Implementing BYOD in Your Classroom
BYOD Activities that Work!
Rita Ayers, i21Zone Specialist, STI
First Things First: Get a Great QR Code Reader!
The sky's the limit when it comes to using QR Codes in the classroom. Have your students download i-Nigma using the QR code at right. It's good for four different platforms, including iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Windows devices. You can right-click to save it, then print it as needed. Or, just pull this page up and let them scan from your projector.
Make your codes at qrstuff.com, then use any of the following ideas:
1) Put a code outside your door each day giving the bellringer assignment.
2) Put codes around the room for a scavenger hunt activity.
3) Use codes to jump to websites or app download pages.
4) Make flashcards with QR Code answers on the back to reveal the correct answer.
Jump to the link below to see many more great activities that use QR Codes.
Give Students Choices
We don't give students a set of watercolors and tell them to color everything blue. Yet, we frequently limit their options when it comes to showing us what they have learned.
BYOD and 1:1 classrooms can provide teachers the flexibility to allow their students choices when assigning projects. Every student may not have the same apps as their classmates, so instead of requiring the students to use a particular app or website, why not give them a choice? You will find that student engagement and creativity will increase when students are given the freedom to use different tools to deliver content.
A fourth option would be to let them create a website using Smore, which is what you are viewing now. Here are tutorials for all four of these, but usually students don't even need these.
Examples of other assignments that give students choices:
Articles:
Get Moving with GoNoodle!
Everyone needs a brain break once in awhile. Get your kids up and moving with GoNoodle! There are also relaxation and calming exercises to bring those rowdy kids back to a manageable place. You can either let everyone choose their own thing (with headphones) or use your classroom projector for a Zumba-like class!
You can find the website at gonoodle.com.
Use Web-Based Resources for Review
Kahoot
Students go to kahoot.it and log in using the pin generated on the screen.
Teachers create free accounts at getkahoot.com. From there, you can create your own kahoots, or search from public kahoots. If you find one you like, mark it as a favorite for use in the future, or edit it to meet your own needs.
This one is a huge hit with kids - and adults as well!
Socrative
Students and teachers login at socrative.com.
Students join the room number provided by the teacher. Teachers can use quizzes either in standard mode or as exit tickets; for extra fun, run it as a competitive space race.
Change the room number to your last name or your actual classroom number by going to "My Profile" under "My Account."
InfuseLearning
Students and teachers login at infuselearning.com.
This site allows a wide variety of assessment types, including the traditional multiple choice and true/false. You can also have students draw their responses, sort a sequence of steps into the right answer, provide an open ended text answer, answer numerically, or even choose from a Likert scale (answers range from 1-5).
Find Vocabulary Words in a Bingo Game
BingoBaker is a free website, but if you want to pay $9.99 for a lifetime membership, you won't have to remember what all the web addresses are for the Bingos you create.
Let's try this one:
Use the Camera on their Device as a Scanner
Instead of waiting for a slow scanner to scan in page after page of a document, just snap pictures and create a multi-page PDF with any of a number of free apps. One good one is Genius Scan.
Here's a link to a huge list of ideas for how to use Genius Scan (or any other device "scanner" for that matter.)