POPPLET

                      About this tool

With Popplet students can design the best mindmaps and plan their assignments only moving bubbles in which they can hold text, drawings or images. It is a tool that gives students the option to work collaboratively or individually. They access freely on an iPad, smatphone or computer and  have the chance of scaffolding their own learning and document it at the same time. It's used to prepare presentations (pamphlets, posters, slides)  and at the same time, support each topic with evidence (photos, websites, video links). Different devices can be used to work, all in real time or students can also work together on one device in turns. When working in groups, every student's ideas can be represented by voice predictive text to record every student's thought. Popplet is generally used in higher grades but it can be used in kindergarten as well.

                            Teacher's opinions

       Elisabeth A.

       Technology coordinator

        Sloughhouse, CA

1. Students can easily create their own Popplets after a very brief teacher demo. Color coding, image uploading, links and text-sizing enable students to create organized charts for concept review or subject presentation. Instead of handing out a worksheet for students to fill out, students can build their own flowcharts/diagrams using digital resources. This gives students an opportunity to use their design skills, while sorting out their ideas, emphasizing/de-emphasizing connections. Students can also share their Popplets with selected students, assigning them as collaborators. Collaboration is a necessary 21st Century skill. 

               Fay C.

               Instructional Technology Resource Teacher

               Hanover County Public Schools

                Ashland, VA

2. Although Popplet is not a tool that helps teach content, it is a fabulous tool to help students use their creativity to visually share their learning and create multi-media organizers. Popplet can be used cross-curricular, which I believe is always a bonus to have a versatile web-based tool in one’s toolbox! The free version, using the Try It Out mode is plenty for students to be able to create, organize, and re-organize ideas, thoughts, and data. The only negative is that students cannot save a draft and return to work at a later time in the Try It Out mode and the free version limits users to 10 Popplets (but these are savable in draft form). Though, for a minimal yearly fee, Popplet is a tool I would consider purchasing an account for. Finally, Popplets can be saved as .pdf, .jpeg, and .png files, which makes them easily sharable in blogs, websites, newsletters, etc. This feature can really be helpful in generating communication around an organizer a student created, both peer-to-peer and teacher-to-peer. 

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                                          Pros and cons

   PROS

• Access the web app for free.

• It has a better UI compared to other web applications.

• The drawing tool feature is supported for creative purposes.

• Instantly capture the project you are creating and download it.

• Export the map you have created in PDF or JPEG format.

• The text feature box is supported.

• Add media files to the map, such as images and videos supported.

   CONS

• A free version of the app can only export a single map.

• It should expand the app's output format like its alternatives.

• Varieties of arrows and shapes limit users' inventiveness.

• The Popplet version on Android isn't yet supported.