Hey everyone, it’s back to school time here in Manitoba and we’re planning for an exciting year! Technology infusion is an important aspect of our teaching practice, so we wanted to share some of the tools we’ll be integrating this year and WHY we think they’re so great. To us, tech tools are powerful when they support rich, meaningful learning for students, so the tools we use are typically selected based on what we hope to accomplish with our learners. Here are 3 tools we’ll be using this year…
Flipgrid
We like that this tool allows our students to share their voices, connect with others and document their learning. Students login to your “grid” and film short videos in response to a prompt or question. The videos are shared with others who have access to the grid. Flipgrid is a great option if you’ll be connecting with other classrooms this year and it is accessible for all ages. For young learners, we recommend the Student ID setting, which allows students to login with a QR code. For older learners with access to a Microsoft or Google email account, the “School Email” setting works well.
Sign up for a free teacher account here: https://admin.flipgrid.com/signup
SeeSaw
We like that this tool gives students a variety of options for documenting their learning. We also like that SeeSaw is setup for sharing student work with families. Students can login with a QR code or email address and post pictures, video, annotations and more. There is also a great library of activities available for educators to use.
Get started with your free account here: https://web.seesaw.me/
Skype in the Classroom
Video calling is a great way to connect your classroom. Skype video calls with another classroom can be wonderful learning experiences. Skype in the Classroom also offers awesome virtual field trips and connections with guest speakers. My favourite virtual field trip is the experience with Yellowstone National Park. Our students also have loved playing Mystery Number Skype with other students over the years!
Join the Microsoft Educator Community and check out Skype in the Classroom here: https://education.microsoft.com/skype-in-the-classroom/overview