Collaboration Tools
When exploring web 2.0 apps for mobile devices, I decided to check out Google Slides, FlipGrid, Zoom, and Adobe Spark Post.
I’ve used Google Slides in my classroom before, but only as a presentation- to deliver content. As our schools shut down for the global Coronavirus pandemic, my AMDM class was in the middle of a Statistics and Data project. Each group had been tasked with creating a Google Form survey to obtain qualitative and quantitative data. In previous years, groups used this data to create charts on posters. This could not happen with closed schools, so I created a Project Template in Slides and shared one with each group. I used the comments to provide feedback and initiate collaboration with each group. The students quickly caught on and now I can assess their participation. It turned out to be a pretty nice way to collaborate, support them, and allow them to finish their projects.
The second app that I thought of for engaging students in collaboration and critical thinking was Flipgrid. I didn’t know that FlipGrid has an app that allows me to pose essential questions, post them in Google Classroom, and monitor responses, all from my phone. It’s also engaging for my students because they can create a short response video, and respond to each other. I used FlipGrid to ask my students how to find all the real zeroes of a polynomial function (after we studied polynomial division, the rational root theorem, and the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra). Their responses were amusing at least, but productive.
I’ve also been using Zoom with my students this week. Zoom allows you to create a virtual classroom where students can easily join by clicking a pre-shared link. Within the classroom the host and attendees can manage audio and video sharing and create breakout rooms to create smaller groups for discussions and collaborations. The entire meeting can also be recorded, edited, and posted online for absent students. My students love Zoom, and it has helped ease the frustrations of sudden change to distance learning. With the basic account, you get 40 minute meetings with up to 100 participants for free. And, you can host or join meetings from your mobile device.
For the last app, I decided to explore a creation tool. I chose Adobe Spark because my son wanted to be able to create interesting collages and videos. He wasn’t very thrilled with it, but there are several ways to use it as a collaboration and creation tool for students. You can invite several collaborators to co-create with you and students can create videos and slide-shows fairly easily. I explore Adobe Spark Post and Spark Video. Unfortunately, Spark Video is only available on an Apple mobile device, so I had to use my son’s Iphone to check out the app. Other than that, both programs seemed easy for students to use to create collages and video products.
I’ve used Google Slides in my classroom before, but only as a presentation- to deliver content. As our schools shut down for the global Coronavirus pandemic, my AMDM class was in the middle of a Statistics and Data project. Each group had been tasked with creating a Google Form survey to obtain qualitative and quantitative data. In previous years, groups used this data to create charts on posters. This could not happen with closed schools, so I created a Project Template in Slides and shared one with each group. I used the comments to provide feedback and initiate collaboration with each group. The students quickly caught on and now I can assess their participation. It turned out to be a pretty nice way to collaborate, support them, and allow them to finish their projects.
The second app that I thought of for engaging students in collaboration and critical thinking was Flipgrid. I didn’t know that FlipGrid has an app that allows me to pose essential questions, post them in Google Classroom, and monitor responses, all from my phone. It’s also engaging for my students because they can create a short response video, and respond to each other. I used FlipGrid to ask my students how to find all the real zeroes of a polynomial function (after we studied polynomial division, the rational root theorem, and the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra). Their responses were amusing at least, but productive.
I’ve also been using Zoom with my students this week. Zoom allows you to create a virtual classroom where students can easily join by clicking a pre-shared link. Within the classroom the host and attendees can manage audio and video sharing and create breakout rooms to create smaller groups for discussions and collaborations. The entire meeting can also be recorded, edited, and posted online for absent students. My students love Zoom, and it has helped ease the frustrations of sudden change to distance learning. With the basic account, you get 40 minute meetings with up to 100 participants for free. And, you can host or join meetings from your mobile device.
For the last app, I decided to explore a creation tool. I chose Adobe Spark because my son wanted to be able to create interesting collages and videos. He wasn’t very thrilled with it, but there are several ways to use it as a collaboration and creation tool for students. You can invite several collaborators to co-create with you and students can create videos and slide-shows fairly easily. I explore Adobe Spark Post and Spark Video. Unfortunately, Spark Video is only available on an Apple mobile device, so I had to use my son’s Iphone to check out the app. Other than that, both programs seemed easy for students to use to create collages and video products.
