Collaborative Thinking: Generating thoughts - Using Padlet
What is Padlet? And how have I been using it in the classroom?
I have been using Padlet in a variety of different ways in the classroom. I personally feel that it has been most successful for brainstorming, and exit tickets. I simply pose a question to the students, and watch their thoughts and ideas pop up on the screen. I find it also allows students to improve their literacy skills, they are constantly reading other students posts, and practicing voicing their own thinking and wondering. Students are motivated to challenge each others thinking and wondering, while using Padlet students become motivated to expand their thinking in relation to the new thought bubbles.
Apart from the simple brainstorming, Padlet allows you to take photos to make further notes on which the students can later screen shot, and send to their emails. Essentially it is the modern day sticky note. The only difference being that all students in the classroom can access each one in real time, oh and lets not forget its weightless. I also find that students become more engaged in discussions. It is one think for a teacher to boost the self esteem of a student by writing their thinking on the board (word bubble), but now students have the opportunity to take initiative, and write their own comments for all to see. Essentially every student is made to feel important in the sense that they all can access this board, and express their thoughts.
I have been using Padlet in a variety of different ways in the classroom. I personally feel that it has been most successful for brainstorming, and exit tickets. I simply pose a question to the students, and watch their thoughts and ideas pop up on the screen. I find it also allows students to improve their literacy skills, they are constantly reading other students posts, and practicing voicing their own thinking and wondering. Students are motivated to challenge each others thinking and wondering, while using Padlet students become motivated to expand their thinking in relation to the new thought bubbles.
Apart from the simple brainstorming, Padlet allows you to take photos to make further notes on which the students can later screen shot, and send to their emails. Essentially it is the modern day sticky note. The only difference being that all students in the classroom can access each one in real time, oh and lets not forget its weightless. I also find that students become more engaged in discussions. It is one think for a teacher to boost the self esteem of a student by writing their thinking on the board (word bubble), but now students have the opportunity to take initiative, and write their own comments for all to see. Essentially every student is made to feel important in the sense that they all can access this board, and express their thoughts.
The Importance of Building A Classroom Website:
Organization/ Time Management/ Absences/Catchup & Modification:
Having a classroom website is important for so many reasons! I have noticed that students love having this online resource not only for discussion opportunities and information, but it is extremely helpful in relation to homework completion, and time management. Students are able to use my classroom website as a reference when they are sick, forgot their agendas, lost a handout, want to know what we will be working on in the future - the list is endless.
Math Videos:
I noticed a number of my grade 8 students were going home and looking up "how to" youtube videos on mathematics when they were struggling with topics. I have actually brought a number of them into the classroom to summarize or refresh student thinking. After referencing these online videos, I felt that I had issues with what my students were taking from the videos. I became motivated to construct my own math videos based on different concepts I was introducing in the classroom. The students were responding very positively to my online videos. I think seeing their teacher on the screen gave students comfort and hope. They could go home and look up summaries of my lessons if they were struggling. Additionally, I created an online "discussion board" as a tab on my website. This feature is beautiful! When students have additional questions that they didn't think of in class, they can voice their concerns on the discussion board, and I can respond. As an educator, this feature was extremely valuable in terms of diagnostic assessment. In addition to my exit cards etc, that I give the students in class, I felt the discussion board was a valuable resource in terms taking diagnostic poles. From the discussion board, I get an idea of what I need to continue to work on in relation to the success criteria that have created.
Motivation/ Enhancing our Classroom Community:
Students love having the opportunity to express their thoughts and opinions. Additionally, under the classroom section of my website, I constantly post (with the students permission/ an obtained media release form) classroom milestones. This can be anything from a congratulations, to a highlighting of student strengths (cooperation, living their faith in the classroom, initiative, etc). Parents have given great feedback in relation to this section, they love that their child is motivated to produce their best work, and conduct themselves in a respectful manner - essentially because they understand that each day in the classroom they have an opportunity to prove themselves/ express their thoughts, and achieve greatness. Negative behaviour is never voiced anywhere in the classroom, I think their is a need to only praise greatness, and efforts, because it pushes students especially ones who want recognition, to understand that they can gain it from working hard, and caring for others, and expressing themselves in a positive manner.
Finally, I see that more students are taking initiative/ responsibility over their learning when they are provided with the resources to do so (all hours of the day).
Having a classroom website is important for so many reasons! I have noticed that students love having this online resource not only for discussion opportunities and information, but it is extremely helpful in relation to homework completion, and time management. Students are able to use my classroom website as a reference when they are sick, forgot their agendas, lost a handout, want to know what we will be working on in the future - the list is endless.
Math Videos:
I noticed a number of my grade 8 students were going home and looking up "how to" youtube videos on mathematics when they were struggling with topics. I have actually brought a number of them into the classroom to summarize or refresh student thinking. After referencing these online videos, I felt that I had issues with what my students were taking from the videos. I became motivated to construct my own math videos based on different concepts I was introducing in the classroom. The students were responding very positively to my online videos. I think seeing their teacher on the screen gave students comfort and hope. They could go home and look up summaries of my lessons if they were struggling. Additionally, I created an online "discussion board" as a tab on my website. This feature is beautiful! When students have additional questions that they didn't think of in class, they can voice their concerns on the discussion board, and I can respond. As an educator, this feature was extremely valuable in terms of diagnostic assessment. In addition to my exit cards etc, that I give the students in class, I felt the discussion board was a valuable resource in terms taking diagnostic poles. From the discussion board, I get an idea of what I need to continue to work on in relation to the success criteria that have created.
