A Must Have Digital Tool for Distance Learning and the Flipped Classroom

With distance learning upon us, teachers are looking for a way to create a virtual community with their class.  Teachers can have class discussions while being miles apart. And, when teachers return to the classroom, they can take the tools they used to facilitate distance learning and use them in their flipped classroom.  One of the best tools for these tasks is Backchannel Chat. And I have to say, this is one of those instances where dishing out for the paid version is worth it. 

Backchannel Chat is a handy app to have in your tool belt during this time of distance learning. And, if you’re looking to flip your classroom, this could be an indispensable tool to use when returning to the classroom. Backchannel Chat is not a discussion board. It’s essentially a real-time chat tool where you, the teacher, can interact with your class. Along with access to the web version, students can access their classroom chat via the iOS and Android apps. 

With the free version comes the ability to approve students' posts before they’re actually posted for all to see. It also comes with a built-in profanity filter. The teacher also has the ability to print a web version of the chat transcript which can be saved for grading purposes.

Like I said, the paid version of well worth it. The upgrade allows for the hiding of student names wherein only the teacher can see who is posting, and not the students. This is a fantastic feature in that it allows students to participate anonymously in a class discussion. Private messaging between the teacher and a student is also a handy feature to have, allowing for a virtual side chat with a student. Files can also be uploaded by the teacher and students, allowing for the critiquing of work or the analysis of a piece of text by all of the students. It’s also a good tool for online office hours. Let your students know you’ll be there at certain times where they can pop in with questions.  

Again, Backchannel Chat is a fantastic tool to have in your distance learning/flipped classroom toolbelt. Its uses are only limited by your imagination. 

How An EdTech Coach Can Use Wakelet

One of my favorite tech tools is Wakelet.  Wakelet is a fantastic curation tool that has a multitude of uses.  And, it is especially handy if you’re a technology coach and want to curate information for your staff. As a technology coach, I not only want to show teachers how to effectively use technology in their classrooms, but I also want to curate resources for them.  I want to save them the trouble of searching for how-to videos or guides about certain apps.  I simply want them to access a multitude of ed-tech information with a couple of clicks.  That’s where Wakelet comes in. 

For those not in the know, Wakelet is a fantastic curation tool that has many uses in the classroom.  For an education coach, it’s a great way to save and curate information for your staff.

As an edtech coach, I’m constantly combing through edtech blogs, Pinterest, Twitter, and other sites to find the latest and greatest technology that teachers can use in the classroom. Not only that, but I’m also always looking for new and innovative ways to use current technology in the classroom. If there’s a new feature to an edtech app, I want to know about it so I can share it with the staff.

That’s why Wakelet is such a great tool. It allows me to save the information and categorize it for the staff.

How I use Wakelet: 

1. A department-specific Wakelet. I save content specific (English, Science, etc) lesson ideas in each Wakelet. That is, how specific tools can be used in that discipline. I then share it with each department.

2. An edtech blog Wakelet.  I scour the internet for resourceful blogs and include them in the Wakelet. If a staff member wants to take in a little professional development, they can simply choose from the list of blogs in the Wakelet.

3. A Twitter Wakelet. Many tweets contain tips and information on apps and the edtech world in general. A great way for the staff to stay up do date on the latest in edtech.

4. A podcast Wakelet. I curated a list of some great edtech podcasts and shared them with the staff. 

5.  A YouTube Wakelet. A curation of edtech video how to’s, lesson ideas, and information on the world of edtech.

6. A staff Wakelet. In this Wakelet, I include best practices and lesson ideas from fellow staff members. A great way for the staff to share lesson ideas with each other.

7. App specific Wakelet. I focus on certain apps and insert how-to videos and examples of how that particular app can be used in the classroom. For example, a Pear Deck Wakelet that features how to use the app, its features, and examples of its use.

Deliver Content To Your Distance Learning Students With This App Smash

I was recently approached by a colleague about an unavoidable absence she was going to be taking. Her concern centered around her students losing valuable learning time in her absence. She planned to deliver a Google Slides presentation to her students on the day of her absence. She asked me if it was possible to still deliver her presentation even though she wasn’t going to be there. “Aha!” I exclaimed! I told her a certain app smashing combo was what she was looking for!

For those new to “app smashing,” it’s combining apps to create a learning outcome or product. In this case, using Screencastify and EdPuzzle along with Google Slides. This particular app smash is simple and only takes a few steps. Install the Screencastify extension to her Chrome browser. Then, record yourself delivering your Google Slides as you would in the classroom. Now here’s the cool part. After saving her recording, she uploaded it to EdPuzzle.

But it doesn’t stop there! To check for understanding, she inserted questions into her EdPuzzle presentation. She sent the link to her Google Classroom and voila! She was ready to have her students take part in her virtual lecture!

Many of today's students get their content from online videos done by other people. They’ll marvel to hear the sound of your voice on their device! Try it!

What are some of your favorite app smashes? Send me a DM @Mrmosleyteacher.

Screencastify + Whatever = Teaching Joy!

