Curate and Share
How will you curate and share content online with your learners? If you already have a process in place, please continue to use it. If you don't, you will want to think about the easiest way to do the following:
Communicate with your learners.
Share resources and information with your learners.
Let learners know how they will demonstrate their learning.
South Dakota schools have a variety of Learning Management Systems (LMS) that are freely available to all districts such as Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom. An LMS allows you to communicate and share resources with your learners and your learners can submit their work.
If you want to share resources and schedules with your learners, Wakelet, Symbaloo, Padlet and LiveBinders allow easy sharing of multiple resources on a single link.
In addition, some video conferencing and screen-casting resources that regularly provide limited free access are providing expanded access due to COVID-19.
Learning Management Systems
Microsoft Teams
All schools have access to the Microsoft Suite of tools. One of those tools is Microsoft Teams. This tool functions much like an LMS. You may need to work with your tech coordinator to turn on this feature if it is not already available in your district. TIE is a Microsoft Education Global Training Partner and can provide assistance if needed. There are a number of online tutorials to get you started.
Google Classroom
All schools have access to the G Suite for Education. That suite includes Google Classroom. It is a pretty robust Learning Management System (LMS) and works seamlessly with google drive and other google tools. As part of your TIE Membership benefit, your district has access to self-paced online courses and we offer a course for Google Classroom. Some districts have not activated the G Suite, but it only takes a contact from your tech coordinator with the K-12 Data Center to turn on this service.
Here are resources to help you get started using Google Classroom.
Video and Screencasting
Screencastify
Use Screencastify to record screen-casts of short lessons, example problems or to provide feedback to students.
The free Chrome extension integrates with Google Drive and Google Classroom.
As a response to COVID-19, you can contact sales@screecastify.com; per their tweet, they will do whatever they can at no cost!
Screencast-O-Matic
Screencast-O-Matic is an easy to use screen-casting product with a free option and inexpensive subscription options.
Screencast-O-Matic offers resources for schools that closed for COVID-19, including links to other district e-learning plans.
Loom
Loom is a free screen-casting tool that records using either a Chrome extension, iOS app or desktop app. Videos are stored on the cloud and can be shared easily with a link. No uploading required!!
As a result of COVID-19, Loom is offering unlimited recordings on the free plan until July 1, 2020.
Use Google Hangouts Meet as a video conferencing tool that integrates easily with Google Classroom. Google is extending access to premium features through July 1, 2020 including recording meetings.
For more resources, check out the Google Hangouts Meet wakelet.
Zoom
Zoom is an online video conferencing resource that is easy to use for synchronous online learning and record your session to post on YouTube, OneDrive or Google Drive to share with learners later.
Zoom offers free accounts to anyone with unlimited meetings for two people or up to 40-minutes for groups.
As a response to COVID-19, Zoom is temporarily lifting the 40-minute limit for K-12 schools. Sign-up here.
Resources to support Zoom implementation are available here.
Flipgrid
Empower every learner in your classroom to interact via video. Flipgrid is free and compatible with Google and Microsoft logins.
Use Flipgrid to discuss topics, share ideas and stories. You can also collaborate with other schools or districts to have a broader conversation.
Curation and Sharing
Wakelet
Wakelet allows you to share websites, images, videos and more--along with adding your own text. Wakelet is integrated with Microsoft's immersive reader, so all your instructions can be read aloud.
The Educator's Guide to Wakelet will help you get started. In addition, Wakelet has released a remote learning tutorial with support to get started and ideas for using as a distance learning tool.
LiveBinders
LiveBinders allows users to curate and share text, documents, websites and more.
Think of LiveBinders like a traditional "binder" in digital format.
TIE offers a self-paced course to learn more about LiveBinders.
Padlet
Though the free version limits users to three Padlets, this resource allows one to curate and share content or encourage discussion among your learners.
Padlet is a quick way to share links, images, videos, sounds and more!
Symbaloo
Great for visual learners, Symbaloo allows one to organize and share anything with a link.
Users also have the ability to create learning paths.
TIE offers a self-paced course to learn more about Symbaloo.
Embed Content into Websites
Insert instructional content into any website with this free Chrome add-on.
Embed questions and reflection opportunities into videos. During COVID-19 closures, EdPuzzle is providing expanded service for free.