, like a page full of Post-it notes. There's also the option to include rich text (Padlet provides a simple HTML guide in their Help sidebar). You can add as many notes to a wall as you like; it scrolls in all directions.

Students can also upload documents they've created, such as class notes or completed assignments. More than one person can contribute to a Padlet wall, opening the door to teamwork and group projects. Once kids create a wall, they can share it through the usual social media channels (Facebook, Twitter), export it to a file, embed it in a blog or website, or turn it into a QR code. There's also the option to keep walls private, of course."

Verso

"Verso is a tool to help teachers encourage participation in online discussions. Using the platform, teachers can create "flips," which are essentially online discussion topics, as well as track their students' discussion contributions. A flip starts with content pulled from anywhere on the Web, including websites, YouTube videos, or even docs from Google Drive. Teachers then add discussion questions before assigning the flip to their students.

Using just about any device, students can see their assigned flips on a dashboard, view the linked content, and respond to the teacher's prompt. They're required to post an original response before reading any of their peers' answers. Verso displays all responses anonymously, with students' names removed. Students then read and reply to the anonymous responses of their classmates; they can also flag these as inappropriate or helpful. These ratings are compiled into engagement reports, which provide participation feedback to both teachers and students. In addition to Web content, teachers can also record original videos using the tablet app."

Learn more about VersoLearning

Flipgrid

"Flipgrid is a website that allows teachers to create "grids" of short discussion-style questions that students respond to through recorded videos. Each grid is effectively a message board where teachers can pose a question and their students can post video responses that appear in a tiled "grid" display. Grids can be classes, sections, groups of students, research groups, faculty groups, or any collection of users interested in a common strand of questions. Each grid can hold an unlimited number of questions, and each question can hold an unlimited number of responses. Questions are short, text-based prompts (think Twitter) that can include basic formatting (such as bold, italic) and links to websites or documents.

Once logged in, you'll create a new grid, name it, then choose whether it will be password protected or not. Then you can begin adding questions to the grid one by one; each question can be 240 characters or less. After your list of questions is complete, you can activate them, then click the Share button to send the link to your students. They'll then follow instructions to film and upload their 90-second answers from home. If you like, Flipgrid will notify you when responses come in. There are extensive teacher tools available, from instructional videos to full walk-throughs for how to use the tool in a variety of subject areas (including STEAM, and, creatively, physical education). Additionally, there are three pricing levels available: the free version gives you one grid with limited features, and the two pricing levels for classrooms offer unlimited grids and far more features."

Flipgrid Teacher's Guide

Seesaw

"Seesaw is a digital portfolio that allows kids to save and submit a variety of work -- videos, photos, text, and drawings. They can reflect on their work in writing or with a voice recording when they submit it, and teachers can offer feedback as well. Teachers can then approve items to make them accessible to parents. When teachers set up their classes, they can print a handout with a QR code to give to parents explaining how to register and download the parent app (which is available online, on Android, Chromebook, and iOS) in a variety of languages. Alternatively, teachers can email parents a prompt to sign up for Seesaw. If you're using Google apps, it's easy to get students in the system: They can use their existing Google accounts.

Though Seesaw is free for teachers and parents to use, parents wanting access to kids' work from year to year will need to download their child's journal within 30 days after the school year ends; if the school has Seesaw for Schools, parents always have access to past journals. A paid feature, Seesaw Plus, gives teachers more options for private commenting and individualized skills evaluation for students."

Seesaw Features