This document provides an overview of various digital tools that can be used for differentiation, content creation, and assessment. It discusses tools like ThingLink that allow adding interactive content to images, Educreations and Explain Everything for creating videos, Haiku Deck and Popplet for presentations, and Blendspace for creating learning pathways. It also covers tools for developing writing like Boomwriter and Storybird, creating digital stories with apps like iMovie and MovieMaker, and building ePortfolios using Google Drive, blogs, and other platforms. Recommendations and resources for using these tools in the classroom are provided.
2. What methods do you
currently use to deliver and
differentiate instruction, and
assess student learning?
What digital tools could
you use to accomplish
these tasks?
4. What is ?
ThingLink offers a web platform and iOS mobile app for creating and
sharing interactive images. This allows teachers or students to add
content inside any image- including photos, videos and audio players,
web links and more- that appear in the image when shared and
viewed.
You can also install a simple piece of code to a blog or webpage in
order to display the image.
5. Create Interactive Reports and Book Talks
Ask students to locate and download
an image that best illustrates the
general topic of the report.
Then add information as appropriate:
Short audio clips
Primary source documents
Podcasts or speeches
Videos about the topic
Google Docs or presentations
Link a map or slideshow of
captioned pictures
Photograph a book cover
Students add links to of their
recorded book talk
Students can add video or
audio trailer for the book
7. Educreations & Explain Everything
Both Educreations and
Explain Everything
allow you to use an
iPad as a recordable
whiteboard that
captures audio and
annotations.
Students can use these
apps to create videos
that showcase their
work and explain their
thinking. The videos
can then be shared
onto different web
platforms.
8. Haiku Deck
Haiku Deck is a
presentation tool similar
to PowerPoint. You are
able to create a
slideshow that can be
shared online and
embedded in several
sites.
Students can create
presentations that
highlight important
facts and details about a
topic.
9. Popplet and Padlet
Popplet is a mind
mapping tool that can be
used by students to
generate and organize
ideas, or explain a topic.
Padlet can be an
independent or
collaborative workspace
that allows students to
upload images, audio, and
video. Students can also
make annotations on the
wall they create.
10. Museum Box
Museum Box provides
users with the tools to
build up an argument or
description of an event,
person, or historical period
by placing items in a virtual
box. Users can display
anything from a text file to
a movie. They can also
view and comment on the
museum boxes submitted
by others.
Students can place items
to describe the life of a
book character, historical
figure, or current event.
11. Blendspace
Blendspace allows you
to create a learning
pathway for students.
You can collect web
resources in one place
and share the link with
your students.
Teachers can measure
student understanding
with built-in quizzes,
monitor progress, and
adapt instruction to
meet student needs in
real-time.
13. Boomwriter
Process:
Teacher creates an account
and signs up students.
Select a story start and
have students create and
submit the next chapter.
Students vote on which
chapter wins and are able
to edit the chapter as
needed.
Continue for as many
chapters as you want and
when you are ready you
can publish.
Stories can be bound and
available for purchase.
14. Storybird
“Takes the writing process and reverses it by
starting with the image and “unlocking” the
story inside.” -storybird.com
Easily manage and even grade stories in app
Easy to share and embed stories on blogs or
wikis
Unlimited PDF downloads
Not just for picture books but chapter
books, essays, poetry and longform books
Free for up to 35 students- small cost for
more students
18. Google Apps for Education
• Start Small:
• Gather everything you
can into Google Drive
• Then make a goal to
do 1 project per
grading period
• Have students reflect
using Google forms
• Have students publish
using Google sites and
save their data on
their Google Drives
19. Blogs in the classroom
Blogging gives students an
authentic audience.
“Research has long shown
that students write more,
write in greater detail, and
take greater care with
spelling, grammar and
punctuation, when they are
writing to an authentic
audience over the internet.”
- Lorrie Jackson, Education World
Blog entries can be read and
responded to by classmates,
teachers, and parents
(collaboration & feedback).
20. Benefits of Blogging
Students develop technological literacy
Students learn to be ethical digital citizens
Students develop writing skills and voice
Students are engaged
Students can make global connections
Students practice typing skills.
Promotes creative thinking and self-expression
“Blogs provide a communication space that teachers can
utilize with students whenever there is a curriculum need to
develop writing, share ideas and reflect on work being
undertaken in the classroom.” -Blogs in Education
Image from:
http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/12/25/creating-
an-outline-for-blogging-unit-plan/
21. How can I use blogging in my
classroom?
Journaling
Writer’s Workshop
Writing Genres
Sharing writing and other works
Peer Revising/Editing
Projects- all subject areas
iPad or digital creations
Reading discussions
Book Reviews
e-Portfolios
Goal Setting
Document Growth
Self Evaluation
22. Blogging Tips
Establish Rules/Procedures for posting and
commenting to posts
What is your learning goal?
Create your account
Become familiar with your blog service
Create student accounts
Review what blogging is with parents and
students
Set and share guidelines for parents and
students
Model how to write a blog post or show
students examples of student blogs
Model how to comment on posts
Make blogging a part of your regular schedule
(rotations, centers, morning work).
23.
24. Resources
Free Technology for Teachers- “ 65+ Ways to Use ThingLink in Your Classroom
What ThingLink Can do for Education
ThingLink How to Video
How to Create a ThingLink
ABCya Animate
25. Kidblog Resources
& Examples
How to set up a class on Kidblog
Commenting Guidelines 1
Commenting Guidelines 2
Sample Blog Rubric 1
Sample Blog Rubric 2
Sample Blog Rubric 3
Blogging in the Classroom
Assessment 2.0 Way
Tutorials
Examples
Rubrics
Videos-
Learn KidBlog in 5 minutes or less
Kidblog
How to Write a Quality Comment
Examples
Kidblog- 2nd Grade
Kidblog- 4th Grade
26. Google Apps for
Education Resources
• Intro to Google Apps for
Education
• Google Forms in the ELA
Classroom
• Google Docs for Learning
• Grade and Annotate Students
Work from Google Drive
• Using Google Docs in the
Classroom
• Differentiation with Google
Forms
• 80 Interesting Ways to Use
Google Forms in Your Classroom
• Chrome Store Crash Course
• Google Drive: Organizing
Student Folders
• How to Manage Digital Portfolios
Using Page-level Permissions in
Google Sites
• Google Forms: How to create a
quiz that automatically grades
itself on Google Docs
• Google Docs Tips for Teachers