Troubleshooting & Internet Safety
In my classroom, we use a variety of technology devices. My room is equipped with an Apple TV Connection, IPad Pro, projector, and Teacher laptop. I have 15 Chromebooks for student use, and I allow my students to use their cell phones or personal devices for many activities. When students are actively using technology, I navigate the classroom to ensure they stay on task and I pay attention to the sites or apps they are using. I give warnings, but sometimes I confiscate phones when students aren’t being productive. I return them at the end of class or upon completion of activities, which is probably the reason they’re willing to allow me to take it. Many times, I find myself needing to troubleshoot issues that arise, not only for school devices, but also for students’ personal devices. My top strategy for troubleshooting is to ask Google! Google can get you through any problem- and if it can’t, I start reading forums. Our school seems to have sufficient content filters, but I always pay attention to student activity, so as to guide them if a harmful interaction occurs.
With the digital era comes advancements in internet accessibility for our students. The internet provides opportunities for massive amounts of information to be shared among individuals, businesses, organizations, and even villains. Unfortunately, it is impossible to prevent all exposure to risky websites, materials, and content for our students. Teachers and parents must ensure that students are prepared to deal with online safety concerns, beginning at a very young age. They must become partners to ensure student safety online and to teach students how to appropriately handle internet safety issues. It is important for teachers and parents to provide guidance for students and to monitor online activities. Teacher responsibilities include vetting websites and programs before students are asked to access them for content or learning, and teachers must also to provide resources that are ad and distraction free. Teachers need to be aware of student activities during class by navigating and actively monitoring. Teachers and parents should discuss the potential dangers and utilize curriculum resources to teach students about internet safety and how to best handle concerns. Parents should monitor students’ online activity outside of school and maintain open communications with their children to provide a safety net.
There are many websites and resources available to help teach safe and healthy use of the Internet to students. Internet Safety 101 was created through a partnership with Enough is Enough and the U.S. Department of Justice to create a resource website for student, parent, educator, and community use. This resource and teaching series provides curriculum resources and information to address many of the dangers children may encounter online. Topics include Predators & Trafficking, Pornography, Social Media, Mobile & Wireless, Online Gaming, Cyberbullying, Cyber Security, and Safety & Prevention. Common Sense Education compiled a resource of 23 Great Lesson Plans for Internet Safety to equip students with the critical-thinking skills necessary to handle safety concerns. The list includes lesson plans for each grade level, with topics ranging from internet safety to social media and data sharing. The article Teachers Guide for Internet Safety also compiles a list of free Internet safety guides, safety videos, and Internet safety activities for the classroom. NSTeens.org is a website that has several interesting games, designed for middle grades education students, ranging from preventing too much sharing online, to avoiding connecting with strangers offline, to stopping computer viruses, phishing, and other unsafe activities. NSTeens.org offers a variety of free curriculum resources, including videos, games, quizzes, and comics, that can be implemented in the classroom to help youth make better decisions online.
With the digital era comes advancements in internet accessibility for our students. The internet provides opportunities for massive amounts of information to be shared among individuals, businesses, organizations, and even villains. Unfortunately, it is impossible to prevent all exposure to risky websites, materials, and content for our students. Teachers and parents must ensure that students are prepared to deal with online safety concerns, beginning at a very young age. They must become partners to ensure student safety online and to teach students how to appropriately handle internet safety issues. It is important for teachers and parents to provide guidance for students and to monitor online activities. Teacher responsibilities include vetting websites and programs before students are asked to access them for content or learning, and teachers must also to provide resources that are ad and distraction free. Teachers need to be aware of student activities during class by navigating and actively monitoring. Teachers and parents should discuss the potential dangers and utilize curriculum resources to teach students about internet safety and how to best handle concerns. Parents should monitor students’ online activity outside of school and maintain open communications with their children to provide a safety net.
There are many websites and resources available to help teach safe and healthy use of the Internet to students. Internet Safety 101 was created through a partnership with Enough is Enough and the U.S. Department of Justice to create a resource website for student, parent, educator, and community use. This resource and teaching series provides curriculum resources and information to address many of the dangers children may encounter online. Topics include Predators & Trafficking, Pornography, Social Media, Mobile & Wireless, Online Gaming, Cyberbullying, Cyber Security, and Safety & Prevention. Common Sense Education compiled a resource of 23 Great Lesson Plans for Internet Safety to equip students with the critical-thinking skills necessary to handle safety concerns. The list includes lesson plans for each grade level, with topics ranging from internet safety to social media and data sharing. The article Teachers Guide for Internet Safety also compiles a list of free Internet safety guides, safety videos, and Internet safety activities for the classroom. NSTeens.org is a website that has several interesting games, designed for middle grades education students, ranging from preventing too much sharing online, to avoiding connecting with strangers offline, to stopping computer viruses, phishing, and other unsafe activities. NSTeens.org offers a variety of free curriculum resources, including videos, games, quizzes, and comics, that can be implemented in the classroom to help youth make better decisions online.