MWISD Tech Tip Tuesday
January 29, 2019
World Read Aloud Day- #48
Please read below on more information about World Read Aloud Day, how to get involved, and how to incorporate technology into this day.
Need help? Don't hesitate to call or email our librarians or myself.
How To Celebrate...
- Virtual Resources- You can participate in a Skype or Google Hangout in district, out of district, or invite an author into your classroom.
- Host a WRAD event- on your campus or at home.
- Have a Harry Potter Book Night on February 7th
- Read aloud to your students- Yes, even your Junior High and High School students... they'll love it.
If you're unable to schedule this in, there are other ways to participate outside of school...
- Have your students respond to a text or book through Twitter using a specific hashtag for your class.
- Have your students respond to a text or comment using Flipgrid.
Retrieved.“World Read Aloud Day.” LitWorld®, www.litworld.org/wrad/.
Technology Tools To Use...
Adobe Spark for EDU
Adobe Spark EDU offers three different products to school districts:
- Spark Post- lets your students create social graphics. You can start by remixing a design from the inspiration wall, or start from scratch. You can add an image, text, apply design filters, and apply photo filters. You can share it through email, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more.
- Spark Page- Lets your students create their own web story, "webpage". With Adobe Page, students can bring words and images together in fun ways. You can play with a variety of layouts, add text, use your own photos, or pick from thousands of online images.
- Spark Video- Spark Video lets you turn your story into a captivating narrated video in just minutes. Students can present a report, explain a concept in class, or tell a personal story. You can start off using a blank slate, or you can use prompts to help guide you. There are thousands of images to use, or you can use your own. You are able to select a design theme, add text, and music to your video.
Resources
- A Guide for Schools and Educators
- Check out their Education Inspirational Gallery. This gallery has examples and lesson plans for how to implement the different Adobe Spark products into your classroom.
- 10 Exercise to Spark Original Thinking and Increase Creativity
- 16 Ways to Motivate Students in the Classroom Using Adobe Spark
Padlet
Padlet is a free, online "virtual wall" tool where users can express thoughts on topics of their choice. It's like a piece of paper, but on the Web. Teachers and students can have discussions, share web links, post notices, images and collect feedback, or watch and share videos. Comments on postings can also be allowed. Padlet accounts are free and you only get 3 free walls. Students do not have to create an account to post on your walls. The notes you post can contain links, videos, images, and document files.
Settings allow you to make your wall completely open for public contributions, completely private, or moderated by you (you approve all contributions before they show).
Available on:
Any device - Web site (https://padlet.com/), iOS app, Android app. App and web versions vary slightly.
Resource links to spark reading ideas:
Students can respond to a book, share their perspective, answer questions, collaborate in groups, character analysis, draw a character, and more.
- Some good examples of Padlets on educational topics - Click on one to see the actual Padlet
- Example Padlets
- Padlet ideas from a math teacher
- Padlet how to use and ideas for the classroom - The pictures are for the old version but the concepts are the same, see list of ideas for classroom use at the bottom w/ examples
- 20 useful ways to use Padlet in class
- Ideas for using Padlet
- 12 ways to use Padlet in your classroom
- Padlet info and ideas
Flipgrid
What is Flipgrid?
Flipgrid is a FREE video discussion platform that allows teachers to create grids (community) to share topics (question/prompt) and encourages creativity and discussions through recordings, uploading videos, uploading images, attaching files, and attaching websites. Students are able to react and respond to each other's short videos. Flipgrid gives student's voice, power and encourages collaborative community.Basically, you create video recording prompts and have students record their findings.
Students do not have to create accounts. They are able to access Flipgrid through Google Classroom or through ClassLink by using a Flipgrid code or QR code.
Free Version Includes...
- Unlimited grids, unlimited topics, student-to-student replies (recording replies), longer video lengths, CoPilots for collaboration
For Reading Ideas...
- Have students respond to a question regarding the text they just read by recording a video, have students compare texts, make a self to text connection, write a poem about the book and record it on Flipgrid, record the plot of the story...
MWISD Instructional Technology Specialist
As the Instructional Technology Specialist, I will strive to serve the academic and digital needs of our students and provide equitable opportunities to prepare students for our ever-changing global community.
I will strive to assist teachers in appropriately incorporating and implementing technology in their classroom by being available for one-on-one meetings, PLCs, staff meetings, and providing professional development that meets our teacher's technology needs.
Email: jmartin@mwisd.net
Website: https://sites.google.com/mwisd.net/edtech/home
Location: 906 Southwest 5th Street, Mineral Wells, TX, USA
Phone: (940)-325-6404
Twitter: @janaleemartin
Sources
- Flipgrid. (2019). Flipgrid. Ignite Classroom Discussion.. [online] Available at: https://flipgrid.com/ [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].
- Post, A. (2019). App-Smashing with Adobe Spark Post | Tech Tips. [online] Tvstechtips.edublogs.org. Available at: http://tvstechtips.edublogs.org/2018/10/08/app-smashing-with-adobe-spark-post/ [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].
- President, D. and →, V. (2019). App Spotlight: Padlet - Journey with Technology. [online] Journey with Technology. Available at: https://www.journeywithtechnology.com/app-spotlight-padlet/ [Accessed 29 Jan. 2019].