DESCRIPTION OF EDPUZZLE

Edpuzzle is a platform that allows you to upload a video and ask questions throughout the video. With Edpuzzle you can create your own video or post one from another site such as YouTube. Once you choose a video, you are able to set up questions related to the video content at points along the timeline you select. Teachers are able to view how much of the video the student watched and their responses to the questions asked. Edpuzzle is useful for students because they are able to stay engaged, be interactive, and have their progress saved as they go. Edpuzzle is a great resource to use in the classroom! 

APPLICATION TO TEACHING

You could use Edpuzzle for read alouds and ask questions along the way. This ensures that the student is actually engaged in the book because they are having to answer comprehension questions. Also, in order to earn a grade or competence, the student must watch the entire video and answer all the questions. Teachers can also use Edpuzzle as a review method for students when teaching math concepts. For example, teachers could find a step-by-step video for how to add double digits. As the video plays, teachers could provide questions. Students can replay the video in case they are not sure what happened in the previous part. This method would not replace teaching because I believe students cannot efficiently learn just from watching a video. However, if students are struggling with place value this video with questions can provide scaffolding as well as a source of informal assessment data on how they understand concepts related to place value.

Educators can use Edpuzzle for more than just supporting their teaching and their students' learning. They can use this tool to create healthy and effective communication among students and their families by creating weekly or monthly newsletter video. This can keep all parties involved and up to date about what's going on in the classroom. The teacher can include information about important dates, reminders, classroom or school-wide changes and allow a space within the video for families and/or students to leave comments, ask questions, and/or make their suggestions and concerns known. By doing this, there would be yet another unique tech-savvy way for educators to connect and build relationships with families, students, and the community. 

One way that I will be using Edpuzzle in the classroom is for an upcoming science lesson I will be teaching. The primary focus of this lesson plan is saltwater and freshwater properties and the importance of both types of water. I selected a video that aligned with North Carolina standard 3.E.2.1 which reads, "Compare Earth’s saltwater and freshwater features (including oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and glaciers)". When starting the process of making an Edpuzzle for my lesson, I watched a few different YouTube videos related to the science standard I selected and chose the one that came from a reliable source, would appeal to my students' interests, and one that was grade level appropriate. From there, I created multiple-choice and open-ended questions based on the video and the academic standard's content. For instance, one of the open-ended questions asked the students to type their favorite activity that involves water and a short explanation as to why they enjoy doing that specific activity. I thought this was a great way to get to know my students better and help them connect their prior knowledge and experiences to the content being learned.