Motivation/ Enhancing our Classroom Community:
Students love having the opportunity to express their thoughts and opinions. Additionally, under the classroom section of my website, I constantly post (with the students permission/ an obtained media release form) classroom milestones. This can be anything from a congratulations, to a highlighting of student strengths (cooperation, living their faith in the classroom, initiative, etc). Parents have given great feedback in relation to this section, they love that their child is motivated to produce their best work, and conduct themselves in a respectful manner - essentially because they understand that each day in the classroom they have an opportunity to prove themselves/ express their thoughts, and achieve greatness. Negative behaviour is never voiced anywhere in the classroom, I think their is a need to only praise greatness, and efforts, because it pushes students especially ones who want recognition, to understand that they can gain it from working hard, and caring for others, and expressing themselves in a positive manner.
Finally, I see that more students are taking initiative/ responsibility over their learning when they are provided with the resources to do so (all hours of the day).
"Explain Everything" - Creating Tutorials for Students:
"Explain Everything" is an app that can be downloaded by teachers to use in the classroom - I use it to create math videos for my students, among other things. The students love it, and actually have started to use it to create presentations, or assignments. This app is essentially an electronic white board that records. You draw problems as you would on a whiteboard, on your ipad and record as you are drawing. Essentially you can teach a lesson using the ipad as a blackboard, but save it to a file that can be emailed or shared. Typically I use this app to summarize math lessons, which I upload onto my classroom website. This allows students who have missed the class, or who need additional clarification to watch and re-watch the lessons on their own time. Having lessons accumulate online are extremely valuable as a study resource for my students as well. Students have the opportunity to review a number of different concepts with the freedom to fast forward and rewind when needed. This app works wonders in conjunction with my classroom website, students can go over lessons while they do their homework, and voice their concerns/ help one another over the discussion board. I monitor this board, and love watching the students assist one another, technology takes collaborative learning to an entirely new level. Additionally, having these resources online invites the parents into our classroom on a daily basis. Parents are encouraged to participate in discussions, and comment on work. Students see support from their peers, teacher, and parents materializing right in front of them on a regular basis!
Below is an example of an "Explain Everything" math tutorial:
Below is an example of an "Explain Everything" math tutorial:
Powerpoint "is so 20th Century"
My student have mastered Prezi, and often hand in their assignments via Prezi format! As educators, we must stick with the times, learn from our students, and understand how to use this technology so we can embrace their learning.
Prezi is extremely user friendly, by simply visiting the website prezi.com, you will be prompted each step of the way while developing your first Prezi! If you face challenges, visit www.youtube.ca and search "Prezi tutorial, my first Prezi" for clarification. Prezi is a great tool, students are fascinated with the possibilities Prezi presents. Ultimately, Powerpoint is now old school people! Although it is valuable, it is important to stick with the times and experiment with these programs. Your students will value the your ability to remain "with the times".
Here is an example of how I used Padlet & Prezi to generate collaboration in my classroom. Students were asked to think and wonder amidst developing their biography assignments.
Click link below for presentation:
http://prezi.com/4-08zufmp3px/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Plicker:
Dropbox:
Dropbox can be used to store and sync documents and files across computers, tablets, and smart phones. I can write a lecture or lesson plan on my computer at home, put it in my Dropbox folder, and whoosh – it’s synced with my work computer. During my free period at school, I can open that file, make a few changes, and the changes are automatically synced with my home computer. It’s seamless, fast and free.
Using Drop Box With Students:
In addition to making your life a lot easier, Dropbox can be a great teaching/learning tool – and this is why I introduce it to my students. The first thing to do is to create a sharing folder for each class you teach so you can make information available to your students (PowerPoints, hand-outs, reading assignments, whatever).
Using Drop Box With Students:
In addition to making your life a lot easier, Dropbox can be a great teaching/learning tool – and this is why I introduce it to my students. The first thing to do is to create a sharing folder for each class you teach so you can make information available to your students (PowerPoints, hand-outs, reading assignments, whatever).
Garage Band rECORDING:
Student reflections, and brainstorming. Garage Band is a great tool to document ped doc.
Student treasures publishing:
www.studentreasures.com allows students to develop and publish their own story books for free! Great tool to heighten student engagement, and empower students to read, write, imagine.
Socrative:
Socrative is a tool used in classrooms to take polls. I personally love using this in relation to tests, it allows you to gather information in relation to students thoughts, and understandings - either by name or anonymously.
CO-CONSTRUCTING GAME SHOWS TO PLAY IN CLASS:
Great for test reviews, presentations, math problems. Students are engaged by the game show set up, and even more so when they are involved in the constructive process.