Tech Tips & Tricks
FEEDBACK TOOL FOR GOOGLE DOCS
Help students understand you care about them, even if you're critiquing their work. Plus, we all speak up to 75% faster than we can type. Now that's a win for everyone. See the videos below to see how it works. If you like this tool, use my calendar link to set up an appointment to get started with Kaizena.
For Teachers Video
For Students Video
Digital storytelling can a good way for students to express their ideas. It's also an avenue to showcasing the highlights of their research. Digital storytelling comes in many formats including creating podcasts, producing videos, making virtual tours, and publishing multimedia ebooks. All of those can be adapted for use in nearly every K-12 classroom.
VOKI
Looking to enhance students’ technology and 21st-century skills? Voki is a free Web 2.0 tool that allows students to create talking characters. The site features educational resources, including teacher-submitted lesson plans
Users can customize characters to resemble living people, animals and cartoons. Record voices via microphone or telephone, or upload them in an audio file. Completed characters can be shared via social media, email and embed code.
With free Voki accounts, users can create unlimited characters. Those who upgrade to a paid Voki Classroom subscription can select pre-made historical figures and scenes, and record a total of 90 seconds of audio (as opposed to the 60 seconds available to free-account users). Additional management options come with a paid account.
Watch the video below to learn how to create your first Voki!
PlayPosit - Interactive Video Learning
PlayPosit is an online learning environment to create and share interactive video lessons. Teachers begin with any online video (screencasts, Khan Academy, TED, etc.) and transform what is traditionally passive content into an active experience for students, with time-embedded activities
My Simple Show
The My Simple Show video maker tool allows users to create professional educational explainer videos in minutes.
The tool is a great resource to be used inside or outside the classroom, both for teachers and students. To create a video, users simply choose a storyline and write the script, copy the script from a document, or upload a PowerPoint, and My Simple Show will create the video for you, with graphics and voiceover.
My Simple Show is so easy to use and intuitive to learn that it makes a great tool for setting homework or assignments. Get students to create animated presentations or explanations of key topics to cement their understanding and allow them to demonstrate their knowledge. See the video to learn how to use My Simple Show video maker.
FlipGrid
Why am I excited about Flipgrid:
Flipgrid is a FREE tool that allows teachers to upload discussion-style questions for students to answer by adding video responses. Flipgrid can be used as a tool for video-based formative assessment and it can be used to connect classrooms around the world. Take a look at this video tutorial to learn how to use Flipgrid.
Classroom Uses of Flipgrid
Student Introduction – At the beginning of a quarter/semester/year, have the students record a Flipgrid introducing themselves to you and their fellow classmates.
Exit Ticket – Ask students to reflect on the lesson and provide feedback before they leave class for the day/hour.
Reading Response – Post a response to reading a book or article. Have students respond to each other.
Student Support – Student’s can offer support/guidance for incoming students at semester change or the end of the school year.
Student of the Week – Ask students to share what it means to be “Student of the Week”.
Weekend Reflection – Ask students to share what fun things they did over the weekend, holiday break or summer break.
Thank You Videos – Record videos thanking someone for guest speaking, special treats, etc.
Genius Hour – Have students reflect on each step of the Genius Hour Project.
Teacher/Principal Appreciation Videos – Have students record a video showing their appreciation for teachers, principals, support staff throughout the year.
Biographies – Dress up like the person you are studying and record a Flipgrid as that person. Biography book report FLIPPED!!!
Uses of Flipgrid Outside the Classroom
Quarterly Principal Reflections – Ask your building administrators to submit a Flipgrid outlining some successes and challenges at the end of each quarter.
Quarterly Teacher Reflections – Ask your teachers to submit a Flipgrid outlining some successes and challenges at the end of each quarter.
School Announcements – Instead of posting school announcements somewhere, have students use Flipgrid to liven them up!
Teacher Book Clubs – Use Flipgrid to reflect and discuss books read in a book club.
PD Opportunity – Use Flipgrid to post quick PD tutorials/opportunities to staff.
Virtual Cards – Well wishes, Get Well Soon, Happy Retirement, Happy Birthday can all be delivered using Flipgrid.
PD/Speaker Feedback – Allow staff to use Flipgrid to offer reflection/evaluation of PD or guest speakers.
Introductions – Have each staff member introduce him/herself using Flipgrid before the school year begins and share the link on the school web site and social media.
Journalism – Have the journalism club use Flipgrid to interview students/athletes during the school year.
Weekend Reflection – Ask staff members to share what fun things they did over the weekend, holiday break or summer break.
Pear Deck
This is my tip for turning a powerpoint presentation into an interactive and engaging activity for your students. One of my favorite tools is Pear Deck because it allows a teacher to take a PowerPoint, Google Presentation, or PDF and incorporate various student activities to check for understanding and engagement. Pear Deck is free for students and teachers and it fully integrates with Google Apps for Education.
Certify'em
This Google Forms Add-on makes it possible to not only give students their grades right away but it also issues them a certificate for passing the quiz. See the step-by-step instructions below. Click on the link.