If you had a tool that could engage 100%
of your students, why wouldn't you use it??
Effectech.me
Ideas for Deepening and Reinforcing Learning
Collaboration:
Socially-Constructing
Meaning
Screencasting
Web 2.0 has revolutionized collaboration among students and teachers around the world. We can now introduce our thoughts and have our peers help us deepen our understandings by asking us questions and challenging our ideas.
Students can capture their learning journey through academic blogs, and receive comments and feedback from teachers or peers. Google Drive and Google Classroom is a cloud-based resource available on the web and as an app which allows users to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawings and store them in the cloud. The best part is that all of these files can be shared and worked on simultaneously with others!
Voicethread allows students to have a conversation centered around digital content (images or video). They can comment using audio, video or text. Today's Meet is a backchannel website which allows students to discuss the content they are learning during the learning process.
Drill and Practice
Students can create screencasts to demonstrate their understanding of the content. Have them create a quick one-minute screencast for a ticket-out-the-door or a longer screencast as a project instead of a slides presentation.
The simplest way to create a screencast on a computer or chromebook is with the Screencastify Chrome Extension or the Screencastomatic website.
The simplest way to make a screencast with an iPad is to use the camera app and record a video. (Use an iPad arm to hold the iPad while you write, talk and record). Another quick way to create a video and upload it for student access is to use the YouTube Capture app or website, which allows you to string several video clips together, edit them, and upload them to your own private YouTube channel that you can give your students access to.
There are many free screencasting websites/apps including Educreations, SMART Notebook Recorder, ShowMe, ScreenChomp, Doceri, Knowmia Teach, Ask3.
For more features, you can purchase screencasting software or apps like Camtasia Studio or Explain Everything.
Technology can make drill and practice of essential, foundational knowledge and skills more interesting for students as they can provide immediate feedback and motivation to continue practicing. Content-specific resources can be found here. Quizlet is a website/app for finding and creating flashcards.
iPad Learning Studio is a list of great iPad apps for several specific content areas.
Websites like Gooru have videos, lesson plans, and interactive activities for several content areas.
Educational games (like Turtle Diary) for many content areas help elementary students build basic skills. Progress monitoring is available.