THIS IS THE YEAR
#81
November 10, 2020
Out of all of the years to try something new, let it be THIS YEAR!
What is a Digital Portfolio?
1) Google Drive Folder- There are different ways you can create a digital portfolio. One of the ways is, throughout the school year have students save their items in one Google Drive folder. It definitely doesn't allow for creativity, but it's simple, and easy to collect and share information with others. You could even create subset folders for different subjects, weeks, etc. You can move Screencastify videos into this folder as well.
2) Google Docs using Table of Contents- Google Docs allows for teachers and students to create headings. This allows for creating a Table of Contents with numbers or links. What's great about this is that if you, the teacher, already have your YAG developed, you can create a template and within that document, change the url to force 'make a copy'. To see how to do this, click here. Students will now have their own copy and be able to create links within their Table of Contents that links them to their reflection and description of the artifact within the Google Doc.
3) Google Slides- I love the way that Google Slides allows for creativity! You're able to use the master feature while adding images, videos, word-art, links, and more to the slides. Definitely lay it out for students in advance- this saves time. To also save time, I would create a template and use the master feature to help with this. If you haven't used the master feature before, click here for more information. Also, if you are not sure where to start with creating, SlidesMania has a lot of premade templates that you might find useful.
4) My favorite way of having students create a Digital Portfolio is through the use of Google Sites. Google Sites is similar to Google Slides, in that, you can add basically the same thing. The only difference is that it is visually appealing and has a better view-flow than Google Slides. This format would require more prep-time, but I believe it pays off.
Digital Portfolio Tips-and-Tricks
Think Organization
At any grade level it's important to start teaching students how to organize. You need students to be master file organizers. For the younger students, this might mean you borrow another teacher's set of Chromebooks and go through the process of creating a folder in their My Drive titled, "3rd Grade Digital Portfolio." Then, within that folder, you've created subset folders for specific content, e.g., science, math, etc.
For the secondary students, organization might look like helping them to start thinking "big picture". Have them keep in mind what their end goal will be, how they want it organized, and how they are going to get there.
With any grade level, having an example template that the teacher created will be helpful for them to see the ending product and where it is you want them to go. This will require you to get familiar (if not so already) with the application you choose, which will help your students when they have questions.
Think Small
Do not stress you or your students out. If you teach a self-contained class, you might want to create a page for each subject level with one or two samples of each. For their sample, let them choose which piece shows mastery on the concept you taught. The goal is for students to understand what mastery looks like and to differentiate between what is worthy and what is not.
I would keep consistency in mind as you go throughout the rest of the year. For example, if you started with a writing piece, I would continue to upload a writing piece every six weeks. Remember, you're wanting to show growth. If you have students create a ScreenCastify video to explain their thinking process of how they solved a problem, continue to upload one every six weeks.
The big picture here is to show growth over time.
Get Feedback
Once content has been reviewed, it is time for students to publish their Google Site and get feedback from their peers and/or teacher.
You can find more information about Google Site templates, here.
I would recommend Google Slides for grades Kinder- 2nd and Google Sites for grades 4th- 12th.
BrainPop and BrainPop Jr.
Don't forget that BrainPop and BrainPop Jr. have videos and several activities to go along with the video.
HyperDocs
I absolutely love HyperDocs! They give students the opportunity to explore, collaborate, create, and reflect. With Veterans Day coming up, I was searching for already-made HyperDocs and I’ve found this one and then I created my own.
HyperDoc #1- Here is HyperDoc about Veterans Day that I got from hyperdocs.co. Don’t forget to make a copy first. This HyperDoc would be great for younger grades; however, go through and check out the resources. I would substitute a Google Slide and/or Google Draw for the Starfall resource. I’ve noticed that some Starfall activities do not work correctly due to Adobe Flash, etc. Even though this HyperDoc is using ThingLink, ThingLink is approved for teachers to create an account and for students to view, but it is not approved for students to have their own account to create. In this case of using this HyperDoc, students are just viewing and accessing the links on the ThingLink. Don’t forget to check out what’s available in the free pricing plan and click here to see more information about using ThingLink with students as a free teacher account, if you want to create your own.
HyperDoc #2- Veterans Day. Here is one that I created using YouTube, Padlet, Google MyMaps, and Google Draw. Feel free to make a copy and edit to make your own.
For more HyperDoc templates, visit hyperdocs.co.
Google Arts & Culture
This virtual tour of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Arlington Cemetery would be a great hyperlink to input into a HyperDoc for Veterans Day. This virtual tour takes you to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a little bit through the Arlington National Cemetery.
Please keep in mind, if you choose to allow students to look up other art materials, please be aware that Google Arts and Culture defines art differently than we might do as teachers. There may be material that is inappropriate for grades below 9th.
Even though we can't be there physically, this is truly a humbling experience.
Nearpod District-Licensed & Nearpod with Free Version
There are several Veterans Day lessons in the Nearpod Library created by the Nearpod Team for grades K-2, 3-5th, and 6-12th. There are also Nearpod created lessons that are optimized for use in Student-Paced mode with the district licensed. Definitely preview them and check them out.