Screencastify is a magical tool for distance learning and the flipped classroom. Couple Screencastify with various other apps and you’ve got app-smash heaven. That’s why Screencastify + Whatever = Teaching Joy!

Check out the following equations:

Screencastify + Google Forms

Provide a video of yourself in your Google Forms assessment. Record a brief video where you give helpful hints for a particular question or words of encouragement.

Screencastify + Google Drawings

Have your students create a Google Drawing then, use Screencastify to explain the elements in their drawing.

Screencastify + YouTube

Use Screencastify to record classroom announcements then upload them to YouTube. Or, instead of doing school announcements the old fashioned way by using the classroom loudspeaker (which can be disruptive), send out a daily link to teachers where they can play the announcements on their own class time.

Screencastify + Google Slides

Lecture with Google Slides. But instead of asking your students to stay on your Zoom session or Google Meet, simply record your lecture and slides with Screencastify and post it to your LMS.

Screencastify + EdPuzzle

Record your presentation or other online lesson and upload them to EdPuzzle. Then, insert your check for understanding questions into the Edpuzzle.

Screencastify + Google Canvas (or your favorite online whiteboard).

A fantastic solution for the math and science classroom. Use Screencastify to record you working out example problems before assigning them to the students.

Screencastify + Google Classroom

Use Screencastify to post a video of yourself explaining the plan for the week. Include what you'll be covering as well as the assignments students will be working on. Post your video in the stream.

Apps for Student Journaling in the Distance Learning Environment

During this time of distance learning, it may be difficult to get your students to write on a consistent basis. One of the ways you can do that, no matter the discipline, is to have your kids journal. No matter the discipline, you can ask your kids to write by simply asking them to journal about their day. On occasion, you can give them something to write about, but it’s easier to ask them to journal once per day. If you’re meeting with the class only, they should have five journal entries by the following Monday (they can write on the weekends, but don’t require it). 

Four digital tools you can use for student journaling:

Google Keep

Google Keep is a great note-taking tool, but it can also be used for journaling. Students create a note and label it for the week. Then, they share it with you as a collaborator.

Google Slides

Google Slides is great for journaling in that each slide can serve as one entry. Students title the slide with the date and then write away!

Google Docs

The traditional way of journaling. Students simply start with the date and then their entry. They can share the doc or turn it in at the end of the week.

Book Creator

Students can turn their journals into a book! They can add text, voice, photos, and illustrations to their entries. They can share their “book” with you so you can check on their progress.

Digital Whiteboards are a Fantastic Tool for Distance Learning!

For teachers, digital whiteboards can be a great way to flip a classroom. English teachers can diagram sentences, history teachers can show events on a timeline, math teachers can demonstrate how to work out a problem, and science teachers can explain a concept. App smash a with a screen casting tool such as Screencastify and you can record your digital whiteboard. 

Recording your lesson on a whiteboard is important in the distance learning environment. It allows students to view your lesson at time that’s convenient for the student. And, if they don’t quite get a concept, they can watch your lesson over and over again. I’ve mentioned three whiteboard apps to the left.

Explain Everything

Explain Everything allows you to create a direct web video link to your video. EE has a recording option in the app, so you don’t another screen recorder. Allowed 3 projects, but you can download your projects to make room. Explaineverything.com

Google Canvas

Google Canvas is web based so you can access it on the web at Canvas.apps.chrome. Use Screencastify to record your lesson and upload it to your classroom. 

Educreations

Like Google’s Canvas, you don’t need a third party recording app.  Educreations has a recording function. Easily share to you Google Classroom. Educreations.com

Microsoft Whiteboard

And let's not forget Microsodft.  Whiteboard.microsoft.com

Keep a Class Newsletter With This Google Tool (and no, it's not Docs)

There are Google tools that you can use to communicate with both students and parents. The backbone of your newsletter is Google Slides.  I've heard it referred to as the Swiss army knife of Google tools because it's able to handle so many tasks.  In this case, we'll use it to create the newsletter. By the way, this issue was made with Google Slides!

Why Google Slides?

There are a couple of reasons why Slides is a great choice for a newsletter.  First, it allows you to keep a running repository of all your newsletters. Second, you can copy each slide for the following issue, changing the date and content. Third, you have a few options when sharing your newsletter. You can share by copying the Slides link to your LMS (Google Classroom or whatever else you might be using). You can download each issue and post it to a classroom website. Or, you can give out the address to the students and parents.

How do I make a newsletter out of Slides?

The first thing you'll need to do to is to make your slides look like a newsletter. To do this, change the formatting. Open up a new Slides presentation. Then, go to File->Page Setup->Custom->Change to 8.5 x 11.  Now you're ready to put together the first issue of your newsletter!  Add text, pictures, and shapes to the newsletter. Once you're ready for your second issue, copy and paste the previous issue to the next slide.  Change the date and information for the second issue.

And there you have it! An accessible newsletter that's easy to create and easy to file and find for future reference.

Teaching Tips in the Age of Distance Learning