These are examples of projects that teachers and students can do with a variety of technology tools.
Screencast-o-matic allows students to detail what they are doing on the computer. Students can record their own tutorials on how to write complete sentences while typing in Word or how to identify a credible site by recording their preview and navigation of a research website. This screencast is a tutorial on how to use Vocaroo for student fluency checks. Return to Table of Contents.
Vocaroo can be used to give directions for homework such as the Google Slides group project. Similar in nature to Voki, it does not include an avatar but simply a voice recording. It could also be used to record fluency checks or for students to insert a voice-over into a PowerPoint presentation. Return to Table of Contents.
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G Suite for Education slides group project allows students to work collaboratively on one project. The teacher creates the slides templates for each group and shares each template with students in the groups, assigning 'Can edit' privileges. Students then check their 'Incoming' files and add it to their 'My Drive.' Then students click on 'My Drive' and double click on the file to begin working. They follow the directions given on the first slide by editing their assigned slide, and students can all work on the same project at the same time. Potentially, students could work on the same slides as well but from a classroom management point of view, assigning slides provides accountability for each student's contribution and lessens the confusion of who is doing what. Return to Table of Contents.
Students can use Voki to create an avatar that explains a vocabulary word, math concept, or science investigation. It can also be used to practice fluency and is an engaging way to promote critical thinking skills such as explaining and justifying. Vokis can also be inserted into other forms of presentations, such as a PowerPoint. Return to Table of Contents.
Using a poll can be helpful in doing a quick check for understanding or to survey for student interests. Poll Everywhere is an ideal tool for that quick survey moment and offers students the choice of using their personal devices or the computer. The example below could be used at the beginning of the school year to survey students' reading interests. The option for students to see the results using the button lets them see the variety of answers. Return to Table of Contents.
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Socrative is a quizzing option that can be used online or downloaded as a PDF for a written test. This can be used for summative assessment, but most likely will be used as formative assessment on a variety of concepts throughout a unit. Once the quiz is launched, students can access at any time until the teacher ends the quiz under the teacher login. Another option is to create the quiz and download it as a PDF for students to take with paper and pencil. To see the paper and pencil version, click on the button labeled "Air and Weather PDF" to the right. To take an example quiz using Socrative's website on "Air and Weather," click on the button to the right and use the class code: GFPS. Return to Table of Contents.
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Google Forms is a user-friendly choice for creating online surveys and quizzes. They can be used as either a bell ringer to begin class or an exit ticket for a final check for understanding at the end of class. They can be used for formative assessment throughout a particular unit, such as the fourth grade Montana History unit. Google Forms also generates a Google Sheets document to view results of those who submit their answers. To take the quick quiz, fill in the blanks on "Montana History Bell Ringer" and then click the "Submit" button at the bottom. Clicking the button labeled "Bell Ringer Results" will show the spreadsheet view of the results of those who have taken the quiz. Return to Table of Contents.
Art editors spark creativity for students when they can incorporate technology with science diagrams. ABCyaPaint lets students choose between freehand drawing tools and shaped drawing tools, while offering a text box option to avoid the difficult-to-read freehand writing for those who are not so adept. This Web 2.0 tool could also be used for creating artwork for a writing project or math illustrations as students demonstrate their understanding. When an illustration is complete, students can save their artwork as an image or simply print their final production. Return to Table of Contents.
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The ability to insert pictures into pictures can spark some creative images such as the example seen here and help students take a different perspective in their writing, social studies, science, or reading. Fotoflexer layers a personal image on this picture of the archaeological dig site of Catal Huyuk, giving the impression of a firsthand visit to the dig site. Perspective increases the understanding students may have of any given topic. It could also become a lesson on credible sources, as students realize the capabilities of photo editing tools and the need to check the authenticity of both images and websites they use for research. Return to Table of Contents.