Flipgrid
A great idea to show your thanks is to have your students create a Flipgrid video thanking a Veteran. Did you know that after receiving all of their videos, you can download them and create a master video using a different EdTech tool? Click here to see the steps in Flipgrid on how to download all of the videos. To access already-created Veteran Flipgrids, go to your Flipgrid Dashboard ---> up at the top heading, click on Discovery ---> search for Veterans Day. There are several choices to choose from.
Pre-Made Quizzes
Don’t forget to check out EdTech tools where there are already teacher-created quizzes, e.g., Kahoot and Quizzizz. I also wanted to share about Flippity. They don’t have premade quizzes, but there are a lot of ‘games’ to choose from that the teacher creates themselves.
Kahoot S’more (created September 2019)
Quizzizz (October 2018)
Flippity (April 2017)
Campus Librarians
Your campus librarians have a plethora of resources for Veterans Day.
As similar to the EdTech tools mentioned above for Veterans Day, I would recommend using those same tools for Thanksgiving. Check out my findings below where I added a few extra tools. Gobble! Gobble!
BrainPop and BrainPop Jr.
Don't forget that BrainPop and BrainPop Jr. have videos and several activities to go along with the video. One of the great things about their activities is that you can assign it through your BrainPop class.
Scholastic
Go back in time and relive the journey the Pilgrims made as they crossed the Atlantic to start a new colony here in the Americas. Click on the link for virtual field-trips, reenactments, historical letters, and more.
Comic Strips for Giving Thanks
Having students create Comic Strips is a great way for them to show their creativity and it’s a great way to get reluctant readers involved in writing and reading. Google Drawings and Slides are great tools for giving students this creative opportunity. It lets them create using shapes, add speech/thought bubbles, and insert images in one place. What is the difference between the two? I would use Google Drawings if you want your comics to be on a single image and Google Slides for multiple pages.
Here’s how I would set it up in my class:
Create a template so class time is not wasted
Create a rubric so your students know what your expectations are
If you’re wanting the students to use images, I would recommend the teacher find images in advance and insert them into a GoogleDrive folder that is shared with the class. This saves time and also allows for safe images.
Here are a few templates from last year’s Rams Techapalooza speaker, Matt Miller with #DitchThatTextbook.
Simple, Four-Panel Comic Strip (Don’t forget to make a copy)
Wide, Four-Panel Comic Strip (Don’t forget to make a copy)
Comic Slide Template (Don’t forget to make a copy)
National Native American Heritage Month
Did you know that November is National Native American Heritage Month? I found this website which is part of the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian. It has great resources for teachers that includes the grade levels for the lesson, keywords, essential understandings, and along with the academic standards.
Flipgrid
A great way for your students to tell others what they are thankful for is to have your students create a Flipgrid video. Did you know that after receiving all of their videos, you can download them and create a master video using a different EdTech tool? Click here to see the steps in Flipgrid on how to download all of the videos. To access already-created Thanksgiving videos, go to your Flipgrid Dashboard ---> up at the top heading, click on Discovery ---> search for Thanksgiving. There are several choices to choose from.
Google Slides Turkey Templates
Build a Turkey- I absolutely love this Turkey template for the Thanksgiving holidays, and it never gets old! Check out this template from Control Alt Achieve, created by Beth Kingsley. Have fun!
Disguise a Turkey- Kelley Costa, @costasecond, created this one. This would go great with a writing activity!
Breakout EDU
A Digital Breakout EDU is similar to an escape room that you go to on a weekend with your friends, but... it’s digital. Students are challenged with clues to open ‘locks’ to finish the game. The locks are not physical locks, but are instead Google Forms. I’ve listed below a few Thanksgiving breakouts that Peggy Reimers, @preimers, from TCEA created. These are great for all grades- even the older students will love them!
Need more information about Digital Breakouts? Click here to see more Breakouts from Peggy Reimers.
7 Direction Lock - L,R,U,D,U,D,L - (follow the Thanksgiving-themed towns)
10 Letter Lock - CORNUCOPIA
Date Lock - 11/26 (NOTE TO PEGGY - change this every year)
8 Number Lock - 22421112 (hidden link) (double the recipe)
4 Color Lock - P,G,O,B (background of the turkeys on the Google Site)
More information on the Directional Lock:
Click on the map on the Gobble Gobble Breakout.
From Turkey, TX to Roll, AZ - is what direction? From Roll, AZ to Corn, OK - is what directions?, etc.
4 Word Lock BLOWSLOWAROUNDGROUND (click on tree - poem)
4 Number Lock 1150 (click on cornucopia)
6 Color Lock Y,O,B,O,R,Y (leaf colors)
4 Direction Lock - L,D,R,U Follow the towns on a map - you can click on the map to make it larger. (Falls Church to Fall City is L, Fall City to Fallbrook is D, Fallbrook to Fall Branch is R and Fall Branch to Fall River is U)
Campus Librarians
Don’t forget to contact your campus librarian to see if they have a paid version of Digital Breakout EDU with other breakout types that might be of interest.
☝️ Click on the Image Above ☝️
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/instructional-technology?authuser=0
Location: 906 Southwest 5th Avenue, Mineral Wells, TX, USA
Phone: 940 325 6404
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MineralWellsISDTechnologyDepartment
Twitter: @janaleemartin