We’ve said it for more than a year … Students can’t officially use AI chatbots because they’re not old enough per the terms of use … but student-facing chatbots are coming. Now they’re finally here. Holly and Matt have used them — and have worked with students in the classroom using AI chatbots. In this episode, we share the things we like about them — and things to be aware of.
Teachers can only focus on so many things now that we are teaching from home. Here is a list of the eight remote learning tools that should top your list! These eight tools will offer some of the best and most meaningful ideas for teaching online effectively.
WHY: One of the best ideas for teaching online is Seesaw an amazing digital learning journal. It can be accessed from any device with online access – even a smartphone. Seesaw is a very simple way for students to record and share what is happening as they progress through the learning process using the six powerful tools: photo, drawing, video, upload, notes, and adding a link.
Great for remote learning because Seesaw gives students a place to document their learning, be creative, and collaborate. Teachers can share out learning Activities and students can respond with verbal and graphical explanations of learning. These creations can be shared out to the class in the class journal so that students have an opportunity to make their learning visible and can learn from each other as they view and respond to the variety of responses in the journal.
WHY: Flipgrid is a video-response platform featuring grids and topics. Each grid is populated with topics, and the topic is where students leave video responses or upload content. Topics empower teachers to ask different discussion questions or post prompts based on the overarching subject of the grid.
Great for remote learning because students can show, reflect, and comment on exactly where they are in the learning process.. They can watch other student videos and compare these with their own responses and learning. This allows students to “think about thinking” as they listen to how other students responded to the same prompt. They also learn the important skill of articulating learning.
WHY: A HyperDoc is a student-facing digital lesson plan teachers create and package using either Google Docs, Microsoft Word or OneNote. When curating learning for a HyperDoc, the emphasis is on pedagogy and meeting individual student needs. It is the pinnacle of blended learning.
Great for remote learning because students can access all content and move through learning in one place. A HyperDoc provides a structure for students to stay organized and on task. Students develop agency by making choices as they progress through the lesson. Within the HyperDoc, students can work collaboratively or alone.
WHY: Teams is a chat-based and video collaboration tool that gives
students and teachers the ability to work together and share information in a common space, called a learning hub.
Great for remote learning because it is the hub where students can actively connect and collaborate in real-time to complete differentiated tasks, staying organized and connected.
WHY: Book Creator is a web-based application that allows students to create books, comics, journals, and authentic learning artifacts, which they can then publish online for others to view and
read. This is one of the best creation tools out there and should be used in the classroom often!
Great for remote learning because it allows students to easily create learning artifacts that demonstrate learning and show their thinking and understanding. Students can work independently and collaboratively to create digital books and learning journals
WHY: Wakelet is a free visual content curation platform that helps students organize and curate their online information so it is easier to find and share with students learning at home.
Great for remote learning because Wakelet allows teachers and students to curate their resources and online learning into well-organized silos called collections. Collections can be created collaboratively, and teachers can even create collections to share with students as a way to help them locate important content or information.
WHY: Pear Deck is a tool you add to PowerPoint or Google Slides that helps teachers layer on formative tasks that provide insight into how students are doing with comprehension of content and ideas.
Great for remote learning because Teachers can go beyond static, informational slides, and create Interactive PowerPoints that let every student show their understanding by responding to questions or prompts This is great for presentations done via video calls.
WHY: Screen recording extension for Chrome. Have students record their screen, embed their webcams, and use annotation tools to make their thinking visible. All videos save to Google Drive.
Great for remote learning because can show their learning by narrating over their learning artifacts. They can make tutorials for themselves or teachers can make tutorials or walk students through lessons with more accessible assignments.