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Concept mapping is a powerful tool that helps students organize their thinking and make connections, with a variety of learning goals in mind. It can be used for a prewrite to brainstorm details on a chosen topic or as a comprehension check for main idea and details. The example to the right demonstrates how students can use a mind map to make inferences. It can be used to connect math concepts with previously learned information. The versatility of Bubbl.us allows students to make connections between multiple ideas. Return to Table of Contents.
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Creating posters has always been an engaging way for students to display their understanding of any given topic. Infographics, such as Piktochart, can help students to creatively present arguments for or against a controversial subject. It could also be used for students to teach others a mathematical strategy. The example here represents a presentation on a geography research project. When in presentation mode while logged into Piktochart, the three building blocks become three slides. Return to Table of Contents.
Google searches are helpful in locating resources already created by other teachers. It is also useful to be able to create answer keys for those resources or to create fillable forms that can be submitted online. PDFescape allows PDFs to be edited in a variety of ways, such as creating fillable forms. See the examples to the right to see how a third grade word problem worksheet became a fillable form and an answer key. Return to Table of Contents.
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Collaboration is a 21st century skill, which makes Padlet a great choice. Students can work on the same project at the same time without the ability to interfere with someone else's efforts, while the teacher can maintain control of all content. The ability to insert images, videos, links, and text broadens the scope of possibilities for social studies presentations or a quick check for understanding on any given topic. The example here is a bell ringer activity that helps students think about narrative elements such as characters, while allowing teacher and students to see each other's thinking at the same time. Return to Table of Contents.
Video clips have a variety of uses in the classroom to support instruction. They can be used for anticipatory sets, thinking prompts for discussion or writing, demonstrating a strategy or scientific investigation, modeling a concept, or even motivational moments featuring Kid President, for example. Keepvid allows videos to be downloaded from sites, such as Youtube and Vimeo, for ready access. Return to Table of Contents.
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Widgets and gadgets pull information from other websites and post on the embedded website, supporting instruction from a classroom website and making it more interactive. For example, a science unit such as air and weather can be supported with a weather widget from Accuweather to get a daily report on temperature and weather conditions for tracking the weather. Another option would be to insert a math skill game widget, allowing students to "play" from the classroom website. Go ahead and try it out! Return to Table of Contents.
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WordleVocabulary can be a difficult concept for students to master in any subject area. Having students build their understanding through context can be enhanced by having them type a paragraph using their content-related vocabulary and then pasting that paragraph into Wordle. The most used words will be the largest in the word cloud created by this word art generator. It offers choices of layouts, fonts, and color, but it can also be used for students to revise and edit their written work for overused words as well. Return to Table of Contents.
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Students enjoy graphing data, but often are missing information. Using a Web 2.0 tool such as Create a Graph will help them think about the presentation of their data in a logical and useful way with a variety of graph types. This could be used to learn graphing in math or to chart data in science. It could even be helpful for students to graph their own progress towards a particular academic goal. Return to Table of Contents.
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Geography comes alive when students use Google Tour Builder and create a virtual tour of locations in far away places or blasts from the past. The example to the right is a presentation on the westward expansion (Chrome no longer supports Google Earth, so right-click on the button to the right, copy the link address, and paste into Internet Explorer to view the tour). Return to Table of Contents.
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Office Mix is a free add-in to PowerPoint to enhance and expand the impact of both teacher and student presentations with screencasting capabilities. Slide presentations can now include narration, inking, and even quizzing options to improve both delivery and engagement, promoting better communication in the classroom and beyond. Return to Table of Contents.
PBS Learning Media is a resource for teachers to create collections of quality PBS materials, everything from videos to interactive tools for students to learn about or practice a variety of topics organized by content standards and grade level. For students who miss instruction or need additional tutorials, this is an ideal flipped classroom or blended learning option. In addition, quizzes can be used for checks for understanding. Or for student creation, check out the storyboard options. "Storyboards are a way to illustrate a concept or topic through a collection of videos, text and images" (PBS Learning Media, 2015). A class code allows access to both the lesson collections and the storyboard assignments. To try the sample projects, click the buttons to the right. For the lesson, scroll down to click the "Start" button. Return to Table of Contents.
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